​I'm sure that many of us are reminded daily about the character we are expected to have as a child of God.  I know that there are daily occurrences in my life that test my Godly character on many different levels, the truth is.... if we stay connected to God's Word then our hearts will get the conviction to "do what's right because it's right" when temptations arise.  Be encouraged today to keep your head high knowing that  you cherish and value the character of Christ in you!  I was preaching at a Youth Conference a few years ago and spoke on this very thing, choose to not walk in fear but walk with the confidence of God in this area so that all will know that you truly honor Him... yourself.... and others.   ​

(Prov.15: 3 Contemp English bible) says, “The Lord sees everything… whether it’s good or bad.”
 
(Ps. 44: 20-21 Mess. bible) says, “If we had forgotten to pray to our God or made fools of ourselves with store-bought gods, wouldn’t God have figured this out?  We can't hide things from him.”
 
The question is…Who’s watching you?  Both when you’re alone, and more importantly when you’re in public?  
 Well … you may say Steve… “Nobody see’s me when I’m alone!”  Wrong!  I just read you scripture that says GOD SEES EVERTHING!!!  
 
I’m going to talk to you tonight a little bit on INTEGRITY & CHARACTER, because that is what you and your life will be measured by from your family, friends, co-workers, church, those who don’t have Jesus as their Savior and especially God the Father Himself.
“Integrity” means… “adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.” 
 
Which simply means you CONTINUOSLY do what’s right ALL THE TIME and not when it’s just convenient for you.
“Character” means… “The combination of qualities or features that distinguishes one person or group from another.”
 Which simply means “I am who I am because I choose to do what’s right … because it’s right!”
Godly character depicts "how" we live and "WHO" we are representing, there have been many times that I've been faced with a "what do I do?" type of situation.  For instance, cashing out at a store and not having enough change and the cashier saying "its ok"... But I say no it's not, I'll go home and the few cents and bring it back to you.  So many cashiers were astonished over the years that someone would actually come back!!  Well it was nice that she said "its ok" but that's not her money?  That's the stores money!  Another incident would be littering or going into a public bathroom and just wiping your hands with paper towel and just throwing it on the ground, somebody has to clean that up (even though they didn't see you do it).  Look at it this way... what if it was your mother that was the one that had to clean up the trash?  You might think differently huh?

​Take some inventory of your life, and see where you can make some adjustments in this area of building a Godly character.... whatever it may be, internet surfing, at your work place, in school. 
​ Do the right thing simply because it's right.  (2nd Cor. 5:21 NLT) "For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ".

Article excerpt from July 4th, 2006

There is a process that must take place in order to develop your faith to the level it needs to be, this process is called “renewing your mind”. It's the part of God’s plan that we participate in so we can walk uprightly before the Lord... and this process requires change.  How many of you know that change is not change until you have changed?  Renewing our mind requires making quality decisions in our lives that line up with the Word of God. So its like removing old software and inputting new software, God said in (Romans 12: 1-2) "Don’t be conformed to this world (or in other words... "its way of thinking") but be transformed (changed) by the entire renewal of your mind"  A renewed mind is evidenced by change, renewing the mind is simply this... for example,  replace the poverty mentality with God’s total life prosperity or replace the acceptance of being sick with knowing that by his stripes you were healed (Isa 53:5) or replace questionable thoughts of if there's an after life with the acceptance of the free gift of Jesus' substitution on your behalf to obtain eternal life!

With the renewing of the mind comes a surety that we have been made the righteousness of God by receiving Jesus' Righteousness, it is not enough for us to just believe in or about something...but we're to walk and act out God’s Word daily in our lives by faith (2 Cor 5:7). By putting "action" to our faith we then will please our Heavenly Father (Heb 11:6). Renewing our mind is not a one time thing, but it a life process. I am so happy and full of joy for what the Lord has done, what He is doing now, and what He is going to do!  Being result orientated on our part is "NOT" about working my righteousness or striving to be the best Christian...  no no no!!  He has already done it ALL for us, He has already made us perfect on the inside, He has already made provision for us through Jesus Christ... all we do is rest in the grace of HIS WORDS and receive.  By keeping God's Word at the fore front of our minds and agendas and a constant fellowship with the Holy Spirit we can achieve all the things God has called us to do, live how he wants us to live... a blessed life, that we can be a blessing in the lives of others. 

Well Praise God!  I am so excited to have started this new addition to our website entitled, "Words of Life with Steve"!  This page of our website is designed to "empower, encourage and inspire" YOU our visitor with the infallible Word of the Living God!  Where ever you are in life there had to be a beginning,

"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God". (John 1:1)  Then jumping down to (vrs.14) "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth".  Do you realize that God "knew" you and emphatically  "loved" you before the foundations of the world? (Ephes.1:4).  Simplified... God created everything, Lucifer (one of God's Arc- Angels) decided he wanted to over throw God, God banished him and the name that was given to him from heaven
(Luke 10:18), Satan (his new name... meaning  adversary and deceiver) destroyed the earth God created, God then spoke all the beauty in the earth into existence, created man and woman and gave THEM dominion over the earth (Gen.1:27-28).  Mankind was deceived and disobeyed God causing eternal separation from their Creator, sin-tainted mankind could not stand in the presence of a perfect Holy God, therefore the Creator loving His creation so much established a plan of redemption, the need for a Savior... (INSTALL JESUS)!  (John 3:16)

Folks... He has always been there, from the very beginning till now and on into eternity.  Whether you believe in an after life or not one way or another we're all going to find out. There isn't any amount of good deeds you can do on this earth that will secure your place in eternity, the "sin issue" has been dealt with, Jesus paid the price that we could never pay ONCE AND FOR ALL!  The only thing that will keep you out of heaven is your refusal and rejection of the free gift that God the Father offered "ALL" of mankind through His Son Jesus Christ. Why live in self pity... come to Him, why live in questionable doubt... come to Him, why live with anger, pain and sorrow... come to Him.  Before Christ we merely existed but to accept Him and His love for you we can live a life of love, joy, peace, faith, gentleness, kindness, meekness, patience and self control. (Gal.5:22-23)

Start your journey today with Him... He will never disappoint you. The bible says in the book of Romans chapter 10 verses 9-10, "That if you shalt confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shalt be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation".  Only two things you require... a mouth that speaks and a heart that believes.  God's Love and Grace will do the rest! 

Here you are.