I’m a vampire. Booo ha ha ha!
Happy Friday everyone.
When it all gets too much it’s usually because you’re taking it all (and yourself) way too seriously.
(Preaching to myself)
100 years from now none of this will matter.
Lighten up. Unwind. Enjoy. Live a little.
As they say,
Don’t sweat the small stuff.
And
It’s all small stuff when God is in it.
Perspective.
A testimony Friday, June 17, 2022.
Satan was the district attorney.
Jesus is and was my defense attorney.
He worked pro bono too.
The defense attorney’s Daddy is the judge.
I won and can’t be charged for the same crime ever again.
The skill level of and credibility of an attorney matters.
Thank you Jesus.
When Jesus sets you free, you are free indeed.
You can stop acting like you’re on probation and enjoy life now.
A testimony, Monday, June 13, 2022
John 20:21 ~ So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
It’s normal to covet various spiritual gifts but the first gift Jesus bestowed upon his followers who believed and received His breath into them and became born again, was the gift of forgiveness.
It’s a gift to forgive those who have hurt you. It’s not only a gift to them but a gift to yourself. Retaining the sins against a person or even the ones you have committed keeps you from moving forward.
I don’t have the spiritual gift of prophesy, apostleship, healing, or great faith. If I do, they lay dormant inside myself, but I do have the most powerful gift of all and you do too. The gift of forgiveness.
I forgive any and all of their transgressions and am set free. Furthermore, I choose to forgive myself. As a son of God, I have that right.
I’m glad Jesus, the Holy Spirit, breathed the breath of new born life into me. I desire to share my gift daily and liberally.
I have enjoyed Sasha and my intimate time with God tonight. We are getting stronger every day and in every way.
A testimony, Monday, June 13, 2022
Mood this beautiful Sunday.
Not afraid to face the devil, no stranger to the pain.
Go rest high on that Mountain.
With Jesus
It’s the best a laboring soul can hope for in this short life.
“They don’t make those shoes anymore.”
There is only one worthy. Only one who I will ever put my faith in again.
No other, myself included, has earned my total trust.
Peace, love, grace has won.
My testimony, Sunday, June 12, 2022
Proverbs 18:12-13 Haughtiness comes before disaster but humility before honor. He who answers a matter before he hears the facts, it is folly and shame to him.
Formerly religious, I often haughtily judged others and made assumptions aloud. I judged many matters and often to the emphatic “Amens” from many. All while knowing full well my own secret sin/battles and imperfections.
As a member of the visible Church I have repented for being so harsh in my judgments.
Pilate told the Jews to judge Jesus by THEIR law.
The law came by Moses but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
My eyes, not yet fully open, but more open see the ridiculousness in my personal judgments.
I don’t see how so many conspiracy posts, true or false, edify the children of God. I don’t see how all of the vitriol show love to those who are hurting.
I spent years condemning my own self without knowing I was because I judged others. I was being judged with the same measure I judged others.
I desire to fall into the hands and judgements of the God that has been revealed to me. I desire to be judged by His perfect law of love and liberty.
The Jews used the law of Moses to condemn a perfect man who had done nothing wrong. How much more will the law of Moses be used to judge and condemn an imperfect man like me? I am guilty. Therefore, my only hope is in accepting grace and showing grace. It seems we’d bring more people together if we ceased condemning people, their choices, and their lifestyles that aren’t hurting us.
Deal with those that rob, murder, steal, or assault. For myself, beyond that, I feel I am best off to live quietly and peaceably showing as much love to all as I am able to show. I don’t want to be apart of division and I don’t want to hurt or offend people that I disagree with any longer.
It seems that the love of many are waxing colder and colder. I’ve been apart of the problem and want to minimize my part in it. I love talking about Jesus but am trying to avoid politics and religious law type talk.
I love you Jesus and because of you I love the brethren and the sisters. I also love the little Renzos! Thank you for your teaching and guidance.
My testimony Friday, June 10, 2022
We criticize and judge those who suffer from various socially unaccepted addiction, worship idols, or live alternative lifestyles etc. We often don’t hear criticism for socially accepted addiction like food addiction.
I never recall being criticized for my addiction to food even though it was killing me.
I did suffer much judgement for my addiction to alcohol for the short season I was addicted to it and it’s intoxicating affects though it wasn’t nearly as destructive physically as my food addiction was but I digress. I have tried to fill my voids with good works and revelry with only temporary relief.
Why don’t we give each other a break?
First, Jesus said He didn’t come to condemn or judge the world but He came to love the world and save the world. He didn’t say he didn’t love the drug addict, didn’t love the glutton or didn’t love the alcoholic. He said the contrary. He said come just as you are, naked and not afraid before His mercy seat. (As I write this testimony I hear a shout forming within my soul because I believe His word.)
With that said, if we see things rightly and through a lens of love we will see….
All addiction is suffering and suffering comes because, in part, we have a huge void and we try to fill that void with all manner of vices.
That void we feel so often is a lost connection to where we come from and a lost connection to love, the love that only Jesus can provide.
We were born in love, come from love and are going back to love.
I am loving awareness and I love everyone and everything I am aware of that exists.
Accepting grace through faith has filled my voids. There’s no longer a hole in the heart that I feel I need to fill with food, alcohol, drugs, exercise, good works, church building attendance or secular parties.
All things are lawful to me but not all things expedient.
And
Whether I do good or whether I do bad, I am complete in Jesus.
Stop declaring war on one another and declare war on judgement, shame, regret and guilt. Accept His love.
I’m going for a walk now. It’s a beautiful day and time to re center so the hole remains filled.
Just a little walk and talk with Jesus is the cure.
I love you all because I love myself.
I adore you Jesus.
A testimony Friday, June 3, 2022.
Some said He was a prophet. OTHERS said He was THE CHRIST.
I’d like to imitate the Christ as much as possible. He is my hero. I fall far short but today I try again to put on Christ and imitate the love He showed all.
I desire to be numbered with the OTHERS.
A testimony, Monday, May 23, 2022
Meditation and step time!
The older I get the more I understand myself and the bull crap I have often spewed. I become more opposed to labeling anything good or evil because it’s subjective to me based on my experiences. I’m not qualified to label good or evil. It’s better for me to focus on and fill my days with love. Love of God, love of you, and love of myself. Not much time to label and judge if I’m busy loving. I’m trying to do better and not ashamed to say I’m not there yet. God has blessed me so much. I’m so thankful HIs grace has become so real to me. Let go of what you are carrying and come go with me.
In His love,
Travis
A testimony, Wednesday, May 18, 2022.
It frustrates me to no end when folks tell another folk how to feel or how they should feel.
Once upon a time….
I was teaching a class in Carrollton, Ga. I asked the adult audience what their WHY was for losing weight.
A young girl, thirteen years old, raised her hand. I smiled and called on her. She stood and said, “One day, I want to look like Miley Cyrus.”.
Her mom later explained that she was being picked on at school because of her weight.
I recall several adults shaming her because of her role model, saying that Miley was a bad role model for her. While this may be true or not true, I could see the young girl’s countenance change. She felt dejected and demotivated.
The Bible says that we should work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. What brings one peace doesn’t bring another peace. We are individuals. What motivates one may not motivate another. Those that are more mature in their faith should be patient with those less mature in the faith.
Goals and reasons change with time. I remember wanting to simply looks better in my clothes. Now, I want to honor God with my best efforts and with self-discipline for a deeper relationship with the lover of my soul. My goals have changed but I remember what it was like to just want to feel comfortable in my own skin for reasons that were not necessarily God inspired.
Never steal a persons WHY for wanting to do better. Never steal their vision. You may prevent them from obtaining peace or starting their journey.
Self-confidence or the lack thereof has always been a problem for me.
One must have self-confidence to achieve one’s goals.
On August 21, 2021, I realized that developing self-confidence was an aimless pursuit for me and honestly a waste of time. It was and is a waste of time and energy because in and of myself, I have nothing to be confident about.
However, let me be clear. I have more confidence than I ever have before and it’s actually limitless now.
I have borrowed confidence. I decided to walk in my savior’s grace and to abide in His grace and in His words of devotion for me. There is nothing I can’t do in Him. There is nothing I can’t have when abiding in Him.
Philippians 4:13
1 John 2:28
My self-esteem and self-confidence has skyrocketed because I abide in Him and in His love daily. My inheritance is incorruptible and abides in me; the Holy Spirit.
Yes, yes, that’s it. I am confident because His Holy Spirit abides in me.
You can be confident too.
No amount of money, materials, education, or partners can increase one’s self-confidence and even if it does it’s temporal.
Borrow your confidence from the only one who has any right to be confident.
Jesus.
I love you Jesus and thank you for lifting me and my countenance with your love. I’m enjoying my new found confidence.
I am your delight.
If you lack self-confidence, know that Jesus will do the same for you that He has done for me. You won’t have to fake it anymore. Believe in Him.
A testimony Sunday, May 1, 2022
