Saturday, April 19, 2014

Happy Easter

I was wondering what people that don't know Christ think about Easter. For them, it's just another day. But do most people know what we celebrate? As a Christ follower I celebrate His resurrection. But what does a non Christ follower think about that. Really, if you think about it, they must think that we are crazy and should be put in the loony bin. Our foundation of what we believe about Christ is that he died for our sins and rose from the dead. Not too many people rising from the dead around here. No offense Walking Dead fans, but it is not an every day occurrence. If Christ did not raise from the dead then we really are crazy. But he did and we celebrate that glorious day when he overcame sin and death and and made us right with God if we believe in him. I'm pretty sure they don't think about what he went through for us. The suffering that He had to endure to pay the price for the sin of the world. This time of the year I'm reminded of this truth and I am so grateful  for what he has done for me.
Taking it to the street: 1.)Ask yourself do you believe?    
                                 2.)Take some time and think about what Jesus had to go through for you.

Pressing on with Excellence,
Keith

Friday, April 4, 2014

The Trick To Loving Others

 Matthew 22:36-39 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (NIV) Jesus said to love God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind, and to love others as you love yourself. One thing I have experienced in my own life is that, if you learn how to love God with all of your heart, soul and mind, loving your neighbor is almost a by product of that. I say almost because some people really make it difficult to love them. This is not an option, we have to love them, but how do we do that? This is where prayer and the greatest commandment comes in. If we love God with ALL our heart, soul and mind. He makes it possible to love others and yes, even forgive them, for what they do to us. After all He created them too. Who am I to condemn them? They were made in his image as well. I have to make a decision to love them. It might mean walking on eggshells around them to try to keep from offending them. That is a difficult task at times but God will give us the grace to do whatever it takes to learn to love them.

Taking it to the street: 1) Praise God for every good thing he has done in your life.
                                 2) Ask him to teach you how to love like he loves.

Pressing on with excellence!!
Keith