Saturday, March 28, 2009

Family

So many times we take our family for granet. We sometimes simply overlook our family. We go days sometimes without talking to our parents, or to our brothers, and sisters.

This past week I have really given this thought. Without family, we are not who we are. Without family, we are not connected to anyone. Being a family gives you a quality about yourself.

After the death of my friend last week, I have been thinking that family is the most important part of your life. I havent always been the one to express to my parents, brothers, and sisters that I love them and that I apreciate them. I am now trying to take each day and tell them personaly that I love them. I'm not sure what will come from it but I'm not looking for any more aproval than I already have.

Love today like it's your last!

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Life

Last night I found out that a friend of mine killed himself. When I herd this I was shocked. There was a sick feeling that came over me instantly. I would have never expected it from this person. He was one of my best friends brothers growing up. Last night as I set thinking about it all the memories came flooding through my mind. I can remember my family and there family would eat at Taco Bell a couple times a week after football practice when we were little. I can remember we used to go water skiing during the summer almost every weekend. I would spend the night at there house almost all the time. We were close.

We are never guaranteed another breath. We should thank God everyday that we are able to role out of bed in the mornings. Life is a gift and we should take it serious. Never take it lightly. I have chosen to make my life, and my eternity secure in heaven. I have chosen to give my life to Jesus Christ, that's the only guarantee we have that we will spend eternity in heaven. How do we know if we will go to heaven or hell?

The bible tells us in Romans 3:23, "for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." That means that nobody is perfect and nobody but Jesus has ever been perfect but Jesus. Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." This means that if you are living in sin then you will go to hell. But if you give your life to Jesus Christ you will spend eternity with him. Ephesians 2:8,9 says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast." Being able to ask Jesus into our life is a gift that God has givin us. Finally, 1 John 5:13 says, "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." We will spend eternity with our creator if we choose to make a decision to live for him. We must turn from our old ways and look to Jesus. We should not conform to the ways of the world. But we should be set apart.

Examine your heart. You can make this decision by saying a simple prayer: Lord Jesus I know that I am a sinner. I know that you died on the cross for me. Please come into my heart and make me clean. Forgive my sin so that I may know you. Amen!

Friday, March 6, 2009

Forgotten

There are people in this world that we have no idea what they do. People have simply been forgotten. All over the world there are unreached people groups. There are people in remote villages that no person, or any outside communication have reached.

Thursday, I went with a team to a place in Benton, LA. We went to a horse training farm where a bunch of Hispanic people work as trainers for race horses. This place is like a little community. They are not unreached, but people just have no clue they even exist. Me and our team of about twenty five young people, went with our youth pastor to minister to them. We shared testimonies, and did a drama. There were about five or six people that accepted Jesus Christ as there Lord and Savior.

I was so blessed to speak into these peoples lives. We went to bless them, but I think that I was blessed more. That happens so many times in life with really anything. You go to give, but you end up receiving.

All this to say that there are people that are forgotten. Many times we are so tunnel visioned as we go through our day. We never even look left or right to see the people next to us. I just want to encourage you to look around and find the forgotten people in your area. It doesn't take much. Maybe just a smile or a pat on the back. You could even bless them by taking them to lunch or just spending time with them. James 1:27 says this, "Religion that God our father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."