All You Have To Do Is Pray This Prayer...

I remember a friend telling me before I gave my life to Christ, that if I asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior, it would be the start of one life and the end of another. The life of doing my will and what I wanted would die and the new life of doing God's will and surrendering to Him would begin. I'm amazed at how so many people don't understand this. They simply pray and prayer and then continue to live the exact same life they were living. But living life as a Christian is so much more than that. I've been reading some lately from the Amplified Bible and have been enjoying its richness. Acts 2:21 in the Amplified says, "And it shall be that whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord invoking, adoring, and worshiping the Lord--Christ shall be saved." And John 6:47 says, "I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, he who believes in Me who adheres to, trusts in, relies on, and has faith in Me has (now possesses) eternal life." These two verses seem to express so much more than just praying a prayer. They challenge me to truly live for Him. When I was saved my life changed 180 degrees and everyone who knew me would agree. I was no longer the same 21 year old, but a man who had chosen to let the new man live and the old me die. The only thing that was the same was that I still played tennis. But even that part of my life encountered change. A transformation took place in me. Yes it did start with a prayer, but that was only the initial starting point. From that moment on Jesus became my life and I have continued living for Him for almost 23 years. Living as a Christian is the most incredible thing that's ever happened to me. It's become my life and journey, with heaven being my destination. Pray the prayer, but then also choose to live for Him.

Faithful and loyal...

I recently found an old newspaper article I had about a couple who had gotten married, and then three weeks later the husband was shipped off to the Vietnam war. Unfortunately he was severely injured in battle and literally became a vegetable (physically and mentally). Everyone expected and encouraged the wife to leave leave her husband, even his own family. But she chose to do what she felt was the right thing. Several weeks earlier she had made a commitment to stay with him through the good or bad, in sickness and health, or whether rich or poor. And that's exactly what she did. She made that decision to stay with him over 40 years ago and is still by his side. We live in a culture where being unfaithful and disloyal is commonplace and is often justified and encouraged. So what is disloyalty? According to Webster's it's, "Lacking in loyalty; showing an absence of allegiance, devotion, obligation, faith, or support." In every arena of life, people will choose to walk away from something they shouldn't. Perhaps it's a marriage, a family, a relationship or something else. Unfaithfulness and disloyalty shouldn't come as a surprise to us. We see that even Jesus had people do it to Him (John 6:66) and according to the Bible, many will walk away from the faith in the days ahead (1 Tim 4:1). When I think of loyalty and faithfulness, I immediately think of Jesus. He is our example of what a Christian should look like when it comes to these two areas. Just because we live in a culture where unfaithfulness and disloyalty are common, don't fall into the culture's mold. Choose to be faithful and loyal in every area of your life, just like Jesus.

Learning From People With Experience

I love getting chances to talk with people who have lots of experience when it comes to life. Some call them the elderly or seniors, but I like to call them the experienced. If you've ever seen an elderly couple walking together and usually holding hands, you know they have experience when it comes to life and marriage. For marriages to last 50 years they probably have some wisdom that others could glean from. Unfortunately, there are many people who aren't interested in hearing what experienced people from the older generation have to say. But if you've ever talked with a WWII veteran, you always seem to come away all the more thankful. If you talk with someone who lived through the Great Depression, you gain an appreciation for everything you have. The elderly are rich in life lessons, wisdom and experiences that anyone who's willing to learn, could actually benefit from. Don't ever be afraid to talk with them or ask how their day is going. Usually what I find is that they love having someone to talk with. We are blessed to have seniors in our community who are full of wisdom and we can't forget that Proverbs 8:11 tells us, "For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her." If you ever have an opportunity to listen to a senior, perhaps it's a family member, neighbor or a complete stranger, tune your ears to what they say out of the abundance of wisdom from their life journey.

Like Mother Like Daughter

I was looking through some old pictures last night and came across some of my wife and daughter. It's so amazing how at times a child can look like a parent. We serve such a creative God! It's hard to explain how He does it, yet He does. It's so special looking at pictures of my wife and seeing her so much in my daughter. As parents we not only pass on physical traits, but God desires us to pass on our spiritual ones too. As a Christian parent one of my major goals must be to pass onto my children a hunger and desire to serve the Lord. Obviously it's their choice, but there's a lot I can do to help them in their relationship with Him. One of the most important things a parent can do for their child is to pray for them. I don't just mean that God would watch over them, but to go so much more deeper for them. Daily we pray for our children's health, their influence, for wisdom, to be a bright light for Jesus, to live pleasing to Him and that the word of the Lord over my kids would come to pass about having "prophets and preachers in my home." I believe my kids are world changers! God has blessed me with them and I'm going to pray God's plans into reality. I challenge you to pray boldly for your children today, and don't forget what Psalm 127:3 tells us, "...children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward."

I Wonder Where They Are?

Sometimes you only get one chance to spend some time with a person. I was recently thinking about a short term missions trip we did to the remote mountains of Mexico in 2008. We spent some time in a small village called San Antonio (and trust me, it was the farthest thing possible from San Antonio, Texas). We spent only a few days there, but did everything we could to let the villagers know about the love of Jesus. It was very challenging as our English was translated into Spanish, and from Spanish into the villager's dialect. It was in San Antonio where we spent time with Pastor Phillipe and his small church. Those in our country who believe they're in poverty would have seemed rich compared to these people. However, they had such joy and excitement, not because of their lack, but because of who they had, Christ. There's one particular photo that keeps coming to mind, and often I wonder about the children who are in it with me. I wonder how they are, what they're doing, or if they're even alive. It's one of those things where all we can do is to leave it in the Lord's hands. I hope that one day I'll get to see them again in heaven. I'm freshly aware that each day is so valuable and we must let others know about Christ and let them see Him in us. That's why Matthew 5:16 encourages us to "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven (AMP). Will people see Him in you today? Today is very valuable!

What's the Last Thing You'd Be Remembered For?

Many of you have probably seen the story about the San Diego police officer who was gunned down after getting into his police car, after stopping at McDonalds. He was an Iraq war veteran who had done several tours of duty. Since returning home he'd become a police officer. Before I continue you should watch the national news story about him at http://www.godvine.com/Police-Officer-s-Final-Act-of-Kindness-Caught-on-Tape-Before-Dying-1065.html I couldn't help but think about his kindness to this young man he'd never met, and would probably never meet again. In a very dangerous profession where officers put their lives on the line daily, living their motto, "To protect and serve" is truly how this officer lived. To me this man is a hero. He served his nation, served his community and offered a helping hand to others. From all that's been said about him, this wasn't a one time act for this man, but described his life. None of us know when our time will be up, so live today as if it's your last. From what you do today, what's the impression and imprint left on the lives of those around you? Will it be like this officer? Will kindness be one of the lasting impressions you leave? Today live out Colossians 3:12, "Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience."

Not Willing to Quit

Like a lot of people, I'm fascinated with things that are challenging. I recently watched an episode from the Discovery Channel's "Surviving the Cut."This particular episode had to deal with guys who had signed up to try and become part of the Marine Corps elite team, Marine Recon. Here's the link to watch Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnu9Q--0vYo Be warned, it's very intense and not for the fainthearted. It's truly amazing what a person can do if if they're willing to give everything they have. If they have a goal in sight and are willing to sacrifice everything to attain that goal. As I watched this show it made me think about being a Christian. The Bible says we're also in a war and there's an obvious need to be trained and ready. Paul's words in Philippians 3:12-14 keep coming to mind and what he said, "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." I don't think there was anything easy about what Paul endured for his commitment to Christ. Just as these soldiers pressed on, so did Paul. Often I think people believe that once a simple prayer has been prayed, that everything becomes easy and without opposition. This couldn't be farther from the truth. You have now become part of the greatest war that has ever raged. But we do win! If we will simply choose never to give up, just like those men who chose to survive the cut at Marine Recon School.