Raised to walk in newness of life...

"Buried with Christ in Baptism. 

 Raised to walk in newness of life."

This is what our pastors at our church say while they baptize a fellow brother or sister in Christ  through Believer's Baptism.  I was blessed to experience Believer's baptism on September 20, 2009 when my wife's cousin baptized myself, my wife and two oldest sons.  I was convicted during a bible study over the summer of the book of Acts.  Chapter 19 describes the acts Paul and his disciples performed while visiting Ephesus (one of my favorite letters of Paul is his epistle to the Ephesians).

  Acts 19:1-7 (New International Version)

¹While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples ²and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?"
      They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." ³So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?"
      "John's baptism," they replied.
 ⁴Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." ⁵On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. ⁷There were about twelve men in all.

 This passage and the subsequent discussion following it convicted me.  I had experienced infant Baptism growing up Catholic.  However, I had not yet professed my faith in Christ publicly through Believer's Baptism.  What has made me relive this experience in my life today, was that I just witnessed the daughter of one our friends profess her faith publicly through Believer's Baptism at our church.  I sit right now typing this blog to you from a hotel room in Washington DC preparing for a business meeting.  I got to witness this online - I love technology!  Seven words the pastor said made me reflect on my own faith journey.


"Raised to walk in newness of life"


Sometimes we don't see our own progress or the work God has done in our lives when we look at things with a short term perspective.  When I step back and reflect, I can remember where I was, living in sin, living for myself only, for my gain only - I had built an altar to "Karl" (i.e. myself).  Then I think about that day 2/3 of my family was Baptized in Christ.  When I was raised up from that water, soaking wet - it represented not only my internal decision to invite Jesus as the Lord of my life, but it also was true that I had a new life.  When I turned my life over to Christ, everything changed immediately, but it wasn't always evident.  I was no longer going to  run my own life by choice, but some of my behavior had not yet changed.  By the time I was obedient to God and professed my faith in Believer's Baptism, it was very clear how much God has changed me.  


See, when we trust in Christ, God sends the Holy Spirit down - just like the Bible says.  While we may not literally speak in tongues like they did in the days of Paul, we may sound like we're speaking in tongues to those who knew the "old us".  We appear to be doing miraculous works by repenting of our old ways and sins and trusting in God to lead us through his son, our Savior Jesus Christ.  I don't ever want to go back to the old self, to relive those old days, but I am so grateful I experienced all those things.  I wouldn't be where I am today without it.


Before Christ, I was consumed by guilt, fear, lust, greed and alcohol.  I was self-centered and my life was unmanageable.  


Since May 23, 2007, I've been sober.  I have peace, happiness, joy and a relationship with Him. I truly want what I have in life.


If God can do that in me...imagine what He can do for you?   You just have to do one thing...trust in His son, Jesus and ask him to be your Lord and Savior.

Trudging the road

"It isn't about never making mistakes, it's about getting back up and moving forward toward the results."  -Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric

 This morning, my devotional reading was Romans 3:21-31.   In that passage is the well-known verse "For all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God" - Romans 3:23.  As always, when I turn to God first thing in the morning, I get what I need to hear - many times not what I want to hear, but ALWAYS exactly what I need.   I have been struggling with some internal thoughts pertaining to my selfishness, self-centeredness and character defects.  The Bible says these self-centered (and thereby not God centered) thoughts and desires eventually will lead me to sin: 

"When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."  James 1:13-15

 My experience has been that this can take place anywhere and anytime: in the workplace, home and even at church.  This passage reminds me that I need to stay God-centered not self-centered.  When I read that and remember what Paul wrote in his epistle to the Romans, I am comforted - and do not feel isolated - in that ALL Christians go through struggles with sin and desire, just like I do.  The good news is that God has given us all a way out.  When I'm lost and need directions or I am stranded travelling in a foreign place, I ask for help.  Spiritually, I need to do the same thing.  I need to turn to Him, ask for help.  Jesus said he would send the "Helper" or the Holy Spirit to be with us before he ascended into heaven.  If I can call on God, he WILL help me. But it will be in His time.  So until God removes my character defects - which may never happen, Paul had his "thorn" all his life - I need to follow Jack Welch's advice of when I fall I get back up, dust myself off and continue to keep my eye on the prize - spending eternity with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  I also have to remind myself that just because I'm saved and have received the gift of Salvation does not mean I've been completely sanctified of my old thoughts.  Sanctification is a process that takes time.

Today, I take refuge in Christ, in His death and resurrection.  Today, I ask the Holy Spirit to help me and guide me to be a shining light for God's Kingdom.  Today, I ask God to help me love Him with all my heart and to love my neighbors as myself.  Today, I am going to do the best I can with what I have, and hopefully, God will use me to help someone else.  

If you're struggling today, stop right now and pray, "Lord Jesus, I love you.  I want to be one of your followers, but I'm struggling.  You know what struggles I'm going through, as you experienced the same struggles yourself when you walked amongst men.  Relieve me of my selfishness and desires.  Please give me wisdom and strength to carry out your will.  Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins.  Change my heart and guide my steps.  I make my prayer in Jesus' name, Amen."

Have a blessed day!

Turning towards Him

Everyday in my walk, I try to spend my first few minutes with God.  A very effective way to do this, I have found, is to have a daily devotional reading to guide me.  Today's reading went as such:

Isaiah 30:19-21 (New International Version)

 ¹⁹ O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. ²⁰ Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. ²¹ Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

I can completely relate to this passage.  What brought me ultimately to follow Christ - addiction and that my life was completely unmanageable - forced me to "cry for help" as it says in verse 19.  What the prophet Isaiah says God will do was true for me, "As soon as he hears, he will answer you".  When I said to God, "Okay God, I obviously cannot run my own life, you take it, its all yours", I let go of my white-knuckled grip on life.  I discovered that I was not driving anything in life, but that God was driving the entire time.  I like to use the analogy that I was in the back seat of the car, as a toddler would be, pretending I was driving the car with my "honk honk" seat.  I had that tight grip trying to steer life in the direction I wanted it to go. (notice all the I's) In reality, God was driving the entire time, looking in the rear-view mirror and probably chuckled, "He just doesn't get it yet".  During my time of trying to run, and there by slowly ruin, my life - God was always there, loving me and patiently waiting for me to call on Him.  Once I did, He was there and He still is there.  Whether I turn to "the right or to the left", God is always there for me. 


Somedays I still try to drive the car from the "honk honk" seat, but those days don't work out so well.  When I turn to Him, and listen to the "way" and "walk in it", my days go so much better.  So my mantra today is to walk with Him "one day at a time".  


If you are struggling and feel like nothing you do is working, or feel as though every turn you make leads to a dead end, turn to God.  He is there and has been there for you always.  Just like I felt when I was running the show, you may not feel that way. That may be because He asks us to do our part.  He gave us free will, so we need to make that decision to cry out to Him.  Once we do, God will come running towards us and give us peace, comfort and strength for Today.   And remember when you wake up tomorrow, make that decision again to seek Him and His will.  I have to do that on a daily basis so that I can "walk in" fellowship with Him.  

God bless you and keep you.  May you turn to Him in all areas of your life.

Having faith

Yesterday, I met with two colleagues at work.  About two dozen of us in my department are currently studying About My Father's Business by Regi Campbell.  This book talks about how to effectively share your faith in the workplace or in work-like settings.  The first meeting of our group was last Thursday. During this discussion I was convicted of the sin of spiritual pride.  See, I have a story to tell about what trusting in Christ has done for me.  However, I have not told my story to many people, especially to those at my work.  Yet I work for a place that is very supportive in this type of endeavor and still had fear (False Evidence Appearing Real).  I mean, what would they think about me?  I also was fearful that because of where I came from (until I came to Christ, my lifestyle was very counter-culture to where I work) I could lose my job...how silly of me....God wants us to celebrate and glorify Him.  When we hold onto our stories for ourselves, we are being selfish and prideful, not to mention we aren't putting our complete faith in what He can do.


I found this cartoon in a google search:

This fit perfectly to where I was.  You can find this and others at http://www.jesuseveryday.com/cartoons.htm

Back to my story though, In faith, I approached two people in my group and we got together and I shared my testimony of how I came to believe and therefore, trust in, my Savior Jesus Christ.  Not only did my colleagues not run off, nor did they laugh at me, nor did they breathe fire out and burn me up right there, but also they embraced me, celebrated what God has done! Now I have two great friends, that are not just colleagues, but brothers and sisters in Christ.  How cool is that?!  


I encourage you today to share your story with someone.  When you feel the Holy Spirit move you to share, be obedient.  You'll be surprised what God does when you stop trying to make the outcome the way you want it, and start to trust Him for the results. My prayer is that we as Believers can move beyond the "You of little faith" nickname and become more faithful and obedient to what God calls us to do.  Remember, God will always do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.  Sometimes we cannot see the outcome or understand how it could even work out well.  Despite that we need to step forward in faith and courage, remembering that Fear is of the evil one and God told us "Do not fear" 365 times in the Bible.  


God bless all of you today!

...So my journey begins

It took me a while to come up with a title to this blog. So when the words to the hymn "Blessed Assurance" wouldn't escape my head, I took the hint. I learned today that the hymn is based upon the scripture Hebrews 10:22, which says:

"let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water."

The first phrase of that passage is exactly what this blog is to be about - to help me and others "draw near to God" and to do so "with a sincere heart". Three years ago, where this story began, I did not have the assurance of anything, but today I do have "full assurance in faith" in CHRIST. Today I have peace, joy and happiness. I pray that you have the same, and if you do not, that this blog may help you "draw near to God" and know Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.