By Your Side

Think again!

Have you ever had a bad day, week, month or even a bad year? Things seemed so bad that you felt like giving in or even worse, just giving up? Have you ever thought about packing it in and trying to run away from all your troubles, from all of your responsibilities? If so, you are not alone. Many of us have had similar thoughts to, "the grass is greener on the other side" at some point in our lives. It's important to recognize when you are experiencing those moments and when it all seems too much to bear. Then, we need to stop running away from our problems and turn toward Jesus. There's a song, where the lyrics go, "Why are you striving these days? Why are you trying to earn grace? Why are you crying? Let me lift up your face… just don't turn away! Why are you looking for love? Why are you searching… as if I'm not enough? To where will you go child? Tell me where will you run? To where will you run? Cause I'll be by your side, wherever you fall. In the dead of night, whenever you call, just please don't fight these hands that are holding you. Cus' my hands are holding you". These powerful lyrics speak straight to my heart and make me realize more than ever that Jesus is always there for me! He is always willing and more than capable to help. So, just remember that wherever you go, there you are, but so is He and therefore, you are never alone! You can't outrun Jesus, so when you're finally tired of running, turn around and walk into his arms. He'll never forsake you and will always embrace you! God bless you!

 

The Greatest Gifts

As a child, anytime that I was behaving poorly, my mom would tell me that Santa Claus was watching. That would straighten me right up. After all, who wanted to miss out on Santa's great gifts at Christmas time? So my question is, as adults, why do we not behave as though Jesus is always watching? Especially when we're behaving poorly? He is watching, you know? And if we did live that way, wouldn't we all just straighten right up? After all, who wants to miss out on God's greatest gift..... Heaven?

I Want To Be Loved Like That

On the first day of visiting the church that has now become our home, we stood for prayer. I stood there in silence with my head bowed, as she began to lead us. I was suddenly swept away in a flood of emotion. Becoming lost in her prayer and yet clinging to every word, I noticed that this prayer was different from all of the rambling and rushed prayers that I've heard in the past. It was soft and slow as she came to the Father with her needs and the needs of others. She spoke to Him with such passion and conviction. With such sincerity and eloquence, she took her time as though it seemed that she was allowing Him to take notes or as if He needed time to consider these requests. All the while, she would pause both briefly and periodically as though she were listening for OR to His responses before she continued. She poured out her heart as He took in every word. It was beautiful and it made my prayers feel inadequate. I was in awe of her relationship with the Father. All of a sudden, mine felt as though it were lacking in comparison. I couldn't imagine anyone questioning her love for Him any more than I could possibly question His love for all of mankind. I was touched and I want to love and be loved like that.

Not So Tough Now, Are Ya?

When I was younger and much dumber, I used to enjoy being thought of as a tough guy. I looked the part and even played the part pretty well. Then I found God.... well, He found me. That's when He opened my eyes and I saw that being tough wasn't important at all. Being strong in my faith in the Lord was everything, though.There were men in my life that I looked up to. Godly men! I found that I no longer wanted to play the tough guy at all, but the good guy. I wanted others to look at me the way that I looked up to these men. I prayed that the good Lord would soften my heart and He did. I continue to pray that my life has been a testimony that God is proud of. I'm far from perfect, but I know that as long as the Lord has His way, I will continue to be a work in progress. Thank you Lord for never giving up on me, even when I've felt like giving up on myself!

Why? Why do people always look at getting busted as sinning? Jimmy Swaggart, Bill Clinton, Tedd Haggard and maybe even you or me. If you've been doing something that is wrong over and over and knowing that it was wrong.... it's probably WRONG!! Why do we perceive that it is only wrong when we are caught with our hand in the cookie jar? The sin remains the same! Getting caught is not the sin, people! I repeat, getting caught is NOT the sin! Drunk driving is not a sin. Driving drunk IS the sin! Getting caught with another woman is not a sin. Being with another woman IS the sin! If you really felt bad about what you're doing, you wouldn't be doing it in the first place. You only feel bad when you get cold BUSTED!! The sad thing is that you were busted all along. You may not be aware of it, but God saw the whole thing the whole time. How do you think He felt about what you've done? Live your life like He is always watching because He IS always watching and when you've realized that you have made a mistake, ask forgiveness. He'll take you back. He loves you far too much not to.

If We Are the Body.....

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Many people feel this way today. Why? Like the song goes, "If we are the Body, why aren't His arms reaching? Why aren't His hands healing? Why aren't His words teaching? And if we are the Body, why aren't His feet going? Why is His love not showing them there is a way? Jesus paid much too high a price for us to pick and choose who should come, and we are the Body of Christ". Think about that and how people perceive you. When they see you out somewhere, do they see Jesus in you? In your actions? In your language? In your dealings with others? In your heart? If you can't honestly answer yes to these questions, what kind of testimony or witness to Christ are you? Are you living it or just claiming it? It's time that we give ourselves a check up from the neck up and to live for Him who died for us. Jesus Christ, our Savior!

Jesus Satisfies You!

As I stood there staring at this stupid vending machine full of overpriced junk food looking for something to hold me over until I could make it home for dinner, all of a sudden, it dawn on me that that the chewing gum was the least expensive thing in the machine, but also had the least amount of nutritional value. The snickers bar was one of the most expensive thing and their slogan "Snickers satisfies you" rang back to me. Then my brain shifted and got me thinking. A relationship with Jesus Christ isn't so different to a vending machine. I could get the gum for very little and have it satisfy only my taste buds and do absolutely nothing for my appetite or I could put more into the machine and get more out of it by getting the Snickers bar. Are you satisfied with your relationship with Jesus? If not, perhaps you could try putting a little more into it and maybe, you too, will get a little more out of it. Snickers may satisfy your cravings, but Jesus is what nourishes the soul. Just a thought!