Did you ever feel that God wasted His time on someone?  Maybe even you?  I know I did. I honestly felt some years back that God wasted a blessing on me.  Yup, on me!  See, as I started really learning, not living God's Word, I saw blessings He had given me, gifts He had given me. But I was like, "Why me?"  I don't deserve these things.  But God felt I did, and who am I to determine what's good for me!

So here I am, finally ready to live by His Word. His love for you and me is contained within the covers of the Bible.  I finally started to develop a 
hunger and thirst for His Word.  Praise the Lord. But I wondered why He didn't give me that sooner.  He did.  When I got saved at the age of 21, and full of passion and compassion.  But what did I have passion for?  What did I have compassion for?  I had a passion for being a father.  Since I already had my first child one month before my 21st birthday.  My daughter didn't take the joy out of being 21, since I wasn't married.  I did what I wanted day in and day out. But when my little girl needed or wanted something, my world stopped.  She took center stage.  When she was with me I didn't drink, hang out, or call women over to my place.  Nah! It was
just me, her, & the Lord, but I never acknowledged the Lord's blessings until recently.  Now she is soon to be seven, and still loves me, thanks to the Lord giving her a patient, loving, & understanding mother.  I did the right thing from time to time.  I made sure she was christened.  She needed God's special attention because He knew I wasn't going to be active in her life for some time 
to come.  Praise the Lord for strong women!  No matter what I did to my daughter's mom, she never said a mean word about me to my little gem!  In all her tears and anger, she reinforced the words "Daddy's little girl" and "Daddy loves you!"  Now yes, it sounds like somebody else's testimony, a praise for God's great works in someone else, but it all ties to one thing: Love and living for the Lord!

I've been learning how we serve a loving, gracious, but jealous God!  Nothing is SUPPOSED to come before Him.  Notice the word "SUPPOSED!"  See, I put my daughter where God should have been, FIRST!  Two years after my daughter, my son comes along.  My wife and I were excited.  Now, I had a growing passion for being a husband, also.  So now, my wife, my kids, and being a father came before God.  And we know already how jealous our Lord is. If you don't know, you better read the Word!

Anyhow, I was "high on life."  I had a wife; "check!" I had a daughter; "check!" I had a son; "check!" Job? "Check!"  Finances in order? "Check!"  Wait, wait, wait! I'm missing something, you say.  You're right!  Three
letters that would have made me happier in all these things above: G-O-D!  I didn't have HIM in my life.  I never acknowledged HIM as the one doing  the things for me.  I was like a less powerful King Nebuchanezzer.  I took credit
for God's great works. Right when I get really high on myself, He knocks me down.  Way, way down!  Down to the bottom of every stinking bottle of liquor, the end of joints.  Financial distress.  But in the midst of that trouble He sent saints to me, to keep me alive. Barely.

The greatest gift I have received to this date from any man or woman on this earth?  You would not believe me if I told you.  When I was in a hospital for mentally distressed (psyche ward) an officer in my unit gave me his used pocket Bible.  New Testament, plus Psalms / Proverbs.  The greatest gift you could ever give to someone is a used, high-lighted, marked in Bible.  'Cause that is proof enough for anyone to believe that the Word of God will get you thru anything!

Today is kind of funny.  I've been wanting to write the last couple of days, but didn't know where to start. I was sitting next to a brother
(in Christ) of mine, & we were talking about the history of the English Bible, and now here I am writing about misplaced blessings, misplaced gifts, or what I thought were misplaced gifts.

I didn't deserve to make it this far.  (If you consider being in jail & having the best Christmas you've ever had making it far.)  This was my most blessed Holiday season so far.  And it was all because of the Lord.  He took everything out of my way, so I could focus on Him!  The greatest lesson I've learned from life comes from James 1: 2-4. I have definitely learned to be joyful for all the trials He brings my way.  I have become so calm, and peaceful on the inside, that I can show it easily on the outside.   My demeanor, my smile, my joy for praise to the Lord in all things.

He is the greatest gift-giver.  Giving us a peace that surpasses all understanding!  And if you unlock your heart and let the Lord in, you will never be in bondage. Because the Bible tells us "Surely ye that I have set free, are free indeed!"
Pray for your everlasting freedom, thank Him for blessing you when you know you don't deserve it. A lot of people say "God works in mysterious ways."  I like to say: "God works!"


Davey Arroyo Jr.

John 8:36 "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

James 1:2-4 "2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."