Next year, I will be three quarters of a century old. I'm getting closer to that day when I will stand before God in judgment. I want this meeting to be a good experience.
A life of thanksliving is based on faith in Jesus. Faith says that no matter how bad things get, God is still in charge. He watches over you with a loving care. Even Jesus, the Son of God, lived by faith in His Father.
A man stood before God the Father on the Day of Judgment. The scale of His good deeds and bad deeds weighed exactly the same. He needed one more good deed to tip the scale of good deeds in his favor so he could enter Heaven.
The Power of the Cross makes love stronger than hate, empowers forgiveness to free you from revenge, and restores hope that your sufferings are not meaningless but a force moving God to love you even more.
Niall Harbison shares the story of how a broken little dog saved his life. In Ireland, he owned a successful media company that earned him lots of money. He would be considered a success. But his life was a wreck. He started his day with three bottles of wine followed by valium that he washed down with whiskey.
There is this wonderful person I met at Children's Hospital named John. He is winning his battle against cancer because of his deep faith, limitless hope and loving support of caring family and friends.
Hellen Keller who was blind wrote, "Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light." God's light shines most brightly in the dark. Make every effort to find Him.
The fire of Jesus will purify you. It will burn away your sin, burn away your doubts, burn away your fears, burn away your hate, burn away your pride, and burn away anything that is not of God in your soul.
The day will surely come when you meet Jesus face to face. What are you going to say when He asks you, "What have you done with the gifts I gave you to help others?"
I am in awe of the parents at Cincinnati Children's who sacrifice everything to see their child live. I remember a father telling me, "Whatever my daughter needs, I give. I would sacrifice myself gladly so she can live." There is a special place in Heaven for that father.
Our response to God for this most generous gift can only be one of gratitude. But how do I show my gratefulness to God for His love in action called "grace," which I do not deserve? The answer can be found every time you pray the Our Father.
St. James wrote, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds." (James 1:2.) Why should we be joyful? Because God can use those sufferings to reveal His love, His power and His presence in your life.
The seeds of God's Kingdom are inside your heart. Every act of love and mercy you do from your heart makes those seeds grow into a beautiful tree to show the Kingdom of God is already here, in your midst.
