Day 42: Happy Easter!!!

As many of you know, Easter has many meanings depending on who you talk to. For me it is a special celebration of Jesus Christ who died on the cross to forgive man of sin and who was resurrected from the dead on the third day. It is an amazing price He paid and I am so thankful. Many of you are familiar with a verse seen at football games: John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." So why did He do this you may ask? John 10:10 "I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly." (that it might be full and meaningful)

People ask me how is that I am able to keep going with my P90x program, even to the late night hours even when I am down and out. My discipline and focus comes from my life experiences. I have gone through some tough times and because I had Christ in my life I was able to persevere and have faith in Him to get me through. When you have God in your life and have a personal intimate relationship like a father and son, you can overcome anything and do anything. My friends in college know my motto: "Anything is possible" Try pouring down hot sauce for 30 seconds in your mouth. (By the way I did pay for it the next day)

For many God is out there somewhere busy doing his own thing and to others he just doesn't exist. God is out of reach to some. So why can't we all have this relationship or abundant life? It is because of sin and it separates us from God. We can't know or experience God's love and plan for our life. I am first to admit I am a sinner. Romans 3:23 "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

I have never really opened up to people and it one of my flaws in life. I put up a wall and I am letting it down slowly as I have been disappointed too many times. Trusting someone has been a hard thing for me and I am learning to open up. Even blogging is a new concept that I am only trying only because Nir my "manager" suggested I do it...lol

So we were meant to have fellowship with God, but because we have our own free will and we chose to go our own independent way, our relationship with God was broken. So how do we bridge this gap? Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Christ we can know and experience God's love and plan for your life. I Corithians 15:3-6 "Christ died for our sins...He was buried...He was raised on the third day... He appeared to Peter then to the twelve. After that he appeared to more than five hundred.." Romans 5:8 "God demonstrates his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." John 14:6 Jesus said, I am the way, the truth , and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me."

Growing up, I was expected to be this perfect child getting good grades and behaving well in the eyes of others. Growing up in a Christian family wasn't easy especially when the first New Testament Church in Philadelphia started in our very own home. I remember just a few families gathering at our house for services and now it has grown to over 350 members. You can imagine the pressure I was under. I felt like I was living a life that was just a show and going through the motions. I didn't feel like there was a true and meaningful relationship between God and I. I couldn't really fully express myself or even share my thoughts as I felt I might be judged or embarrassed.

I later understood one day at an outside church meeting in Camden, NJ (rough neighborhood)meant for drug addicts, homeless, and those whose lives were in complete shambles. God was calling me to live a life that was completely honest before him. I understood that I had to individually receive Christ as my Saviour for me to personally experience God's love and plan for my life. It was not by my own merit or good deeds that I did. Ephesians 2:8,9 "By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as result of works that one should boast." Revelations 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him."

Even as a Christian growing up with all the Bible knowledge, it meant nothing until I made a personal decision. Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self and trusting Christ to forgive our sins and make us what he wants us to be. Just to agree intellectually that Christ died for our sins or having an emotional experience is not enough as I once thought. We receive Christ by Faith, as an act of the will.

You also can receive Christ right now by Faith by talking to God. God knows your heart which is the most important thing and is not concerned so much about how you pray but more importantly the attitude of your heart. Here is a suggested prayer:

Lord Jesus, I need you. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of my life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be.

As one who had lived a hypocritical life but changed after I truly accepted Christ, I now experience life from a whole new perspective. I understand my purpose in life and I hope one day you do too. For me to share this about myself has been difficult, but I hope that Christ can make an impression in your life that will last a lifetime. Let me know if you have any questions or if would like to listen live online to a typical service that I attend you can go to www.frontlineic.com on Sunday at 5:30 pm eastern time. God Bless.

By the way, I have another friend, Pete, who saw my results and just bought the P90x program for himself and will be starting soon. I have some funny stories to share that happened this past Easter weekend. I fill you guys in hopefully tomorrow:) Thanks for all your support!


stan