I am thankful for all of those that God has given me who encourage me, strengthen me, help me to be a better me and more importantly to be more like Jesus. I am also thankful to all those that God has given me who challenge me, offend me, and cause me to evaluate why I do what I do. There is a saying that you would learn a lot about a person if you were to walk a mile in their shoes. Most people can expect to walk a mile in 15 to 22 minutes and in that time one person cannot really learn a lot about another person, especially when it comes to the nitty gritty. The truth of the matter is, if you really care about a person and really want to understand what they go through, I would recommend that you invest time with them and walk beside them for a week or two, experience what they experience, see what they go through when no one else is around. To try to understand what they are thinking when the day turns dark, or when they feel like they are drowning in a sea of forgottenness is the greatest form of love there is. Not to long ago, I was told that I am disrespectful, ignorant, and show a poor poor pitiful bs lifestyle, and that I often feel the need to be spiteful or petty, which is how they say I usually react to certain situations, which in my reality is completely wrong and it shows a lack of understanding or even empathy as to what I go through. Due to all that is said about me I have learned to just be quiet. I realize that I have a lot of work to do to be a better person, to be more like Jesus, and that my life is a scrambled mess. I pray that others understand that I am a work in progress and that I am not perfect like they think they are. There are certain individuals in my world that will never understand what I go through on a regular basis simply because they don’t want to. I am thankful for what is written in *Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget or overlook your labor and the love which you have shown for His name’s sake in ministering to the needs of the saints (His own consecrated people), as you still do.* This has been my priority, to also take care of the poor, widows, orphans, and the needy as we are commanded. The part that is painful is that the person who has spoken these hurtful words has never asked “Why?” or “What can I do to help?” They simply closed their mind and made statements that opened mine as they spoke words that I will never forget “And I don’t want or need a response, your thoughts, or prayers. They have no meaning when they come from someone that takes little to no responsibility for their life or actions that create their situation.” I may have created my own situation in one way or another, but I am trying to do my best to survive and help those that need help to survive and also thrive if possible. For any that I have put off, those who feel that I have not done enough for you, those who feel that I have taken advantage of you, I apologize, I am truly sorry for the way you feel, please forgive me for my part in it but also take responsibility for your own. More passionately, to those I have been given the honor and privilege to strengthen and encourage, thank you for allowing me to walk with you through the journey of your life. I do pray that whoever is willing to walk side by side with me will do it with joy, as long as we can or until we walk into heaven together if the Lord wills. Final thought, often those who criticize your life are usually the same people who have no clue of the price you paid to be where you are at today. Grace and peace to you my beloved and to those who aren’t. In Christ Love, douglas. HE>i. pastord.blog

To any who are interested, please feel free to reach out to me with prayer requests, questions, encouragement, or for information on how to come alongside me with financial support for the ministry activities that God has entrusted to me at pastord.blog@gmail.com