Life Celebrations

It's a party! Yes, that is what I chose to be my blog title....choosing a blog title is a little scary, as you are told to "be careful", you won't be able to change it! And so I chose " It's a Party" why one might ask? Well, the day before I created my new blog I had done and on-line bible study where the lesson was on the very first "party" that Jesus had been invited to. And it was a wedding! This was also where Jesus performed His first miracle, turning water into wine. Further into the study I learned why I love parties so much. God created in everyone of us a longing for celebration! Celebration that would culminate with a "party in heaven" one day!
Today as I write this, there will be two other celebrations today. Only this is not the kind of party you expect to attend they are unexpected funerals. One is a celebration of a young life the other that of an incredible mother. The teens life ended tragically last Friday night. A life that had grave consequences by a momentary choice to drink and drive. What was intended to be a night of "partying", a night of "celebration" for this teenager has ended with hundreds of other teens, family and friends gathering, weeping and mourning his young life. The other celebration will be that of a mother, again a tragic car accident. This time a life taken seemingly to soon. She will not see her daughter graduate from high school, plan her daughters wedding, experience being a grandmother. No doubt many will gather to "celebrate" her life. The question is however, will they be in heaven for the BIG ONE? Had they surrendered their hearts to Jesus, and had their names written in the "lambs book of life?" The word of God is clear about who will come to the party. And the neatest thing ever, is that the invitation is available to anyone! The invitation is wrapped in grace. Grace is a free unmerited, undeserved gift of God offered to all who believe that He is the giver of eternal life, and that His son Jesus died on the cross as a payment for your sins. You cannot earn your way to be invited to this party and you can't just show up unannounced, you must however simply reply to the invitation. Reply by acknowledging you are a sinner in need of a savior. A sinner with a desire to live eternally in heaven and "celebrate" eternally with God. And guess what, before you even get there, angels will be rejoicing that you want to come! I will end my first blog post with scriptures to consider if you want to be invited to the party and have never said "yes" to the invitation.....I'll be there and would love to "party" with you!

(the following obtained from http://www.billygrahm.org/)

God's Purpose: Peace and Life - God loves you and wants you to experience peace and life—abundant and eternal.The Bible says ..."We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." —Romans 5:1 (NIV)"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." —John 3:16 (NIV)"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." —John 10:10 (NIV)

The Problem: Our Separation
God created us in His own image to have an abundant life. He did not make us as robots to automatically love and obey Him. God gave us a will and a freedom of choice.We chose to disobey God and go our own willful way. We still make this choice today. This results in separation from GodThe Bible says ..."For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." —Romans 3:23 (NIV)"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." —Romans 6:23 (NIV)Our Attempts to Reach GodPeople have tried in many ways to bridge this gap between themselves and God ...The Bible says ..."There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." —Proverbs 14:12 (NIV)"But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear." —Isaiah 59:2 (NIV)No bridge reaches God ... except one.

God's Bridge: The Cross - Jesus Christ died on the Cross and rose from the grave. He paid the penalty for our sin and bridged the gap between God and people.The Bible says ..."For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ." —1 Timothy 2:5 (NIV)"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." —1 Peter 3:18 (NIV)"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." —Romans 5:8 (NIV)God has provided the only way. Each person must make a choice.

Our Response: To receive Christ we must trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and receive Him by personal invitation. The Bible says ..."Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." —Revelation 3:20 (NIV)"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." —John 1:12 (NIV)"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." —Romans 10:9 (NIV)
Where are you?Will you receive Jesus Christ right now?Here is how you can receive Christ:1. Admit your need (I am a sinner).2. Be willing to turn from your sins (repent).3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the Cross and rose from the grave.4. Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit.(Receive Him as Lord and Savior.)

How to Pray: Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name. Amen.God's Assurance: His WordIf you prayed this prayer,The Bible says ..."Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. " —Romans 10:13 (NIV)Did you sincerely ask Jesus Christ to come into your life? Where is He right now? What has He given you?"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." —Ephesians 2:8,9 (NIV)Receiving Christ, we are born into God's family through the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer. This is called regeneration, or the "new birth."This is just the beginning of a wonderful new life in Christ. To deepen this relationship you should:1. Read your Bible everyday to know Christ better.2. Talk to God in prayer every day.3. Tell others about Christ.4. Worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached.5. As Christ's representative in a needy world, demonstrate your new life by your love and concern for others.

See you at the PARTY!