The Prodigal Son

              There are many stories in the bible that we have all heard. We know the story of Jonah and the whale, Noah and the ark and of course the nativity story and Jesus’ resurrection. But there are also many stories that we can relate directly to our lives and our relationship with God. One of those stories is the story of the prodigal son. The prodigal son parable is found in Luke 15. And it goes something like this, Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
               After reading that you may ask, “How does that relate to us and God?” Well, we are more comparable to the prodigal son than we may think. See we are like plants in God’s garden. He places us in certain areas of this earth where he knows we can grow best. God knows what we need. But sometimes we feel that we know better than God and can go out and live our lives on our own. We think we can do it all by ourselves. But the longer we are gone the more we will start to wither and die. Eventually we will be so worn out and tired that we will come crawling back to God. God has a reason for all of this. Sometimes he lets us go on to those wasteful places and live in sin, so that we become too tired and drained and then all we want is God. God loves us enough that he will let us fail. He knows that if we fail, from then on out we will listen to what he says. Although he lets us fail, he isn’t impressed with our sins. He allows us to be crushed because he knows where we are headed, which is something greater than we can imagine. We then realize God is the only resort we have.
               God lets us fail because he desires that everybody comes to repentance. Even if you don’t go the whole way to God, you make just the slightest movement towards repentance God will come the rest of the way. If you move 1% towards forgiveness, God will go 99% towards you. He is not a halfway God. And he will not look down on you for leaving, but rather embrace you in his arms and love for coming home to him—just as the father did to his son. God gives 100% to us all the time, just as we should. We need to go all the way for God. He is with you and for you always. There is only redemption when we are in our father’s arms. He doesn’t hold us accountable for our sins. Once we are forgiven, those sins are forgotten. Set everything towards God. The first thing we must do is approach God. Second, we must then make the dedication of our lives to God.
            Let’s pray, “Jesus, I am ready. I know that you have the best plans for me. Even if I fall, you will always be there with open arms ready to welcome me home. I am ready to enter your arms and feel the warmth of your love. Change me so that I may bring others towards you. Let your light shine through me. I dedicate my life to you. In your name I pray, Amen.”

For the week, 1 John 4:16, "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him"

Precipice

           Have you ever been cliff jumping/diving? You are standing at the edge of the cliff (precipice). Your heart is racing. You begin to have second thoughts. Your mind is telling you how scary it is, but without trying you will never know how awesome it is. Then you take the jump. You are free-falling and nothing matters anymore. The rush of falling gives you a huge adrenaline boost. After you hit the water, you realize what an exhilaration that was. Sound like fun?
              This is what stepping into God is like. Many of us are at the precipice of our relationship with God. We constantly try to build up courage to step over the edge, but we continue to fail. Our mind keeps telling us that we are safer where we are. We have faith in God, but the life we live is so fun and God will forgive us. We are too afraid of what will happen when we step over the edge, so we continue to back away. Pretty soon we back so far away from the edge that we can’t even see God anymore. Our lives are filled with sin, but we don’t care. The devil is in complete control now. What would have happened if you would have just jumped?
               If we jump of that edge, NOTHING will be the same—for the better. It will make you a better person and in a deeper relationship with God. You give up a lot in your life to jump over the edge. But after you jump and let God take complete control your past won’t even matter. Everything in your life will turn around. Jump over that edge and let God take control. Let him lead you through the life he has planned for you. By jumping over the edge we allow God to directly impact our lives. Can you see the edge of the cliff again?
              Not only do you need to jump once, but you must jump off the precipice every day after that. By jumping off the precipice every day the devil will have no way into your life. When you wake up in the morning and step on the ground all of hell shakes and the devil says, “oh great, you’re up!” Every place you step your foot darkness will disappear and fill with God’s light. The enemy will try to attack, but if you continue to jump the devil will flee. You will meet his threat and win. The devil may have power, but he has nothing and I mean nothing on the glory and power of God. Life on this earth is nothing compared to an eternity in heaven or hell. So give up the sin in this lifetime to spend an eternity in the presence of our Father. Are you ready to jump?
             Let’s pray, “Jesus, I am ready to jump. I know that you will be at the bottom to catch me. Let me fall into your arms. Take my life and change it. I am ready to give up the sins in my life in order to give your name glory. I know you have great plans for me. Impact my life in ways that you never have before. I am ready to jump!”

For the week, Matthew 6:33, " But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Last Words

                P.T. Barnum, “How were the receipts today at Madison Square Garden?” Humphrey Bogart, “I should have never switched from scotch to martinis.” Thomas Jefferson, “Is it the fourth?” These are all famous last words of people we have known throughout history. It is funny how people remember words from people such as these, yet many do not know the greatest last words ever spoken. These words came from Jesus Christ as he was being crucified. Luke 23:34, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” These words of forgiveness sum up the life of Jesus and why God sent him to this earth.

                Jesus spoke about forgiveness because forgiveness is something we all need. He said these last words while thinking of each and every one of us, not just to the people who were crucifying him. Jesus knew that we were going to be put on this earth and he thought of us as he asked God to forgive us. See we are all born into a life of sin and without asking for forgiveness from God we fall away from him and choose not to be saved. Jesus forgives us for any sin we have committed. Just as Jesus forgives us, he expects us to live like him and forgive others. At times it is difficult, but forgiveness is a key aspect to a strong relationship with God. Why should we forgive each other though? There are three easy answers to that question:

               1.  Forgiveness is a pattern we all need to live.
Forgiveness comes from out own personal will. Each of us has the will to forgive, but it is you as a person that chooses if you will forgive. We must live a life of forgiveness to be free and fully receive Christ. Colossians 3:13, "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of your have grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

               2.  Jesus has forgiven us.
Give all of the hurt to Jesus. He will help you to forgive that person and everything will be so much easier. When God helps you to forgive, just as he has forgiven us, it is so much more powerful. Matthew 5:43-44, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

               3.  Forgiveness has reward. 
Forgiveness is such a freeing experience. When you don't forgive there is a heavy weight that is placed on your heart. Forgiveness will lift that off. When you forgive others, your own sins are forgiven. Matthew 6:14-16, "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

                 Forgiveness allows us to focus on future chapters in our life. Holding a grudge makes us rely on our past. Our future is more important than what happened in our past. Jesus died on the cross to forgive you so you could have the power to forgive. Without forgiveness our life is full of emptiness. Only Jesus’s blood can drive away the emptiness in our lives. We all need forgiveness.

                Let’s pray, “Jesus, forgive me for I have sinned against you. Forgive me so that I may forgive others. Fill me with your love and holy-spirit. Make me more like you. Let your light shine through me. Forgive me Lord. In your name I pray, Amen.”

For the week, Ephesians 4:32, "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you."

Desperation

                What has happened in your past? Is there too much to remember? Let’s narrow it down, what have you done in your past you wish you could go back and change? The things that have happened in our past define our lives, just like a scar defines your body. Although your past defines you, it is your victories that determine who you really are. And the way to gain complete victory is with God leading you. This seems like a strange thought, but just think about it. For instance, have you read any story in The Bible where the people were validated by their struggles? Rather they are determined by their victories. King David didn't become king because he took on a lion, bear and Goliath, but rather because he took on God’s anointing. He didn’t keep coming back saying yeah I am still fighting with this bear, rather he gained victory over it. That is what determined who he was going to be, one of the greatest kings of that time. The sad fact is that we, as believers, don’t become desperate for God—just as David did. We must get desperate for God to get past what defines us so he can determine our future. Although it seems easy, we do not want to be there. Many of us feel more validated by our struggles, rather than the things God brings us out of.  The only way to get past that is to become desperate for God!

                We must become filled and filled with God, yet never be content. Many of us don’t become desperate, but rather are just “hungry” for God. When you are hungry, you go get food and aren’t hungry anymore. That is exactly what we do with God. We feel down about something or are going through a spiritual desert and we ask God for help. Although he always answers our calls, we go back into those struggles that define us after God has given us the victory seeming as though he never answered. We only want to satisfy this hunger, which causes us to become empty again. Hunger is just a desire, but desperation is a demand.  Desperation is like going through the desert for 7 days without food or water, and then someone comes with food and water. You are so desperate for that water that you do not even notice the people who bring you the water. That is how desperate we need to be about God. If you continue to hold on to the things that have brought you down you are not desperate. A man can make himself hungry, but only God can make us desperate. How is it that we become desperate then?

                Tell God you need more of him. When we are hungry ask God for more than anything else you have received before. He may make you into a vessel of his power, but ask for more. So how does he give us more?  He gives us more by crushing us to build us up into something great, and it is in those crushing times that we become desperate for God.  Everything we know will come crashing down. Any stability we have built up in our lives will be destroyed. It is at these times that we cry out to God and ask him why? Why are you tearing everything away from me? That is when he answers, “I thought you wanted to be desperate? I am just crushing the junk out of your life.” We may think he is destroying our whole life, but nothing in our life matters but God.

                We must step into him now. If you quit while you’re hungry, you will never become desperate. You must be willing to wrestle with God for one single blessing, just as Jacob did in the Bible. Jacob didn’t give up on God and he became the father of the nations. He became desperate. We must be willing to go through anything to become desperate because hunger will stop you, desperation will break you through. It will be a tough journey, but the end result is something greater than you can imagine.  And God will continue to crush you to bring out the desperation in you. We are like clay in God’s hands and he is the potter. He molds us into something strong and sturdy. You have got to be desperate. You must become the clay in God’s hands. The most important thing to remember about being clay is this: when God crushes you he will always center you in him when he builds you back up. That’s what desperation is all about. You must let God take control of everything.

                Let’s pray, “Jesus, make me desperate for you. I am ready to claim every victory in my life through your name. Crush all the junk out of my life and center me in you. You mean more to me than anything in this world. I give everything up for you. Make me desperate. In your name I pray, Amen.”

For the week, Psalms 84:2, “My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.”

Fear: Can It Be Overcome?

              What are you afraid of-the dark, spiders, storms, or death?  Fear is a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid. Everybody experiences some type of fear in our lives. Some even let fear run their lives. They have a fear of something bad happening and are constantly expecting fear. Although we all have fears we were not meant to be rooted in fear. When God created each and every one of us there was no intent of fear being part of our design. That being said fear is not rooted in anything short of sin. We were all born into sin and if we continue to live a life of sin we are constantly put in fear. So how is it then that we get rid of this fear? How can we oppose fear?

                The simplest way to oppose fear is to let love into your life. More importantly, let Jesus Christ’s love into your life. If you let this perfect love into your life it will banish all fear that surrounds your lifestyle. His love for us is so strong that he would never do anything that was not planned. He has a plan for each and every one of us. Even though some situations may seem scary and seem to put you in fear, with complete and total trust in God there will be no fear or worry. Having faith rooted in God’s love is opposite of fear and will bring you out of it. Love conquers fear in every way!

                Now, think of any fear you have. Got it? Repeat after me, “Jesus, I give you every fear in my life. For your love is stronger than anything. Bring me out of this fear into a life of happiness. I give everything up to you. Show me your ways. Teach me to live like you with no fear. Lead me Lord. In your name I pray, Amen.”

For the week, Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Nothings to hard for God...Loss

Death to a loved one always seems to come unexpectedly. Losing that person takes everything out of you. Some feel that there is not even a reason to live after it. Loss eats away at them and they feel as though nothing will ever be the same. It is true, it won’t be the same but the way you live life shouldn’t change. Sure, people around you and the world around can help you cope with the loss but it will not truly heal the emptiness you are feeling. The only and I mean ONLY way to cope with loss is God.

                God is the almighty and only one who can heal our hurts. Let him heal you. Surrender to him and put ourselves and our lives in his hands. And although many believe grief to be an enemy it is not. We grieve because God grieves with us. We are not alone through any of this. He is always right beside us no matter what. We have nothing to fear with him by our side.  

                Although many of us blame him for that loss, he did it for a reason. We all have a time when God is ready to call us home.  And we all have to accept the fact that we will go through many losses in our life. But technically it isn’t an official goodbye. We will all see those people again someday. We live to be in heaven where we will spend eternity. There will be no pain or worries to speak of. There will be such an amazing peace. The peace that is talked about is something unimaginable. Imagine sitting by a babbling brook, with the sun beating down on your shoulders. It seems peaceful doesn’t it? Well, heaven is even more peaceful than that. It is something that every one of us should look forward to. And as long as God is your leader and your savior you will see this beautiful place and be with all your loved ones.  Saying goodbye to someone gets hard, but think about it as an early departure. You will see this person again. Trust me, I know it is hard to say goodbye. I just recently lost my Grandma and it seemed so surreal at the time. But God has told me that she is pain free and is in a better place. And I know I will see her soon. Because honestly, what is a lifetime of worries compared to an eternity of happiness with the one who created us? It is something we all should live for.

                Let’s pray this together, “Jesus, I pray that you guide my life. Show me how you want me to live. Show me that you will always be by my side. You are my rock and salvation. Hold me up when all I want to do is fall. Teach me your ways. I love you more than words can see and will see you soon. In your name I pray, Amen.”

,

For the week I give you this, Psalm 18:2, "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the hornof my salvation, my stronghold."

Amazing Faith

               Our lives are built on faith by the way we all throw the word around. For example, when someone is nervous for a test or big game we tell them, "we have 'faith' in you."  But do we really know what faith is? How is it that we define faith then?  In Hebrews 11:1 it states, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”  Faith is having confidence in what we hope for, but not by our own standards. Faith is the assurance of what we can’t hear, see, taste etc.  It is a reality that is beyond our five senses. But, it is not truly us that have faith in someone; rather that we have faith in Jesus Christ to help them win the game or pass the test. Faith is about putting your trust in God and knowing that he will not let you down. God never gives us anything we can’t handle.

                Alright, so having faith in God may seem easy. At some point we have all said that we have faith in God. Truthfully, many of us struggle with the reality that is faith. For instance, there are some who struggle with their faith in terms of obedience to God, when someone falls severely ill, or when you are not financially stable. Trust me, you are NOT alone. I too have struggled with the reality of faith. My Grandma was diagnosed about a year ago with bone cancer. She has been struggling terribly with it and the doctors have told her that there is nothing more to do and have given her about three months. Well, I would ask myself why God was doing this. Why was he going to take my grandma away from us? It is hard watching my dad go through the struggles he is dealing with when about to lose a parent. After going to youth group, my pastor had a sermon that truly spoke to me.  He said, “Jesus will always be with us no matter what we are dealing with.” And although I was struggling with faith, as many do, he told us six things that can help us grow in our faith.

1.       Influential relationships: Surrounding yourself with people who have strong faith in God will help you to stay connected with him while you may be falling from him.

2.       Engaging in worship: When worshipping, you truly put yourself in the presence of God, even though we are always in that presence.  The words speak through you and it is an easy way to speak to God when you are at a loss of words.

3.       Sharing your faith: Telling others about Jesus can only help you grow closer to him. There are times when words you speak to others make you think and realize what you need to do to be closer to him.

4.       Ministry involvement: Being involved in the church is one of the easiest ways to surround yourself in his presence. You are constantly surrounded by his word and people who also have strong trust in him.

5.       Missions giving: Taking time to give to missions will help you grow. It goes along with sharing your faith. Even though you are not directly sharing God’s word on the missions’ trips you are speaking through them by helping the missionaries get to these places where the need of Jesus is strong.

6.       Learning the Bible: The simplest way to grow in faith is to read the Bible. This is God’s word

      written directly to us. It tells us the way we should be living and brings us on a deeper level

      with God.

              So that is all we need to do. We must focus on the journey of faith. These six steps will help you get on the right path and they will only bring you closer to Jesus. It showed me that putting your faith in God is the only thing to do. Even if you are going through tough situations, God has a reason. He will bring you through the hard times because the end result he has planned will be something that is beyond our own imaginations. His glory truly is great! In closing lets pray, “Jesus, I pray that you guide my life. I put all my faith in you God. I give everything up to you for you have great plans for me. I intend to live my life in the ways you tell me. You are my stronghold and salvation. Show me that you will hold me up when all I want to do is fall. In your name I pray, Amen.”

            For this week, 1 Peter 1:21, "Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God."