IS THIS REAL? PROVE IT

 The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation of our Christian faith but for some of us, it's a sticking point where doubt clouds our vision. The Bible tells a story about doubting Thomas, one of Jesus closest followers before his death and crucifixion. This guy was part of the inner circle. He spent intimate time with Jesus and his chosen twelve. He saw Jesus heal the sick, walk on water, cure diseases and raise a man from the dead, yet he wasn't on board 100%. The night Jesus died Thomas ran away and hid. He ended up not being around when the Resurrected Savior appeared to the disciples. When they told Thomas about this supernatural event he scoffed at them like they were delusional. 

"Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, and put my finger where the nails were and put my hand into his side I will not believe." (John 20:25 ) 

A week passed until the disciples were in the house again, and this time Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked , Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."  Then he said to Thomas , "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side  Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God." Jesus didn't condemn him, or shame him. Instead he challenged Thomas to stop doubting and believe.

Have you ever been there, where part of you believes but the other part is screaming Prove It.  I have.

 Like Thomas, I was supposed to know Jesus. I was raised Catholic. I went to church. I knew the Bible. I professed to believe...just not 100%.  One day, many years ago, I came to a tipping point in my life. I was broke, raising two children and my marriage was a disaster. My relationship with my husband hit rock bottom and we were headed for divorce. In desperation I cried out to Jesus. I literally prayed "God, if you are real,,,do something with this mess of my life." I ended the prayer and walked away disillusioned, confused, my heart full of doubt, and a mind overflowing with questions. The crazy thing was, Jesus showed up. Shortly after praying that prayer, even though I did not believe God heard me or cared, I started to read the Bible. Little by little my mindset and attitude changed. First, toward the reality of a God who sent his son to die for my sins, and secondly toward my relationship with my husband. He saw the change in me and began his own reading program drawing him closer to Jesus. Needless to say, its been 56 years and we are still together, navigating the ups and downs of marriage with the Resurrected Jesus. In effect, I did what Thomas was told to do...stop doubting and start believing.  When Jesus was finished proving himself to Thomas he said,"Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29)

THREE TIPS TO JUMP START YOUR DAY

How many of my fellow readers wake up most mornings stressed out after another restless night of anxiety? You roll out of bed, grab a quick cup of coffee and mindlessly check the internet (again), looking to find a solution for your multitude of problems. Then, in a fog like trance, you come back to reality realizing you are late for work and  have just enough time to throw on some clothes before rushing out the door to begin another hectic day. On and on we go, day after day, running on the same burned-out emotions, getting nowhere.

 Stop! 

I have good news and a few tips to change your emotional chaos into supernatural strength.

First.  Change the way you do mornings. Just coffee, and your Bible. Jesus invites us to sit and have coffee with him. He says, "Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will share a meal together as friends." (Revelation 3: 20 NLT)  Spending mornings with Jesus is an invitation, not an obligation.The Creator of the Universe is asking you to take a few minutes from your hectic life to center yourself on him. In exchange for your chaos, He offers you peace. If you need less drama in your life, and who doesn't, talk to Jesus.

Second.  God doesn't just want a surface "hi and goodbye", and you're out the church door Sunday mornings. He wants a relationship where you get comfortable, everyday, speaking to him and confiding in him like you would a trusted friend. As I found out when I started having coffee with Jesus, he actually wants to help us with difficult decisions. "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God who gives it generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to you."( James 1:5)  Maybe you feel lost and need guidance or direction for your life. Jesus promises to help you navigate the choppy waters of everyday living in the 21 st century. "I will guide you along the best pathways for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. (Psalm 32:8)

Third.  Spending time to center you thoughts in the word of God will help you anchor yourself in God's truth and the things that really matter. We become less stressed when we connect with God so we can refill our mugs and recharge our focus.  If you are tired of being strung out...have coffee with Jesus. He is the answer you need. I could go on and on. There are literally 7,487 promises in the Bible written for you. That equals one promise a day for the next 20 years of your life. If you open the door of your heart to Jesus and believe he wants you to have an abundant, blessed life, He will provide all you need.