Maverick2's Blog

Psalm 119 ~ 1. The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Death, hell, fear, the grave, and the works of the flesh are my Lord’s footstool. Therefore they are my footstool too. They can only give me trouble if I allow them to give me trouble. The proper place for them is under my feet, not heavy burdens upon my back.

Get behind me Satan. In Jesus' name.

Death where is thy sting and oh grave where is thy victory?

Ain’t no grave going to hold me down.

It’s time for me to rise up. High time. I’ve punished myself enough. I will anoint myself with the oil of gladness and wash myself with the water of the Word. Tomorrow we attack and the gates of hell shall not prevail against us.

My Testimony, December 13, 2022

Psalm 19:1 ~ The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

There is a reason the Bible says that only a fool can say in their HEART that there is no God.

There is no way to be quiet, look into the night sky all while listening to the ocean and contemplate existence, origins, and your own smallness and come away so arrogant that you can say in the heart that there is no God.

God said, “I AM that I AM” because to say anything more about God’s own self would limit the expansiveness and power of God. One cannot limit the power of God.

The substance that is God is also in everything and everywhere even within us.

We limit ourselves with labels and definitions that limit our peace and joy.

We shouldn’t. If I decrease my self limiting beliefs, the substance of God that is within me can increase.

Negative self talk puts one in a type of hell. Negative self talk is a lack of faith.

The next time you think poorly of yourself, take the time to go out, get quiet, and look into the night sky and know that the substance of God is in everything and even within you.

His name within you is Emmanuel, Mighty God, Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace because the substance of God that is within you is the Holy Spirit.

His name is Jesus and His character is love.

Today I will walk in the awesome responsibility of being a child of God by believing in words and works.

Bless the name of the Lord.

My Testimony Thursday, December 8, 2022

The old covenant, the law required death for violating it. If forgiveness could be obtained it would only be obtained through sacrifice.

Today’s unspoken but understood cultural covenant calls for me to acquiesce to the laws and form of godliness or etiquette that is required of me or else I’ll be cancelled.

You can cancel me. You can cancel the way I make my living. You can kick me out of your church. You can cancel all of my social media accounts. You can cancel everything that means anything to me in this world but you

CANNOT

Cancel my name from the Lamb’s Book of Life. It was permanently written there on the day that I gave my heart and life to the Holy Spirit. It’s called the New Covenant.

Flesh and Blood has not made any revelation to me that matters. However, My Father’s Spirit has revealed the one true God to me and I have accepted the one called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. The name I worship is the name of Jesus and His character is one of love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, meekness, temperance and faith.

My life is established upon this rock and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. I’m firmly established in the faith and counted as a son of God with an elder brother that has shown me the way of life. When I go astray, I am reclaimed and my spirit reignited and taken to higher levels.

I am a blessed man.

The world can cancel you for a little while. Your friends and family can cancel you for a little while but at the time of the end….

All believers will be in Jesus and His name will stand alone and above all other names in heaven and in the earth. Every tongue will confess that Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Every knee will bow and every ego will be relinquished. The abyss awaits those who never knew love, mercy and forgiveness because of their own choice. The gift of God, eternal life in Jesus is freely given and has to be freely received within the heart. The abyss I believe is a dimension of the worst suffering imaginable and that is a separation from the presence of God, from the presence of agape love. I celebrate that I will not make my home in the abyss and that I will never be separated from the love that I’ve found in Christ. In my Father’s house are many “dimensions” and I will make my heavenly home there, surrounded by eternal love. My peace was not only restored but permanently and eternally enjoyed.

I love the Lord Jesus and am not worthy to even wash His precious feet yet He has made me a king, put a ring on my finger, and promoted me. I will give Him my utmost today. My utmost, is to show those I come in contact with unconditional love. I am free and pray that my life and presence sets those free that I come in contact with today.

My testimony, today, a beautiful Sunday morning, December 4, 2022

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 ~ Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

John 18:36 ~

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

On August 21, 2021, I decided to never make another political post. I may have slipped once, lol, but I decided that for me, squabbles and quarrels over politics were a waste of time. This is not my home. I decided it was time to act like I believe and I believe I’m headed to a different country, a peaceful one.

I vote but I keep my political views to myself now. Many of my views didn’t line up with the Word anyway. I found I was becoming as extreme as the next person because I was in an echo chamber only listening to those who agreed with me. In retrospect, I don’t think that’s a good way to learn, grow, or find solutions.

I look back and see the ridiculousness of so many of my past views. I see how they didn’t line up with the Christian values I desire to live up to now.

I listen to what both sides say, trying to understand the arguments of both sides so I can make a more informed decision but I still try to keep my views to myself except for one…

One hundred years from now, one thousand years from now, or an infinite number of years from now the only election that matters is the one where…..

I made my peace, calling and election sure by placing my faith in the person and spirit of Christ, my Jesus.

My earthly Dad once told me to never discuss politics or religion. I should have listened.

And No, I don’t consider talking about the love of Christ to be religion. I consider it to be life giving and life sustaining.

Christ is the only hope for this world’s peace.

Every tongue will confess and every knee bow now or later.

I choose now.

If you don’t fall on the rock and become broken, the rock will fall on you and ground you to powder.

I bow and confess this day that Jesus is the only begotten son of God.

And in my spirit, I hear His Spirit say,

“You are Travis in whom I’m well pleased. Flesh and blood have not revealed this to you but my Spirit has and upon this rock, I will build my church. The gates of hell shall not prevail against you.”

I’m taking back what was stolen from me and you can too.

My Testimony, November 14, 2022.

I don’t get mad. I get even. ~ anonymous

I don’t get mad (except at myself) and I don’t try and get even. If I do get mad, I examine myself and quickly realize my contribution to the problem.

Jesus didn’t try to get even. In fact, Jesus did the opposite. He showed unmerited mercy and grace. If He would have tried to get even with me, I’d be in a world of trouble cause I’ve been a mess for the last 30 years.

Increasingly, I'm trying to imitate Christ in Spirit. I fall short early and often each day but He’s the one I try to model.
I’m not sure where I’d be if it weren’t for the Spirit of Christ.

Love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, meekness, self control, and faith is evidence of the Spirit of Christ. Also known as the Holy Spirit.

Much bad is said about Christ and much mockery takes place but really one is mocking love and against peace when mocking Jesus. There is no law against and nothing that can be said bad about the character attributes listed above. I desire to continue going through the refiner's fire to be more like Jesus.

Unfortunately, the works of the flesh are evident in my life too and it often diminishes my light.

I hope some people see the effects of Christ in my life and continue to be patient with me as I increasingly try to walk in His Holy Spirit more and deny the works and lust of my flesh.

Too often I have the evil spirits of self judgement, judgement of others, guilt, regret, and shame directing my actions which exacerbate the works of the flesh.

Best said I hope you find fruit on my tree but my fruit still has a lot of worms in it. Please eat around the spoil.
At least I’m not a Bradford pear tree. It looks beautiful to the eye but it never bears any fruit.

Lord help me to bear good fruit and to walk in your Holy Spirit more as to deny the works of my flesh.
Until the time of the end.

One day I will be absent from this body and wretched man that I am and eternally in the blissful presence of the Lord.

For now, to live is Christ

But later

To die is gain.

Absent from the body and in the presence of the Lord.

For now, to redeem the time and share His love with all I meet.

My life forever changed on August 21, 2021 ~ The day I accepted grace and stopped judging

My testimony, Monday, November 13, 2022.

Lately, I’ve been hearing about new and seemingly miracle weight loss drugs. Lots of people who want to lose weight say they are waiting on these drugs. That way they can eat whatever the want, lose weight and keep it off.

Those drugs are coming. Yet, not without terrible and potentially life ending consequences.

But I digress.

Who wouldn’t want such drugs that promise miracle weight loss?

I’ll tell you one person who will never take drugs for something that can be addressed by simply becoming a more self disciplined person………..
ME
It isn’t just the weight loss that I have benefited from by changing my lifestyle and by trying to walk a closer walk with Christ.

I lost 44 pounds in 6 weeks by changing my lifestyle and went on to lose more than 100 pounds and eliminate many prescription medications.

Again, that (weight loss) wasn’t even the primary benefit. By allowing Christ to increase in my life while I decreased, I actually became more disciplined and more able to tackle life’s problems in all areas of my life.

Even if drugs had a sustainable effect on weight loss without complications, aren’t we seeing the effects of a society that lacks self discipline and aren’t we seeing what happens within our culture when we look for instant gratification and quick fixes without repentance and walking in the Spirit.

I don’t rely on drugs for my healing. I don’t rely on Shibboleth. I don’t rely on weight watchers or any other plan. Those are tools and technologies that might help some but the real change comes when we surrender all to Jesus and realize that He alone is the miracle we seek for whatever problems are in our lives.

We help people lose weight. We support people while the lose weight yet never take the emphasis off of a self disciplined walk with Jesus. That’s not going to be many people’s thing but those are the people that we are here to serve. We are here to serve brothers and sisters that want more than a life of indulgence and who only want weight loss.

We are Shibboleth. The name itself is a meaningless overlooked name because we want no emphasis on anything but on Jesus and His Holy Spirit.

If you are different and looking for a different solution, we are here for you.

For myself; I won’t take drugs for something I can handle myself through effort and personal change. The world can have their drugs for weight loss. I’ll take a heavy dose of The New Wine.

Warmest regards,
~ Travis

Don’t run from your mistakes. You aren’t the only one that makes mistakes. Mistakes are an opportunity to learn and grow. Talking about your mistakes liberates others to face, talk about and move on from their own mistakes. We’d all learn at a compounded rate if we all helped one another avoid the mistakes we’d made ourselves. Experience is a great teacher. Yet often, religious people call experience SIN.

A good life comes from making good decisions. Good decisions come from experience and experience comes from making bad decisions. The more bad decisions I make, if I learn from them, the more experience I will have and will, in fact, make many good decisions that create a beautiful life for myself and if I’m a giver will make a beautiful life for others too.

That was a mouthful.

Anyway, if making mistakes is an opportunity to share, learn and grow, I have many opportunities.

The sad part is that most people hide their mistakes while pointing yours out to make them feel better about themselves.

If you are in the mistake prone group with me and your mistakes are known, let it go. The Bible says that we should confess our faults to one another and pray for one another. It also says we shouldn’t judge each other or we will be judged.

I’m getting lots of experience. After the last decade, I should have a doctorate in what not to do.
But I’m still moving forward and I’m not quitting no matter the fool I appear to be.

A fool with a plan is better than a wise man without a plan.

Hide and watch. God, at the appointed time, will promote me because of my faith in Jesus. Rest assured, He will promote you too if you don’t quit.

Bless the name of the Lord.

My musings. My journal.
November 3, 2022

Revelation 5:13 ~ And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

All creatures praise the Lord and even if not now, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord at the time of the end.

My little home bows to no one except our creator. Our home is full of love and fellowship with the true God because the true God is The Spirit. The same Spirit that was in Christ. Not pompous. Not arrogant. Not cowardly. Not envious. Not boasting. Not high-minded. The Spirit of Christ is love, mercy, charity, joy, courage, discipline, and freedom.

When the human heart is right, accepts forgiveness, has faith, and fellowships with the Holy Spirit without dissimulation, they see God everywhere and in everything.

Can’t you see God in God’s creation? They are humble, caring obedient little companions.

If I can see God’s handiwork in these animals I can certainly see and recognize God in the mirror and in your eyes. We are the sons and daughters of God.

Praise the Lord, for we have been set free. I willfully return as a free moral agent to be a glad prisoner of Jesus Christ.

My Testimony, November 2, 2022

PS ~ these are our faithful companions Renzo (Dad) and Elvira (Daughter)

Last year, August 21, 2021, I had a profound experience of grace. I got in the Word and remained in the Word for quite some time. Lately, I’ve allowed the cares of this world to strip away the peace that was inside my heart. It was late last year that I did something that God had impressed upon my heart to do for over a decade. Make Shibboleth a free wellness program again. After all, It started as a free program. I had denied this impression because on paper it doesn’t work. Suddenly and without consideration for our team, thinking I had heard from God, I announced that Shibboleth would be a free program. I knew in my heart God would take care of us.

Since then, on paper, the thing I love to do and the thing I feel called to do has suffered. In short, math is math. Math is science. The decision I made looked unwise to everyone that cares about me and now looks unwise to me. I feel foolish. As a responsible adult, I’ve made what appears to be a terrible decision for those who count on me. My wife, my children, and my beloved Shibboleth members.

Since announcing we were going to offer the Shibboleth lifestyle education and support for free, we’ve had difficulty with social media trying to out us, text and email banning many of our communication methods, suppliers having supply chain issues and the list goes on. In addition, offering a free program makes it harder to keep clients subscribing committed. It’s been a challenging year.

Late yesterday, I needed to get out of the house to work. The vibe at home has been kinda dark and intense and is one I’ve unintentionally created as of late. I went to a coffee shop and worked and come to the reluctant conclusion that I made a mistake and needed to get rid of the free program for everyone’s sake. So many people I admire have told me for the last 10 years or so that I’m a great weight loss and wellness teacher with a gift but I’m not a businessman. I’m not sure I’m a gifted weight loss and wellness teacher. I’d argue that I’m not but do have a fire to help people. I definitely know I’m not a businessman. I accept that I have poor business skills. I have no ego about that. I’ve even let various people who thought they knew better take the reigns several times but they always do worse than I do when at the helm because they desire to straddle the fence or get rid of the faith-based element that is so important to Shibboleth. How can one obtain true wellness and change without the faith-based element? Without Jesus?

I remained unsettled throughout the evening, got home, and went to the prayer room downstairs. I slept there, unsettled all night.

This morning, I centered myself and decided to get back in the Word. As of late, I’ve been inconsistent with my prayer time and devotions. So, with our new weight loss challenge starting today, I thought it was a good time to reestablish giving God the first fruits of my day. After all, God and His presence are my true joy. There are pleasures in life; food, dance, laughter, sex, games, competition, working out, and other pleasures but if they become the central focus of life they just become habits and the pleasure is lost. The only lasting pleasure or lasting joy that I have found is to be in God’s presence. When there, in His beautiful presence, it’s a state of bliss that you have a knowing is lasting and never wears thin.

As I prayed, read, and asked God to reveal His will for me, I turned to my devotion today and read the following:

1 Corinthians 9:14 ~ For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!

For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with stewardship. What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more.

The Holy Spirit has stopped me in my tracks this morning, encouraged me, and reminded me that He did not impress upon me that this would be easy.

I’ve been trying to run from this life for too long. The truth is, whether I want it or not, I am a preacher. I’m not The Preacher. There is only one and His name is Jesus. Yet, He has called me, the weakest of the flock, the most fragile of the flock, the most foolish of the flock to do my best to imitate Him and share freely what is upon my heart that He might win the more.

So, for today, I’m in Christ, I will preach true healing and wellness to few or many freely and with Fire. I will trust God as the author and finisher of my faith. I will trust God with all.

I declare I am not a good businessman and do not seek to be one. The only business I need to be about is my Father’s business and His business is Salvation, peace, and mercy.
After all, the business person’s smarts is all
vanity and vexation and goes to the grave with them. I am a minister of the gospel of peace that is found only in Christ and Shibboleth is the platform I am to use. I plant, I water, but God shall give the increase.

So, for today, which is all I have, my faith is unwavering and I seek souls that I may help return to their first love; Jesus. As well, I desire to help every willing and wanting heart heal their bodies through our weight loss and wellness lifestyle called Shibboleth. After traveling together and reaching our destination we will again praise God, bow our unworthy heads, and Give God the praise for it all.

Thank you Lord for being my comforter, counselor, and champion.

I love and adore you.

I hope the reader will forgive my grammar and misspellings. I have other work to do.

My Testimony, November 1, 2022