Have You Started Living Your Amazing Life?

Beloved,

We are almost through our first week of daylight savings time and I know it has been an adjustment for some. Our bodies are used to getting up later and going to bed earlier; but, adjust we must. And, in the process, let us thank God for giving us more light to live our lives.

In terms of living our lives, how are you living?

Are you doing okay or are you doing great?

Are you getting by or are you getting ahead?

Are you just living or are you living an amazing life?

When I think about our Christian walk, as children of the most High God adopted into His family by the blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, as guided by the Holy Spirit who dwells inside of our bodies that are supposed to be the temples of the most High God, I firmly believe that okay, getting by and just living are poor substitutes for great, getting ahead, and amazing.

God desires for us to do great things, to get ahead, and to live amazing lives?

Keeping it simple, have you started living your amazing life?

Now, when I type the words "amazing life", some might immediately retreat to the world's notions and ideas about amazing. That is not what I mean.

What I mean by the "amazing life" is the life that is lived to bring praise, honor and glory to our God such that people can see Him through you.

After his conversion on the Damascus road, the Apostle Paul began to live an amazing life.

Acts 9:18-22 reveals, "And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, 'He (Jesus) is the Son of God.' All who heard him were AMAZED and said, 'Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem among those who invoked this name? And has he not come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?' Saul became increasingly more powerful and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Messiah."

Now, most of us will not have the opportunity to do the things that the Apostle Paul did in terms of being the apostle to the Gentiles, or non-Jews; but, our lives, according to how God has gifted us, uniquely and collectively, should be no less amazing.

Some people think they know you and have you all figured out. They are trying to make you simple and common.

But, do they know your Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, because of you? That is what makes you amazing.

And, seeking to do that amazing thing is what will ensure that you will live an amazing life.

Many people like to testify about the victories that come in life. Nothing wrong with that.

Getting well after getting sick is a reason to praise God; but, sinners get well too.

Getting a promotion on the job after having been neglected or rejected for a season is a reason to praise God; but, sinners get promotions too.

Finding a way to salvage a marriage, repair a friendship, and reconnect with a loved one is a reason to praise God; but, sinners salvage marriages, repair friendships, and reconnect with loved ones too.

BUT, the difference between the saved and the lost, the redeemed and the unredeemed, the saint and the sinner is that the saved, the redeemed, and the saint can offer the lost, the unredeemed, and the sinner something that cannot be found in this world, something amazing.

That AMAZING something is salvation that is only found by giving our lives to Jesus.

As you live your life, if others were to follow you, watch you, listen to you, and do as you do, would they find you living the amazing life that they too would want to live?

Would they want your AMAZING life? I pray that the answer is "Yes". If not, you can decide to start living your AMAZING life today.

All you have to do is to reaffirm who you are, a child of God, and live so that God can use you to spread His message throughout the world.

And, the spreading of that message starts right where you are right now. In what you say and what you do, let God lead you and guide you in a way that others can follow you.

Today is the day. And, your life is the only life you are going to have on this side of glory.

Let's make it AMAZING!

As a reminder, we will not have HOPE Wednesday this Wednesday evening; but, I want you to start praying right now for us to fill the pews next Wednesday as we begin a new journey about prayer. Prayer, intentional conversations with God, changes things and will help equip you to live your AMAZING life. Do not settle. Strive for the best that God has for you. That can and only will be found in prayer. I will pass out books next Wednesday. Come and bring someone with you.

Also, keep those who have lost loved ones in prayer as well as those who are going through with afflictions of the body, mind, heart and spirit. Not to neglect others by not naming them; but, do lift up Trustee Kenneth Inzar who is in Novant Hospital being treated for an illness that we are praying will be short and temporary in nature. As preached about on Sunday, when one goes through, we all should go through with them.

I look forward to seeing some of you on Friday with the teens at Surge, more of you on Saturday for the Youth Summit (EVERYONE PLEASE INVITE SOMEONE TO COME. OUR YOUTH NEED THIS KIND OF INFORMATION, INTERACTION AND EXPOSURE), and all of you on Sunday at worship service.

And, remember, God loves you and I love you too!

Be blessed,

Rev. Cain