No Ordinary Meeting

Several weeks ago I happened to meet a person who had a much different past than I have. He was raised in a big city and, like alot of young people, found himself involved in sex, drugs, and other things. He is now a young father of a baby, has been in prison, and has had many short term jobs. I believe he told me his mother is raising the child, and the young mother of the child is in prison on drug charges. He had found himself immersed in the culture where he lived, with no tools to resist its lure. At his young age he already had a record. And the chances of it continuing on in his life were great. 

But God already had His eye on him. This guy told me that he was searching for some meaning and while wandering downtown, he happened to walk past an inner city church. The doors were opened, and to satisfy his curiosity, he looked in. I don't believe he had ever been in a church. But he told me the pastor noticed him, and invited him in to talk. As a result of many encounters and a relationship being formed between the two, this young man found Jesus. Now he was on the road, with one of the ministry leaders and other young men, promoting this Christian Academy, which is a ministry to help boys find Christ. I was told the program lasts only 9 months, and then the boys can go home, while being encouraged to continue on in ministry.

At first I wasn't sure if this young man was telling me the truth, but the more I talked to him, the more convinced I was that he actually had found Jesus, and that Jesus had changed him. He was a baby Christian, with a huge challenge ahead of him, to keep walking in the faith. He was vulnerable to return to his old lifestyle if he went back to his neighborhood and hung around his old friends. But with Christ, he knew he wouldn't be alone wherever he would go.

I felt priviledged to meet this young man. He was a brave person. Uncertain about his future, he had some anxiety. We prayed before I left, and I told him I was excited about what God was going to do in his life. That we didn't meet by accident. And that I would be praying for him.

This whole experience has reminded me that God is working in all places at all times. He has his eye on each one of us. Not one single person is a mistake! Nor is one single person unusable by God!

For You created my innermost being,

You knit me together in my mother's womb,

I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made,

Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from You

when I was made in the hidden place.

When I was woven together...

Your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me

were written in Your book

before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God!

- Psalm 139:13-17

There is a plan and a purpose for us. His great and perfect love desires us to come to Him, and He uses people, like you and me, to reach out and touch others with His Good News of salvation. There are too many people out there who need to know that Jesus loves them and gave His life for them on the cross. In a big city....in a small town....in your neighborhood....in your family....in you!

If you already know Christ. are you reaching out to others? Are you sharing the love of Jesus to those you meet?

O Father God,

I thank You first for Your gift of salvation

through Your Son, Jesus.

I come to You now to ask You to touch my heart

in a way that leads to a compassionate love for others.

Enable me to look around,

to be aware of anyone who needs You.

Use me for Your glory

to shine Your light in this dark world.

Let no opportunity escape me.

Let no one be an inconvenience to me.

I am Yours. They are Yours.

Help me in building Your Kingdom.

In Jesus' Name.

Amen.

If you don't have a personal relationship with Jesus now, then please know that He is calling you to come to Him! He has known you from the beginning, and He has a plan and a purpose for your life. You are precious in His sight! I ask you to walk in the doors of a nearby Christian church, to talk to a pastor about Jesus' love for you. This will be the beginning of the most important relationship you can ever have. 

O Lord,

I need You in my life.

I want a relationship with You.

Please lead me to someone

who can help me find You.

I know You have loved me from the beginning

and I am not a mistake.

I want to know more about You

and what Jesus did for me on the cross.

Amen.



There Is Still Time....

This morning when I was taking my walk, I noticed an increasing number of colored leaves on the pavement. They weren't very colorful, but it is still early in the season. As I looked up into the trees, they were still very covered with their leaves, and most of them are still green. I look forward to the trees becoming more colorful and beautiful as the weeks go by. Unfortunately, too soon they will all be void of their leaves, and winter will be upon us.

This reminds me of my life, and maybe yours. Having recently lost my Dad, I have come to the realization that life can be too short. Now that both of my parents are gone, I have the feeling that I am next! I hear that this is common with others who don't have their parents with them anymore, so I'm not alone.

But, then I wonder, am I making the most of the days that God is giving me? Am I doing what really matters? What is my legacy? Is there still time to make a difference and imprint on this world?

Have I reached out to others? Have I shown them love? Have I given up my time to give to someone else who needed me? Or have I lived my life to meet my own desires?

There is still time. There is still time to love others with the love that Jesus has shown me. There is still time to share the hope that I have of an eternal life with Him. There is still time to love Him. With all my heart. And all my being. There is still time to know more about the One who loved me first.

I pray that in the days that God gives me, that I will glorify Him. That others will be able to see the outpouring of His Spirit in me. That even though the days may get troubling, I will still exhibit His supernatural peace, for He will always be with me.

There is still time...



He Is All You Need

The following message was inspired by a devotional
I received from Rod Parsley. 

It is very encouraging and I want to share his thoughts with you.

Do you ever experience circumstances in your life that seem uncontrollable and overwhelming? As a result, fear can overtake you, robbing you of the peace and joy you need. Fear can consume you, making you useless. And to some of you, you feel like giving up!

At times like these, perhaps you need to be reminded of the presence of our loving and merciful Lord. As our gentle Shepherd, He already knows what you are facing, and is ready to place His everlasting arms underneath you. You need not fear; you are going to make it!

I sought the Lord, and He heard me,

and delivered me from all my fears.

                                           -  Psalm 34:4

Seek the Lord!! You do not need a healing - you need Him. You do not need deliverance - you need Him.  You do not need joy or victory - you need Him. He has already given you the answer to every prayer you will ever pray. Because of what He did on the cross for you, you can walk in victory! As God becomes your passion, everything else will fall into place.

Everything is in the Lord. Every victory, need, longing, desire, plan, possibility, and dream is in Him. Don't give up. He is your all in all. Just seek Him!