THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD IS YOUR OWN PERSONAL GOSPEL JOURNEY

THE GOSPEL. For those of us who follow Jesus, it is the most important thing in our lives. WHY, you ask ? BECAUSE IT IS A PERSONAL JOURNEY THAT FINDS IT’S CENTER IN OUR HEART; OUR HEART AND GOD’S HEART ! The Gospel is not just a formula to be followed that allows one to find Salvation. The Gospel is not just a template to follow to become a Christian. The Gospel is not just an invitation from a church pastor or Evangelist to find God. THE GOSPEL IS OURS ! Deeply personal, with a heartfelt purpose, and a passion for what lies ahead. For some it may have begun as a rescue mission; pulling us out of a deep and dark place where we were trapped in any number of difficult circumstances. Addiction, depression, and hopelessness. Perhaps it was a lifeline out of loneliness, or a moment of clarity about what one’s life means in the bigger picture. For ALL OF US, The Gospel is a REBIRTH OUT OF SIN, INTO A JOURNEY TOWARD HOLINESS AND RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THE FATHER ! The beauty of a UNIQUENESS that applies to us in a deeply personal and individual way. At 17 years of age, I heard the Gospel preached at a Billy Graham Crusade. For me personally, it was an invitation into RELATIONSHIP with a Lord, Savior, and King:) I had an awesome family, good friends, and a good life….but something was Missing. I felt pretty alone at times. Smart, capable, but really not too sure who I was. In with the crowd somewhat, but not visible and confident socially. Desiring to build friendship with a girl I knew, but way too shy to try. Listening to Billy Graham talk about JESUS, I KNEW IN MY HEART I HAD TO KNOW HIM AND GIVE HIM MY HEART ! I thirsted for His Love and Truth. I hungered for His Companionship and Strength. My Heart told me the HE would accept me as I was, and help me Grow and find Wholeness. ALONE NO MORE:) AFRAID NO MORE:) Jesus lifted me out of my old life into A New Beginning. I was reborn in Him and things began to change ! No more fear. No more uncertainty. No more lack of Confidence and Surety. JESUS HAS BEEN BY MY SIDE AND IN MY HEART FOR FIFTY TWO YEARS ! Years filled with Blessings and Struggles, Joy and Sadness, Success and Failure, Sprinting and Falling Down. Always waiting for me, even when I was busy and distracted…..HE NEVER LEFT MY HEART:) In the journey of THE GOSPEL, one climbs a mountain; constantly moving upwards, while often seeing the need for course change and renewed focus….AND GOD REWIRES OUR HEARTS :)

THE LORD WILL FULFILL HIS PURPOSE FOR ME; YOUR STEADFAST LOVE, O LORD, ENDURES FOREVER. DO NOT FORSAKE THE WORK OF YOUR HANDS. Psalm 138:8

THE COUNSEL OF THE LORD STAND FOREVER, THE PLANS OF HIS HEART TO ALL GENERATIONS. Psalm 33:11

I CRY OUT TO GOD MOST HIGH, TO GOD WHO FULFILLS HIS PURPOSE FOR ME. Psalm 57:2

BUT YOU ARE A CHOSEN RACE, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR HIS OWN POSSESSION, THAT YOU MAY PROCLAIM THE EXCELLENCIES OF HIM WHO CALLED YOU OUT OF THE DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT. 1 Peter 2:9

In God’s Eyes, YOU ARE SPECIAL ! The world tries to make us into automatons who all Conform to become One Big Undistinguishable Mass of Society. All Equal. All meeting the World’s viewpoints and standards. Put in a box and utterly ALONE. As if strength finds its purpose and meaning when one achieves complete blandness, or rejection of fellowship and UNITY. The Scriptures above make it crystal clear that GOD HAS A PLAN AND PURPOSE FOR ALL OF US. To reject God is to have a belief that there is no creator who designed all things with the spectacular beauty of Different purposes, plans, structure, looks, and complexity. In man’s incredible gifts of Creativity, God gave individual gifts to some that others could not comprehend let alone use. I’m a pretty good Strategist and Business Leader, but I’m not “Designed” to be a molecular biologist or a nuclear physicist. The amazing thing however is that IN CHRIST, we are ALL a chosen race, a royal priesthood….called OUT of the Darkness, INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT:) Look at your family around you, then take a look at your friends. They are ALL UNIQUE ! The story of our individual lives have so many incredible twists and turns and yet absolutely Have Purpose if we let GOD shine in our IDENTITY. I have several mentors in my life that have helped propel me in my Gospel Journey. They are all unique, different ages, different paths, but they share one thing in common. A LOVE AND RELATIONSHIP WITH AND FOR JESUS CHRIST. Michael, my teacher and royal priest; Matthew, my deep sounding board and truth companion and humble servant of God; Derrick, my warrior companion who called me to be “ALL IN.” John, a brother after the Heart Of Men. John showed me the importance of MY GOSPEL STORY ! As followers of Christ, we make each other “strong and accountable.” Jesus came not just to offer Salvation, but to offer ABUNDANT AND COMPLETE LIFE. HE IS THE GOSPEL, AND HE IS MY STORY !

FOR GOD GAVE US A SPIRIT NOT OF FEAR BUT OF POWER AND LOVE AND SELF CONTROL. 2 Timothy 1:7

HIS DIVINE POWER HAS GRANTED TO US ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO LIFE AND GODLINESS, THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM WHO CALLED US TO HIS OWN GLORY AND EXCELLENCE. 2 Peter 1:3

HE IS THE RADIANCE OF THE GLORY OF GOD AND THE EXACT IMPRINT OF HIS NATURE, AND HE UPHOLDS THE UNIVERSE BY THE WORD OF HIS POWER. AFTER MAKING PURIFICATION FOR SIN, HE SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE MAJESTY ON HIGH. Hebrews 1:3

AND WHAT IS THE IMMEASUREABLE GREATNESS OF HIS POWER TOWARD US WHO BELIEVE, ACCORDING TO THE WORKING OF HIS GREAT MIGHT. Ephesians 1:19

The Big Question my fellow believers is, “ ARE YOU SHARING YOUR OWN GOSPEL STORY WITH THE WORLD AROUND YOU ? “ I hear many Christians say, “ I don’t want to offend anyone.” THINK AGAIN ! We are here to share the Beautiful Story Of Jesus Christ, and the GIFT OF THE GOSPEL. Nothing is more important. Jesus came to shine the TRUTH AND HOPE OF GOD ON SINNERS ! His WAY is the ONLY WAY. If you know Jesus, then “Refine” your own story and Go Share It. Build that “Intimate” relationship with Jesus that is So Real you can feel HIM walking and talking beside you. DO IT IN HIS POWER AND LOVE:) TELL YOUR STORY/JAA

FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD DOES NOT CONSIST IN TALK BUT IN POWER. 1 Corinthians 4:20

Special Thanks to John Sommer and Reclaim Ministries for helping me SEE MY STORY ! Love you brother:) Check out RECLAIM MINISTRIES in my support area. Be Blessed:)