I’m glad to be here writing to you again! I have a little different approach to what I have for you today.

My military-minded husband calls what I am doing “Passing the gouge.” It is a military slang term that refers to sharing inside information or tips with others to help them succeed. It is often passed from older veterans to the younger ones, helping them learn the ropes.

With that said, here is my “inside information and tips to help you succeed.” The Passing the Gouge…

Our church has monthly Leadership Meetings. During those meetings, each leadership couple or individual tells of something they have experienced or are experiencing to encourage and strengthen the overall team, therefore, strengthening the church body as a whole. Our Pastor fondly calls what we bring “Golden Nuggets.”

Now on with the “Golden Nuggets” part…

Marty and Lori Boyd ended our 2024 meetings with a bucket full of nuggets and I have their permission and honor to pass these along to you. You know I am a big promoter of believers sharing what God has done in our lives to build each other’s faith and spiritual growth. The Boyds did just that! I am excited to dive into the bucket!

First Marty shared three of the most impactful events in his life. We had a time limit or I know he could have shared a multitude more. Each was unique in its theme and uniquely impacted each of us. I must say he did an excellent job of causing us to feel that we were in the moment with him as he told and even acted out these events. I do believe I will always remember the effect this has had on me. It even brought me to reminisce many of my most impactful moments, much like the ones I share through my poetry and narratives. Or how about my blogs? “Defining Moments” in particular.

After Marty’s turn at the microphone, it was his lovely wife, Lori’s, turn. We often use “lovely” loosely, but Lori bears a lovely that comes from the inside out. Much like was brought to light in my poem “Behold a Mirror” in my second book.

Lori began by explaining how her story came about. I don’t remember her saying she was doing anything in particular, maybe just doing housework. It was nothing like climbing a mountain or fasting for forty days and nights to hear God’s voice. But she did hear the Lord speaking to her as she was simply going about her chores. Not an audible voice but in a way that there was no mistaking it was Him speaking. I can relate to that. How about you?

The following is what the Lord said to her. “The World vs God” is brought to you by Lori Boyd via me.

The world says there is no God – God says, I am the alpha, the Omega, the beginning and the end.

Revelation 22:13

The world says life is all about self-gratification- God says it is better to give than to receive.

Acts 20:35

The world says I am ugly-God says you are all together beautiful

Psalms 139:14

The world says it’s okay to be jealous or envious-God says love your neighbor.

Matthew 22:39

The world says to be afraid- God says fear not. (repeatedly)

Isaiah 41:10, Deuteronomy 31:6

The world says take sins and make them legal-God says follow my commandments.

John 14:15

The world says it’s okay to lie-God says the truth shall set you free.

John 8:32

The world says it’s okay to live in sin-God says for the wages of sin is death.

Romans 6:23

The world says once a sinner, always a sinner-God says ask and you will be forgiven.

John 1:9

The World says you don’t need to go to church- God says the church is the body of Christ. (multiple times)

1 Corinthians 12:12

The world says it’s okay to steal-God says ask and it will be given.

Matthew 7:7

The world says let someone else raise your children-God says I have given you children as my gift.

Psalms 127:3

The world says it’s okay to use the Lord’s name with profanity- God says take my name and keep it holy.

Ezekiel 36:22

The world says you don’t have to be appreciative of anything- God says thank him and praise him daily for his gifts.

(multiple) Psalms 92:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:16; 1 Chronicles 16:34

The world says to change the meaning of the bible to fit your life- God says my word is everlasting and unchanging.

(multiple) Psalms 110:38; Isaiah 40:8; Malachi 3:6

The world says it’s okay to worship anything you desire – God says you shall have no other gods before me.

Exodus 20:3

The world says prayer is useless- God says pray without ceasing.

1 Thessalonians 5:16

The world says God doesn’t answer prayers- God says My will be done.

(Lord’s prayer) Matthew 6:9

The world blames God for bad things that happen to them- God says for all good things come from me.

James 1:17

The world says  I don’t need God to get to heaven- God says I am the way, the truth, and the life.

John 14:6

The world says nobody loves you-God says I love you so much, I sent my only son to die for you.

1 John 4:10

The world says God’s love isn’t forever-God says I will love you with an everlasting love.

Jeremiah 31:3

The world says you are all alone- God says you are not alone, for I am with you.

(multiple) Isaiah 41:10

The world says give up – God says I will carry you.

Isaiah 46:4

The world says you can’t be happy-God says keep the joy of the Lord in your heart.

Nehemiah 8:10

The world says there is no hope- God says all things are possible for those who believe.

Mark 9:23

The world says God doesn’t know you- God says I knew you before you were created in your mother’s womb.

Jeremiah 1:5

The world says God doesn’t know me personally- God says I know the number of hairs on your head.

Luke 12:7, Matthew 10:30

The world says there is no cure- God says I am the great physician.

Mark 2:17

The world says you have to be first to be the best- God says whoever is first shall be last and whoever is last shall be first. Matthew 19:30

The world says you can’t have enough- God says I will give you all you need.

Psalms 16:5

The world says you can’t -God says fear not for I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

The world says God is dead – God says I am the living God.

Mathew 22:32

The world says God is not with you-God says where two or three have gathered in my name, there am I.

Matthew 18:20

The world says you have to be perfect – God says all sinners come boldly to the cross.

Hebrews 4:16

The World says I don’t have time for God- God says seek me first.

Matthew 6:33, Proverbs 3:6

The world says money can buy you happiness- God says for the love of money is evil.

1 Timothy 6:10

The world says the more money you have, the more important you are- God says it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Mark 10:21-25

The world says there is no eternal life-God says my salvation is all you need. Romans 6:23.

Lori had written what she heard several years before she shared it with us. Marty was led to the scripture that so aptly backs it up. The way we know that the Lord is truly speaking to us is that it will always line up with His Word in the Scripture. Spend some time reading each statement and your Bible. You will find more of God’s truths revealed for developing a more personal and intimate relationship with Him. With God’s Word as the God Sword, we can shut the mouth of the deceiver. The timing was right for them to pass the gouge with their golden nuggets. He can use us to encourage and strengthen others to be successful in this world of lies and chaos. The world is only getting darker and the Lord is steadily pouring into us, His people, the Light. As our Pastor said in tonight’s meeting… “It overflows”.

As I wrote this blog, I found it interesting the commonalities we have in writing. I too, hear the Lord, not in an audible voice, but I hear Him, nonetheless. I write what He gives and reminds me of, and then His Word backs up the messages. Then opportunities arise in places we never imagined sharing with others. Passing the gouge to be successful at building His Kingdom and glorifying Him. Remember iron sharpens iron. As my “Body Builder Food” poem in “Inspire Me” (Books)says in a few random verses:

He also told us, “He is the Word”

The Bread of Life, our loins to daily gird.

You see it’s this food we  need as believers

Growing strong and equipped to win unbelievers.

His Church, His Body, becoming what it was meant to be…

To be strong in the Word and the Spirit of Life

Nourished and filled your light shining bright

Building the Body to fight the good fight!

I thank Him for this opportunity and the Boyds for what they do as leaders in our church and community. They carry the Light and it does overflow.

Thank you for reading what Lori and I have written and as always I hope that you have been blessed with a bucketload of nuggets. Be sure to tell others! Look what we would have missed if Lori and Marty had not shared what they were given. This is your opportunity to multiply what God gives to you, to overflow filled with His “Body Builder Food”. After all, we have so much to share as we grow individually and then in the Body of Christ’s Church. We believers are the Church! Remember the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.

I do hope you will join me again as I pass the gouge and gain more nuggets for the bucket. Hey, that might be a good poem! Lol!

Blessings to you my friends,

Reba