Character Building:101

Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

I can still remember his last breath, watching his chest heave and then relax.  I can remember thinking for the previous 10, that was his last. But then, another breath would follow. And then they stopped.  The loss of my father was a game changer.

For the previous 37 years of my life, I would consider myself a winner.  I mean, I experienced defeat in sports and in relationships and some of the more trivial things in life.  But for the most part, I could pretty much consider my life a success.  So much so that, as I reflect, I really had no significant need for Christ in my life.  Sure, I was a Christian.  I went to church on Sunday.  I even prayed at meal time.  So far as depending on Christ, not so much.  I was pretty sure I could do anything I set my mind to and often believed I did have a cape to go with the attitude.  Until the passing of my father, I had never truly experienced a meaningful loss.

The game changed in relatively short period of time. One loss lead to another, that lead to another and another.  I can succinctly remember thinking to myself amidst the chaos and turmoil of my new life, "can't I just get a win here, Lord." It was during this time that I turned to Christ because I was all out of answers, energy and life.  I prayed to our Lord to save me; save me from myself, this world and all the pain I was suffering.  I knew that things would be better now with Christ in my life.  I knew Jesus would step in and pull me from the raging river of turmoil, loss and pain that I was stuck. Instead, he gave me a paddle, which looking back, was the greatest gift I've ever received.

I'd always read that character is built in times of struggle, turmoil and loss.  And to some extent, I would agree.  I believe, however, that while character is built  during hard times, it requires the love of Jesus to chisel and forge that new man or woman from the old.  While I know the earthly loss of my father was a blow, I also know that Jesus said He would be with us to the end of the age.  To me, this means that in the end, I will always be a winner because of Him.  I praise and thank God today for his unending, undying and unlimited love for me.

The Prideful World

John 15:5 (NIV)
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

One of my greatest personal, ongoing disappointments is the frequent uprising of pride.  So many times each week, or worse, each day, I react to the world with my earthly prideful instincts.  It seems that the world we live in has a powerful diverging influence that continuously strives to pull me away from my spiritual centeredness.

As an entrepreneur, I am consistently afflicted with the need to promote myself in order to maintain and grow my businesses.  I struggle with the well-publicized notion that if I am not selling myself, daily, how can I expect my business to thrive.  And, worse yet, the further I am away from Spirit, the easier it is be creative in this manner of prideful self-agrandizement.

Some might say that I am too hard on myself, that this is just the way it is in business, or that sometimes you just have to ignore your spiritual teachings when it comes to this aspect of life.  I disagree.  I believe this exactly what Jesus was referencing in John 15:5 in my need to remain in him.

I can't count the number of times I've learned my lesson the hard way believing that I can do this on my own.  While it may appear that there is some earthly gain in my prideful efforts, inevitably there is a greater price to pay in the long run.  Most often, that price is a breakdown in my relationship with Christ.

I am always amazed at how strong my relationship is and how peaceful and rewarding life is when I am pursuing Christ and the principles He has given us.  And, conversely, how broken and empty and difficult life is when I am moving away from Him.

I pray today that the Holy Spirit would continuously arouse my awareness to the first mis-step I may take that leads me away from what is good, what is right and what is the truth.  And I pray that I might be a forever growing branch on the vine of Life, producing abundant fruit in season and be pruned delicately for the next season of growth in Christ.

Harvest Season

John 15:16 (NIV)
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit---fruit that will last---and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

As we come into harvest season, it reminds me of the many lessons I have learned about sowing and reaping.  There can be no harvest, of course, without the planting of and caring for the seeds that were planted.  The farmer knows, through education and experience, that certain actions are needed throughout the growing season to insure that he has a crop to harvest in the fall.  His tender seeds require water, warmth, cultivation and host of other needs to meet in order to attain the level of harvest he anticipated at planting.

Notice, the farmer doesn't simply plant the seeds and then leave them on their own, simply hoping for  a good crop.  Instead, he invests copious amounts of time and resources in the seeds he planted, all the while having great hope for an abundant future harvest.

I have to ask myself, daily, am I nurturing and caring for the seeds that I have planted?  The prayers, offerings, gifts and time that I dedicate to the fulfillment of the Lord's purpose in my life are minimized in returns if not continuously attended to through continued prayer, thought and action.

Jesus tells us that He chose us specifically in order to bear fruit- fruit that will last- when we do so in His name.  If I want my bountiful harvest to last, it is up to me to do the work required to achieve the result desired.  This means personal accountability: spending time daily with Him; continuous fervent prayer for those people, things and opportunities that I have asked of Him in His name; frequent nurturing of the new "seeds" I have helped to plant in His kingdom.

My faith comes alive when I take on the farmer's mentality and realize that the fruit that I bear, fruit that will last, is a result of the time, energy and work that I put into it.

Understanding

"A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish."  Psalm 49:20
 
There are many pursuits in life that require daily focus, attention and discipline. To excel in one's career is one of these areas. To be satisfied with the status quo requires very little effort, therefore, that is why we see so many people, in my opinion, underachieving.

To continue with this example, you don't have to go further than the nearest bookstore to learn what it takes to make it to the top in "the world." The number one selling genre of books are those providing understanding in the area of personal growth and development. Many of the world's most successful and influential people will tell you that you can judge a person by the quality and size of their library.

I, myself, tend to believe that this virtue is accurate. The people I have chose as mentors in my life have all been extensive readers who are consistently seeking understanding. As I've grown older, and matured, I have seen a shift in the people that I have chosen to model and follow. Early in my life, I studied principles and practices of those who had amassed and achieved great business success and personal wealth. I discovered over the past year of reading, writing and studying scriptures that my definition of success has changed.

It has become apparent, by looking around outside of me as well as inside of me, that one of the most profound pursuits of my life must be understanding. The verse written above exemplifiesthis concept. A man that amasses wealth for the good of serving himself is a life wasted. Without the understanding and knowledge that the Lord gives us all things to serve him, we miss out on the greatest treasures that life has to offer.

To excel in one's career and achieve success and prosperity without having the understanding that we are designed to serve the Lord and one another, we have the ability to change and influence on the a few lives. To do the same, but have this understanding, we have the ability and opportunity to change the world. As in so many aspects of life, hereto, we have to make a choice. And I ask, how do you choose?

We Are Not Alone Here

Meaning.  How do we find it, where should we look, how do we know when it has been uncovered?  Big questions, that for centuries, have turned people in a multitude of directions in pursuit of just that...meaning.

I was taught many years ago that nothing has meaning until you give it meaning.  And for some, they give WAY to much meaning to just about everything in their life.  The color blue existed before we did, and, existed as something other than "blue" until we named it blue, and gave it meaning.  The moon was around long before we called it the "moon" as were horses, raindrops, clouds and crickets. 

My point here is that meaning for all of these things is given by our educated minds so that we might communicate and give reference to these "things" and have others know what we are talking about.  Think about how confusing life would be if I labeled the color red, "blue".  It would created a silly amount of stress and strain in my life until I changed the "meaning" of the color that we all know as red.  Therefore, most things that we label and give meaning to are based on a "worldly" perspective, or in some cases, consensus.

The same concept is true in our spiritual lives in that nothing has meaning until we give it meaning, except here, there is no consensus.  Our point of reference for giving meaning spiritually to our lives comes from the One.  The One that Jesus said he was returning to.  The One that Jesus said all things come from.  The One that was there in the beginning and will be there in the end.  The One that has sent the great Counselor to be with us every step of the way.

We are not alone here, in this journey of life.  We do not have to give meaning to what it is we do and experience everyday.  The One has already done that for us by instilling in each of us a purpose that is higher and mightier than we can comprehend. The challenge we face is listening, for the great Holy Spirit does not always speak in our language as Jesus told us.  This means that we have to quiet our educated minds, turn down the "loudness of life" so that we might "hear" the Holy Spirit speak to us.  God did not leave us alone for a reason.  He knew that this life, in the world, was going to be tough.  So tough and brutal and horrible and unreasonable and wicked that the only way He, the most powerful force in the Universe, could provide help, was by sacrificing His son.  Think about that for a moment.  The only way God saw fit to help us out was by taking the life of His most precious son.  Would you even contemplate sacrificing your child to help anyone else?  And, AND, He controls all aspects of the Universe, which to me, seems like there might have been another way to bring us help.  But, no, there wasn't.

Jesus died for me, so that I might receive the Great Comforter and Counselor to guide me and support me in and through all the ways of my life.  Praise God today for the blessing of the Holy Spirit and all that He brings into our lives.  Thank God he never left us.

He Will Provide

How much have I sacrificed for Him?  What am I willing to give up in my "life" so that I might gain an "eternal life"? 

Living for God instead of living for me is the start.  It sounds good.  It's easy to say.  Yet it is nearly impossible to follow through with.  Why?  Because we are human.  Built to sin.  Designed to serve ourselves.  Since the fall of Adam, we have been struggling with an overdeveloped ego, living based on our own individual needs. 

But why would we live any other way?  I mean, it is MY life after all, should I not strive to meet my needs, my families needs?  Here is the realization that I have come to: Living for me continues to create one need after the next; living for God, there are no needs because He is sufficient.

This is a huge point.  God, the creator of the universe, the one and only who keeps it all in balance, is perfect and void of nothing.  When we open our hearts and minds to Him, we take on the consciousness of the Spirit, which is the great provider, the great comforter.  With the Holy Spirit, there is no need or lack for the Spirit is sufficient enough.

Just as darkness is the absence of light, need is the absence of the Spirit. The further we are from God, his son Jesus and the Holy Spirit, the more perceived need we will have in our lives.  This is why when anyone wanted to follow Jesus, he told them to leave everything, don't worry about your family or your belongings: I will provide for you everything you need.

The same is true right here, right now.  He will provide.  He will meet every need if we are willing to let the dead bury the dead and follow Him.  Are you willing to leave everything you know behind and follow Him?  That is what He is asking of us.  That is the God of the scriptures- holy and merciful- yet jealous and vengeful. 

To have enough faith in the Lord for complete sustenance, complete fulfillment is my goal.  This is where I want to be.

You Can Turn the Whole Horse

I was taught a  long time ago that what you say, how you say it and to whom you speak it can play a significant role in the peace, joy, success and harmony that you create in your life. It is for this reason, I  believe, that the book of James has a whole chapter on taming the tongue.
When we put bits in the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.  James 3:3

Consider the way you answered the question, "How are you?" the last time it was asked of you.  Most of us are not truthful in the response, primarily because we know the one asking the questions really isn't concerned about how we are.  We know they are just using that as an unconscious introductory phrase.  The challenge in this is that the words we speak have meaning to our subconscious mind and spirit and have a tremendous impact on the outcomes of our lives.

When we become conscious communicators, that is, consciously observing the words we choose in conversations with others and ourselves, we can impact the course of our lives.
          The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21
Choosing to use common phrases such as "My back is killing me" or "That just makes me sick" impacts the activity in the psychosomatic workings of the brain (consciously or non-consciously) which in turn plays out in our daily lives.


The verse from James talks about being able to turn the whole horse by controlling the mouth.  We are not any different.  If we can learn to control our mouths, especially the words that come from it, we can change our life.  The words we choose, as you we know, can either be constructive in the world, or destructive.  Just the same, the words we use when talking to or with ourselves, have the same constructive or destructive value.  This is why calling yourself a dummy or stupid, or saying things like "I could never do that" only reinforces your current false beliefs.  Scripture says that faith comes from hearing the word and this is not only valid for faith in Christ Jesus, but other areas of life as well.

If we continually are told how ugly, or stupid, or slow, or incompetent we are, over time, that builds faith in the fact that it must be true.  The same is true for the other end of the perspective as well.  The more we hear how sweet, or smart, or beautiful we are, the more we tend to believe it.

The words you think and speak are as powerful as the elevators on the tail of a 747 jet.  One slight change in a positive or negative direction will either lift the jet up or cause it drop.  Take some time today to contemplate the words you use.  Watch what happens around you when you decide to lift yourself and others up with your words, rather than beat you and them down.

Don't change you, change who

For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:17

Faith is a funny thing.  No, not funny as in laughing or joking.  But more like funny as in peculiar, odd, different.  I say this because from day to day my faith is continuously being challenged, and, strengthened, by the experiences and results of life.

Some days, I truly feel as if I can change the world, conquer any challenge, whip Satan and his army and have energy left to be a parent!  And others, I feel like my butt is getting kicked every step I take, nothing works as I had planned and life is just a struggle.

It is for this exact reason, I believe, that "the righteous will live by faith."  Not every day is having faith, living by that faith and sharing that faith going to be easy.  Not every day will feel like a victory day nor will it feel like "a bug on the windshield" day.  This is why faith is a necessary component of a happy, healthy, functional and high achieving life.

We know that in the end, we win, because it says so in the scriptures.  Living each day in confidence, knowing that before hand, allows me to "live" my faith that much stronger for there is no doubt.  And whether you are new to Christ or have known him for 100 years, living a just, God-like life is the result of building a solid faith. 

Rather than spending the rest of your days trying to change who you are, try changing who you believe in and what you have faith in.  For faith is the cornerstone to a life of change and difference making.

What is your thorn?

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.  Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12:7-10

So many times I ask the Lord, why?  Why me?  Why does this have to happen to me?  Why do I continue to struggle through hardship after hardship, insult after injury with one difficulty in life following the previous?  When will it end?  Then, at about that point in my little pity party, I chuckle under my breath. Remembering that I have a loving Father in Heaven that supports, nurtures, and develops me, I am able to take a deep breath and move on- ready for the next time it happens!


I was feeling a bit this way yesterday so I spent some time with Jesus this morning getting some much needed counseling. I was amazed, once again, at what I can learn in just a few, focused, quiet minutes.  Looking back over my life, it was easy to see that the times I begin to feel beat up or knocked down by life or the world, well, they generally follow on the shirt tails of some significant personal success or accomplishment.  It's amazing how just about the time I start think that I am all that, maybe even starting to think, "hey, look at me! Look what I've done!" That's when I am struck down by my thorn.


And as much as I have pleaded and begged the Lord to "save" me from these struggles and hardships that appear, I know he won't.  For as long as continue to focus on me, I will carry this thorn forever.  Which, I believe, is what Paul is saying in this scripture.  We each have one, or maybe multiple, thorns that keep us in check.  If it weren't for Paul's thorn, he could have traveled the countryside preaching about himself and all that he has done.  But, no.  Jesus tells him that His grace is enough, that Jesus' power is at it's highest and best when we are weak.


Weak?  Not that kind of weak, the kind in which we are humbled, meek and submissive to the Lord.  The further away from our ego and the closer we get to Christ, the more power he has in us.  Thus, the reason for the thorn: to remind us that we are not Him, that we are to be humble and to focus on serving Him, not ourselves.


So relish your weaknesses today!  For if you have no thorn, then I might suggest you have no relationship with Christ, and that is something that only you can resolve.  And, a little hint, it helps to get down on your knees to solve that one.

 

Where is the love?

When was the last time you sat down to examine your motives and goals in life?  How long has it been since you took inventory on your purpose for life?  Have you ever taken the time to uncover your purpose for life?

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28

In order to find your purpose, it helps to understand that you were created with intention by the loving God of the universe- that you were not a mistake- that you were made in his image- and you are perfect as you are!  For everything God has created, he did so in love, with intention and purpose.

Second, we must return that love back to our Heavenly Father so that we might tap into and understand His purpose for our creation.  The key is love.

We were created in love, for love, to be loved, to give love, to share love and live from love- which is at the center of our purpose for life!  If you were an airplane builder and you built and designed planes out of love, you would create the most elegant, efficient, safe and functional plane you could because of your love for planes.  If on the other hand you built planes solely to make money, your product could be less than exceptional, good enough to pass tests, not quite as safe as it could be, all because of the missing ingredient of love.

Where is the love in your life?  Think about it, pray about it, meditate on it.  Find the love of Christ in your heart and put it to work in you life. 

A Place of Refuge

This world, the one we live in now, is a tough, mean, sometimes nasty, forever stressful place to live.  Between economic woes, worldwide terrorist threats and problems as close to home as a diagnosis of cancer or the loss of job, it is easy to see why worry and fear make residence in our minds.  On a daily basis, we are confronted with obstacles that, in the moment, seem insurmountable.  For many people this daily stress of life is overwhelming.  Overwhelming to the point that we develop in our minds new and creative strategies to cope with what I like to call "the stuff of life."

Many of these self-preserving strategies are born out of necessity rather than as well thought out actions or plans.  For some, eating is a successful strategy.  In fact, I would say that as a whole, the majority of the population of the US has been digging their graves with their mouths as an attempt to handle the stress of life.  Others have found escape through the art of mind altering with alcohol, drugs and other abusive substances. Even at the opposite end of the spectrum are those who are engaged in extreme exercise, which by the way, can be just as harmful as drug abuse or over-eating.

"I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!  I have overcome the world."  Jesus -  John 16:33

The stress of the world can, and will, change you as a man or woman.  It can change your thought processes, your attitude and, definitely, your outlook on life.  It is for this reason that we cannot rely solely on ourselves to develop appropriate and healthy coping mechanisms.  Jesus tells us in this scripture verse that he knows the world is a tough place.  He knows we are going to struggle.  And, notice, he doesn't say that he will take the hardships, struggles, turmoils and stress away.  No, he tells us that the one place to find refuge, to find true peace in this world, is in him for he is the only one that has overcome this world!

"Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; also trust in me."   Jesus - John 14:1

In studying scripture daily you can find help in handling the turmoils and tragedies of this life.  We are given direction and leadership on where to turn in trying times.  Jesus lays out the path for us to follow, however, the challenge is for us to take the first step, and then the second and so forth.  Step one is laid out perfectly here in John 14: trust in God and also in Jesus.  When we put our faith in God, and Jesus, we now open the door to supernatural coping mechanisms that provide comfort, peace and, in some cases, solutions that our minuscule earthly minds cannot fathom.

Let today be a supernatural demonstration of your faith in God, and Jesus, and watch how your heart and mind can be changed.

Smoke and Mirrors

It's Sunday morning, May 22nd, and I'm still here.  Last week I saw a billboard that made me cringe.  I'm sure most of the population in the US heard grumblings of Mr. Camping's prediction of the end of the world.  I, personally, shrugged it off and said a prayer for the troubled man for I know that no man of this world will be able to predict it's end for that is only for our loving God to know.

My heart goes out to all of his followers who have been duped into believing that our faith is a fraud because of one man's inexcusable actions. For those of us who have a relationship with Christ, we know the truth of the matter: God loves us so much that he took his one and only son and sacrificed him for us.

Jesus is the truth, the light and the way.  Hold him in esteem, keep him in your heart and focus your mind on his ways and gimmicks such as Mr. Camping's appear as what they really are: smoke and mirrors.

His Love Is Amazing

I find it truly amazing how the Lord supplies every need when we put our faith and dependence on Him.  I have had a frustrating couple of weeks, maybe more, and have been spending more time in prayer and meditation than writing, so I apologize to anyone who may be reading and wondering why I have not been posting.

I truly believe it is an inborn, human condition kind-of-thing to create self-doubt and pity in the midst of life when it appears things are "not going your way."  I also believe that this is one of the primary reasons we need Jesus in our life, to help us overcome the human condition, for we are merely spiritual beings having a human experience.

So anyway, I was given a set of CD's to listen to about 2 weeks ago by a patient.  The speaker is John Maxwell who has written probably hundreds of books on leadership and communication.  I took the CD's and put them in my truck and thought I would get to them soon.  Low and behold, a trip to Duluth came up for business so I took advantage of the 31/2 hours of windshield time, and listened to presentation.

What a gift from God!  "But he gives us more grace." James 4:6

Mr Maxwell, thank you for the "swift kick in the pants" which is exactly what I needed.  And thank you, Lord, for putting a stranger in my path who was willing to be a messenger for your, to me.  It reminds me of just how much the Lord loves us and how He is working for us, with us and through us each and every day.  His love is amazing, which makes you and I...amazing.  How quickly we can forget just how amazing we are...because of Him.

Wisdom

I had a great deal of windshield time with a weekend trip to Duluth so I took advantage of that time to listen to some of John Maxwell's stuff on CD.  I have to admit that I have fallen away from the personal growth and development trail so it was good to hear his wisdom and poignant stories.  The whole time listening to him, a quote from one of my mentors was running through my head-"As long as you're green you're growing, as soon as you're ripe you rot."

It seems I maybe have been rotting for a while now, or maybe just not as green as I have been in the past.  Either way, it was obvious to me that I have been stuck where I am in life because I haven't taken the time to get unstuck.  For many people, getting unstuck is a huge challenge because it requires change- either physically, mentally or spiritually- which is usually not comfortable. 

As I was listening to Mr. Maxwell, who is a pastor, I kept getting reminded of the book of James, chapter 3, beginning with the 13 verse: "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.  But it you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.  Such wisdom does not come down from Heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.  For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you have disorder and every evil practice.  But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."

To seek change, to stay green so that I am always growing, I must seek the wisdom of Heaven.  I have spent the last year seeking that wisdom, writing about it, reading about it, wishing I could find it.  And now, you know, I think I am beginning to understand.  Getting unstuck in life isn't only about changing your mind, but more importantly, your heart.

You can have a positive attitude for a short period of time.  You can fake it till you make it until everyone sees through you.  But when you truly change your heart, everyone can see that you are different.  The change necessary to get unstuck in life starts when the mind is made up to change the heart.  If the heart does not change, the life cannot change.

Once again...

Why is it so much easier to bring work home, to think about all that needs to be done at the office than it is to bring Christ into my daily life?  It seems that I can get very, very focused on Jesus at certain times in my life, and, even certain times of the day, yet not everyday.  But if you were to ask me what I was thinking about at nearly any given moment during my waking hours, I would have to respond with some descriptive explanation of work.

I know this is a topic that only I struggle with and I should be happy that my work is my vice and not drugs or alcohol or pornography.  Justification, however, gets me no where because one sin is no more damning than another. 

"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree will be recognized by its fruit."  Matt 12:33

I ask for forgiveness today, Lord, for my lack of strength in keeping you the focus and center of my life.  Forgive me Lord for the dishonesty I have presented to those around me in an attempt to have more time to myself.  I am a selfish man, Lord, and I pray once again to have mercy on me.

The Work Truck Is Here

Then he said to his disciples, " The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into the harvest field."

Look around.  Everywhere you look there are people hurting, suffering, lost, wandering in the wilderness of life.  Many put up a good front, a facade, that can fool even those with the most acute spiritual awareness. 

For some, they don't know that they don't know.  What I mean is they have never been introduced to Jesus and the way of life He brings.  Sure, they may have heard about a Heaven, and some might even think that that is where everyone goes when they pass, but they don't have the key that unlocks the gates and have never been shown how to acquire that precious key.  They are lost in the wilderness but don't know they are lost.

For others, they have been burned in some way and have turned away from Jesus.  Maybe they have made mistakes that they feel they cannot be forgiven of, or another man or woman professing to be a Christian hurt them in some way.  For these lost souls, pain prevents them from turning back to Jesus because they believe that is all He and His way have to offer.

And still for some, like where I used to be, they feel that they don't "need" Christ at the center of their lives.  They've got everything under control.  Sure, they know about Jesus, and maybe even go to church and profess to be a believer, but their hearts are empty.

It is up to you and I to reach out in a real, meaningful way and introduce these, and as many others possible, to our Lord, Jesus Christ.  More than our duty, it is put on our hearts by Christ when we accept Him into our lives to share his awesome message of hope and redemption. 

I challenge myself today to find one person, just one, who fits in one of these categories and open my heart to him or her.  The work truck just pulled up, are you going to get on today?

Two Simple Words That Changed So Many Lives

Follow me.  That's it.  That's all Jesus needed to say to the disciples and they left family and home to learn His mighty ways. Think about what it would take for someone to tell you to follow them, and you would actually do it?  Give up everything, and everyone, in your life to follow a complete stranger calling himself "The Son of Man".  It sounds odd to me

My cynical mind wonders if there were any men or women he invited to follow Him that said no?  Maybe there are and we just don't know about them.  Maybe there are and I am not well versed enough to know about it.  Maybe there aren't.

Look what happened to Mary when Jesus called her name.  I have to believe that the same can be said about Jesus' conversation with the disciples.  He called their name and said to follow him in a way only they would recognize that it was God speaking.  And, if you or I knew God was calling, certainly we would answer!

Has He called your name?  If you know Him, He will. If you know Him, He already has and will again when He returns to us, or when we return to Him.  But, only if you know Him.

In reply Jesus declared, " I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."  John 3:3

Follow me.  The key to opening the gates of Heaven and slamming shut the doors of Hell.  He is calling you, listen, can you hear Him?  Are you willing to follow? 

Why Name Calling Works

"Woman," he said, "why are you crying?  Who is it that you are looking for me?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."  Jesus said to her, "Mary."  John 20:15-16

Yesterday was the celebration of Christ's triumphant victory over death and sin.  We all went to church to hear the Good News of His resurrection, listen to beautiful music proclaim that He lives and feast over wonderfully prepared meals with our closest of family.  Easter was a great day, is a great day and will always be a great day for those of us who know Christ.

I was visiting my Mother's church in Iowa and listened to an eloquent message, which at the heart of it, was the verse above.  Pastor Vicki extrapolated the text and then commented on what tone of voice Jesus would have used to get Mary's attention. I began to think about how I talk to my children and how many different inflections I can use to get their attention, and why is it that I know so many, and which one will work at the  appropriate moment.  I realized that I would know which tone to take with my children when I needed to because I know them, and love them. What a wonderful notion to know that Jesus is going to call my name because He knows me and loves me!  Then I began to think about all of those lost souls who will not hear their name called by Jesus. 

These are the ones that found all the eggs yesterday, ate a ton of candy, had a great meal, yet left the table unsatisfied because the One who made Easter so special wasn't invited to dinner.  We all know folks like this.  We know what they are missing out on.  Is it not our mission, our instruction from our Lord, to tend to those that are lost and bring them back to the flock?

In order to be called by name, He has to know your name...and He learns your name by calling out His name, Jesus, and surrendering this finite, pain-filled, struggle-laden sinful life to Him.  He has gone before us to make a room for us in His mansion, but only if He knows us by name.  On this morning after the celebration of eternal life and victory over sin, I pray that everyone I know will be called by name.

He Is Risen

"Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!"  Luke 24:5-6

For weeks Jesus was predicting the events of his final days, even his final hours, here on Earth.  Yet, when the time came, his followers were still perplexed and astonished by the events.  I can only imagine the feeling in their hearts, and guts, when they learned that he was not there.  Praise God for the realization of the Truth that he preached- that he conquered death and sin so that we wouldn't have to!

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."  John 16:33

In my pursuit of living spiritually inclined, everything comes to a head on this grand and glorious day- the day He gave us the Holy Spirit through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ. To believe, better yet, to know, that God so loves us that He sent His son- His one and only son- to be tormented, tortured, ridiculed, mocked and eventually killed- for me...and for you.

Look around at the world we are living in.  Really look...deeply...and you will see the pain, the suffering, the loneliness, the false persona's.  His message is more valuable today than ever.  He is risen!  Thank you God for that stone being rolled away and for the tomb being empty on that morning!  He is risen!

Where was His "Bucket List"?

Teaching.  That's what he was doing on his second to last day on Earth.  Spending precious and valuable time ministering to the sick and broken, sharing the message his Father sent him here to deliver so that he might accomplish his goal.  Of all the things he could have been doing in those last days, he was serving others.

This makes me think about 2 specific points, totally unrelated to one another: 1) How awesome must Heaven be that he continued to teach people about their Heavenly Father so that they might one day get to see him, and 2) How frivolous is the idea of the "bucket list", trying to do all the things here on Earth before we die.

Knowing his ultimate destiny was nearing, Jesus continued to serve man by sharing the hope and grace of eternal salvation.  Our human nature is to focus our concerns heavily on this life and all the needs, wants and desires we continuously develop.  Satisfaction is something rarely achieved while here, in this life, yet the message of eternity is the opposite- there are no wants, needs or desires.  So, it makes sense that Jesus would have focused on what is truly important- eternity- in his last waning hours.  Building my faith in that message and holding on to the hope of eternity in Heaven with Jesus and all of the other believers is something I pray  I continue to pursue the rest of the days of my life.

And, how many times do we hear about the terminally ill completing their final "to do" list while they have the strength and energy to find enjoyment in it's fulfillment?  I pray I am never in that predicament for I am not certain of which I would choose.  I would hope that my faith was strong enough to carry me through to recognize the futility of clinging to this truly temporary, and ultimately, meaningless existence knowing what was in store for me in the near future.  If Jesus, my shining example of faith, hope and love, spent his last hours helping others find grace and mercy through salvation, I should hope that I might have just a small portion of his character to be able to do similar.

In these final days of Holy Week as we prepare to celebrate his victory over death, and ours, I can't help but be humbled and grateful for having and knowing such a loving God.  My prayer today is for those who don't have this peace and don't know my Lord, Jesus, and that somehow, someway, all of those lost souls might be touched by his love and peace this week.  Look around.  The signs are plentiful.  He is coming.  Praise God, our Father, for that glorious day!