Stories about predators befriending prey not only amaze me but give me hope that one day people of all colors and beliefs will live in peace. Even though that seems impossible, the Bible tells us that one day there will be peace, and one day every knee will bow (to Christ Jesus). The important thing to understand, however, is that not everyone will be bowing because they want to praise Jesus as Lord; they will bow because our Lord has won the battle over evil, and those who have chosen to NOT be one with Him will exit His kingdom. You see, none of us live up to the purity of God. All of us have sinned, and sin separates...
Some days you feel like you’re walking all alone in a scary world, uncertain about your future and the future of your loved ones. But I want to tell you, God is real and He pays attention to every detail of your life. He is still working miracles today. Let me share one. A few years ago, my mom had Alzheimer’s and I needed to move her. I was her power of attorney (POA) so I went to the Social Security office to get her Social Security card (which I needed for the place I wanted to move her to). Turns out Social Security does not accept the POA, and they would only mail her Social Security card to the...
The first time I KNEW God was calling to me was when a gal took me to Calvary Chapel, Capo Bch. It was a strange, dark place - an old bowling alley that had been converted into a church. Nothing but folding chairs (hundreds of them) lined across a concrete floor in front of a plain black stage. Stark would be an understatement (especially considering my Catholic upbringing with its stained-glass windows, crucifixes and statues of saints).When we walked in, people were worshipping God in song and I said to myself, "These people know something I don't know." It was foreign to me, but I could tell it was a good thing.After the music, the pastor, a young man, probably early...
The wonderful feature of spiritual awakening is the profound belief that God is present, good and just. Once a person truly believes that, conviction becomes a gift they embrace. Conviction is God's tap on the shoulder saying, “You're heading (or you've gone) in the wrong direction." It is God's way of inviting you to restore your relationship with Him. Conviction is a blessing."So what does one do once convicted? It’s easy. Confess your sin to God and know that you will be forgiven if your heart is honest and you truly intend not to repeat your behavior. But wait, you say, "I can’t be perfect." That’s okay. God knows that…and He knows your heart. If you err again, you’ll confess...