DO YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO PROCLAIM GOD'S WORD, AND LIVE IT TOO ?

3/29/2020

Have we ever had a time in our life where we have SO MUCH TIME to think about our lives ? I spent a part of the morning looking back through pictures of the last few years. It was amazing to see and remember all the amazing people I had spent time with, and the incredible events that had shaped my life. Proud dad, watching our daughter graduate from Southern Methodist University, and join Southwest Airlines Corporate. Our son, off to Creighton University, and now in his final semester as a senior; graduating remotely; none of us imagining it being like this. Standing on the Mount of Olives looking down at Jerusalem just two years ago holding Julie’s hand and taking in the sheer magnitude of where we were and the presence of God all around us. A second trip this March cancelled abruptly. Drifting down the Colorado River fly-fishing with my good friend Dustin, and all the special family members and friends who shared the moments the joy, and the beauty. Starting my year off with my first Kingdom Principled Life retreat. Sharing an amazing two and a half days with Joe, Randy, Matthew, Stuart and Brad. Building a bond of friendship and brotherhood in Christ that is so deep it would be almost impossible to imagine were it not for God’s love and grace. God’s Love and Grace. Always there and always powerful. In every circumstance, compelling us to seek Him, for only He can truly bring Peace. In that deep place of trust and relationship with Him, one can find hope, and meaning and most of all Peace and Purpose. The twelve men who spent those years with Jesus knew it. They lived it and they proclaimed it….and so can each one of us.

I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST. IT IS NO LONGER I WHO LIVE, BUT CHRIST WHO LIVES IN ME. AND THE LIFE I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH I LIVE BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD, WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME. Galatians 2:20

KNOW THEREFORE THAT THE LORD YOUR GOD IS GOD; THE FAITHFUL GOD WHO KEEPS COVENANT AND STEADFAST LOVE WITH THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, TO A THOUSAND GENERATIONS. Deuteronomy 7:9

The times we are in are starting to open a whole new paradigm for many of us As a Christian it has been pretty easy to stroll along and walk in the margins of the faith. Going to church on occasion and trying to be a good person seemed like it might be enough, right ? Life, activities, careers, vacations, hobbies. So important and so time consuming. Do you think that perhaps we are in a time where we should reevaluate what is important to us in life ? Do you think we should look at exactly where we are in our relationship with God, and what He desires from us and how we live our life each day ? Are we spending time in the Scriptures learning about who God is and what He says about us ? Are we meditating on what He has shown us in His commandments and absorbing what the people of every age and time went through, seeing their challenges and gleaning wisdom from their actions and decisions. The truth is that God has convictions and standards in everything ! I think it is time that we begin to recognize them and start putting them to practice in our lives. I have. I am trying to repent from the things that God desires me to move away from. I am trying to really move into Jesus and have Him guide me in all I do. I am trying to Honor the Father and seek Him and His love for me. I am asking the Holy Spirit to guide each day and help me to bear fruit for the Kingdom of God. I am asking God for the unbridled desire to share who He is and the life saving and changing message of the Gospel. I am so far from perfect as a man….but as a son of God, reborn into the Salvation and Grace of Jesus, I am a new creature !

WE ARE THEREFORE CHRIST’S AMBASSADORS, AS THOUGH GOD WERE MAKING HIS APPEAL THROUGH US. WE IMPLORE YOU ON CHRIST’S BEHALF. BE RECONCILED TO GOD. 2 Corinthians 5:20

DO YOUR BEST TO PRESENT YOURSELF TO GOD AS ONE APPROVED, A WORKER WHO DOES NOT NEED TO BE ASHAMED AND WHO CORRECTLY HANDLES THE WORD OF TRUTH. 2 Timothy 2:15

This is our time to Proclaim God’s Word and Truth and to Live Our Lives as He Commands Us. All around us people are hurting. All around us people are fearful. All around us people are lonely. All around us people need hope. The world and it’s fixes and wisdom are not enough ! This is the time to show the Love of Our God, and share the gift of Eternal Life. The gift of the Kingdom of God.

People need to know that God is loving and in control, but He has also given us choices. Perhaps some of the Worlds’ choices have allowed a vacuum of a society and culture moving away from God to find ourselves in a dark place….perhaps a place of our own making and choice…. One thing I know for sure. I want everyone I know and everyone I meet to hear the Gospel. We are the ones standing on the boat beside Jesus…and He just told us to throw our nets. May our lives and proclamation bring Him a great Harvest ! May the peace of Christ be yours/JAA

THEN HE SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES, “THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL BUT THE WORKERS ARE FEW. ASK THE LORD OF THE HARVEST, THEREFORE, TO SEND OUT WORKERS INTO HIS HARVEST FIELD”. Matthew 9:37-38