"OOPS! I better turnaround!"

It happens in every one's life sometime...we go in the wrong direction. Usually we are aware that we have headed in the wrong path, but we don't turnaround, because we are either too proud to acknowledge the mistake or just down right stubborn. The story of the prodigal son is an example of someone who went down the wrong path...realized it...then took the steps to turnaround!

The story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) is really the story of us. Isn't is true, that we have all taken a path away from God and then realized it was not the right way to go? The grace of God (and the meaning of the prodigal son story) is that we can turn back to God and we will be accepted! I am so thankful that the Lord takes us back and continues to love us unconditionally.

Years ago, I was a radio announcer and played a song on the air by The Vogues, entitled "Turn Around Look at Me." The following are the lyrics of that song...but this time when you read it, think of it as Jesus talking to you:

"There is someone walking behind you, turn around, look at me. There is someone watching your footsteps, turn around look at me. There is someone who really needs you here's my heart in my hand. Turn around look at me, understand, That there's someone who'll stand beside you. Turn around, look at me. And there's someone who'll love and guide you. Turn around look at me. I've waited, but I'll wait forever for you to come to me. Look at someone who really loves you, yeah, really loves you. Turn around, look at me."

Now isn't that was Christ wants from us? To be aware of his presence and that he is always there for us. If you are one who is floundering and not sure if you are going the way God has intended you to go...then turn around....for he is there!

"Boy, I Am Glad He Did!"

During this season of Lent, I think alot about the love that God has for everyone through His son, Jesus Christ. I am also amazed at the way the Lord changed dealing with us. In the Old Testament, when people did not follow His commands they were wiped out. When Lot and his family left Sodom and Gomorrah, God told them not to look back at the cities...Lot's wife did and she was turned into a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:16-29).

I am prayerfully grateful that God changed from turning people into a pillar salt, to sending His only son, Jesus Christ to love us. Through Christ we are able to obtain a joyous life on earth and eternal life in heaven when we leave this earth. God no longer punishes us immediately for our transgressions, but rather tells us to turn to His son and ask for forgiveness. If we do that we are assured that we will not be turned into a pillar of salt (a very good thing), but rather we will feel God's loving embrace.

It is God's way of showing us His love that has changed so dramatically from the Old Testament to the New Testament and ..."Boy, I am Glad He Did" change. For the entire New Testament the theme is the love of God through Jesus Christ. We are to learn from Christ's example how love touches our lives and is a form of growth. A 19th century minister Henry Ward Beecher said, "Love is not a possession but a growth. The heart is a lamp with just enough to burn for an hour, and if there be no oil to put in again its light will go out. God's grace is the oil that fills the lamp of love."

God also gave us a symbol of His love and that is the cross. No other symbol can bring such emotion to millions of people...whether it be a crucifix or whether it be an empty cross. To some they can only think of Christ's suffering...to others it is an overwhelming sense of peace and love. For me, at different times, it can be one or the other emotion, but the strongest emotion is God loved me so much that He gave His only son and since I believe in him I will have eternal life.

I pray that you too will feel that love and understand that God changed from wiping people out to holding us..."Boy, I Am Glad He Did!"

"Mirror, Mirror On The Wall"

Every morning we start the day by looking into a mirror to see if we are presentable. Usually we find something wrong in the way we look...eyes are too far apart; nose is too big or small; don't like our hair or lack of hair or we think we are just plain ugly. Unfortunately we live in a culture that is obsessed with looks and we start thinking that God sees us like we view ourselves. Fortunately for us, God sees us in a very different way.

God does not care about how we look, but rather God cares about what is in our heart...our real self. We can look like (as the old saying goes) a million dollars, but if we do not have Jesus Christ in our hearts we have nothing. I hear people all the time say that if they accept Jesus Christ they have to give up so much and in reality you gain more than you will ever give up.

Greg Laurie in his book entitled "Life. Any Questions?" states, "A question I often hear is this: "If I become a Christian, will I have to give up anything? The answer, of course is YES." He also writes, "But I assure you that what God will put in place will be so much better, you eventually won't miss those things you gave up."

Paul in Philippians 3:8 writes, "I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ."

Remember you are a creation of God and God does not do ugly! You are one of his children and all you have to do is to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Savior and you will start to become whom God has intended you to become. I challenge you to look into the mirror and see the wonderful, beautiful person God has created. Look into yourself and if you are struggling give up whatever it is to God and it will be as if the thorns of your life have become roses.

"Super What?"

One of the most watched sporting events, the Super Bowl was played Sunday evening. As a football fanatic I always watch the game and the game was incredible....but it is not as "super" as what God does for us on a daily basis. It is truly the power of a living God, through Jesus Christ, that is super!

Reggie White (known as the minister of defense...he was an ordained minister, besides a defensive player for the Green Bay Packers, and died several years ago) understood the true meaning of a super God. In the book entitled "It Happens on Sunday," he wrote: "It was an amazing privilege to win the Super Bowl. But as thrilling as that was, I can honestly say that I have experienced even greater privileges and deeper joys. It is a daily privilege to be married to a godly woman like Sara, and to be dad to two children who love Jesus. It is an honor to be involved in ministry and to see people become spiritually renewed."

Reggie White got it! He understood that the true "super bowl" is your own life and how God has impacted it. When you understand that the true "trophy" is not what is handed to players on the field of play, but rather the reward you receive in your life when you have accepted Jesus Christ...you understand the difference.

As Tony Dungy (head coach of the Indianapolis Colts) wrote in his book, "Quiet Strength," "God's definition of success is really one of significance--the significant difference our lives can make in the lives of others. This significance doesn't show up in win-loss records, long resumes, or the trophies gathering dust on our mantels. It's found in the hearts and lives of those we've come across who are in some way better because of the way we lived."

If you have not had the chance...look into the mirror and ask yourself...where can I experience the superness of God in my life and how can I demonstrate it to others? It doesn't have to be a major thing, because sometimes the "superness" of God can be found in the smallest of things and places...but when you discover where it is in your life...it is greater than any Super Bowl or Super Bowl trophy!