There are a couple of songs that I have been listening to lately on repeat that have caused me to focus in two directions of my life. The one that brings me peace is by Matthew West entitled “To Be With Jesus” with lyrics “When I go to be with Jesus/I’ll know I’m finally home/When my weary feet are walking on A street that’s paved in gold/No, this world ain’t where I’m staying/There’s somewhere else I’m meant to go/And when I go to be with Jesus/I’ll know I’m finally home.” And the other is about my past and how to look at it and encourage others not to make the same mistakes I have made entitled, “Dear younger me”, by MercyMe. Its whole focus is on what you would tell your younger self if you could. One specific line sticks out to me, “Dear younger me/Where do I start/If I could tell you everything that I have learned so far/Then you could be/One step ahead/Of all the painful memories still running thru my head/I wonder how much different things would be.” For many, what would we truly say or change if we could? I look back at all the decisions, good and bad, that I have made, and understand that it is those decisions that have helped make me into the Christian I am today. My first thoughts were, DON’T take that first drink. STAY away from drugs, especially meth. DON”T look at porn. Be CAREFUL who you associate with, especially when it comes to marriage. More importantly, look to Jesus for help, not to all that the world has to offer. I am encouraged by what is written in *Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound 3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…* God has made “beauty from ashes” in my life whether I really wanted it or not. He has encouraged me to reach out to the lost and broken in the world around me, because when I was lost and broken many turned the other way. Through all the pain that I have experienced, I know one thing for sure, if God can use me, a wretched sinner, He can use anyone. Since coming to Jesus, I have been blessed to be able to help countless others get through their own hell, all because of the hell that God helped me get through. One part of the song that causes the most sorrow and yet is also the greatest truth I need to deal with is, “Dear younger me/It’s not your fault/You were never meant to carry this beyond the cross.” For those of you that are going through “Something”, anything, know that Jesus loves you and I love you too! My BeLoved, may the grace of the Lord Jesus, and the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen. In Christ Love, douglas. HE>i. pastord.blog

Special Note: I want to thank those who read what I write and are encouraged to give either one time or have decided to give on a monthly basis in support of the different ministries God has entrusted to me. I am encouraged to see certain verses playing out before my eyes like what is written in *Philippians 4:16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.*

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 or I do have a Zelle account associated with my phone number, 5202720387 last name Blaser. Thank you my Beloved for your ongoing prayers and support.