Putting Myself Out There

(Titus, Chapter 3:Verses 3-8)
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

This is something I am thankful for each and everyday ... but it is also something that I struggle with each and everyday. I was lost and heading down a destructive road when God placed in my life people who cared enough about my salvation that they went out of their way to make sure I heard the message. Now it's my turn to do the same. I have spent a good number of years focusing on me ... focusing on changing my ways from worldly desires to making them heavenly desires. I know that I have changed, and I know that those around me can see the changes. However, I have been slow in the area of helping my lost friends find the path to righteousness. This is my new focus ... I'm now ready to take that next step and put myself out there. I know by doing this I risk losing close friends and that is hard to except. But if it means being able to help save some in the process ... then that makes it so worth while. For what good is it for me to be learning and growing in Christ but yet not be out there sharing this message of salvation with the ones I love and care about. As verse 8 states: ", so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good." ... This is my plan ... how about you?

Requests to God!!!!

(Philippians, Chapter 4: Verses 6-7)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

How true! I wrote the first part of my Canadian Securities Exam last week. Leading up to the hours/minutes before the exam I was quite stressed. As I sat in the classroom waiting to write I found myself talking to God. I began to pray. Before I knew it, I was totally calm. My mind was relaxed and I felt a confidence that was not there when I entered the room. The test began and two hours later I put down my pencil. I didn't feel 100% sure about how well I did but I knew there was nothing I could do about it now ... except thank God for guarding my mind and emotions ... and also to wait for the test results. I found out today that I passed. I am truly happy about this. But it's my faith that I am more happy about. You see ... when I was praying to God that day, I wasn't praying for him to provide me with the answers to pass but rather I was praying that he would let me feel his presence as I wrote so that I would stay calm and focused, knowing that I was not writing this test alone .... I would never have prayed a prayer like that ten years ago!

Thanks God.

Your loving servant in Christ!

Communion Thought ... Everyday Thought

Jesus said to the Disciples in (John 4:34-36)
"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.
Jesus said to the people after he fed the Five Thousand in (John 6:27)
Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."
The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy in (2 Timothy 4:1-8)
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

I would like to ask you the following questions that I ask (and struggle with) myself:

Are you feeding on the "Food of Jesus" or the "The Food of the World"?
Are you "Spreading the Word of the Lord"?
Are you Correcting, Rebuking and Encouraging?
Or .... Are your itching ears only hearing what you want to hear?

Jesus paid a high price on the cross so that we could be reconciled with God - our sins forgiven. We cannot just follow his doctrine when it is convenient to do so, or to study his "Word" and not share it with those around us.
(Matthew 10:32-33) States:
Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.
When your time comes and you are standing before Jesus ... Will you be able to say that you finished the race, you fought the good fight, you kept the faith? ... Will you have earned a crown of righteousness?

Who Are We Going to Harm .... ???

Are you prepared to give a reason for your hope in God?

This is a question I don't think I will ever be able to answer with a convincing "YES" ... but I know that I am improving my answer all the time. To truly be able to answer this question, I don't believe I can answer it with words alone but also by my daily actions.

If we truly want to be God's children and we have entered the waters of baptism ... then we need to be able to spread the "Word of God" and the "Life of Christ" with the very words we speak and the very actions we live by each and every day. People shouldn't have to ask us if we are Christians ... or whether or not we believe in God. Friends, Family and Strangers should be able to tell within moments who is the light of our lives.

My question is not "Who is going to harm us?" but rather "Who are we going to harm by setting our hearts upon Christ our Lord and being eager to do good?"

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
(1 Peter, Chapter 3:Verses 13-22)