"I do not mean that I am already as God wants me to be. I have not yet reached the goal, but I continue trying to reach it and make it mine. Christ wants me to do that, which is the reason he made me his. Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not reached that goal, but there is one thing I always do. Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead. I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me through Christ to the life above."
Philippians 3:12-14
As I become more mature in Christ, I realize I want more. I'm not happy with just showing up for church on Sundays, worshiping God, and going home. Being a Christian is so much more than that. It's a continual relationship with God that flourishes through prayer and reading the word. It's having an attitude of praise, whether you are with other Christians or by yourself. It's not about "look at me", it's about look at what Christ can do when you surrender your life to him.
If you have truly accepted Jesus Christ into your heart, you can't possible be the same person you once were. You should have a changed heart. Your thoughts, your actions, your goals all become different. Your wants and desires change. You want to be pleasing to Christ and want to learn more about him. The gray areas of your personal opinions and convictions become more black and white. You stop riding the teeter totter of life that has one foot in the world and the other occasional seeking God. It's a sanctification process that people who don't believe won't understand. You'll be called judgmental and radical. You will be condemned and ostracized at times. Is it hard to be a Christian? Absolutely! But I believe in a God who sent his son to die upon a cross and forgive my sins, so that I could have everlasting life. How many of your friends, co-workers, or family members would do that for you? Now that's radical.
If you claim to be a Christian, start acting like one! Many people refuse to come to Christ because they are turned off by the words and actions of so-called Christians. Anger, gossip, and arrogance are the very things that cause the world to view Christians as hypocrites. I don't want to be viewed as that type of Christian. I want the world to see the love and compassion of Christ in all I do and say. We need to get serious about our commitment to Christ and the way that we live. Do Christians sin? Absolutely! But if you claim to be a Christian, you won't want to stay in your sin for very long.
Start running the race that Christ has called you to run. Press on to the top of the steep hills and catch your breath as you go down the other side. Cry out to Jesus to help you overcome the battles within you. Strive to reach the ultimately goal...everlasting life with your father in heaven!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
"Shine Your Light"
"You are the light that gives light to the world." Matthew 4:14
Every Tuesday night, a group of faithful Promise Land members gather at 6:30 p.m. to shine their light in the world through visitation. I have to admit, I've never been a big fan of visitation. I've always felt like it's a bit intrusive. Most people don't want to be bothered by people they don't know when they come home from work and are trying to relax. Boy, have I been wrong! God has certainly given me the one, two punch on this one.
It wasn't until last night that I began to realize visitation can help the people who maybe don't go to church or who feel intimidated by coming before a large group of people to accept Christ. Visitation often allows people a chance to meet Jesus in the comfort of their own homes, where they are most vulnerable.
Last night was an incredible night for one man who has been struggling with alcoholism. After being sober for over 100 days, he was on the verge of taking another drink. He wanted so badly to abstain, but the chains of his addiction were overwhelming. Throughout the day, he had even called a friend to stay with him until his wife came home to prevent him from giving in to the power of alcohol. He was depressed, fearful, and broken.
Knock, knock...here come the faithful Promise Land members, bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ and shining their light on someone in need. To make a long story short, the chains of addiction were broken last night. The man who had been so close to taking another drink, drank of the living water and was healed! He cried out to Jesus and asked for forgiveness and was saved. He has a new life in Christ and will never be the same!
I challenge you to share your faith and be the light we have been called to be. Don't be fearful of what people may think. Through Jesus Christ, you have the power to change lives!
P.S. Pray for our Visitation ministry. They need our support, encouragement, and prayers weekly.
Every Tuesday night, a group of faithful Promise Land members gather at 6:30 p.m. to shine their light in the world through visitation. I have to admit, I've never been a big fan of visitation. I've always felt like it's a bit intrusive. Most people don't want to be bothered by people they don't know when they come home from work and are trying to relax. Boy, have I been wrong! God has certainly given me the one, two punch on this one.
It wasn't until last night that I began to realize visitation can help the people who maybe don't go to church or who feel intimidated by coming before a large group of people to accept Christ. Visitation often allows people a chance to meet Jesus in the comfort of their own homes, where they are most vulnerable.
Last night was an incredible night for one man who has been struggling with alcoholism. After being sober for over 100 days, he was on the verge of taking another drink. He wanted so badly to abstain, but the chains of his addiction were overwhelming. Throughout the day, he had even called a friend to stay with him until his wife came home to prevent him from giving in to the power of alcohol. He was depressed, fearful, and broken.
Knock, knock...here come the faithful Promise Land members, bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ and shining their light on someone in need. To make a long story short, the chains of addiction were broken last night. The man who had been so close to taking another drink, drank of the living water and was healed! He cried out to Jesus and asked for forgiveness and was saved. He has a new life in Christ and will never be the same!
I challenge you to share your faith and be the light we have been called to be. Don't be fearful of what people may think. Through Jesus Christ, you have the power to change lives!
P.S. Pray for our Visitation ministry. They need our support, encouragement, and prayers weekly.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
"He Knows"
"I say this because I know what I am planning for you, says the Lord. I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future. Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will search for me. And when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me!" Jeremiah 29:11-13
Ever wonder why you go through "bad" things in life? I know I do. And I must admit, my first instinct is to cry out...why me? I'm a good person. I didn't ask for this. It's not fair. Sound familiar?
As I grow in Christ, I'm beginning to see, it's not always about me or my selfish wants and desires. It's all about him! What we consider to be "bad" things may ultimately be a "good" thing for us or for someone else. God is in control and knows what he is doing.
Consider this...God may be using the storm in your life to bring you to the point where you are broken and ready to be accepting of his will for your life. When we have our own agendas, he can't do his work. He needs us to be open and willing to listen.
He may also be using the storm in your life to help someone else. Today the Lord used me to help someone that is going through a similar storm that I experienced 20 years ago. How crazy is it that God knew 20 years ago that I would be sharing my experience with someone else today? That just blows my mind. That's how awesome our God is!
While God's plans are not always the plan we would have for ourselves, it's always the better path. If you are making choices that you know are not pleasing to God, search your heart and repent! Everyone sins (both Christians and non-believers). The difference is, if you are a Christian, you feel convicted and ashamed. You won't want to bathe in your sin for too long before you realize you need to take a bath. Ask the Lord to forgive you and you will be forgiven.
The Lord tells us in Jeremiah that if we search for him, we will find him. We just need to ask. It's then that we will begin to see the plans he has laid out for us and the work he is doing in our lives.
Good or bad, our experiences make us who we are. Allow the Lord to move in your life in a mighty way using your experiences to change your life and help others in need.
Ever wonder why you go through "bad" things in life? I know I do. And I must admit, my first instinct is to cry out...why me? I'm a good person. I didn't ask for this. It's not fair. Sound familiar?
As I grow in Christ, I'm beginning to see, it's not always about me or my selfish wants and desires. It's all about him! What we consider to be "bad" things may ultimately be a "good" thing for us or for someone else. God is in control and knows what he is doing.
Consider this...God may be using the storm in your life to bring you to the point where you are broken and ready to be accepting of his will for your life. When we have our own agendas, he can't do his work. He needs us to be open and willing to listen.
He may also be using the storm in your life to help someone else. Today the Lord used me to help someone that is going through a similar storm that I experienced 20 years ago. How crazy is it that God knew 20 years ago that I would be sharing my experience with someone else today? That just blows my mind. That's how awesome our God is!
While God's plans are not always the plan we would have for ourselves, it's always the better path. If you are making choices that you know are not pleasing to God, search your heart and repent! Everyone sins (both Christians and non-believers). The difference is, if you are a Christian, you feel convicted and ashamed. You won't want to bathe in your sin for too long before you realize you need to take a bath. Ask the Lord to forgive you and you will be forgiven.
The Lord tells us in Jeremiah that if we search for him, we will find him. We just need to ask. It's then that we will begin to see the plans he has laid out for us and the work he is doing in our lives.
Good or bad, our experiences make us who we are. Allow the Lord to move in your life in a mighty way using your experiences to change your life and help others in need.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Change My Heart
"Create in me a pure heart, God, and make my spirit right again." Psalm 51:10
I think this verse best describes my daily prayer. When you become a Christian, you aren't closed off from the rest of the world. Sin is all around. It's the basic philosophy of "garbage in, garbage out". If we allow ungodly things of this world to corrupt our minds and spirit, we will become hardened to the truth in God's world. Your views become clouded and you become more accepting of the things that God clearly says are not acceptable (adultery, a deceitful tongue, unforgiveness, anger, envy, selfish ambition, idolatry, jealousy...the list goes on) Think of what we see on TV, billboards, magazines, etc. Ask yourself if they are pleasing to God. Ask yourself if they could possibly affect the way you think, feel, and treat others.
My prayer is that my heart be changed so that others can see the love of Christ in me. As Christians, we are called to be a light in the world. If we are acting like the world, how we do that?
As Christ does a work in us, we should start to recognize some of our character traits change. Here's a few character traits God is working with me on right now:
Availability vs. Self-centeredness - Adjusting my personal responsibilities around the needs of those whom I am serving. (Philippians 2:20-21)
Compassion vs. Indifference - Investing whatever is necessary to heal the hurts of others. (1st John 3:17-18)
Endurance vs. Giving Up - The inward strength to withstand stress to accomplish God's best.(Galatians 6:9)
If you ask Christ to change your heart and truly want him to do a work in you, he will! Always remember, you have a new life in Christ and we are a reflection of him.
*The description and explanation of character traits was copied from "Couples in the Bible" by Sylvia Charles. VERY GOOD BOOK!
I think this verse best describes my daily prayer. When you become a Christian, you aren't closed off from the rest of the world. Sin is all around. It's the basic philosophy of "garbage in, garbage out". If we allow ungodly things of this world to corrupt our minds and spirit, we will become hardened to the truth in God's world. Your views become clouded and you become more accepting of the things that God clearly says are not acceptable (adultery, a deceitful tongue, unforgiveness, anger, envy, selfish ambition, idolatry, jealousy...the list goes on) Think of what we see on TV, billboards, magazines, etc. Ask yourself if they are pleasing to God. Ask yourself if they could possibly affect the way you think, feel, and treat others.
My prayer is that my heart be changed so that others can see the love of Christ in me. As Christians, we are called to be a light in the world. If we are acting like the world, how we do that?
As Christ does a work in us, we should start to recognize some of our character traits change. Here's a few character traits God is working with me on right now:
Availability vs. Self-centeredness - Adjusting my personal responsibilities around the needs of those whom I am serving. (Philippians 2:20-21)
Compassion vs. Indifference - Investing whatever is necessary to heal the hurts of others. (1st John 3:17-18)
Endurance vs. Giving Up - The inward strength to withstand stress to accomplish God's best.(Galatians 6:9)
If you ask Christ to change your heart and truly want him to do a work in you, he will! Always remember, you have a new life in Christ and we are a reflection of him.
*The description and explanation of character traits was copied from "Couples in the Bible" by Sylvia Charles. VERY GOOD BOOK!
Friday, August 8, 2008
Running From God???
"Don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." James 4:4
Ouch! This one really hurts! If you ever wondered what God thinks of you as you dibble in the things of the world, here's your answer.
God can only tolerate your behavior for so long. Many of us call ourselves Christians, but run into the arms of the world seeking guidance from unsaved friends, pleasure, numbness to pain, and selfish desires. The truth is...we should be running into the arms of Christ. He will give us the "replacements" we are searching from the world.
I know it may sound easy, but it's not. Nobody ever said that once you accept Christ as your Savior, you won't be tempted. Temptations are everywhere and Satan knows this. There are things I struggle with daily. The key is to overcome temptations by walking daily with Christ.
The first thing you should do is get in the word. If you don't have a Bible that you can understand and comprehend, get one. It makes a world of difference. I can honestly say I never read God's word and got it until the last few years. Part of the reason is because my heart is finally in the right place and ready to accept his directions for living. The other part is because I use 3 different Bibles to help me understand what God's word really means.
The next thing you should do is pray. Prayer is very important to Godly living. Talk to God like he is a friend, even if you think you don't make any sense. He knows your heart and longs to hear from you.
Praise and worship is equally important. It's more than just singing. It's an attitude that nurtures the spirit within to bear the fruits that God intends for you to share with others. Galatians 5 tells us that we are to have the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control.
When you run from God, you are causing destruction to yourself. In most cases, the damage is to the body, soul, and spirit. Recognize that Satan wants to destroy your new life in Christ. Stop running and start fighting the spiritual battle that rages inside you. Through Christ, you will always win!
"I can do all things though Christ because he gives me strength." Philippians 4:13.
LIVE IT...BELIEVE IT...CLING TO IT! There is always hope in Jesus Christ!
Ouch! This one really hurts! If you ever wondered what God thinks of you as you dibble in the things of the world, here's your answer.
God can only tolerate your behavior for so long. Many of us call ourselves Christians, but run into the arms of the world seeking guidance from unsaved friends, pleasure, numbness to pain, and selfish desires. The truth is...we should be running into the arms of Christ. He will give us the "replacements" we are searching from the world.
I know it may sound easy, but it's not. Nobody ever said that once you accept Christ as your Savior, you won't be tempted. Temptations are everywhere and Satan knows this. There are things I struggle with daily. The key is to overcome temptations by walking daily with Christ.
The first thing you should do is get in the word. If you don't have a Bible that you can understand and comprehend, get one. It makes a world of difference. I can honestly say I never read God's word and got it until the last few years. Part of the reason is because my heart is finally in the right place and ready to accept his directions for living. The other part is because I use 3 different Bibles to help me understand what God's word really means.
The next thing you should do is pray. Prayer is very important to Godly living. Talk to God like he is a friend, even if you think you don't make any sense. He knows your heart and longs to hear from you.
Praise and worship is equally important. It's more than just singing. It's an attitude that nurtures the spirit within to bear the fruits that God intends for you to share with others. Galatians 5 tells us that we are to have the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control.
When you run from God, you are causing destruction to yourself. In most cases, the damage is to the body, soul, and spirit. Recognize that Satan wants to destroy your new life in Christ. Stop running and start fighting the spiritual battle that rages inside you. Through Christ, you will always win!
"I can do all things though Christ because he gives me strength." Philippians 4:13.
LIVE IT...BELIEVE IT...CLING TO IT! There is always hope in Jesus Christ!
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
True Healing
"He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5
Nine Years ago yesterday would have been my mom's 61st birthday. Nine years ago today, my mom was healed of cancer. The Lord called her home on a Friday morning shortly after 7 a.m. There was no reluctance on her part. She willingly went. In fact, just days before slipping into a coma, I can remember her telling me how she was ready to see Jesus. How different the last nine years must have been for her.
While it's never easy to say goodbye to a loved one, it's much easier to accept when you know their pain has been replaced by peace and their suffering is over. More importantly though, death is always easier to accept when you know your loved one has confessed they are a sinner and that Jesus Christ is Lord. I can confidently tell you that my mom had assurance of her salvation and where she would spend eternity.
Anticipating the anniversary of her home going, the Lord has been reminding me of scripture and bringing to my memory the reality of death and the debt that he paid so that we would have eternal life. Isaiah 53 is the perfect example of what Christ did for you and me. He was beaten, humiliated, and rejected so that our sins would be forgiven and grace would be bestowed upon us, if we would confess him as Lord. What an incredible, awesome act of kindness and love. As unbelievers, we are self-absorbed and unworthy to be loved. As Christians, we are forgiven and healed from the sins that once consumed us. That's why Christ bore the pain and punishment. He wanted us to be healed from our past sin, awakened by his amazing love, and willing to serve a living Savior. By having faith, I know that Christ is alive today and that my mom has true healing and a new life with him.
Happy Birthday Mom! I miss you and love you with all of my heart!
Nine Years ago yesterday would have been my mom's 61st birthday. Nine years ago today, my mom was healed of cancer. The Lord called her home on a Friday morning shortly after 7 a.m. There was no reluctance on her part. She willingly went. In fact, just days before slipping into a coma, I can remember her telling me how she was ready to see Jesus. How different the last nine years must have been for her.
While it's never easy to say goodbye to a loved one, it's much easier to accept when you know their pain has been replaced by peace and their suffering is over. More importantly though, death is always easier to accept when you know your loved one has confessed they are a sinner and that Jesus Christ is Lord. I can confidently tell you that my mom had assurance of her salvation and where she would spend eternity.
Anticipating the anniversary of her home going, the Lord has been reminding me of scripture and bringing to my memory the reality of death and the debt that he paid so that we would have eternal life. Isaiah 53 is the perfect example of what Christ did for you and me. He was beaten, humiliated, and rejected so that our sins would be forgiven and grace would be bestowed upon us, if we would confess him as Lord. What an incredible, awesome act of kindness and love. As unbelievers, we are self-absorbed and unworthy to be loved. As Christians, we are forgiven and healed from the sins that once consumed us. That's why Christ bore the pain and punishment. He wanted us to be healed from our past sin, awakened by his amazing love, and willing to serve a living Savior. By having faith, I know that Christ is alive today and that my mom has true healing and a new life with him.
Happy Birthday Mom! I miss you and love you with all of my heart!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Great Expectations
Have you ever heard the phrase, "unfulfilled expectations lead to upset"? You hear it a lot in the business world. We actually apply this concept in our office to improve staff relations and customer service. So what does it mean, you ask? Think of it this way. If you don't know what is expected of you, you will eventually find yourself dissatisfied and disappointed. The expectations you have for yourself aren't always what others expect from you.
The relationship between a husband and wife is the perfect example. Ladies, your husbands can't read your mind. You have to communicate with them and let them know what you are thinking. If you are feeling overwhelmed and need help with the kids, you have to express your feelings and let your husbands know what they can do to help relieve the stress. I promise they will be more than willing to help, if they know what you expect of them.
Expectations give you a road map and help direct your path. As Christians, our expectations are laid out in God's word. While society argues that the Bible is a washed up book with inaccurate stories, I beg to differ. I believe the Bible to be full of promise and suggestions for living a fulfilling life.
"All scripture is given by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching us how to live right. Using the scriptures, the person who serves God will be capable, having all that is needed to do every good work" 2nd Timothy 3:16-17.
What kind of life do you want to live? Fulfilled and forgiven or empty without expectations?
The relationship between a husband and wife is the perfect example. Ladies, your husbands can't read your mind. You have to communicate with them and let them know what you are thinking. If you are feeling overwhelmed and need help with the kids, you have to express your feelings and let your husbands know what they can do to help relieve the stress. I promise they will be more than willing to help, if they know what you expect of them.
Expectations give you a road map and help direct your path. As Christians, our expectations are laid out in God's word. While society argues that the Bible is a washed up book with inaccurate stories, I beg to differ. I believe the Bible to be full of promise and suggestions for living a fulfilling life.
"All scripture is given by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching us how to live right. Using the scriptures, the person who serves God will be capable, having all that is needed to do every good work" 2nd Timothy 3:16-17.
What kind of life do you want to live? Fulfilled and forgiven or empty without expectations?
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