Come and See!

Come and See

In today’s world we have problems. Big, unsurmountable mountains that can’t be moved.

Or can they? 

You've read of miracles performed in the Bible. You've heard of miracles happening today.

Can they happen to you? For you?

Jesus said in the first chapter of John, “Come and see.”
And, I invite you to come and see, Jesus.

Why?

An addict can’t deliver themselves from addiction. A cancer patient can’t wish their cancer gone. Depression isn’t cured by forcing yourself to smile. An abused wife has no place to turn.

Is there help for the helpless?

Again, Jesus said in the first chapter of John, “Come and see.”
You may have tried many things. And those things have failed you. Counseling? Meditation? New Age doctrines? Drugs? Alcohol? Promiscuous relationships?

Isn’t it about time, you turned to the one man who can help you?

Go see Jesus. See if He will help you?

If you’ve been following Him from afar wanting only to see His home, He’s calling you forward. (Just as He did to Andrew and John.)
If you are reading this and need to change your identity in Christ, He will change your name. (Just as He did for Peter.)
If you are lost, He will find you. (As He found Phillip.)
And if you are like Nathaniel and doubt the words you are reading, it's okay. Come and see.

Come and see if Jesus loves you.
Come and see if Jesus has the power to set you free from your sins.
Come and see that you can live in peace, joy, and faith.
Come and see Jesus.
He can be found in prayer.

Our Hugs Belong to Jesus

Some months ago, Dylan Farrow wrote an open letter about the abuse of her father, Woody Allen. Because of his celebrity status, the letter was published in the NY Times and received a lot of media attention.

But what about the unheard voices? Voices of little girls and boys around the globe suffering in silence?

I have talked with many sexual abuse victims. Their stories are all very achingly similar. A friend or relative that they have been taught to love and respect breaks trust and touches them inappropriately. Those awkward touches escalate over time into sexual assault. We have all heard horrifying stories.

As a mother, I asked myself; how can I protect my child? Of course, I’ve the import question. “Has anyone touched you inappropriately?”

Then one day while grocery shopping, we see a distant relative. He’s an older gentlemen and he asks her for a hug. 

I watch as she grimaced and endured an awkward embrace. Me, being a paranoid mom, watched his hands very carefully, but both touched only her shoulders.

Yet, she clearly didn’t want the hug.

When we were back in the car, I asked, “Why did you hug him, if you didn’t want to?”

Her answer astounded me. She said, “I didn’t want to be rude.”

My 10 year old daughter accepted a hug that she clearly didn’t want, because I had taught her to be nice. 

Right there in the parking lot. I assured her that her body was special. A gift from God. And she didn’t have to hug or kiss anyone.

It wasn’t rude.

But it was rude of people to claim her affections without permission.

As a mother, I’ve often struggled with ways to protect my children from sexual predators without revealing more sexual knowledge than their immature minds can process. 

But here is my answer.

Their bodies belong to God. And no one has a right to touch them without their permission. If someone makes you feel uncomfortable, it’s okay to tell them that your hugs belong to Jesus.

That’s not rude.

That’s smart.

That’s safe.

Later that night, I wondered again why she didn’t want to the man to hug her. So I asked.

Her answer, “He has bad breath.”

The Answer?

The answer to the world’s problems is...

 

 

Addictions?                            Jesus delivers.

Alcohol bound?                      Jesus frees.

Unloved?                                Jesus loves.

Unwanted?                             Jesus cares.

Orphaned?                              Jesus adopts.

Abandoned?                           Jesus rescues.

Lonely?                                   Jesus indwells.

Confused?                               Jesus enlightens.

Hungry?                                  Jesus feeds.

Lost?                                       Jesus saves.

JESUS IS MORE THAN A BANDAID!

A few months ago, a well known Christian lady purchased my novel, Whatever He Wants. Shortly thereafter, I received a phone call. She said, “I cannot believe you wrote a book full of sex, drugs, and alcohol. Why?”

 

My response was weak. Since the release of the book, I had heard many great testimonies from readers about how the story had helped them by giving them hope or giving them a hunger for God's presence. I wasn’t expecting an attack from fellow Christians. I know with absolute certainty this was a Jesus story. A story God gave me to write. A story that I prayed and fasted for.  Since then, others have questioned my work. "Why did you depict sin so that the reader is almost tempted?"

 

This blog post is an answer to that question.

 

 

 

The book, Whatever He Wants, opens at a party scene.
Drugs, alcohol, and hook-ups are center stage.
This is reality.

Like many of us, James Preston struggles with consequences of past sins.
He searches for his young son and his son's drug addicted mother,
a woman James has no intention of marrying.

Many pew dwellers write James off.

They say he got what he deserved when he rebelled against his Christian heritage and sinned.

But, thank God, Jesus doesn’t give up that quickly.

He rescues us from our mistakes and calls us to repentance.
 

Jesus also protects us from our own good intentions.

Joni Maher attends the party with one goal, to destroy the curse of her virginity.

Today’s society portrays innocence as a weakness, but God says it is a treasure.

How can we fault young girls for giving themselves away,

when we haven’t taught them the value of their bodies?

While we give them a list of dos and don’ts,

 the world whispers lies in their ears.

 Satan seduces them with promises of beauty and temporary love.
 

Yes, the novels I write are full of sin.
 

“…But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:” Romans 5:20

They are also full of the convicting presence of God, His mercy, His grace,
and the awesome power of the Holy Ghost.

Why?
 
Jesus is more than a band aid. He can handle the tough issues.
The ones we encounter in real life., not the façade we wear to church.
Real people are tempted. And real people need the blood of Jesus,
magnified by the Holy Ghost to overcome those temptations.

 

Whatcha doing with your sword?

 

Most Christians know the story…Judas Iscariot led the elders, chief priests and captains of the temple to Jesus. Peter having a sword cut off a servant’s ear. Christ then rebuked Peter and healed the injury while he was being arrested.
 

Have you ever wondered where Peter got his sword? Would you be shocked to know

the answer is Jesus?
 

Luke 22:36 Christ commanded the disciples to sell their garments and buy a sword. The funny thing is…they already had two. Jesus replied, “It is enough.”
 

So why did Jesus rebuke Peter for using the weapon? There are several good theories to this question, but none that are absolute. I’ve thought about this for several months. Peter assumed he knew the answer and acted in haste, but we will never know how God fully intended for the swords to be used because no one asked Him?
 

How many times has God given me a gift and I’ve misused it? How about you? Has He called you to write? Ask Him which words or venue he wants you to use? Has He called you to preach? Ask Him to give you a sermon? Has He given you the talent to play a musical instrument? Which one? Singing? Which song does he want you to sing?
 

Every Christian has a work to do. If we act impulsively, we do more harm than good. When you accept your calling, ask God for directions.
Ye have not because ye ask not. James 4:2
 

Lord, what do I do with this sword?

Choose

Choose a School

I never thought I’d blog about a football game, but… Here in Alabama, there is no neutral ground. You have to choose sides. I chose to become an Alabama fan.

Over the years, the Alabama football team has won and they’ve lost, but I’ve never regretted choosing to be a tide fan. I may not be their biggest or loudest fan, but I’m faithful. It’s so disappointing to see people follow only the winning team. They are fans for a season. I call them hypocrites. They pretend to care about their team, but they only care about winning.

 Choose a Team

During the BCS National Championship pregame show, Lee Corso, dressed as a leprechaun, was carried in on the shoulders of Irish cheerleaders. After a little smack talk, he danced an Irish jig. He’d clearly chosen a side. The wrong side. His team lost 42-14.

 

 

Choose a Color

We live in a world where there is no neutral zone. We must choose a side. Jesus or the world? One has CRIMSON blood with power to wash sin as WHITE as snow. The other green grasses of pleasure and the greed of gold.

Choose a God

The devil may carry you on his shoulders promising the pleasure of a win. He may promise the gold of BCS title bonuses and school merchandise selling all over the country. He dangles dreams of CRYSTAL in front of your eyes. But in the end, he’ll make a fool out of you and leave you in embarrassing defeat.





 

Choose a Destination

Football championships come and go, but Jesus has never lost. Thank God, He never will. On His team, promises are kept, the gold is solid and crystal flows in a sea of peace.

Who do you choose?