Site Title

What does it mean to examine our ways and heart?

                                                By

                          Anthony Joseph Hopkins

          This is an essay that will ask a very important question.  What does it mean to examine our ways and heart?  This is a plan for repentance and renewal.  Turn Back!! Repentance in the Old Testament prophets is often expressed by the verb To Turn!!  Lift our hearts and hands: Lifting hands was a common posture in prayer.

          According to Lamentations 5:21: The one word turn can summarize God’s message to His rebellious people.  In one of Jeremiah’s earlier messages, he had exhorted the people to turn to God no less than seven times.  Return means to “Return” to God in faith.

          When it comes to repentance, I have to completely stop what I had done wrong, and give it to the Lord God.  The definition of the word repent means to turn back.  As it pertains to the topic of discussion, this gives us an opportunity to examine carefully who we are in the eyes of God.  It also enables us to write down on paper all of our positive and negative things about ourselves.  We have to speak with the Lord privately first and foremost.  Before we seek wise counsel with others, we first must confess our sins to the Lord.

          Next, in this case, this means that everything that we did wrong in our personal life, we ask God to forgive us.  As far as our ways and heart is concerned, we must take a real long look at ourselves.  Do you really like what you see?  This is a question that we really need to ask ourselves right now.  For instance, in my case, I tend to ask myself this same question every single day.  I have a lot of health issues right now.  I am taking 22 prescription medications that I am currently taking is Remron, Prozac, Vistaril, Trilafon, and Phenobarbital.  I have been taking these medications for over 20 years now.

          Further, I currently take these medications for seizures and depression.  How do you feel about yourself right now? I feel pretty good about my outlook on life, and my overall behavior as completely changed since taking the medications.  In Step 10 in Alcoholics Anonymous states that we continue to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

1. We review our day at its entirety.  Do we have to make amends with anyone else or God?  Sometimes the answer to this question is yes.  For me personally, I have to examine all of my character defects and disclose them with God or with my A.A. Sponsor.  Right now, I have to write an essay each day of the week just to cope with a mental illness.  I have to pray and read the Bible each day of the week.
2. When we examine our ways, we look at every little thing that makes us tick.  For Example, we focus on having an intimate relationship with God.  Are you ready to have an intimate relationship with God?
3. The definition of the word examine means to look at carefully.  I am the type of person who is very intelligent, nice, kind, polite, patient, considerate, warm, brave, clean, and meticulous.

Finally, we are ready to have an intimate relationship with God by confessing our sins to Him!

     As soon as I say that I am ready to do your will Lord.  First, I must confess all of my sins to the Lord God.  I might even write them down on a piece of paper and tell God exactly what is burdening me. Also, one thing that I can say is that I feel much better when it comes to releasing all of my negative energy to Him.  I also ask Him what he wants me to do right now and in the future.  I ask the Lord to please let me hear His voice.  God already know the things that you need long before you ask Him.  He will supply all of your needs.

Are you glad that we serve an understanding God? I am glad that I serve Him for myself.  Please continue to pray for me each day because I suffer from glaucoma and cataracts as well.

No man naturally walks in the way of life, nor can anyone simply figure it out on his own. All of us need the instruction found in God’s Word in order to walk in the way that leads to life everlasting. If we refuse correction by God’s Word, we sin against our own souls. Amen.

Psalms 7:10, And What it Means to All People?

        Psalms 7:10 says, My defense is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.  My only defense is God because He knows me more than anyone else.  I am saying this because before I was born, He knew me, when I was inside of my mother’s womb.  God sanctified me and ordained me as a prophet to the

Nations.  I know that I am not perfect.  God only want all of us to share His message with everyone.

Next, I have a defense because Satan is very busy trying to recruit as many people that he can; just to do his job.  I feel at this time that I am going to heaven to join God and Jesus Christ.  I am saying this because Jesus Christ died for my sins as well as all of you.  I know that in Romans 3:23 says For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  I know that this Bible verse applies to me as well.  This is the reason why I am very serious about being with Jesus Christ. 

Further, I am doing my very best to share the Bible with everyone.  My family members are not taking me serious.  My family members think that I am only trying to earn some brownies points with God.  The reason why my family is not taking me serious is simply because of my past relationships with women.  I am a Child of The Most High God.  My family members think that I am a hypocrite.  I am taking this Walk with God very serious.  I know that my family members would like for me to become a father someday.  Honestly, God has plans for my life right now.

Moreover, God is inside of me right now.  This is the reason why I am taking this serious.  God is walking and talking for me.  I know that God is doing this because I wanted Him to walk and talk for me.  I haven’t used any vulgarity in almost 3 months now.  I don’t argue with anyone anymore.  It is not worth it.

Jeremiah 10:23 says, Oh Lord I know that the way of man is not in himself.  It is not in man, who walks to direct his own steps.  This means that God is doing for us, more than we are doing for ourselves.

Finally, I want all of you to please keep me in your prayers and thoughts 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏. Because I had eye surgery the day before yesterday, and I am very sleepy, but I have pain inside of my eyes again.  God Bless You All!!  I really need all of you to keep me in constant prayer because my vision is blurry.  

James 5:19-20, and what it means to Me Personally!!

     Good Day Everyone!!  How are you doing today?  Fine, I hope.  I would like to talk about what James 5:19-20 means to all of us.

     The Bible Verse says: My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this:

Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins. 

This is exactly what I have been doing for my family members and friends.  I know that I am reading the Bible every single day of the week.

 I want to say that I am still a work that is in progress.  I know that I have been through a lot of stuff; within the past five years.  I know that my life have been filled with ups and downs.

     Anytime I am walking the streets, I am looking for someone to help.  I usually look for someone to assist me with a situation.  You see, I am a Networker.  I am the type of person who uses the power of negotiation to my advantage.

I really love to help people on a daily basis.  I do not look for anything in return.  I would prefer helping others.  I know that I am a beggar, seeking other beggars who need to eat bread.  As long as I can help other sinners and beggars to obtain bread is very important to me.  Like they say, you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink.

    

God has put me on earth to help other people, who are in need.  I know for myself that God wants me to be fruitful and multiply.

 However, I have decided to help other people by giving them money to purchase food instead of alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, and wine.  I am clean and sober by the grace of God every single day.

Further, I want to say that; this is my calling at this time.  I know that I have to pay my rent and essentials for me to maintain a decent place to live.  I am a 57 year old man who have learned a lot of life lessons.  For example, I have used my experience, for life living to help people to get where they need to go.

Moreover, I want to inform all of you that I am depended on God.  God is a Faithful God.  God is doing for me, more than I am doing for myself.  This is the truth.  I know that I am online typing this essay for everyone to read it.  Have you set your life on the side of God?

  I have considered my bathroom as my secret closet.  I know that I can talk to God every single day of the week.  I am a very honest and giving person.  I only want to make sure that everyone is happy.

In Addition, I want to say to those who need help to please contact me by using my email.  Please go to hopkinsanthony33@gmail.com:  Please seek me out because I am willing to help you.  My mother told me before she passed away that I am going to some great things for God.

Also, I am going to write an autobiography about my life because someone is in need of an anointing.  There are a lot of people who really need help financially, spiritually, emotionally, and psychologically.  Without God’s Help, I am at no use!!  I am only flesh and blood myself.  I am waiting for my Spiritual Body. 

Jeremiah 10:23 says Oh Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself, it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.  This is official for me to help other people because I am seeking a good paying job.

 I owe $28,000 thousand dollars in student loan debts.  I attended school at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte for a short time.  As long as I want my life to be in God’s Presence in our lives.  I am very happy to become a Child of the Most High God.  I know that God Loves Me for the person that I am right now.

Finally, I want to inform all of you that I am helping everyone, who I am in contact with each day of the week.  I know that my life has changed for the better.  To pray without ceasing to maintain a constant and dependence upon God.

In Conclusion, I want to inform all of you that we are all World Changers.  I am letting all of you know that love is definitely here to stay.  I want to inform all of you that I am making mends with all of my persecutors.  I am depending on God to help me.

With a score this high, it’s likely your life feels pretty great most of the time. You know what inspires you. You know what brings you joy. You know what energizes you. And you do a wonderful job on consciously bringing these things into your life.

The beautiful thing about being at this point in your journey is that you have the opportunity to further deepen your commitment to a purpose-centered life.

What you’ll find is that by doing this, you’ll not only feel more alive but also discover that your purpose is multi-faceted—and connected to something more universal. You’ll see how your purpose fits into the bigger picture, and you’ll understand how it can expand to other forms of activism and interest while still feeling personal.

We all have a shared universal purpose—and that purpose is love.

And if you want to go even deeper into exploring your purpose, you can now pre-order Robert’s highly anticipated new book Higher Purpose: How to Find More Inspiration, Meaning, and Purpose in Your Life, in which Robert guides you through four stages of finding purpose and outlines how various levels of life purpose can transform your life.

Pre-order Today ➤

If you pre-order before the book publishes on Tuesday, November 1, you can enter to win one of five life-purpose coaching sessions with Robert—plus you’ll get additional exclusive access to the recordings of the Higher Purpose Challenge. Learn more about this exciting offer here.

https://www.facebook.com/v11.0/plugins/share_button.php?app_id=499747963536660&channel=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticxx.facebook.com%2Fx%2Fconnect%2Fxd_arbiter%2F%3Fversion%3D46%23cb%3Df38587663a298%26domain%3Dwww.discover.hayhouse.com%26is_canvas%3Dfalse%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.discover.hayhouse.com%252Ff1ee0c58db34c78%26relation%3Dparent.parent&container_width=0&href=https%3A%2F%2Fexplore.hayhouse.com%2Fsf%2Fd38f6087&layout=button_count&locale=en_US&sdk=joey&size=small

© 2022 Hay House, Inc. | All Rights Reserved
Hay House: Privacy Policy | Terms of Use |  Contact Us

“I love this book! Higher Purpose weaves a golden thread that connects you to your higher purpose, reminds you of what is important, and guides you in practical ways to live your most joyful, blissful life.”

— Rebecca Campbell, author of Rise Sister Rise and Light is the New Black

‹

›

Pre-order Today ➤

Acting with love as your core purpose will not only change the world but also inspire you to keep focusing on living with purpose. It’s one of the most fulfilling positive feedback loops in existence.  

Check out this video from best-selling author and life-purpose coach Robert Holden, author of the new book Higher Purpose, to learn about how further connecting with your higher purpose can change your own life—and ripple outward into the world around you.

Learn More Here ➤

As a bonus for taking this quiz, you will also get access to Robert’s FREE Finding Your Higher Purpose Challenge, which builds on what you just learned.

In this challenge—which begins on Monday, October 24 and runs to Thursday, October 27—Robert will coach you to discover your life purpose using the key principles and practices from his pioneering work, including his scientifically tested 8-week happiness program. During these live webinars you’ll go on a journey from looking for your purpose to living your purpose!

What Does Reading the Holy Bible Means to Me?  By Anthony Joseph Hopkins August 26, 2022

     What does Reading the Holy Bible Means to me?  It means that God is talking directly to me.  God’s Words absorbs inside of my brain like a sponge.  It gives me the knowledge and the special action words that I need to listen to each day.

    

Next, God’s Word gives me the confidence to do what is necessary for me to survive on earth.  Every single time I read His Word, it helps me to grow as a human being.  I want you to know that I really love reading God’s Word.  His Word helps me to mature as an adult male; living on planet earth.

     Further, I want to inform all of you that I am willing to share God’s Word to everyone who is willing to hear it.  I want to inform all of you that 2^nd Timothy 3:16-17 says All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

     Moreover, I want to say that if I need someone to talk to each day, I can always read God’s Word and it will calm me completely down if I am under a lot of stress.  However, I know that God hears my prayers each and every single day of the week.  I want to say that I am not a perfect person.  I am a person who makes a lot of mistakes.  I am a person who apologizes to God and other people if I have done something to offend them.

     

In Addition, I want to inform all of you that my life has been filled with ups and downs during the past 56 years.  I know that I have disappointed my parents numerous of times by my actions.  My emotions during the past 56 years have been filled with angry feelings.  I cried every single time my parents argued in front of me and my siblings.

     Furthermore, my parents were alcoholics.  There were times when they did not know how to control their liquor.  God talks to me all of the time.  I want to inform all of you that God listens to all of my cries.   I remember the very day that I had quit drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana.  On Wednesday May 2, 1990, I have decided to give up the high cost to low living.  This means I stopped drinking alcohol and stopped smoking marijuana on that special day.  I want to inform all of you that this day is very special to me because two days later, I had a hernia operation on May 4, 1990.

 

 

 

 

     Also, I want to inform all of you that was with me even throughout my College Career.  From Monday April 1, 1991 through Saturday June 14, 1996.  I graduated from college twice.  I earned my Associates Degree on Saturday June 12, 1993 from the University of Toledo Community and Technical College.  I had a lot of fun during that special day.  My Supervisor gave me a job two days later.  After I completed my internship, I earned an A+ Grade for the work that I had done at the Jerusalem Outreach Center in Toledo, Ohio.

 

 

 

 

 

     Finally, God was with me again as soon as I graduated with my Bachelors Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies on Saturday June 17, 1995.  God was with me because my behavior was not the best because I was acting like a crying baby at times.  He heard all of my cries and concerns.  I thought I was not going to make it through College.  He did all of the work.  The only thing I did was show up for class each day.  I will admit that my behavior during class was not the best.  This is the reason why God stepped in and help me to resolve all of my problems.

Today is one of those days that I should have stayed home.

      This is the truth because I arrived here at the Library with absolutely nothing to do.  I came across this Bible Verse, and right now, I am convinced that there is a whole lot to do in our personal lives.  This Bible Verse indicates that we are supposed to expose darkness, but rather reprove them. 

You see, there is a whole lot to do for God right now.  I want to say that I will never say that I am bored anymore because God just told me to type a letter to the masses of people.  I want to say that I will live for Him.  There is no such thing as being bored inside of the eyes of God.

How Do We Teach Our Children How to Obey God?          This is an essay that asks a very important question.  How do we teach our children how to obey God?  According to Deuteronomy 6:7 says: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.  This means our primary emphasis is to teach our children how to love the Lord God.         This also means that we are supposed to love the Lord with all of thy heart, soul, mind, and strength.  When it comes to teaching our children about the Bible, they learn by watching their parents.  If the parents are reading the Bible to their children, teaching their children how to pray, and taking them to church all of the time, and conducting themselves like a true Christian, then a child will never forget about the Lord.  According to proverbs 22:6 says: Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he gets old, he will not depart from it.         I remember when I was growing up in the Dayton, Ohio Area from 1970-1990.  I attended church with my grandmothers on a regular basis.  My Great Grandmother indicated that she was taking me to church, so that I can grow up and be a real man.  She read the Bible to me on a regular basis.  I attended Bethel Church of God in Christ in Dayton, Ohio.  My Great Grandmother stated to me that she was raising me because my mother suffered from postpartum depression.  This is a mental illness that affects pregnant mothers worldwide.  My mother decided to take me to my Grandmother’s house and I had a lot of fun.         At first, I did not understand what was going on with my mother at that time.  I went through a lot of changes myself because on May 30, 1972, I went to live with my mother and afterwards, I started drinking and smoking marijuana at the age of 7 years old.  However, I was born with alcohol inside of my bloodstream because my mother was drinking alcohol during that time.  My mother was also responsible for taking me to church on a regular basis herself.  One mistake that my mother made was trying to change my name.  My birth name is Anthony Joseph Hopkins.  She changed my name because she was married to a man that was not my own biological father.           I had to make changes to my own school records because I told my school counselor that the name that I was using Anthony Joseph Russell was not my real name.  I officially changed my name because it did not make sense what my mother had done to me as a person.  My own mother tried to alter my identity.  I have forgiven my mother for what she had done to me.   I will admit that I felt ashamed about having that name.  I used to examine my birth certificate and social security card and say to myself, why did Mom do this to me?            I have read the Bible over and over for the past 40 years.  I have always wondered why all of the bad things happened to me as a person.  My own stepfather stabbed me when I was a senior in high school.  I had to protect my own little brother on November 25, 1985.  If I didn’t put my arm in the way shielding my little brother, he would have been dead.  Therefore, I got stabbed with a hook knife.  To be perfectly honest, I almost bled to death from my injuries.          I will admit that there are things that I had done to my own mother and stepfather when I was much younger.  Like they say in Ephesians 6:1, Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.  There are times when I was a child that I even resented my own stepfather.  I even got into a fist fight with him immediately after he stabbed me with the hook knife that he had in his possession at the time.  There are times when I have actual flashbacks from the things that I had to endure in my personal life.          Finally, I am very sorry for mentioning all of this, but I have to tell the truth.  My name is Anthony Joseph Hopkins, and I am a 56-year-old man from Dayton, Ohio.  I used to live in Charlotte, NC for 12 and a half years.  I have been incarcerated a total of 26 times within the past 21 years.  I graduated from the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio on June 12, 1993 and June 17, 1995 respectively.  There are times when I meditate about the past and there are times when my own family members argue with me about the past.  God loves me and this is all that matters to me right now.  I have come a very long way in my personal life. 

Explanation and Commentary of Matthew 10:36

After explaining that he did not come to bring peace, but a sword, Jesus now says that a “man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.” Understandably, this can be confusing for many. After all, is Jesus not the Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6)? Did he not say, “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Mt 5:9)? To be sure, Jesus’ death on the cross brought peace, first with God, and then with our fellow man. But here, Jesus is speaking in a completely different context.

Jesus was not as popular as one might have expected him to be in his life and his earthly ministry. He was, in fact, a rather polarizing person and proclaimed an even more polarizing message. To understand how the message of the already/not yet kingdom of God could be bad news for some, we have to remember that Jesus entered into the midst of a fallen and broken world, where many were given over to satan and were being somewhat rewarded for doing so by the prince of darkness. The evil one is content sometimes to wait until a person is in hell before he really begins to torture him. Otherwise, we might turn from him and to God in repentance. Those who are benefiting on earth from his reign will not only be resistant to Jesus, but also to his people. It is an absolute certainty that some will face this resistance from those in their own households.

Christians would do well to ask themselves if they are getting along too well with the world. We should be loving and forgiving, which are often qualities that are attractive to evening hardest hearts, but we should also be able to stand for truth in a culture that hates that truth. It is probably a sign this is exactly what is not happening if “all men love you” (Lk 6:26). All men did not love Jesus, and they will not love us either.

Breaking Down the Key Parts of Matthew 10:36

#1 “…a man’s enemies…”
In one sense the Christian has no enemies because we are called to love our enemies. We may be their enemies, but they cease to be ours when we love and forgive them. But in this sense, Jesus means those who hate us and persecute us for following Jesus.

#2 “…will be the members of his own household.”
This is tragic but true. It is purely the grace of God when all one’s household repents and loves Jesus, such as was the case with the Philippian jailer. Nevertheless, many are called, but few are chosen (Mt 22:14), so it should come as no surprise when some in our own household oppose us in our faith.

Psalm 147:3, And What It Means to All People.

      Good Day Everyone!!  How are you doing today?  Fine, I hope.  I want to inform all of you that Psalms 147:3 is the topic of today.  Psalms 147:3 says; He health the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.  This Bible verse means that God is with all of us.

  He heals our broken hearts, and He bindeth up our wounds.  I want to say that God is my best friend.  God is my Best Friend because He hears my cries, and He smiles at me when I am doing something good.  I know that God rejoices when we do things that pleases Him.

Further, I want to inform all of you that God helped me graduate from college on two occasions.  I want to say that God is responsible for helping me with my bad attitude.  I know this because; His Spirit is inside of me. According to John 14:26, it states that He will give you an Advocate, which is the Holy Spirit to teach you, and put things into your remembrance.

      The Lord is still inside of us.  He is doing for all of us, more than we are doing for ourselves.  I want to inform all of you that everything that is inside of the Holy Bible is the truth.  At least, I can say that it reminds me of the Footprints inside of the Sand. God is really with us at all times. 

I know for me personally, I remember when I used to use vulgarity all of the time.  Right Now, I ask God to remove the bad thoughts that I have inside of my heart.  I know that we have to remember who is in charge right now.  It is not me; personally, it is God.  God knew all of us before we were born.  According to Jeremiah 1:5 states that: Before you were born, I knew you, before you were born, I sanctified you, and ordained you as a prophet to the Nations.

   God understands our heart, mind, soul, and emotions.  I have been writing essays for the past 30 years now.  I have been keeping a journal since I was in the 7^th grade.  I have been writing down my personal feelings inside of a tablet for many years now.  The teachers used to remind all of us as students to write down our personal feelings.  This is what I have been doing for 45 years now.

        I write down all of my feelings.  I share my journal with my therapist.  I have been sharing with him what the voices have been saying to me.  Yes, I suffer from Schizoid Affective Disorder right now.  I have been suffering from a mental illness for the past 25 years now.

  I know that God is with me every single day of the week.  My therapist does not want me to write down what the voices are saying to me.  It is like; living inside of the problem all over again.  I am trying to cope with something that I have had for the past 25 years now.  I am a very happy person right now. I have been keeping my emotions in check for the past 13 years now.

      Finally, I want to inform all of you that I love all of you very much.  I have been clean and sober for the past 32 years now.  I have not smoked marijuana since Wednesday May 2, 1990.  I have not consumed any alcohol since May 2, 1990.  I am very happy to be clean and sober right now. 

In Conclusion, I want to say that I do not hang around my friends, who drink alcohol and smoke marijuana because I can end up getting caught up all over again.  I do not smoke cigarettes.  I have not smoked a cigarette since January 21, 1990.  This is the reason why I know that God is with me.  I am very happy to become a Child of The Most High God.  I am happy, joyous, and free.