HAPPY EASTER!

If you have any questions about committing your life to Jesus, feel free to contact me via the contact form. I'd be happy to chat with you and answer any questions you have.

Though it's been almost 2,000 years since Jesus' resurrection, it still continues to affect people all around the world, regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, culture or situation. If you've walked with the Lord for many years, Jesus' life will continue to inspire you to live like Him. If you are just starting a relationship with Him, let me tell you that God will treat you as He does Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross for sinners (you and me), in that time frame He was treated like us. Instead of us getting the wrath of God, it was all upon Jesus. And now, we get to be treated as Sons of God, just as Jesus is treated now. We can have that life-changing personal relationship with God, spend eternal life with Him in heaven, and share the good news with others.

This Easter, I pray that you would truly apprehend the goodness and power of Jesus' life, death and resurrection.

Good Friday.

Why was it good? Wasn't that the day Jesus had to die? Shouldn't that be the day that Christians mourn and groan because of the invalidity of their faith? Wasn't God distraught when His innocent Son had to die this scandalous death? Shouldn't we forever feel guilty because it was our sin that nailed Him there? Wasn't that the day Satan won? Shouldn't it be named "Bad Friday?"

No!

What made Good Friday so good was when Jesus died, He broke the barriers holding us back from a personal relationship with God.

What made Good Friday so good was when He cried, "It is finished," Jesus mended the broken relationship between God and Man.

What made Good Friday so good was when Jesus died on that cross, He died for YOU so that YOU could live in eternity with God. Jesus took your place so that you could be treated like Him. So instead of Jesus being glorified by the Father, the wrath of God was taken upon Him. He didn't deserve it at all. But He willingly died for sinful, selfish people. How often would someone die for a good person? And yet "Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6). Instead of us being punished, we now have the choice of salvation and being treated like Jesus was. We can be children of God. Because Jesus died in our place, we have a reason to live and we can have that personal relationship with the Lord. 

Now, you don't need to be afraid of death.

Now, you can have a personal relationship with the Father.

Now, because of this great love that Jesus demonstrated to us, we can share it with others so that it may transform their lives.

1 Peter 2:9 -

I love this verse because it reminds me of my true worth and purpose - I am chosen by God and I was created to share His excellencies to everyone around me. He called us out of the darkness of sin and into the Light, that is, the Christian walk of life. You have a great purpose and a unique identity, more important than any other task or label someone gives you. No more is your chain to sin. No more are you forsaken. You have been transformed to a child of God and you are worth so much. Do you know how amazing the word CHOSEN is? It means you were hand-selected by God. How cool is that? You're not just another face in the crowd - you are loved and cherished by God as a father loves his children. Even though God is a father to many children, He remembers each and every one of them; they are unforgettable to Him. Each one is precious.

Christ empowers us to be more than we can be by ourselves. In Him we are unusual. We don't blend in with others, and we weren't made to. Peter says we were called "out of darkness into his marvelous light." Though this earthly world is full of darkness, we who are saved are called to enlighten the world by God. And ultimately, this is just our temporary home. Our destiny is heaven. Those usual people follow the crowd and might get approval from the world, but those who are unusual - we the children of God - get our approval from the Creator of the universe. Although the Christian walk of life can be a struggle, remember that through Jesus you are made unafraid, unashamed, unbroken, unceasing, undefiled, undivided, unforgotten and unstoppable...unusual. I encourage you to live each day full of confidence that you are a chosen child of God. Share God's goodness with others. Live freely and live a life full of light. And don't forget your new identity in Christ.

Unusual just might be my new favorite word.

Note: this graphic was made by me. Please do not steal! If you would like to use it, you can contact me through the contact form.

This quote is like a palindrome. Here's one way to break down this quote: Jesus became a man so that we could be like Jesus. I like to go to the Bible to check things like quotes, since it's the ultimate truth. Galatians 3:26 (ESV) says,

This verse backs up Mr. Lewis' quote, and really thinking about the statement that we can be sons of God just blows my mind. Being sons of God doesn't just mean being God's child - it means we're heirs of Christ, like Paul in Roman 8:17 (NIV) writes.

When I read that, all I can say is wow. For me, at least, it's amazing that I can even say I'm God's child. Think of it this way: what if you met a kid, and that kid told you she was the daughter of one of your favorite bands? The fact that that girl's parent is in that band kind of ties to her identity. If you were related to a celebrity (or maybe you already are!), how would make you feel? I personally would feel, well, kinda special...maybe set apart even. The same way is with God -- even more so with Him, actually. If you are a Christian, then you are already a child of God; an heir of the Most High God. Do you live like you're the child of a King? Are you aware of what Jesus had to go through so that you could live as God's child and heir? Think of the quote. Jesus became a man so that you could live like him. I encourage you, especially during this Christmas, to really think over what it means to be a child of God and to live like it. Live like sons of God.