Peace, Hope, and Elections

Big day today, huh?  Isn't it so odd that half the nation is waking up today absolutely elated at this "great news" and the other half is waking up with "a pit" in their stomachs?  I really don't like politics -- like, at all -- but I'm so thankful for our freedoms in this country, which include the freedom to elect our leaders.  Did you not just feel so grateful for that as you walked into the polls yesterday? I sure did.

I've followed this election more than I have any other election, and based on my personal convictions, though I never thought I saw a "perfect" candidate in all of this, I will divulge that I woke up today with a pit in my stomach, too.   I've heard and read ALL SORTS of things positive and negative about both candidates, and I don't care to go into a political debate about them at this point, but I just want to say that I felt fear this morning.  Where is our country headed?  What's going to happen to religious freedom?  What will life be like in four years?

But here's one thing I've learned in the last year: Fear is a Lie.  It's a lie!  Fear is never true.  As followers of Christ, we have no reason to fear, because our God is in control.  There is absolutely nothing to fear.  What is the worst thing that could happen?  I die?  Well, then I get to go be with the Lord, which after my study of Heaven a couple years ago sounds a whole lot better than this unraveling place anyway.  Please hear me, because I really don't mean to say that lightly.  If death is the worst thing that could happen to us, that's not bad.  O Death, where is your sting?  Even Death will be defeated by Jesus Himself in the last days.

The only way to combat a lie is with the Truth, so we MUST be looking to Scripture, my friends.  Not to the news, not to our friends, not to Facebook for goodness sake!  To the Word.  His Words.  We need to be reading these words, letting them seep into our souls so that they become part of us -- Truth will become part of us.

Maybe for you, the election results do no cause you to fear, but perhaps it's something else...an illness, a job situation, a relational conflict.  This Truth will defeat any lies we are believing.

So without further ado, may I remind all of us what the God of the Universe says to us today:  

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

"Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall."  Psalm 55:22

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."  Psalm 27:14

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."  John 14:27

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; you rod and your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."  Psalm 23:4-5

"The Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up the head of those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous."  Psalm 146:8

"Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God."  Psalm 42:11

"Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful."  Colossians 3:15

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3 

"He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord."  Psalm 112:7

"Be strong and take heart, all of you who hope in the Lord."  Psalm 31:24

"And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

Which of these are you not believing today?  Unless you are believing EXACTLY what those say, you are believing LIES.  Don't let your joy and peace be stolen from you, Believers!  God is in control, and His perfect love casts out all of our fear (1 John 4:18).

Will life always be easy?  No.  Will things get worse before they get better?  Perhaps.  But it's all going to be okay.  It really is.  That's His promise.

2 Corinthians 7:13 (Funk, Part 2)

"In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you."

So...did you do it?  Were you able to be a Titus to someone yesterday?  I gave it a shot, but it didn't turn out to wrap-up with the perfect, little bow on top as I had imagined it would.  And you know what?  That's okay.  We are not in charge of the outcomes.  We give the care, but God gives the cure.  He just calls us to be obedient and to love people in His name.  So, if we did that, we were successful, and God smiles on us.  You can take that to the bank, my friend.  But I'm still not giving up on this woman from yesterday -- she needs more than just one day's love for sure.

So then today, I skipped down six verses this morning because I saw the name Titus again.  Now, let me remind us what we had read about Titus yesterday:  For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within.  But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus...

Remember, that Paul was beaten down, downcast, and just plain ol' depressed.  Yes, even The Great Paul felt depressed at times.  But then God stepped in and personally gave comfort to Paul through a fellow-believer named Titus.  

God doesn't have physical hands that we can see, so He uses the ones we can see.  I'm sure God could blink and make Himself some hands if He wanted them, but I wonder if that would be like an enormous gorilla with hands fit for a chipmunk -- He could do it, but it just wouldn't make sense compared to His greatness.  So he uses my little, less-intimidating chipmunk hands to care for your chipmunk hands.  It's really a kind thing for Him to do, because though I know I could trust His massive, strong gorilla hands, they still might startle me just a bit.

Oh wow, I digress.  Times ten.

Then today:  In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.

Here's what God reminded me: Titus was able to give encouragement and refreshment to others who were depressed because he had, at one time, been depressed and received encouragement himself!  

I mean, let's be honest.  Who wants to hear someone else tell them how to lose weight when that person has never had to watch their calories because they've always just "had high metabolism."  Or for someone to tell you how to raise your children when they haven't had children.  Or for someone to tell you how to get over your grief when they have never lost someone so dear to them.

Titus was able to give comfort, encouragement, and refreshment to Paul because he had needed it and received it recently, too.

I hope that can be encouraging to us.  If you are in Paul's shoes of depression today, keep holding on.  God hasn't forgotten you.  He sees your tears and hears your moaning.  In fact, you can trust that the Holy Spirit is praying for you even when you can't.  Romans 8:26 is one of my favorite verses when I am depressed.  It says, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans."  So, sometimes I just say, "Lord, I don't know what to pray, but I know the Holy Spirit is doing it for me, and I know You hear Him.  Thank you."

Though our sorrows last for a time, joy will come! 

And I can say that to you will full assurance, because I have been there.  I've sat in the dark on my bed while my mom was dying in the hospital down the road, and not a single word would come out of my mouth to the Lord.  I've sat at our kitchen table with my head in my hands when Josh and I both lost our jobs within a few weeks of each other.  We had fifty-three cents in our bank account, and not a single word would come out of my mouth to the Lord.  Those were a Funk with a capital F. 

But God, in His great mercy and wisdom, used those times in my life to shape me and make me more like Him.  I see the results as I look at myself now compared to who I used to me.  He uses those painful times, and He is absolutely, 100 percent, without a single doubt, is using yours, my friend.

And one day, if you keep hanging on to Him, He will use these circumstances and this "funk" in your life to be the Titus in someone else's life, because by then, you will have some really loving, understanding, caring, and compassionate chipmunk hands.

Hold on.  He's not through with us yet.

Molly Monroe

2 Corinthians 7:5-7 (Funk)

⁵ For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. ⁶ But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, ⁷ and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.

When was the last time you were really 'downcast'?  An equal word would be depressed.   You know, I really used to think, probably because of the commercials on t.v. and because of some of my own family history, that 'depressed' only described people who were so sad that they couldn't get out of bed, couldn't stop tears from flowing, and required medication for at least a few months.  Now, I'm not a doctor, but in my own life in recent months I have had some days where I haven''t bed-ridden, but I've been depressed -- I was sad and gloomy and emotionally situated a bit lower than my usual countenance.  The phrase I like to use, that seems a little lighter than the heavily-weighted word depressed, is "I'm in a funk."  Doesn't that sound a little less daunting, like perhaps I might actually get out of this sometime soon?

So two weeks ago, I was definitely "in a funk."  Okay, I'll say it, I was depressed.  As I look at the words Paul uses up there, I can agree that I "had no rest" -- oh, I was so incredibly tired from the busy schedule I like to keep (which I'm trying to work on).  I was feeling continually bothered and "harassed at every turn" from all that was going on at work, and this was creating for me "conflicts on the outside, fears within."

All of this was piling up, and what I wanted to do, like any depressed person, was to stay home where I could pull the blanket over my head, close my eyes and hope it would all go away.  Instead, I had Bible study that night.  So, I called my friend Candice, who was hosting it at her house, but my other dear friend Tori answered her phone (they were having dinner together before the study).  I explained how I just "wasn't feeling well" to Tori and that I couldn't make it.  Like any good friend, she didn't buy that generic phrase, so she dug deeper until I finally told her, "well, I'm just in a funk today."  Her response, "Good friends are the best medicine!  Come anyway.  You won't have to talk, just come be with us!"  Ugh.  Tori, why can't you just leave me in my funkiness?!

I let her know I'd think about it, but really that meant, no I've already made up my mind and I'm not coming.  We hung up the phone, and I began to plan my camp-out spot for the evening, right in front of the t.v.  Well, as I sat down and aimed the remote at the screen, something caught my eye.  The videos!  I have all the videos for the study HERE, including the one they need tonight!  And that's when I knew I was going to Bible study.  Candice lives almost 30 minutes away from me -- if I drive to drop off the videos I might as well stay.  So, I called her again, and she answered this time.  I explained why I would be coming now, and she confirmed, "Well I heard Tori tell you this, but you don't have to say anything.  Just come.  I made coffee!" 

So I went.  Begrudgingly.  I wore my glasses (I hate my glasses with a passion) and a big, puffy vest because I had this rash that was beginning to start and I did not want to have to wear an itchy bra.  Yeah, you heard me -- that's how bad it was.  A funk.  I walked into Candice's house to see two of my very best friends, who both hugged me and then started pouring my coffee.  We talked a little bit about my funk, we drank coffee, then another girl arrived with the most delicious snickerdoodle cupcakes ever, and we all started talking about our days, and soon the living room and kitchen were full of women who love Jesus and want to serve Him better.  

My funk was not completely over after that.  That little rash developed into Shingles (what 28-year-old gets stress-induced Shingles?!) and I suffered through that for the next two weeks, but despite the rash, my countenance was beginning to bounce back up.   Do you know why?  Because just as these verses above state, But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us.  He comforts us, and He comforted me that night.  For Paul, he gave comfort by the coming of Titus.  For me, He gave comfort through Tori and Candice, who expressed "their longing for me, their deep sorrow, their ardent concern for me."  They wanted me to come.  They were sad to see me sad.  And they were genuinely concerned.

See, you and I, and even Paul...we are human.  We are emotional creatures who are affected by our jobs, our families, the seasons, and many other things.  God knows we're going to have some times of "funk," and He comforts us, often through friends who dig deeper, who encourage us to keep going, who make stellar coffee, and who give great hugs. 

As I drove home that night, I wasn't reflecting on what the Bible study was about as much as I reflected on the gift of great friends.  Friendships we have developed over the past 25 years -- you read that right -- next year I will have known them for 25 years.  As I thought about them, their love for me, God's love for me that He poured out through Candice and Tori that night, and His ultimate power and control in this universe, my joy was greater than ever.  Literally, as I prayed on my way home for Him to remove this cloud of depression and to fill me with His peace, perspective and promises, He did.  It was absoltuely incredible!  I prayed, and in moments, the funk was lifted!  He doesn't always answer my prayers that quickly or exactly as I want Him to, but that night, He did.

If you're feeling in a funk today, may I encourage you to do two things -- two things that have worked since the time of Paul and Titus:
1. Pray for God to lift your funk and to fill you with His peace and perspective.  Quote Scripture to yourself, and be filled with God's truth and promises.  It's hard to choose to do that when we're in a funk, but it's worth the effort!  His Word does not return empty -- it WILL do something in you if you choose to turn to it.
2. And also, talk to someone.  Don't be in a funk alone.  Allow others to encourage you by being completely honest about how you're feeling.  They don't have to be 25-year-old friendships, but just go to someone you trust and ask, "May I share something with you?"  We were not made to be islands.

And perhaps you're not in a funk today.  Wonderful!  Let's be people whose eyes are open to those hurting around us and invite them to share what is bothering them.   God shows His love to others through us, when we're willing to be used by Him.  We can be their Titus!

Molly Monroe

2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1 (Why Purity?)

[Side note: please excuse the two-week absence of mine -- lots of craziness going on!  In fact, so much stress and craziness, that I developed shingles last week and was intense pain all weekend (I thought that was a disease just for the elderly, but apparently not.)  So, I do hope to calm my life down a bit now, look more to the One who's in control, and get back to blogging. Oh my.]

As God has said:

“I will live with them
    and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.”

¹⁷ Therefore,

“Come out from them
    and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
    and I will receive you.”

¹⁸ And,

“I will be a Father to you,
    and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”

 1 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God (italics mine).

Today's verses are the perfect example of why we shouldn't always stop at the end of a chapter.  Remember that the chapter numbers were added MUCH later as a way of referencing specific parts of the Bible.  Sometimes, I would like to have a little chat with these number-adding people, but like today, it just doesn't make sense where they put them.  Chapter 7 starts with that word therefore, but that implies that we need to read what was just said in Chapter 6.  So, here they both are for you, so they can be read together.

As I read these verses, what stuck out to me the most was this idea that there is a reason for our purity.  Now, after my 25+ years knowing and learning about God, one might think that I know that God doesn't give commands for no apparent reason -- He has a reason for what He commands us to do.  Always.  Sometimes we may not see or understand the reason, but there is one.  If God is not one thing, that's flippant.

So, in our desire to be holy, we perfect or complete our holiness by purifying ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit out of reverence for God.  

Let's break that down a bit: in verse 17, we are told to "come out from them and be separate."  Being different than the world is our mark -- it sets us apart.  We should be more loving, more patient, more gentle, more humble, more generous -- not as a checklist, but as as the result of the fact that God has made us his "sons and daughters" (verse 18) and He's rubbing off on us as he "lives with (us) and walks among (us)."  It's not meant to add pressure, but is more the natural demonstration of the proof that God is in us.

Then, verse 1 says, since we have these promises (that God is walking with us, and that we are His children and that if we touch no unclean thing, He will receive us) because of this, let us purify ourselves.  It's not a shameful reprimand.  Rather, it is Paul saying, "Because of all the Lord has done for us, let's do this for Him!  Who's with me?"  Out of reverence for Him.

We purify our bodies.  That one seems a bit easier to understand: self control in what we eat and drink, staying away from other man-made contaminates like drugs, etc.  Watch whatever we put in!

We purify our minds.  What is coming through the screen and into our mind?  What do we allow ourselves to see that becomes a little less and less shocking each time?  These images produce changes in our thought life, which eventually produce changes in what we say and do.

But we cannot just turn away or we will fall back.  We have to turn to.  We choose to turn away from impurities, and we turn to God.  It's a choice we make, but turning away is only half of it.  We must also choose to turn to God...in moments of loneliness, we go to Him instead of what we've gone to in the past.  In moments of boredom, we turn to Him instead of what we naturally want to do.  In moments of sorrow, we turn to Him to fill us up rather than the false fixers of the world.

And none of this is because He is twisting our arm.  The power comes when we choose to change our ways, to live a life of purity out of reverence for our God.  It's our continual thank you note to Him.

So, let us stop and think...where is an area where I am not pure, complete, or holy?  May we recognize that area, and may we choose to turn away from it and turn to God.  And the bonus is that He will gladly help us do it.

2 Corinthians 6:14-16 (Picking a Mate)

¹⁴ Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? ¹⁵ What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:

“I will live in them
    and walk among them.
I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.

When it comes to finding a spouse, there are two sayings that I really have come to love.  The first is the idea that "You don't need to be married until you don't need to be married."  Stop.  Think about it.  Read it again.  Marinate.  Basically, what it's saying is that by using all of our time and attention to find a mate, we have placed that mate-finding as the most important thing -- it has become an idol to us.  What if instead, we find that we have come to a place where we can say, "You know what, Lord?  I don't need to be married to find fulfillment or value or purpose.  If I never get married, that's okay.  I know that there are many other good and fulfilling things apart from marriage, especially if I have You."  Now that is a person who is mature enough for marriage -- they are confident in who they are as God made them (an individual) and will have a healthy perspective on what marriage is and what it is not.  God absolutely created us to want to be married.  He made marriage, so marriage is a great thing!  But it loses its greatness when it has become our ultimate thing.  Nothing can take that place in our lives but God Himself.

The other idea I like is a picture that was told to me in high school about whether or not someone is a "good pick" regardless of if you're just dating or looking toward marriage.  The picture is this image that we are running a race (the race of life), and if we are trying to be linked to someone running behind us (so we're always looking back trying to get them to catch up) or way in front of us (and we're always striving to somehow catch up to them), that is not a "team".  Instead, we should be running along right where are are, looking in the direction of where we want to go and who we want to become; and as we are running along there, we look next to us and see someone who is right with us already -- we smile, say, "oh, you're going this way, too?" and decide to link up and continue together in the race of life in the direction we were already going.  We aren't trying to change the person's mind to get them to catch up to us, slow down for us, or turn a direction they weren't already planning to go.

And though is might seem simple or silly, that is what this verse is talking about!  It doesn't work to  try to link elbows with someone who is not beside us -- be that spiritually, emotionally, or priority-ally.  It just doesn't work!  And the foundation of that is whether the person is a Christian or not.   If we follow Christ and make all decisions based on the Bible and what Christ would have us do, we cannot possibly fool ourselves into believing that someone who attends church only on Easter and Christmas is going to be equally yoked with us.  That's not being self-righteous or judgmental -- that's being wise!   We are in for a long, tumultuous road if we decide to link ourselves for the rest of our lives with someone who does not share our convictions and beliefs and our God, and the Lord knows that, so He's trying to show us how to choose the right partner for this journey.

The most powerful picture from these verses though is one Scripture uses.  It says, "And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people."  As believers, we are not just bodies -- we are the dwelling place of God.  We are to be kept pure for Him.  We want to be as perfect for God as we can be out of respect for Him!


Listen to these words, and heed this advice.  It comes from your Father who loves you and wants what is best for you.  Be patient, and just keep running the race confidently as you continue to grow yourself in Christ.  And as you do, just keep looking to your right or left and see who's there with you already, then flash that pearly smile...and the rest is matrimony...I mean...

2 Corinthians 6:3-13 (Stumbling Block)

³ "We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. ⁴ Rather, as servants of God we present ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; ⁵ in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; ⁶ in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; ⁷ in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; ⁸ through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; ⁹ known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; ¹⁰ sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
¹¹ We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. ¹² We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. ¹³ As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also."

 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.  Why should we live a life of purity?  Paul is concerned here that he live an exemplary life because he does not want his ministry to be discredited.  I'm sure we can easily think of others we've seen who claim to love Jesus, but who gossip, speak negatively most of the time, cheat, lie, etc.  It's the most discrediting picture, and it pushes us far away from those people.  But has that ever been us?  We ought to live perseveringly, faithfully, and lovingly toward others so that they will see our ministry and be pointed to Christ!  Our lifestyle is a big deal!

Rather, as servants of God we present ourselves in every way...   And now Paul will list the ways that his life has been different from the false apostles by whom the Corinthians were so enamored at the time.  The false apostles were self-servers, but Paul is showing how he is a God-server.  That is ultimately how we can tell the difference between true servants of Christ and not.  Jesus Himself said the world would know we are Christians "by our love" and love comes from a place opposite of self-service.  

I challenge all of us to read this list slowly, and see if we can say the same thing -- are we God-servers or self-servers?  Would we stick it out during all of these things?  I'm biting my lip as this could get a bit uncomfortable...

in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; ⁵ in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; ⁶ in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; ⁷ in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; ⁸ through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; ⁹ known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; ¹⁰ sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Or here is the list from The Message, and again, I ask us to read it slowly...

in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we’re beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we’re telling the truth, and when God’s showing his power; when we’re doing our best setting things right; when we’re praised, and when we’re blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all.

In our ministry to those around us, can we say we faithfully give no one reason to discredit our love for Jesus Christ?  Perhaps we have not received physical beatings for our faith, but could we continue even then?  The Lord is really challenging me on this the last few days.  I hear Him say, "Just how serious are you, Molly?"  And I so badly want to say that I would never deny Him!  That I would remain faithfu 'til the end no matter what.  That I would die for my faith in Him.  Easy to say, as I sit here comfortably with my coffee at my computer.  But this is what God is stirring in me this week.

So we end the passage with these words from The Message.  Hear the passion and urgency in Paul's tone:

Dear, dear Corinthians (or perhaps insert your name in there instead), I can’t tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life. We didn’t fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren’t small, but you’re living them in a small way. I’m speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!

With all that craziness Paul listed, he still feels that his life is spacious, expansive, worthy of living, "terrifically alive" and worth all of the crazy!  He is such a picture of faithfulness, perseverance, and God's power, isn't he?

Oh, Lord, that I could be like Paul.  I give you my life.  Keep making me into the person you made me to be.  Help me to claim and know Your presence despite the chaos in the world around me, and may I be your faithful servant, putting no stumbling blocks in anyone's path to You.

2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (The Only Reason I Beg)

"As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.  For God says, 'At just the right time, I heard you.  On the day of salvation, I helped you.'  Indeed, the "right time" is now.  Today is the day of salvation."  -- 2 Cor. 6:1-2

I beg you...Why are you waiting to follow Christ with your whole being?  Whether you have accepted Christ but put Him on the back-burner, or you've never made the choice to say, "Yes, Jesus, You are my God, and I will follow and serve You.  Forgive me of my sin, for I am unclean and lost without You.  Thank you for this gift, Lord.  Take control of my life, and make me the kind of person You want me to be"...no matter where you are, it's never too late to start going a different direction.

Today is the day.