I Need An Angel

I stood in the darkness, alone in the night.
I stood against evil, and danger and fright.
I looked up to heaven, to the Lord up above,
“I need an Angel,” I cried. “I need Your Love!”

From stars overhead came trumpets of joy,
To here in a manger, this small baby boy.
Born to a world of anger and sorrow,
Promising hope and a bright new tomorrow.

Throughout all the earth God’s creatures gave praise.
They sang through the nights and into the days.
Their song flew to heaven, their mighty chorus soared,
“My Angel is here, ‘tis Christ the Lord!”
Raymond Bechard

May your family experience the grace and peace of many Christmas blessings this holiday season.

Today’s Prayer
Dear Lord, On Christmas day we celebrate your gift to the world, Your precious Son Jesus. I accept this gift, as my Savior and Lord. Forgive my sins and renew my mind for the fullness of your Glory forever. Amen.

The Winning Move

She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

Matthew 1.21-25

Years ago, an irritated journalist wrote a column about his experience trying to navigate his way through a crowded store. “Hurry as we may,” he wrote, “we are hemmed in by a surging crowd in front and a dense throng of people pressing in from the rear. One man digs his elbow into me, another carelessly hit me with a pole; one bangs my head with a plant. You can be considered foolish and thoughtless if you go out without your will made!” Sounds like a typical Christmas shopping trip at the mall, doesn’t it? Later, the columnist complains about the economic stresses of modern day life by writing that “here you may pay a big rent for a miserable house and everyone dresses above their means.” His frustrated insight is certainly shared by many of us.

Was this the account of a blogger from a recent trip to the mall? No. They are from the Roman writer, Juvenal, who lived from A.D. 60 to 140, just after the time of Jesus. Apparently, human nature has not changed much in at least 2000 years. Yet, while humanity often has a selfish and sinful heart, Christ can change us. In fact, He initiated that change in all of us long ago. Whether or not you choose to see it, that change can take place any time.

More recently, Benjamin Garrison, a Christian writer, found himself desperately trying to win a game of chess he was playing against his computer. His computerized opponent had made a brilliant, winning move several minutes before; a move Garrison had not seen. The computer let him continue making his moves, some good, others quite bad. And all along the computer was moving toward its own inevitable victory.

This is the just like the change God made with the birth of His Son, Jesus. Twenty centuries ago God made the decisive, but mostly unnoticed, move of sending Christ into the world. That move secured His victory . . . and ours. That move guaranteed the outcome. Meanwhile, He allows us the freedom to go on making our moves on the chess-board of life, some good, others incredibly bad.

And while we struggle on, God is calling us to join Him on the winning side. That is the simple message of Christmas. God has not forgotten you and me, His people. It is with Him that our nature can change forever. Jesus is the only winning move!

Today’s prayer

Lord Jesus, I don’t want to keep going on the same path. This Christmas, I don’t want to hurry about through life, ignoring and forgetting all the things that matter. I don’t want to live without you any longer. Your Son Jesus came into our world to save me. I know He is reaching out His hand right now to take hold of my life. Please give me the strength and will to take His hand and join the Victory of Christ! Amen.

God's Fingerprint

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.

Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:14

According to Matthew, Immanuel means, "God is with us." You see, Mary's miracle is one of hope for all of us. It's a miracle that says that God has not abandoned us to the consequences of our own sinfulness. Rather, God sent Jesus as our deliverer, and our savior.

Only a few years ago, just before Christmas, an unemployed mother in Dallas was sick with grief. Doris Young’s six month old son had just died from sudden infant death syndrome; and the funeral home wouldn't bury him until she could come up with the $700 fee. Heather Hoffman, a social worker was doing her best to help. "I made dozens of phone calls... but no one had an emergency fund for funerals," she said. Then one of Hoffman's coworkers put in a call to a local officer who frequently urged neighborhood residents to call her if they ever needed anything. The officer was not on duty, but Sergeant Williams was on duty. As he heard about the woman's plight, he sent out an alert to patrol cars citywide. Almost immediately, officers began showing up at his police station, handing over five, ten, even twenty-dollar bills. Within hours, Williams had collected the needed money and an additional $300, including cash from his own pocket. "Maybe my son won't get that special toy for Christmas, but this was a child who would never see Christmas," said Williams. Young cried when Hoffman called to tell her the news. "I didn't know what I was going to do," she says. "I would have been lost without those officers."

That is the miracle of Christmas. Jesus, the Christ child, turns our despair into hope.

Today's Prayer
Lord God, Thank You. You have given me so much. Above all, I know that Your Son, Jesus died for me. For that, You have my eternal gratitude and faith. In the spirit of thanks, I ask you to renew my mind. Make me grateful for all Your blessings. Let me not dwell on scarcity and loss. Take away my fears. For with You, I truly have nothing to fear. Guide me; strengthen me, so that I can bring the blessings You have bestowed upon me to a world in need. Amen.

Running into The Flames

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Galatians 1:3-5

Time and again, we hear the story of soldiers in combat, “going back for their buddies” who were injured on the battlefield. From the American Revolution to Iraq, brave soldiers have risked and sometimes lost their lives running into the fire instead of away from it.

Police and fire fighters do the same thing every day. As all of us run away from the danger, they run not just toward it, but into it. And the most incredible aspect of this is that they do it with the full knowledge of what may happen to them. They know they are facing death and they do it anyway.

Whenever I see this kind of bravery and courage, the kind it takes to run in the opposite direction of everyone else, I think of Jesus. Because Jesus did the very same thing. He didn’t stay by His Father’s side in heaven. He didn’t observe from a mountain-top and safely proclaim wisdom from on high. No. He ran into the sin of humanity to save us . . . and He did it knowing the sacrifice He would have to make.

From the time of His birth in the manger until His death on the Cross, Jesus was with us, here in the evil flames of the world, desperately trying to pull us out of danger.

What an inspiration! The Lord has called each of us to do the same thing every day. He expects us to do things that go against the flow of the world, to go in the opposite direction as everyone else. And that’s not always easy.

But, there have been others who have paved the way. Noah built an enormous ark at God’s command. Abraham took his only son to be sacrificed. Gideon went to war against thousands of enemies with only three hundred soldiers on his side. The disciples left all their possessions and followed the Lord.

And now, there is your story. That’s right. You can start running in the opposite direction today! Do that thing God has been putting on your heart. Hug that person who’s been on your nerves. Give away something you have to someone who needs it more. There are so many victories waiting for you, if you simply turn and run in the same direction as Jesus. Yes, follow Him. He’s always running in the right direction, and yes, it’s usually straight into trouble. That’s His specialty.

Remember, it’s easy to stand up for the innocent. But, Jesus stood up for the guilty. He stood up for You and I.

At Christmas time, you may have some unique opportunities to explain the story of Jesus and the message of His Word. Don’t worry. It’s easy to explain what Jesus did. He was just “going back for his buddies.”

Today’s Prayer
Father, I know where I am needed most. It may not always be easy to face, but with You by my side, I know I can run toward the flames of trouble. Show me what to do today. Give me the strength and courage to face the challenges and not run away. And please stay with me, as I will stay with You, so that together we will claim Your victory in every situation. Amen.

Your Angel Story

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

Acts 12:5-10

I love this story of Peter’s deliverance, because I love angel stories. Almost every day I hear stories of angels working in and through the lives of the people all over the world. Yes, angels are real, very real! They are God’s helpers and messengers and the Bible is filled with their incredible stories and adventures.

During the Christmas season, we often hear the story of the angel who appeared to Mary and told her that she would have a son called Jesus. Joseph was also visited by an angel who told him what his role would be in this world-changing event. After Jesus was born, another group of angels appeared to the Wise Men, as well as to a group of very surprised Bethlehem shepherds.

Today Christmas angels are alive and well, appearing just in time to help save or comfort us. They appear in many ways, but their mission never changes; they are here to help us in times of great need.

Here is my own Angel story for today. A few years ago, I was driving home late one night after a long day of work and some last minute Christmas shopping. The road was very dark and I was very tired. I was fighting to keep my eyes open and I was losing the fight. After dozing for only a second, the steering wheel was torn out of my hands and pulled sharply to the left. The sudden movement woke me out of my dangerous slumber as I grabbed the wheel. Just then I passed a parked car in the breakdown lane. I missed it by inches. I had fallen asleep at the wheel, drifted into the emergency lane and was headed directly at that car. In that one, life-saving moment, an angel was driving my car – and probably saved my life.

What is your angel story? You probably need only a minute to remember that one moment in your life when something unexplained happened; when someone seemed to be helping you – maybe even saving you.

Yes, I love angel stories and I want to hear yours. Please tell us your angel story by posting your response here. Give us all the details. It’s time we spread the miracles!

Today’s Prayer

Dear Lord, I know your angels are all around us. And I know I need them more than ever. Yes, Lord, I need an angel. But, most of all, I need the love and grace of Your Son, Jesus, through whom all things are made new again. Amen.

Joyous Giving

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”
John 15:11-12

Why is Ebenezer Scrooge so unhappy? He has everything. More money than he will ever need. A comfortable mansion in a nice city. A successful business. Yet, as Charles Dickens describes him in “A Christmas Carol,” this is the most miserable man on the face of the earth.

His horrible nature is no mystery, although its simplicity is often overlooked. And that is because many of us have the same basic beliefs as Scrooge. Yes, that’s right. Scrooge was an old crotchety miser and many of us are not that far off from being just like him.

Why? Because most of us believe - if we are honest enough to admit it - that happiness comes from getting things and having more stuff. We convince ourselves that if we could only get more money, or a bigger house, or better job … then we would finally be happy. But it never quite works out that way and it didn’t work that way for Ebenezer Scrooge either. You see, he was unhappy not because of a failure to get, but to give.

And in this one truth is the most important message of Christmas.

President Woodrow Wilson said, “You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.”

Our best joys come through giving. Christmas reminds us of that truth. In fact, the most important message of Christmas is that of joyous giving. Remember, the baby in Bethlehem's manger was a gift of joy, a present from a loving Heavenly Father to his lost and hurting children; a gift the Bible says brought “good tidings of great joy” to giver and receiver alike.

Look around you. Where are the places in your life for joyous giving? These are your best opportunities to bring the joy of Christmas and of Jesus Himself into the lives of all those you encounter. There is no limit to ways in which you can be an angel to someone every day.

Yes, Jesus came to us because we were hurting and needed help. Today, people still need help. That’s why Jesus needs you to joyously give healing, love and maybe just a word of encouragement at Christmastime and throughout the year.

Today’s Prayer

Dear Lord, You have blessed me with such great joy. Now and forever, I ask that you remind me to be a blessing to others with that same joy. Fill my heart with Your presence so that every person I know will come to know You. Let me be a messenger of Your immeasurable peace and joy for all eternity. Amen.

I Need An Angel

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
Luke 2:10-16

I stood in the darkness, alone in the night.
I stood against evil, and danger and fright.
I looked up to heaven, to the Lord up above,
“I need an Angel,” I cried. “I need Your Love!”

From stars overhead came trumpets of joy,
To here in a manger, this small baby boy.
Born to a world of anger and sorrow,
Promising hope and a bright new tomorrow.

Throughout all the earth God’s creatures gave praise.
They sang through the nights and into the days.
Their song flew to heaven, their mighty chorus soared,
“My Angel is here, ‘tis Christ the Lord!”
Raymond Bechard

Today’s Prayer

Dear Lord, On Christmas day we celebrate your gift to the world, Your precious Son Jesus. I accept this gift, as my Savior and Lord. Forgive my sins and renew my mind for the fullness of your Glory forever. Amen.

Ten Things You Must Do When Confessing To Your Church

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."
Matthew 7:3-5

"Churches are built from the planks in the eyes of their members. Unfortunately, they often do not remove them before construction begins."
Raymond Bechard

Why has the church become irrelevant to secular society? Quite simply, The Church, Christ's Body of Believers, continues to judge society and individuals by standards to which they themselves are not willing to abide.

And in order to maintain the look of cleanliness, to boost the egos of their leaders, to gain members and donations, they point their fingers outward - to the sins of society. They claim the problems rest outside the walls of the church and that all is well within. "We are not the problem," they shout. "The problems of the world fester in our society - far away from the confines of our innocence and righteousness." The congregations cheer in victory . . . and relief. The message is clear, "We don't have to change. We have to get others to change. If we get others to live as we do, our problems will be solved."

The problem is that society already is living as most churches and their leaders do: in sin and denial.

And now our culture is becoming acutely aware of the hypocrisy within the Church. We cannot deny it any longer. They know about pastor's cheating, stealing, abusing, hiding, and living secret lives.

This hypocrisy stains the entire church and the lost are turning away. The eternal salvation of those who do not know Jesus is the price paid by those who refuse to look past their pride and fear. They do not dare point inwards to the weakness within the walls of their church or their heart. They believe that to admit or openly share their own faults would put their ministries, their livelihoods, their reputations, and mostly, their egos at risk.

They hide the very sins they point out in others. They ignore the 'planks' in their own eyes while building careers on the 'specks' in others'.

But, when they fall, the Church itself comes tumbling down. Building their churches from the planks in their eyes is dangerous to the Kingdom of God. Because in time the sin permeating those planks leaks down into the very foundation of the church. They may remain out of sight for a time, but eventually they bring rot to the entire ministry. And no structure can stand if its foundation is eaten away by sin.

In fact, no organization - especially a church - can rise above the level of its leader's integrity. Every ministry will eventually reside in the darkest areas of the pastor's heart. That is why it is important to shed light - a VERY bright light - on every area of your heart. Let there be no darkness where destructive sin can hide.

If you are fearful that you will not be accepted in facing your demons and your confessions, consider these two questions:

1. Do you want to lead a church, or be a member of one, that cannot follow Biblical principles of forgiveness, healing, and redemption?
2. Do you want to face the added consequence of your darkness being exposed by someone else, while it is still your secret?

Here is what you must do to begin your journey, to clean out your basement, to protect your church, and to reach a new level of effectiveness as a leader and a follower of Jesus Christ:

1. Confess to God. Usually, someone who has a lot to hide tries to keep chaotically busy in order to drown out the voices of his sin. Have the courage to go somewhere quiet, get down on your knees, confess to God . . . and then wait in silence.
2. Don't do anything else alone. Your confession and contrition to Jesus is the only thing you will do alone in this process. Every other step should be taken with others by your side at all times.
3. Get a 'Soul Guard." You are about to embark on a journey into the unknown, a wilderness filled with pitfalls. More than a body guard, you must find and take a 'Soul Guard' with you. This is the one person you trust, preferably not a family member, who will be with you EVERY step of the way. They must know and accept everything. They must be your advocate. They must be on your side.
4. Build a 'Confessor Team." Confess to those who will understand, guide you, and stand with you. With your 'Soul Guard,' gather those around you who you trust the most; those who love Jesus; those whose lives have been broken and redeemed by the power of God; those who admit their faults and are compassionate to the struggles of others. There may only be a handful of them - maybe less - but these are the people you must tell first and foremost.
5. With your 'Confessor Team,' create a plan. After coming clean, make sure you have a plan that includes telling your board, telling your congregation, and telling your denominational leadership.
6. Tell your family. This will be more difficult than any other step. But, you must tell them with your 'Soul Guard' and your 'Confessor Team' already in place. You will need the strength of these others to help your family through their pain.
7. Tell the world. With those you trust by your side, you must confess to your congregation verbally and in writing. Along with your confession you will also tell them what led up to this moment including the formation of your 'Confession Team,' telling your family, and your plans going forward. Remember, this is an extraordinary opportunity to show the world how to fail correctly and stand tall once again through faith in Jesus Christ.
8. Go away. Don't think so much of yourself that your ministry cannot do without you for a while - or forever. Ultimately, and this will come as a shock to your ego, it's not about you. It's about the Kingdom of God and your ministry's role in building it. If you need to take time to heal, for counseling, for therapy, for rest - then do it. These plans should be discussed with your church and denominational leadership before your public confession.
9. Give it time. Only the Lord knows the outcome or how long this will take. Not knowing those two things is the reason you are afraid. If you've ever told anyone to put their trust in the Lord, now is the time to take your own teaching to heart. You will have to trust Him now more than ever before.
10. Finally, don't be afraid to step out into the light. This will be a difficult path to follow. The SONlight will hurt at first. But in time, you will come to realize that the pain you are feeling right now - the pain you feel from hiding and the fear of being exposed - is far worse than anything that you will experience in the days to come.

Yes, it hurts to fall. But in the end your legacy will be built on how you stand back up again.

The Highest Form of Worship

Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

Hebrews 5:8-9

Do you know what the highest form of worship is? Praise? Music? Preaching? Yes, these things are essential to our lives followers of Jesus Christ, but there is one activity that reigns above all as supreme in our worship. Without this one thing, everything else has no meaning. Worse, without this one thing, we are all hypocrites.

The highest form of worship is obedience.

What’s that you say? “What about faith?” Let me say this very plainly: The greater the faith, the greater the obedience, the greater the obedience the greater the faith. It’s just that simple. You can’t have one without the other.

Why is obedience so important? Because, you can’t get near God without it. And He won’t come near you without it either. That’s why so much of your relationship with Jesus really depends on you. He can’t come near you if you’re not obedient to His will and His love.

Without obedience you are completely open to sin. And God doesn’t go near sin, nor does sin go near God. Can’t happen. Never has. Never will. So, with disobedience comes sin and there goes your open door to God’s Kingdom.

That’s why you need Jesus so badly. He doesn’t just wash that sin away, He makes it possible for you to stay away from it forever. But, you must remain obedient!

Look at it this way…disobedience is like a secret hatch that gives sin total access to your life. And that secret hatch will move itself around anywhere it wants. It will just keep moving and moving, until one day when – BANG – the sin starts flooding in!

The good news is that obedience slams that old secret hatch shut. Sin can’t get in if you’re obedient. And the best news is that’s when Jesus comes rushing into your life. He comes in and delivers you from the clutches of temptations and all the evils you face.

That’s right, obedience comes before deliverance. For God to deliver you, you must be obedient to God.

Yes, obedience is the highest form of worship…and the hardest. But, it also brings the most opportunity. When you live according to God’s will, He will deliver you to a place of extraordinary peace, life-changing wisdom, and eternal joy with His Son. That’s how it works. There’s just no way around it.

This week, remember that worship isn’t just on Sunday. It’s not just when you’re praying, or listening to Christian music. There is worship in every moment of your life – in every moment that you live in obedience to the Lord.

This Week’s Prayer

Dear Lord, I know my prayers come closer to You as I come closer to obeying Your will for me. Strengthen me to be more obedient so that I may enter Your presence and experience You more fully. I want to be closer to you every day of my life. Show me the way to obedience so that I find the path to Your Kingdom. Amen

This Old House

“You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

1 Peter 2:5

As the Autumn leaves come to their glorious annual collage of color and brilliance, many of us will take to our cars and travel throughout the smaller towns of New England. What a magnificent spectacle it is to pass through these historic villages where America began its journey, with the colorful backdrop of the hills beyond.

This year, as you take a day to witness the changing colors of the leaves, I want you to look for something in particular as you drive along the old roads of the Northeast. Just look carefully in and around our colonial towns.

There, you will always find empty old Victorian style houses with magnificent architecture near the green of every quaint New England village. Passing by these old houses, many now in disrepair or falling apart entirely, just imagine how beautiful they must have been when they were first built all those years ago.

Now after years of neglect, the paint is peeling, the wood is rotting, and the windows are broken. Many of the houses have been vandalized inside and out. As you look at them, it’s very hard to tell how much damage has actually been done. How much would it cost to restore an old house like these? Could any of them ever be saved?

Each has the potential to be so beautiful.

These dilapidated old structures, once filled with life and laughter, are like many of us. We enter the world beautifully created by God. Then someone hurts us; emotionally, physically or both. We shut down. Hide away. Lose interest, faith, and hope. Eventually we begin to deteriorate.

The beautiful spirits created by our Lord are often broken in life; sometimes even destroyed. In time, the home of our spirit sits empty and uncared for, and we wonder if our lives can ever be restored. What will it take to restore my life? What will it cost? Can I even be saved?

The answer is “yes.” If you allow Jesus into your heart, He can heal the wounds caused by sin and abuse. He is the Master Carpenter who can repair your broken spirit. And, unlike those old houses that will cost too much to restore, the cost of Jesus’ restoration is free. Don’t let one more minute of pain, regret, guilt, or fear bring your house down. Let Jesus in and fix up the old place....He’ll make you like new again!

Today’s Prayer

Father, thank You for being the Lord who restores us. Please let me feel Your healing touch today and every day. Let the work You do in my life be a testimony to You. And please let my restoration be for Your honor and glory. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

How Many Today?

“I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.”

Proverbs 8:12-13

“How many today, Lord?” That is the question I have asked myself every morning for the past few decades, “How many today, Lord?” How many souls can be saved? How many of God’s children need help? How many will come to know you? How many will find new life through your Grace? “How many today, Lord?” It is a beautiful question and an exciting way to start each new day.

At least, it used to be.

Over the past few years, I have been asking the question in a very different way as the sun dawns on across the waves I look at each morning. “Lord, how many today?” How many young people were shot last night? How many young girls sold themselves? How many overdoses were there? How many people had no place to sleep and nothing to eat? How many funerals are being planned this morning? “Lord, how many today?”

I'm sure your local morning news features the same daily reports I see. Young men killing each other, innocents caught in the crossfire, assaults, robberies, drug busts, police investigating, yellow tape stretched across the street in the darkness, blue and red lights flashing.

Before we become too numb to these same stories as we pour our morning coffee, it is time we do something. Because while the news tells us what is happening, it does not report why it is happening.

So, before it’s too late, I have this question for young people struggling to make their way in the world today. Perhaps you can ask this question to the kids you come across throughout your day: What do you do when your life comes to a dead end even before it really begins? What do you do when you have no hope? What do you do when you believe your only power is a gun? What do you do when your only escape is a drug that's got you enslaved? What do you do when you think your only option is a man who is promising you everything?

If you have the chance - and I pray you do - tell them they DO have options. Tell them they must make a choice. And the choice they make will determine the fate of their young soul.

I will never say that all this violence is happening because of society, or government, or oppression. Ultimately, it is happening because someone, an individual, makes the choice to pull the trigger, to take the drugs, to sell themselves . . . or to sell someone else.

That is why as adults, as leaders of families, businesses, and our communities; as parents who love our children, and as followers of Jesus, we must actively, energetically, and forcefully offer another choice to the kids who think there is no other way. We must get as close to them as possible and effectively demonstrate the love of Christ. We must creatively and courageously show them that His love for them as individuals is undeniable and offers the greatest care, value, and respect anyone can ever know.

Remember, you may be the only Jesus these young people will ever know. They may never again experience His love if not through you. That is why our Lord is depending on you so much. He needs you to ask yourself, “How many today, Lord?” How many more will die? How many more will live? How many more will put down their guns and pick up Your Cross?

Today’s prayer

Dear Lord, help me to show every young person I encounter that the way of your Son, Jesus, is the greatest hope and the best choice in life. Amen.

THE MAD MAN IN THE ATTIC

“For my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
Isaiah 56:7

My life changed entirely through prayer and I don't mind telling people about it. Whenever I share my prayer life and practices with others, I inevitably hear responses like: “I get distracted in my prayer." "I can’t concentrate or focus." "I try to sit and talk to God, but in just a few minutes I’m thinking about how I have to clean out my car or the argument I had with so-and-so yesterday." I understand their frustration. But, it's terribly important not to just give up on real prayer if your distractions grow to loud.
There is no reason for that to happen to you because your life can change through prayer . . . and you can access this divine opportunity anytime. So, here is how you can avoid the distractions and discover a new level in your prayer life.
There is an ancient story about a man riding an elephant through a village in India. As the man tried to guide the elephant along the narrow passageways between homes and shops, the great animal would constantly poke his trunk into every window and door; startling the villagers and causing general mayhem in ways that only an elephant can.
Finally one morning, a wise villager stepped out in front of the beast and help up a large branch from a fragrant tree. The elephant sniffed at it, liked it, and wrapped his trunk around the branch to carry for the rest of the day. With this simple distraction, the elephant’s days of poking his nose where it didn’t belong were over.
Similarly, I often see people walking their dogs with a toy or stick in their pet’s mouth. I know these are the people who understand animals. If you don’t want your dog stopping to sniff everything along the way, give him something else to do.
That’s right! If you want Spot distracted – give him a distraction!
I’m telling you these things because we all experience distractions in life – but especially during our time of prayer. Our days and minds are so filled with activities, worries, thoughts, chores, etc., that we can lose our way when communing with God.
Even if we find a quiet room with low light, the brain can be filled with activity, noise, and movement. Saint Teresa of Avila tells us this is like having a mad man in the attic. The secret is to give the ‘mad man’ something to do so we can have a few minutes of quiet in our ‘house of prayer.’
Like the elephant with the branch, your prayer life will be a much smoother journey to God if you find something to focus on while praying. Some people simply open their Bible and place their hands on the pages, others light candles to focus on the soft light of the flame, while others play gentle music. All of these methods are effective in settling our mind so that we can have a far closer fellowship with Jesus Christ.
It is important to remember that prayer is not just your words to God. It is also hearing Him speaking to You. And you won’t hear what the Lord is telling you if you have a mad man in your attic!
Never forget that real prayer is a vibrant, eternal, life-changing conversation with God. Yes, prayer is your lifeline; plugging your body, mind and soul directly into the power of the Holy Spirit! Very simply, Prayer is spending time with your best friend: Jesus.
And the more you pray, the more your life will change and become empowered by God Himself. So give that old elephant something to do and let your journey begin!

“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.

This Weeks Prayer
Dear Lord, I come before you now in prayer and worship. You are my Lord and Savior, my God and my All. Let nothing come between us. Let no thoughts, distractions, or troubles, keep me from hearing Your Still Small Voice. Guide me into focusing my full attention on You. Calm my body, my mind, and my spirit that I may journey forever deeper into Your Kingdom. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Tender Dreamer - Christmas 2009

Have you looked into the heart of night, my tender dreamer?
Can you see past the infinite, into the spirit of hope soaring beyond the darkness?
There, our souls discover destinies long past horizons yet unseen.
There, eternal lives smile down upon our restless journey, waiting for days of joyous reunion.

Have you your pathway discovered, your true passage to where rivers run with gold?
Can you quiet the crashing symbols of the dark passenger and carry her along in peace?
There, found in magnificent, soundless beauty is fate unseen through mortal eyes alone.
There, divine hands sculpt days of glorious wonder and deeds unseen in our dreary days gone by.

Have you lifted the infant from the place where He rests, this quiet corner of heaven’s open gate?
Can you feed upon His precious gift, indulge in the sweet taste of tomorrow’s promise?
There, our journey begins and ends, where God alone reaches out through the star above.
There, we kneel, as terrors come ripped from the deepest chasms of our hearts, buried and forgotten.

Have you, my tender dreamer, you of royal and heroic blood, taken up your soul renewed?
Can you, my tender dreamer, climb great peaks, wallow through, as you must, lowly valleys?
There, upon the rock we stand this day, this outrageous day of love most gracious and profound.
There, we step into lands unknown, vast worlds filled with dangers and delights.

Have you looked into the heart of night, my tender dreamer?
Can you come with me as we find the child waiting in peace, in hope, in faith?
There, I see it now. In your eyes I do behold so excellent a vision, waiting beyond the darkness.
There, my tender dreamer, I see in you the grandeur of things in heaven and earth,
of promises made revealed to us this day.