In Pastor MacArthur’s book, he talks about every aspect of the story of the Prodigal Son. The core parts of the story are a fathor’s love for his children, man’s hate and rebellion, repentance, and forgiveness.

What you should at the very least take away from the story is the parallels in it! The fathor in the story represents Jesus Christ. John 15:20 KJV – And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. In other words, Jesus is always looking for the sinner and looks from quite some distance for us. When we repent, He comes running to us with open arms of love and accepts us despites our inability to be a good person. He sees we cannot permanently flee from sinning and accepts us with open arms when we ask for repentance.

The son who ran away is the prodigal. He openly sins, runs away from his father, requests his part of the family inheritance, and spends it on prodigal living. However, the prodigal actually sees that he is a sinner, realizes it, and comes prepared to beg and earn his forgiveness. The older son who is a perfect picture of the Pharisees would say, “this kid deserves to have to beg and earn his forgiveness for the next 20 years.” The father who again is a picture of Jesus, opens up his arms and tells his son, my blood has been shed for your sins. I accept you as a sinner and will still accept you and love you as my son even though you hurt me dearly.

The older son, a picture of the Pharisees would have been furious and very angry. Like a picture of Cain murdering Abel, the older son could have came after the father and even murdered him. The Pharisees eventually murder Jesus as they cannot take Jesus having such love for the sinners!

I do not want to go any further into the outstanding book John MacArthur put together on the Prodigal Son but I would encourage you to read it as the story of the Prodigal son is one of the most important stories in the Bible and more than ever, I have learned the importance in the story and understanding it. As a believer, I was shocked at what I missed and have a whole new understanding for the deepness of the story!

I am determined to turn away from what everybody is saying is cool and what everybody is saying is what everyone else is doing. Jesus is Lord, Jesus died on the old rugged cross, I am saved by grace alone…nothing has changed but since we have modern technology, a lot think they can conquer the world.

I end my day with this prayer:
“Help me Lord to seek you in everything I put my hand to. Let me not fit into the world’s model but mold me into your servant.”

God loves you and you are His son or daughter. As hard as it is to comprehend it, God gave Jesus, His only son to die for our sins. So, if you are feeling condemned or unworthy, say a prayer and say “Thank you Jesus that I am more than a conquerer. Thank you for your blood that you shed on the cross and as a result I am saved and redeemed for my sins when I come to you. For your scripture says, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. I stand on those very words today and I rebuke the devil from my mind and thoughts.”

God will intervene and take the devil down when you ask. Keep your head up, stay in the Bible, times are tough but we are more than conquerers in Jesus name.

Phillipians 1:27 (NKJV)
Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.

The Bible calls us to conduct ourselves worthy of the Gospel and as such we want to do the very best we can to be a positive Christian example for others. We ought to strive not to argue and complain about useless things and really be the best we can for God. In all things, we should try to question ourselves concerning whether our decisions will please God or not.

As Christians, we want people to look up and see the light in our lives. Life is not easy as a Christian and as people notice our turning to God, they may get upset. We have to hold steady onto our beliefs and values and oppose values that are not concurrent with our own. In light of being Christ-like, yearn for the truth, dig for the truth, and embrace the truth of the Bible.

Work with me as I struggle to be a positive Christian influence in a world that is trying to strangle me with sin. For we are all sinners, saved by grace, and as such have the ability to be a Godly influence on others. We have the victory and God reigns in our hearts – let’s do the best we can to show his presence in us on the outside!

Here is what we can do as a Christian to tell PepsiCo that we clearly do not support their homosexual stance. We can boycott all Pepsi products while they continue to promote homosexuality and gay marriage.

Please click here to boycott PepsiCo products and take a stand for what you believe in. After you decide to boycott their products, please actually take the time to do it and really make a difference.

To sum their products up, they are composed of five companies: Pepsi Cola, Gatorade, Quaker, Frito Lay, and Tropicana. This includes the following:

Pepsi products – Mountain Dew, Mug Root Beer, Sierra Mist, Slice, Aquafina, Lipton Iced Tea via partnership, No Fear, Ocean Spray, Sobe drinks.

Frito Lay brands – Lay’s potato chips, Ruffled potato chips, Fritos corn chips, Cheetos, Munchies

Gatorade

Tropicana – including Dole (via license) and Naked Juice

Quaker – oatmeal brand, Cap’n Crunch, Life cereal, Quaker breakfast squares, Aunt Jemima pancake syrup, rice-a-roni.

There are more brands and a complete list of brands you will get when you sign up to boycott PepsiCo products and actually take a stand in what you believe in. Build your beliefs set on rock and not on sand and DO what pleases Jesus. Personally, I do not want to see a fraction of the earnings I would contribute to Pepsi go towards them promoting homosexuality! I want my money to go towards the Kingdom of God as much as possible.

Take a stand against Pepsi promoting homosexuality by boycotting their products – SIGN UP HERE AND SEE PROOF!

NKJV – Ephesians 2:10
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

God is calling us to not only profess him as our Lord and Savior but to also DO the very best we can to serve Him. In other words, if people around you cannot tell the difference between you and other non-Christian people, don’t you think there is a problem? If you are angry and cussing, getting drunk all the time with your co-workers, and not standing out from the world, then you need to change and act like a person of God.

It doesn’t mean you need to shove Bible verses down the throats of others but at least be an example that others can look at and say, wow, there’s something about that person that is really different.

Additionally, do what you can for the work of God. Do what Jesus did – give to the poor, help those that are distressed, and work with those who are not capable of making things work for themselves. Love one another, just like Christ loves us. Be strong and of good courage. In all things, love the Lord your God with all your might and all your strength.

Shout to the Lord – He is your strength. Our calling is not only to be Chrst seeking but also doers. We are not perfect but by the blood of Jesus we are saved. Let others know you by your actions and that you are not just another worldly person.

Click here to find out more and to e-mail your congressmen!

Struggling with anxiety myself, I have learned that I am not able to worry one problem away. I am not able to change anything with worrying. Worrying is a waste of time and all I can do when I start to physically sweat and get scared out of my mind is to turn to God. The Bible talks about worrying on many occasions and one thing is clear: All we can do with our worries is cast our problems unto God and trust that He will take care of any situation we are dealing with.

KJV – I Peter 5:7
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Jesus cares about us so much. He says to cast our burdens upon Him. He says to be anxious for nothing. He said, cast our cares upon him and cry before him (when you need to), and trust that He’ll take care of the rest.

The hardest part is DOING!!! Say a prayer, give it to God and do it as much as it takes!