This week starts my busiest time of the year and the months ahead include many Big Events to complement the one-on-one, small group Bible Studies, writing projects and teaching opportunities already scheduled. Please pray for us and the work in Legislator and leader’s lives.
PRAY FOR THESE BIG EVENTS
LEADER FAITH FORUM … March 16
Regional leaders first in-person meeting in a year. Many elected leaders will participate.
GOVERNOR’S PRAYER BREAKFAST FILMING AT THE CAPITOL … March 18-19
WAR COLLEGE RETREAT … March 26-28
Weekend Retreat with military officers and families.
LOUISIANA LEGISLATIVE SESSION … April 12-June 10
GOVERNOR’S PRAYER BREAKFAST … April 13
Location: Healing Place, Baton Rouge
WILBERFORCE WEEKEND … May 21-23
Exhibitor at Colson Fellows Program.
OFFICERS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP WEEKLONG RETREAT … June 25-July 2
Teaching daily at White Sulphur Springs, Pennsylvania
THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE
I will never forget Palm Sunday 1975. A teacher caught me by the arm and said, “Michael, I’d hate to get to heaven and not see you there.” Wow. You sure would not go up to just anyone and say that to them, but it was perfect timing … God’s timing for me. It made me think. I had been feeling for some time that I was missing something. Even though I had lots of friends, a good home, did well in school and sports and always had a couple of dollars in my pocket … something was missing. The old line is, “There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every person. You can try to fill that vacuum with money, friends, pleasure etc. but it can only be filled with God.”
The only verse I knew in the whole Bible was John 3:16 … “For God so loved the world, He gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes on Him, will not perish but have eternal life.” For the first time ever, I realized that God did not just love the globe, but He loved me personally as the Cross demonstrates profoundly. I realized that though I knew some information about Jesus I was living for myself. God was simply filed away in my filing cabinet between Girls and Golf. I pulled Him out occasionally when needed. I had never put my faith in Him as John 3:16 gave the “whosoever” invitation.
Easter Sunday morning 1975 I surrendered. I chose to trust Jesus the Savior and asked Him to forgive my sins and give me eternal life. I decided to stake my eternal destiny upon Him and His blood-stained cross and empty tomb. It was not at all about what I did, it was about what Jesus did for me. I simply accepted the greatest gift ever offered. That was the best moment and best day of my life. My life is not always easy, but that day in 1975 gave me a personal relationship with God … one that is compelling and mysterious and amazing and messy but so very real.
It is terrible thing for anyone to miss heaven and peace with God. It is worse to miss it by 18 inches … There is a vast difference between knowing facts about God in your head versus knowing him personally in your heart. If you have never trusted Jesus in your heart or are not sure … perhaps you will read John 3:16 like I did. Personalize it. Tell God you want to fill the God shaped vacuum in your heart with Him. Trust in Jesus alone and His work rather than your own efforts. Easter 2021 may become your special day.
Helping Louisiana’s Leaders,
Michael