Benefits of Good News

Everyday I get messages from Rick Warren author of the Purpose Driven Life (once again, if you haven't read it, it is a MUST read!!!). Now, Rick isn't just writing to me, lol, but sometimes it really seems like it. Well yesterday I got one that I really did like so I wanted to share it with you.


April 14, 2009
Three Benefits of Good News
by Rick Warren

In our Devotionals series, Pastor Rick Warren discusses the Bible passages that inspire him the most. Today's Devotional is based on this passage:

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23 NLT).

The good news is you're able to enter into a relationship with God through an attitude of trust in Jesus Christ; not through religion, rules, regulations, or rituals.When we trust our lives to Jesus Christ we're given three incredible, fabulous, wonderful benefits. So, when we tell others about the good news, we can let them know:

God forgives your past; he gives you purpose in the present; and, he offers you a future.God forgives your past. None of us are perfect. Everybody has made mistakes. Everyone has skeletons in the closet—things he or she wishes had never happened. God comes along and says, "When you trust Jesus Christ with your life, I take everything you've ever done and wipe the slate clean. You get to start over with a brand-new life."Now, is that good news?

God gives you purpose in the present.

You are not an accident. God created you for a purpose. But you're never going to know God's purpose for your life until you first get to know God. When you get to know God, you're going to know who you are. When you figure out God, you're going to figure out yourself.I meet people all the time who say, "I'm just trying to find myself." You know what—you probably aren't going to like yourself once you find yourself!These people say, "There's something missing in my life." God's missing! You weren't made to live and go through life just on your own power.

God offers you a future.

God gives you a future, a home in heaven. Most people hope they're going to heaven, but they're not sure. Most people think if you do more good in your life than bad, then maybe God will grade on a curve and say, "Okay, you can come in."Wrong! It doesn't work that way. You won't get into heaven on your own power because you're just not good enough.There's only one way we can get into heaven—on somebody else's ticket. Since none of us are perfect, God came to earth in human form as Jesus. Jesus lived a life of perfection. He died on the cross, paid for our sin, and then went back to heaven. Now you get into heaven on his ticket, if you trust him.

Romans 6:23 (NCV) says, "God gives us a free gift—life forever in Christ Jesus our Lord." It's a gift. That means you can't earn it, you can't work for it, and you can't own it in any way.God says, "If you trust My Son with your life, you get forgiveness for your past, a purpose for living in your present, and a home in heaven in the future."

Is that good news?Do you think anybody you know would be interested in that?The world is hungry for good news.

I love it! As I have been trying to make changes in my life (and Lord knows I am not perfect nor do I claim to be), I am trying to make God my reason for everything I do. And let me tell you, change is hard. I talk to my friends now and when and if they have problems and we begin talking about them, one of the first things I will say is " Well you know God said....." and they just kinda look at me like " ahhhhhh aren't you the same one who use to......." Yeah, that's me. I guess everyone has to grow up at some point, even at 36. I just know that our time on Earth is very limited and we need to be talking to as many people as we can about Christ. I am not perfect at it yet, there is still alot I don't know and can't answer, but I am not gong to give up. I love being with my friends here on Earth and can't imagine what it would be like in Heaven without them!!

I love you all bunches!!! Have a great day and Lord willing, we will talk again tomorrow!!!

I have a friend who is really going through a difficult time in his life. He has decided that he and his wife are having too many issues and they should be divorced. Alot of things brought them to this point and as far as he is concerned, there is nothing else to do but leave. I spent about 2 or 3 hours a few nights ago talking to him. You know how you can tell sometimes when you talk to people who have seemingly made up their minds that their minds are not really made up? Well, that's what I got. I told him, ANYTHING is possible with God. (Matt. 19:26, For with God all things are possible.) Although it seems like all is lost, it really isn't. Satan is alive and well and he is the one who has you believing that things can't work out. Although he understood what I was saying, I could tell it didn't matter a whole lot.



I also believe with all my heart, that everything happens for a reason. I have said that so many times, I probably need another tattoo with that saying on it! Sometimes things happen to you at the time that may seem horrible, painful and unfair but, upon reflection, you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, will power or heart. He doesn't see that now, nor do any of us when we are going through things, but after all is said and done, I know that personally have just been like "OHHHHHHH OK, I get it now!!!"



And the hard part ( for me it was anyway)... forgive them. It's even a mouthful to say! If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart, forgive them because they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart to.

Matt. 6: 14 - For if forgive men when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do NOT forgive men their sins, your Heavenly Father will not forgive your sins. POINT BLANK!! And this was the hardest thing for me let me tell you. But I don't think that God wants you to be stupid, not necessarily forget, but once you forgive, then don;t bring it up again!!


So at the end of the conversation, I just said... I'm gonna just pray because I honestly believe there are NO problems that God can't fix in a marriage or any situation as long as the people are willing to open up, listen to God and each other and just be willing to work on the hard stuff. And I am asking you to pray also for my friend and his wife. I believe In the power of prayer .. it changes things and this situation is no different!!

I pray you all have a great day!! Love ya and Lord willing..........

Good Morning

This weekend was great. The kids got to hunt eggs at George and Jay's house (our annual church event), I got to clean a little, church was great and the weather was perfect on Sunday, we spent the afternoon outside on the trampoline pretty much all afternoon on Sunday. As I laid on the trampoline looking at my pecan tree, I couldn't help but think how God made yesterday so perfect. Not a cloud in the sky.. not too hot, not too cold. The blooms were fallin on my face from the tree and other than the sneezing it made me do, it was perfect!

The day got even better when I logged onto the Internet and saw that the captain who was being held hostage at sea by the pirates was safe and sound with American troops. I mean, it just really does not get any better than that!!

I pray that through the egg hunts, big baskets and pretty new clothes that I saw yesterday, that you really got a chance to hear and know what yesterday was about. I hope that as you sat in church, or with your families, you got to talk about how Jesus came here and gave his life for each and every one of us and not only that, but that He is alive and that He had broken the power of sin and death!! wow........ it is going to be a great week!!

I hope you all have a great day!! Seems as though we may be getting some rain today. Try to stay dry!!

Until tomorrow, Lord willing... love ya!!

Another work week is almost done. It's been a really good week. I imagine alot of us will be egg hunting and taking pictures with cute bunnies this weekend. As much fun as that is for the kids and even some adults, lets not forget what Easter is really about!

God sent His one and only Son to suffer on a cross for our sins. Last Sunday during communion, we heard exactly what Jesus endured while hanging on that cross. From nails being driven into his bones at angles to ensure He was in pain, being stabbed in the side, actually being separated from God for the first time for a few hours. If any of you have seen the Passion of the Christ.. well you know. And everything God the Father and God the Son did for us was out of their great love for us.I mean think about it.. God had already destroyed the world one time during the flood (Noah) and He could have easily done it again but because He wants us to be with Him again in heaven. .Jesus came to save us!!

I hope you all have a great weekend with family and friends and be blessed!! Lord willing

Winning the prize

Last night I watched a show on MTV called From G's to Gents. basically, they take 20 or so guys who have had not so good lives, which may or may not include selling drugs, prostitution, stealing, all kinds of illegal things, and take 12 weeks and try to turn them into respectful citizens. Then each week Mr. Bentley (the "perfect" gentleman) makes his decision on who he thinks did well that particular week, passed all the challenges, and the one who didn't .. well.. he gets sent home with no hopes of becoming a gentleman. OHHH and the winner of the show gets a 100,000 prize.

Three things struck me last night as I watched. One, when the guy from the very first week goes home, I wonder does he go back to his old ways since he has only had one week to change. Can he honestly change in one week? And two, just because you actually win the whole thing, have you really changed, and last but not least, since this is about basically hustlers trying to win 100,000.. is it not likely that they are just doing this for the ultimate prize????? And all of this is based on one man's opinion.. Mr. Bentley.

What if God was like that? Let's see... we all have 12 weeks to change, only 12. And each week, God is gonna let us go through tests to see how well we handle ourselves. Then He gets to cast one of us out each week, until the last one is standing and the ultimate prize..... entering the pearly gates!!!

Thank you Lord it doesn't work like that.

'For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life'.

That's what He said. There is no number on that. It WHOEVER. We have redemption through Jesus' blood for our sins and with that, we can have forgiveness of sins. Now this forgiveness is not an automatic thing. I mean it does say also in the Bible

'Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, shall enter the Kingdom of heaven'.

We have to repent and actually stop and change our old ways. Kinda like the guys in the show only not for 100,000, its for something much better! We need to confess that Jesus is Lord and believe and know that God raised Him. We need to make sure that the direction that our lives are going in is one that exemplifies Christ. Now this doesn't mean we won;t have problems along the way, as I am sure even the guy who finally wins the show will have as he tries to go back to his life with the changes he made, but knowing that God is with us through the problems and is willing to help us through them makes us stronger.

In the end.. if we are following the "rules" to live by, we will get the prize, the ultimate one and it's way better than 100,000, even in this recession. We get to spend eternal life in heaven with God.

I hope you all have a great day!! I think its gonna be sunny and warm today!! Lord willing, until tomorrow....

love ya!!!!

Can we comprehend?

When we were in Disney World (you'll probably hear alot about that as time goes on) we stood in line for 75 mins to ride a ride called Soaring. It was the longest we stood in line for any ride in all the parks but it is so worth it. The ride is wonderful. It's like a ski lift. You get on, the lights go out and you are lifted to duplicate being on a ski lift except you are lifted over some great replicas of wonders of the world. We went over the Golden Gate Bridge, the Grand Canyon, over orange fields, New York, Las Vegas etc... and even as you pass over these places you can "feel" them. As we passed over the orange field, you could actually smell the oranges. Ad we passed over this beautiful ski slope w/ snow, it got cold. (Disney is GREAT!!) As we passed over the Grand Canyon, I didn't smell anything, but I could feel wind and the view was beautiful and I realized once again, as I have alot lately, how great God is, how incomprehensible He is.

Man attempts to comprehend what we can see with the eyes or what we are able to know. We have a God who is incomprehensible. He is everywhere, all the time. All of His wonderful creations are all over the place and I guess it has always made me wonder how people just think that some BANG formed everything. There is no way things just happened. Everything around us was formed for our benefit by God including the skies, the rivers, the stars and the Grand Canyon.

Things are just becoming more "real" to me. Not that they weren't to begin with, but I am just in awe of a God who thinks so much of me to give me so many wonderful blessings.

Even as I came back into town, I saw (and people had been calling me too) about the rain Albany had been getting. The water was almost up to the bridge as I crossed it coming home. I remember being in Albany in 1994 and 1998 when it flooded. So many people lost everything they had, but even with that, I can't help but think that God sends rain to replenish the earth. Without that rain (and I know it was alot!!) trees and plants would die, plants and flowers wouldn't grow. I just hold on to the fact that God knows what He is doing.

What a great God we have to shower us with so many blessing and show us His wonderful works!! I hope you all have a great Wednesday. I love you all!!

GOOD MORNING!!!

Hey everyone!! I'm back!!!! And let me tell you, Disney World is the best place in the world. Even after a week of walking for at least 12 hours a day and running behind 3 children all wanting to go opposite ways, it was truly magical like they say. The stories I have to tell.... WOW. I saw 4 firework shows while I was there at night and it was wonderful. When they did the show at Epcot one night, I cried. I mean it really got to me. But it was a good cry. I told someone yesterday it was like what want heaven to be like. Not a care in the world, the sky was beautiful and for that moment, I was some where I really wanted to be. It was as close to perfect as I have seen on Earth. I know heaven is gonna be a million times better!!!

Before i left, you know I had car issues. Well on my way home I was praying hard. I just wanted to make it home without a hitch. I got to Valdosta and the kids were ready to eat so we stopped at Burger King. When we sat down by the window, I looked at the car and I knew right then, we were gonna be there a while. There was water and green stuff (anti freeze) coming from the bottom of the car. Great I thought.. so they finished eating and I decided to drive to the gas station next door. And so we sat.... I got on the phone and started calling and everyone pretty much said the car would have to cool down before I could take that cap off. Great....... 2 to 3 hrs in the heat with 3 agitated children... not fun let me tell you.

As we sat at the gas station with the hood up waiting, I had a few people in Albany who said they would come get us but I couldn't leave my car so I found a friend who had a friend in Valdosta who said they would come and check so I felt fine with that. Long story short, he never showed up and oddly enough not one person who stopped to get gas asked if we were okay or anything. That got me thinking too. I might be here a LONGGG time!!! Then this guy just popped up after 2 1/2 hrs. And I literally mean popped up. And this man was not someone I usually would even talk to. I mean he looked really strange, scraggly, not clean, and he actually scared me when he came over. He told me his name was Dan. I made the kids get back in the car and he asked what was wrong. I told him and he started checking. As he began to talk, I realized he actually knew when he was talking about or so it sounded like anyway. He told me I would be fine, just to drive slow, not to turn the air on and told me what to get checked when I got home. As he was putting the hood down, another man got out of a car and came up to me. He asked if I knew how to get to the Albany Mall. I gave him an odd look and said " you mean the Valdosta Mall"? He said no, I have been there, I am from FL and someone told my wife and I the Albany Mall would be a good place to shop. I stood there for a second and just looked at him thinking " Thank you GOD"!!! I told him I lived around the corner from the mall and he said well will just follow you in case you need more help with your car. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.. as I turned around to thank Dan... he was gone. I mean literally gone. I looked for a car, something to try to stop and thank him and I dint see him. So I got in the car and the other man followed me all the way to the JC Penney parking lot, asked if I would be okay and went on his way.

I honestly believe Dan was my angel. Sound odd... well I don't care. All I know is that I was scared to death I would have to be stuck there for a while and he showed up out of no where to help me. God sent him, I have no doubt about that. Which is just another reminder to me that God is never far away from me when I need Him!!!

I hope you all had a great week last week, I know I did.