Never Too Late

It’s Never Too Late

 

Never Too Late

Do you have a pet peeve?

Maybe it’s one of these:

  • Hearing other people talk on their cellphones in a restaurant.
  • The smacking sound of someone chewing their gum loudly.
  • The person in front of you at the theater who talks during the movie.

My big pet peeve is being late.

Is there anyone out there who likes to show up late?

Maybe a celebrity or two, but that’s not me, and I can’t imagine that’s you either.

I’m a stickler for being on time.

This started quite awhile ago – all the way back to when I was a television reporter.

Unfortunately, we showed up late a few times to a big story.

Don’t get me wrong, we’d lug in our camera equipment and microphone as quietly as we could, but people would still notice.

It just felt so disrespectful even though we couldn’t help it at times.

These days, if my husband and I have to go somewhere downtown, I insist on leaving an hour ahead of time. You never know if there might be traffic jams, construction, and who knows what!

And, sometimes, he lets me win that battle.  🙂

 

Why Wait?

Speaking of late, while we’re alive and breathing, it’s never too late to put our trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

What baffles me though, is why anyone would want to wait?

What’s holding them back?

As Christians, we are heartbroken for people like that.

Life is fleeting and precious. None of us ever know what every minute of the next day will bring.

Redeemed

If you’ve ever read my testimony (you can find it here), then you know that my family was in a tragic accident many years ago. My husband and I survived, but our nine-year-old niece tragically died.

I was the second worst injured in the accident.

Facing my eternity hit me like a brick wall.

I didn’t want to go to hell.

After becoming a Christian, I realized that trying to be good wasn’t what it was all about.

The first thing I wanted to do when I got that cumbersome brace off my broken leg was to be baptized. I’d given my life over to Christ the week before the accident, and participating in Believer’s Baptism was meaningful to me.

 

Why wait?

Personal Unforgettable Joy

After three months of walking with a heavy boot plus screws and a plate in my ankle, I was ready to get rid of those “shackles.”

In September of 1997, wearing a white flowing robe, I entered the baptismal, and the Pastor baptized me in front of the whole church.

To this day, I get chills thinking about it.

There was nothing quite like it – Joy and Release all bundled up into one.

I am so grateful that I didn’t wait.

Baptism In Christ

As Christians, we know that Believer’s Baptism is not what saves us. We have to recognize that we are sinners who must repent and are in desperate need of the mercy of God. Our “niceness” and “working it” aren’t what get us to Heaven.

It took me awhile to understand that, but as I grew in my faith, I realized just how beautiful God’s grace is. That is why I am so desperate to share this with the world.

Grace alone

through Faith alone

In Christ alone.

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. – Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV).

Keep Your Eye On The Prize

Christians face a lot of criticism and ridicule from those in the world who don’t understand what saving grace is all about.

Late night pundits, daytime talk show hosts, you know who I’m talking about.

These faith mockers need our prayers.

Please don’t put off your salvation in Christ Jesus.

It won’t give you your best life now. The “best life now” catchphrase sounds good, but it’s a myth.

Trusting in Christ alone assures you an eternity in Heaven where you will never be happier.

There’s no sweeter love song than the one from God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, to His people.

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*Scripture quotation is from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2016 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Keep Your Eye on the Prize

Keep Your Eye on the Prize

Some of my fondest high school memories are from my years on the track team. I joined the team in my Sophomore year and qualified as a sprinter for the 2:20 and the 8:80 relay.keep your eye on the prize

Track was a big part of my life back then. I loved the sport and we had a great bunch of girls on the team.

The best part of it for me was winning a ribbon or a trophy that I could take home to show my Dad. He never hesitated to say he was proud of me.

Our team worked hard, practicing after school and spending our Saturdays running in meets at other high schools. Our goal was to get to State and compete against runners from all over Florida. Lucky me! I qualified.

I ended up placing sixth in the 2:20 at the State finals!!

The cool thing: I got to run against a soon-to-be Olympian, Chandra Cheeseborough. A quick note about Chandra, she smoked me pretty quickly and all I saw was her dirt fly as she sprinted past me! I still remember that. 🙂

Life in the Fast Lane

Those high school years have come and gone. Have things really changed for us now that we’re all grown up? We keep running and running towards something. In this upside-down world, do we know what or who we’re running towards?

Keep your eyes on ChristThere are so many distractions that can take our eyes off Christ. A job, a mortgage, frustrating people in our lives, health issues – all of it can overwhelm us at times. There are so many concerns in our lives and in our world, and yet, Jesus is there. He is unchanging. He is always ready to welcome us back when we realize that we’ve lost our focus on Him.

Don’t forget to keep your eye on the prize. There’s joy eternal up ahead and one path to get there – through Jesus Christ. In the midst of life’s distractions, if we put our trust in Him, we have the promise of complete happiness and eternal life.

A Christian Perspective From Minnesota

We asked a good friend of ours about which Bible verse is especially meaningful to him. Kevin H. from Minnesota chose Hebrews 12:1-2a.

*Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

Kevin explains why this verse speaks to his heart:the race marked out for me

“Hebrews 12:1-2, a favorite part of Scripture for me, uses the idea of a race or a journey to help focus me on what really matters – Jesus’ great love and sacrifice for me. I can find my personal identity in so many distressingly inadequate things, people, or activities. This verse always reminds me that my identity is held and centered on Jesus Christ. It’s just not about me.

This life or race that is marked out for me has me journeying through a fair share of dark times – but also the good. As a runner, races are that way as well. Yet, I find deep joy in the richness of this life. Knowing God loves and cares for me, that pressure is off. I can absorb the goodness of my life’s time – both in the good times and in the harder times. What a joy to know I can fix my eyes on Jesus. He deeply loves and holds me close.”

I couldn’t have said it better. Many thanks to Kevin for his share.

God bless you all and keep your eyes on the prize!

*Bible reference: New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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No Phishing

No Phishing – Move on!

There’s no phishing here.

Hello dear readers,

Unfortunately, I’ve received some off-topic comments and spam so I need to post this PSA.

Please bear with me as I share this personal, Public Service Announcement:

No phishing

NOTICE

Okay, you crazies:

Please listen up!

I will not publish any comment that is spam,

offensive, obscene, off-topic, or promotes your business.

That is not the purpose of this blog. This is a Christian blog to honor God.

Please go phishing somewhere else.

Update

Unfortunately, due to some scammers turning a deaf ear, I’ve had to turn off comments on my Christian blog. It goes against everything I believe in about sharing views, but I have to protect it.

I was bombarded with so-called seo experts jamming my inbox with their advertising. I deleted their comments thinking that would fix it. It didn’t. I proceeded to receive more every day after that. These people don’t give up with their obnoxiousness. In addition, there were also some folks who commented and then wanted to direct my readers to their off-topic websites. Really folks? Very uncool. Bye bye.

Regardless of these distractions, I continue to keep my eye on the prize, delight in God, and keep focused on things above.

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