Keys to a Blessed Life

By JR Martin

What are God's blessings?

• Are they spiritual in nature, or can they be material items?

• Should we desire or even ask for God's blessings?

• Is there a reason God would withdraw His blessings from us?

• What do we need to door not doto be in line for God's blessings?

• Should we use "God bless you" as a catchphrase when greeting someone or telling them good-bye?

As JR wrote Keys to God's Blessings he allowed the Lord to help him answer these questions and more. As you read this book you will see that there are greater rewards than you can imagine as you seek God and His blessings.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Nov 25, 2015
• ISBN: 9781512719819

JR Martin

JR Martin was born in South Carolina and raised in Texas. As an adult, he has lived in California, Georgia, and has now settled in Clover, South Carolina. After serving in several leadership positions in churches as a volunteer, JR founded BAD Biker Motorcycle Ministry in 2011. His involvement in the motorcycle community has helped him develop a heart for those who don’t believe they need church. He is in the process of developing 8–10 minute YouTube videos that relate the Word of God to things in the motorcycle community. As a man who loves the Lord and is always searching for new tidbits within God’s Word, JR writes from the unique, hard-knocks perspective of the motorcycle community. Although he has never been to seminary, you will see that his writings are theologically sound. As JR lays his life and heart before you, you will see how God has moved within and guided his mind and heart to help others better understand God’s blessings.

Book preview

Copyright © 2015 JR Martin.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-5127-1982-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-1983-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-1981-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015918873

WestBow Press rev. date: 11/24/2015

Contents

Chapter 1 - Beginning the Journey

Chapter 2 - The Crossroads

Chapter 3 - Starting the Journey

Chapter 4 - Getting Beat Up

Chapter 5 - Starting Again; Learning the Truth

Chapter 6 - Learning to Seek

Chapter 7 - The Revelation

Chapter 8 - The Misconception

Chapter 9 - OK, I Chased God, Now What?

About the Author

When you want to know about life and what your priorities should be, you ask someone who, through their experiences, can guide you. JR Martin is that kind of man. When I read what he has to say, I feel I understand and better relate to what is important. There is great value in his words. Enjoy!

Pastor Todd Mozingo

Revive Church, Stuart FL

As you read Keys to a Blessed Life and hear from its pages the personal stories of JR Martin, you will discover that this not a book of theological debate, it is one of practical living and real life experiences that brought JR, and prayerfully you, to find the Keys to a Blessed Life.

Pastor Lewis Gunn, Jr.

Lake Wylie Christian Assembly

Lake Wylie, SC

This book is dedicated to all the people who want to be blessed by the Lord. May the Lord give you insight as you read about my struggles of chasing after God’s Blessings.

I also want to dedicate this book to Mary, my beautiful wife of 17 years and to David my grandson. You guys have put up with a lot of emotional ups and downs from me while I was writing this book. You are really special to me.

My greatest appreciation goes to Mary for having the desire and patience to edit this work. Your concern that an editor that didn’t know or understand me would edit my personality out of the writing shows that you believe in me and what God has called me to do. Thank you so very much.

A special thanks to Megan Hoeksema of Maggie Mae Photography [[e-mail]] for such a beautiful cover.

Beginning the Journey

As I begin to write this book I am very reluctant; reluctant for several reasons. First of all, I look at myself, and based on what I see, I have to ask, Who am I to even think I can write a book? And secondly, when thinking of the subject matter, God’s Blessings, I ask, Am I really qualified to talk about this? I still battle with my sinful nature, being just an ordinary man who knows Jesus on a personal level. I still struggle with wanting to do what I want to do. Besides, don’t you have to be a person with a doctorate in the subject to be an author? You know the intellectual type? Also, I must admit that I give into chasing my own desires sometimes. Speaking of that, I also find that when I do follow my desires I mess up and I feel burdened down. I will become angry because I know that this is not where I am supposed to be. I have even been discouraged and tinkered with the thought of giving up.

As I said, I am just an ordinary man, but God has given me the task of putting my story out for all to see. As you read this work may you also be blessed as I have been blessed? I am not on staff at any church or organization. Yes, I do attend a Bible believing, Bible teaching church in Rock Hill, South Carolina. To top off all of the inadequacies I have mentioned, God has called me from one ministry in the motorcycle community, to start another. It has taken eighteen months to actually kick that ministry off. In other words, I have been a procrastinator.

So, what gives me the right to attempt to write a book about God’s blessings? Simply said, God has allowed me to taste His Glory by the way He has blessed my family. He has allowed me to see a revelation that all can learn from and be blessed from if they choose to follow the path that God leads them down. Another reason I am reluctant to write this book is because most people will misunderstand the writing if they are not careful. They will misunderstand the intent of the message, and most importantly they will misunderstand the application to their own life.

In Luke 12:48 you will find the phrase to whom much is given, much will be required. I feel like God has given me a very valuable piece of information. It’s not new information; the Bible teaches that there is nothing new under the sun. This information was just presented to me by the influence of the Holy Spirit. It is not new information; it is a new way of looking at how to put it into practice. My intent in writing this book is not to persuade anyone to change anything about how they serve God. My intent is just to share with others what has worked for me and maybe spurn others on to find the way God has for them. A lot of authors write to sway people to their way of thinking. Some write