What Do I Want To Be?

September 10, 2000 is a very important day in my life. It was my spiritual birthday.

My physical birthday was on Sunday, May 20, 1962 and then when I was thirty-eight years old I discovered that I also needed a spiritual birth.

I placed all of my trust in Jesus Christ as my Savior.

That was the beginning of my new spiritual life.

John 3:1-7

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

• I want to be in tune spiritually.
• I want to be the person that God designed me to be.
• I want to serve God with all the abilities that He has given me.

How will I go about achieving those goals in my life?

I want to be the best that I can for God.

There are so many spiritual qualities that I have heard about and read about. Some folks say, "Do this." While others say, "Do that." How do I, as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, know which is which, and what is right for me?

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15

(Psalms 143:8) Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. (KJV)

(Matthew 11:15) He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. (KJV)

There are many things that I must choose from each day.

• What do I want to wear today?
• Should I get up early, or sleep in later?
• Should I eat breakfast, or just drink coffee?
• How fast should I drive?
• Should I complain about everything, or be thankful?

What does the Bible say?

(Colossians 3:15) " And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful." (KJV)

(Psalms 107:8) Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! (KJV)

(Ephesians 5:20) Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (KJV)

1. God's blessings
2. Family
3. Friends
4. Strength
5. Courage
6. Music
7. Peace of mind
8. My students
9. The laughter of a child
10. A new day

I must say that one of the things that I am truly thankful for is the fact that we can learn from other people. We must never forget that the spoken word is the building blocks that help others to form their opinions about the world around them.

With that being said, I must caution myself to always speak the truth. For others will determine their opinion of who I am by my words, Yea, not only who I am, but who my Savior, Jesus Christ is.

On beauty and blessings:

Next to beauty is the power of appreciating it. -Fuller

Blessed is the man who is too busy to worry in the daytime and too sleepy to worry at night. -Anonymous

Concerning children:

A great comfort in your old age-and they help you to reach it faster, too. -Kaufman

On the matter of truth:

I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth-that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can arise without His aid? --Benjamin Franklin

About Jesus Christ:

When Christ came into my life, I came about like a well - handed ship. --Robert Louis Stevenson

(2 Timothy 1:7) For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (KJV)

Fear does not come from God, but it is a well used weapon of our adversary.

(1 Peter 5:8) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (KJV)

Fear is a very real emotion that we will all experience at one time or another in our lives. It can be devastating in the life of a believer if we forget that we can, and must place our faith in the God of creation.

I try to remind myself on a regular basis that if it were no small matter for God to create the world in which I live, then it is no problem for God to vanquish the enemy that come before me daily.

(Deuteronomy 9:3) Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee. (KJV)

In this passage God is directing Israel to go across the Jordan to possess the land that he has promised to them.

There are giants in the land. The same giants that were there forty years earlier when there fathers had the same instructions but refused to follow God's commands and cross over the Jordan. The result of their disobedience was that they had to wander in the wilderness for forty years until all of the elders had died.

Now the question has arisen of whether or not the younger generation has learned to trust God or not.

I have a choice as to whether or not I will trust God to bring me through the fears in my life, whatever they may be, or to succumb to the fear and miss out on the blessing that God has prepared for me.

(Philippians 4:19) But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (KJV)

When I need peace God will provide it.

Let's face the facts, we are all an example to those around us. What I do and what I say will be of an influence to those that are paying attention to me.

"No man is an island unto himself." John Donne

Our Choices:

• To be a good example
• To be a poor example
  

"No man is an island entire of itself; every man
is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;
if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe
is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as
well as any manner of thy friends or of thine
own were; any man's death diminishes me,
because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

• In my speech - will I choose to say uplifting words to others?
• In my actions - will I choose to treat others kindly?
• In my reactions - will I react to others in a positive and productive manner?

(James 1:22) But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (KJV)

"Where one man reads the Bible, a hundred read you and me." -D.L. Moody
"If you want your neighbor to see what the Christ spirit will do for him, let him see what it has done for you." -H. Beecher

1. I can be thankful.
2. I can be fearless toward my enemies.
3. I can be a good example.

The right choice can only be accomplished in our lives by choosing the Lord Jesus Christ. It is only through his might and power that any of us can do right.

(Philippians 4:13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (KJV)