Are you feeling stuck?

Romans 2:1  “You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.”

I love this verse because it places each of us on the same plane.  The bottom line and end of story truth is that we are all sinners!  This is the truth… I am a sinner and have no justification towards pointing out the errors of others.

“Wait a minute... I don’t hate-God and I am not unmerciful, and I am trustworthy…”  This is what some would argue.  However… the point isn’t the exactness of your sinful traits compared with others… sin holds an all inclusive list in ways we all miss the mark.  Regardless of where you miss the mark, it is still sin.

This is why in Romans 3:23 it says, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”

Friends like it or not murder and gossip both equally the same thing… sin!  Unforgiveness and immorality… sin!  Prostitution and cheating… sin!  You get the point?  It doesn’t matter what your sinful actions are… we are all guilty of sin.

I have had the privilege of traveling through the years and I have breathed oxygen in Israel, Serbia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Belgium, France and of course the United States.  It didn’t matter which country I was in, it was always and only oxygen.

You can try to make yourself feel better by saying to yourself, “Well I have never committed adultery.”  “I have never killed anyone.”  I have never stolen any money.”  "I have never looked at pornography.”  "I have never lied.” "I have never cheated.” "I have never gossiped.”  "I have never…," and you can fill in your own blank, it doesn’t matter.  It is all sin!

So, we are all on an equal and even playing field.  We are all guilty of one thing sin.  Therefore, stop comparing yourself and stop puffing yourself up.  You, like me, are a sinner.  Though earthly consequence may vary accordingly, the eternal consequence for sin is all the same.

Just as we are all guilty of sin, the remedy for each of us is equally the same.  The only remedy for you and for me is the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  His unconditional act of love on the cross where He took your place and mine is more than sufficient to take care of all of our sin.

1 Peter 3:18 “Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.”

So what can you do to receive this forgiveness and to have your sin taken care of once and for all?

Romans 10:9-10  “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. “

There you have it.  This is equally Good News for all of us.  We have all sinned, yet every last one of us can be forgiven of that sin by placing our faith in Christ and confessing Him as our Lord and Savior.

What in the world are you waiting for?

Hebrews 9:27 "It is appointed unto men to die once..." 

I love this verse! To me it is SO freeing. I understand that my earthly fate is death. I will die! 

Since, I am fully aware of this and I accept it... It free's me to DREAM, to RISK, and to TRY. Why not? What do I have to lose? NOTHING! I have nothing to lose! 

Since I have received God's gift of Salvation through Christ Jesus... I am confident in my eternity! So with this TEMPORARY LIFE... I REFUSE to hold back and try to save anything! With my life I want to GIVE IT, LIVE IT, USE IT, and SPEND every second I am given to INFLUENCE, IMPACT, HELP and MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

What If?

What If?

Most people think of "What If..." in the negative. What if I don't have enough money? What if I get seriously ill? What if it just doesn't work out?

I like to look at "What if..." in the positive!

What if today... I did things just a little differently? What if I chose to be just a little bit more intentional with my words and actions? What if I actually took the time to do at least one thing that I have been intending to do? What if I took that action today?

What is the "What If..." you can take action on today that may make today not just a good day but a great day?

Philippians 4:13 " I can do all this through him who gives me strength."

God Does Not Hire Accountants!

God does not hire accountants!  When I stand before God at the end of my life I will not give an account for how much money I have made.  Rather, I will be accountable to how many lives I have influenced with His love and was I faithful to do what He has asked me to do?  This is success of the Eternal Nature!

Thank you Clay Christensen (Harvard Business School Professor) for inspiring this thought for me today!

Mark 8:36-37  "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"

Grateful

I am so grateful and thankful for today! Why? Because I am alive... I have the opportunity to make today better than yesterday. I have an awesome God, a beautiful, wonderful wife, two exceptional children, a dream job, a home, two cars, dear family and friends, and my health. 

I am also thankful for the trials... yes... on top of ALL those wonderful things I have trials. These trials challenge me... to be better... to draw closer to my God... to cling to God's Word and ALL of His glorious promises. To rise up in faith and believe God and to put His Word to action. If it were not for the trials I may not recognize the blessings.

These trials could defeat me, but they will not. Instead, they send me into a deeper pursuit of Gods love. These trials make me more desperate for His presence. In the end these trials will make me stronger, wiser, and more effective in my lifes purpose.

Everyday is a day to be grateful... Romans 8:28 28 "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."

Judgment Will Come... BUT Today Is A Day of Hope and Salvation... Let's SHOUT it OUT!

It is not my job to judge others!  I made this statement in my last post: "If you want to judge the world, you will miss the opportunity to influence it."

HOWEVER, do not be ignorant, there is a judgment.  That judgment is the responsibility of God the Father and He is the only judge!

God, under His New Covenant,  has reserved His judgment for a specific time and place. 

John 12:47-49  "I will not jude those who hear me but don't obey me, for I have come to save the world and not judge it.  48. But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken.  49. I don't speak on my own authority.  The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it."

I don't need to convince the world of anything.  I simply must be faithful to share the message of hope that we have in Christ Jesus and to live in such a way that it proves that message.

I could not convince anyone of their sin anyway.  It is not my position to do so.  It is the role of the Holy Spirit to "convict the world of it's sin" (John 16:8).

This is exciting to me.  My role is to share GOOD NEWS to the world around me.  My job is to share my testimony and how the blood of Jesus has taken away my sin and that He can do the same for them.

Yes... there is a judgment.  One day God will judge the world.  However, today is the day of Salvation (2 Cor. 6:2).  That's good news!  Let's not be quiet about this.  Judgment is coming, but today is a day of HOPE and SALVATION.  

Shout it out!!!