John 14:6

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

It really amazes me that people assume if you are good, you automatically get a ticket to heaven. There are several examples in the Bible that proves otherwise and there are going to be quite a few astounded people standing outside the pearly gates wondering what went wrong.

The only unforgivable sin is denying Jesus and turning your back on God. God can and does forgive every offence we have ever done, no matter how bad, if we just ask him to. God is ready to give all of us his grace. No sin is too big except for denial.

One of my best friend's grandfather is about to die. He is a wonderful man, full of kindness and love, but he is an unbeliever. He wants to believe, but he thinks that it is too late for him. He is denying God at the end of his life for fear. It is not to late for this sweet man and it pains my friend's heart to think that he will never enter God's glory due to a stubborn heart. The truth is that it is never too late. God did not say that I am the way, the truth, and the light only if you are young. No. The invitation is open at all stages and stations of life. God will welcome you with open arms if you just ask him to.

Think of the children

Jesus loved the children. He wanted them to come to him even after his disciples had told them to go away. The Bible also tells us to care for widows and orphans. I often think of the children in this world who have no home. Many in Africa have been stolen from their families and sold into sex slavery or have been brainwashed by an army that would have them destroy their own parents. In many Asian countries baby girls are abandoned simply for being the wrong gender. Babies are aborted in this country just because they might have special needs. We as a people, as human beings, need to start speaking out against these crimes against humanity. We need to help these children as God called us to. We can send financial support, educate, and even adopt these children into loving homes where they can come to know the Lord, a father who will never abandon them and will love them always.
Pray for the children who have no home, no family, no one to say "I love you" to them at night and start thinking about what you can do to help. Imagine a world where everyone felt love. Wouldn't it be a better place?

Finding the Time

I had gotten half way through the day today and I realized that I really hadn't taken any time to really pray. I tried this morning while waiting for all of the children to wake up, but kept falling asleep. Life just always seems so busy, and, unfortunately, our time with God seems to be the first thing to go.

If you find yourself like me, just stop whatever you are doing and take a moment to say a small prayer. It can even be the one Jesus taught us to say:

Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed by your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen

That simple prayer acknowledges who God is and asks Him to watch over us in all that we do. I also try to take the time to pray over meals. One, to thank God that he has provided us with the food, and two, to teach my children the importance of prayer.

I am also trying to keep an ongoing dialogue with God. Who said that prayer had to be a formal thing? I kind of like to think that God likes for us to talk to Him as we would our mother, father, or best friend. Prayer is all about building that relationship with our creator. Hopefully I can improve it with time.

Matthew 6:34

"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34

I really struggle with that verse. Part of the reason is because I'm a bit of a control freak. I like to know who, what, when, where, and why immediately so that I can plan. Another reason is because I fear the future more that I should. I should be confidant that God will always lead me to the right path, but I have my doubts. I also fear my children's future. The world has become a liberal, scary place. Family values are not as important as they were even 10 years ago and it seems as though the enemy is bent on taking us down. The economy, terrorism, and an administration that has very little value for the most innocent of lives (the proposed reversal of the conscious rule) scares me. This season of Lent I'm going to try to have faith and pray that our country is headed down the right path. Though I might not agree with him on most issues, I need to pray for our president. That God's ultimate will might be done through him. I need not worry about tomorrow, because God is the one in charge despite what some humans may think. Tomorrow will be ok.

In the Words of a Child

Every night we sit down to dinner as a family and ask our son to say the blessing. In his cute, three-year-old voice he says "God great, God good, thank you food Amen." Now he does not fully understand why we pray and I'm not even sure he understands the concept of God and Jesus just yet. After all, just a few months ago he went down the halls of our church yelling "Oh Jesus!" to anyone passing by. The important thing is that we are laying the foundation. Imagine if you said every day God is great and God is good. His little prayer at dinner time reminds us each time of how wonderful God is to us and all of the many blessings we have in our lives. We should wake up every morning thanking God for being great and good to us. Amen.

Psalm 119:05

Psalm 119:105
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

When ever I hear that verse, I think of the song. It's words ring true for our lives. Without the word of God we live in darkness, but when we follow the Word of God our path in life is lit with the brilliant light that can only come from Jesus. That's not to say that we wont experience periods of darkness, but every time we are in a low, that is when we need to be on our knees praying and spending time in the word in order to hear God's voice. I really believe that God speaks to us through the Bible. It is our instruction book, our guide, our light that shines in the darkness of the world. In it we will have no fear knowing that God is with us to the end of our earthly life and beyond.

Psalm 139

Psalm 139:13-16 For you created my inmost 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 secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.

This has to be one of my favorite Bible passages. As a mother to three children, I love knowing that God was with me as he made my children.

Life is so precious because God takes the time to make sure that each of us is made for a purpose. Sometimes a baby might not be perfect in the eyes of the world, but he or she is still a wonderful part of God's creation. I should know. My younger son has Down Syndrome. God was with him when he was made in my womb just as He was there for my other two children and the one baby who is with Him now that I have yet to meet as a result of an ectopic pregnancy. My little boy is the light of my life, and though I wish he didn't have some of the challenges he has and must face in the future, I know that God is going to work through him and bring blessings to all who meet him.

Whenever you are facing your own challenges and you are feeling unloved or unimportant know that God loved you enough to create you. He has been there for you from the very beginning of your existence and He will continue to be there for you always.