The Skies

As I sit in the Detorit airport this morning awaiting my departure, I could not be more excited. It was hard saying goodbye to my parents when they dropped me off this morning, and it was incredibly hard to say goodbye to Jennifer last night. I still can't believe that the day is here for me to go on my trip. 

My first stop at the airport this morning was to Max & Erma's. I was hungry and got some bomb French toast. As I was sitting in there I decided that I was going to do my bible reading and journaling for the day. 

I came across a verse in Psalms that was perfect for me today and for the trip.

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands. (Psalm 19:1)

As I board the plane in a couple of minutes and travel across the country and then to the other side of the world, I know that the skies proclaim the work of his hands. God has his fingerprints all over this trip and I could not be more excited to experience what he has planned. 

Next stop: Los Angeles, California 

My fortress

As I sit in Starbucks and write this post, I can't help but have my mind wonder. There are so many things to think about. This is my last time in Mishawaka for almost a month...I leave for a three and a half week, 8000 mile + trip across the country and then to the other side of the world...I will miss my family, my friends and my girlfriend so much. There are just so many things that are flowing through my mind and my thoughts.

Reading through my bible this morning, I came across a verse in two different books that both talked about how the Lord is my fortress. I knew that is what I was going to encourage you with today.

This post will be short, but I hope it's uplifting and reminds you that the Lord is your fortress.

I love you, Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:1-2) 

The name of the Lord is a fortified tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe. (Proverbs 18:10) 

For me, I was encouraged by this because it reminded me that the name of the Lord is a fortified tower, my rock, my fortress, my deliver, the horn of my salvation and my stronghold. My Lord is so many things and everything that I need. That is what I needed to hear as I prepare for my trip. My prayer is that you needed to hear that with whatever you are going through right now.

A fierce lion crouching down

Do you ever feel like the enemy is out to get you? The enemy is at work and is out to get you every single day. I believe that sometimes you don't even understand or notice the enemy at work. I think a lot of that depends on your relationship with Christ. If your relationship with Christ is very strong you are more likely able to distinguish what is evil and what comes from God. If you're relationship with Christ is so-so and like a rollercoaster, you sometimes understand what is going on, it's just not all of the time. If you don't have a relationship with Christ or if it's not very strong, I believe you are still able to distinguish between right and wrong, you just have a different understand about what is going on and a different meaning behind everything.

For me, these past couple of months, being where I am at spiritually (still nowhere near perfect or even close) I have been so much more aware of the work of the evil one and the work of God. My understanding of so many things makes so much more sense me. I know what is bad, and what is a sin, and I don't want to be a part of it. I want to be as obedient as I can possibly be by doing the right thing and loving God with all my heart. I struggle to put the feeling into words. I just feel like I know what is the right thing based on my relationship with Christ and all I want to do is the right thing all of the time.

This all goes along with feeling God's presence all the time. God is omnipresent meaning he is always present everywhere. It's difficult to feel His presence at times, but when your relationship is stronger, you feel it all the time. But that might be different for you. God works in mysterious ways.

The enemy is no joke. The enemy is out to get you in whatever way that the enemy can. By attacking your weaknesses and trying to get you where you are vulnerable.

I call on you, My God, for you to answer me;
turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.
Show me the wonders of your great love,
you who save by your right hand
those who take refuge in you from their foes.
Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings
from the wicked who are out to destroy me,
from my mortal enemies who surround me. (Psalm 17:6-9)

This is a prayer from David. He is calling out to God making sure that He hears his prayer. David is longing for God to show him the wonders of God's great love. David wants to continue to be the apple of God's eye and is taking refuge in God. He wants to be in the shadow of God's wings and wants to be hidden from the wicked who are out to destroy me, and from his mortal enemies. I love this because it's how we should all be. We should call out to God, asking for his hedge of protection from the wicked and from mortal enemies all of the time. When we do that, we are more aware of what is happening around us and rely on God more.

The close up their callous hearts,
and their mouths speak with arrogance.
They have tracked me down, they now surround me,
with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.
They are like a lion hungry to prey,
like a fierce lion crouching in cover. (Psalm 17:10-12)

The enemy is ticking out down. Like a hungry lion. I am sure you have seen those shows on Animal Planet that shows lion's tracking down and chasing their prey. It's so intense stuff! Those suckers are mean and will wait for the prey to be in the open, ready to be attacked, and then they do it. That is what the wicked do and the evil one does. Hides and waits for us to be open for attack and then attacks us.

Rise up, Lord, confront them, bring them down; 
with your sword rescue me from the wicked.
By your hand save me from such people, Lord,
from those of this world whose reward is in this life.
May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies;
may their children gorge themselves on it,
and may there be leftovers for their little ones. 

As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face;
when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness. (Psalm 17:13-15) 

David is crying out to the Lord to rise up, and to bring them enemy down. He wants to be saved from such people who are so wicked and evil. God will give the wicked what the wicked deserve and it will fill their bellies. When he closes with saying that "when I awake," I believe David is talking about a spiritual slumber that we are all in. When we awake from it, we will be satisfied with seeing God's likeness. That is true satisfaction. The true satisfaction only comes from God and nobody nor anything else.

My prayer for you is that you can be alert and recognize when the enemy is trying to attack you. When you recognize that, you rely on God more and when you do that, your relationship with Christ will soar to new heights.

Tame the lion with your obedience to rely on God.

How do you know you are doing right?

All throughout my life it has been easy to look at people at then come up with an almost immediate judgment about them and what type of person they are. You look at the clothes they wear and our minds are so brainwashed that we immediately categorize people based on what type of clothes they are wearing, what type of car they drive, where they live, etc. We are simply brainwashed by the ways of the world.

I have gotten better at this in my own life, but I am still so far from perfect. When I used to notice people who were way different than I was, I would say something about it. As I learned that I was judging and that judgment was wrong, I started to hold my tongue. I learned that even when I wouldn't verbally say anything, I was still thinking things that I probably shouldn't have thought. You could say that judging is a sin, along with desire, and desire comes from what you think. Regardless if I was saying something or thinking something, I wasn't loving everyone as a child of God. I could say that I was, but I wasn't all in. I was like half way. I was lukewarm and that is not the type of Christian that I want to be.

Picture this situation. You are at a festival in town and people from all over your city are in fellowship, eating, walking around, etc. Say that there is a concert going on and there is an open seat beside you. We've all been in that situation before, hoping that someone who is outgoing and attractive sits by you. As the seating begins to fill up, you realize that someone is bound to sit beside you right away. You see a homely looking man, dressed in raggedy clothes, and he might smell a little bit, but seems to be super nice. You understand that he is nice, but you don't want him to sit by you. You start looking around for someone who you want to sit by you instead of this homely looking man and you see someone attractive, well-dressed, and someone you would way rather sit by. As the well-dressed person is a couple of rows back, you go out of your way, leave your row, and tell the person you have an extra seat, leaving the homely looking man with nowhere to sit. The attractive, well-dressed person turns out to be arrogant and doesn't want any part of you and never thanks you. While the homely looking man kindly tells you to have a nice day and to enjoy the concert.

Let that settle in. How often in your lives do we show favoritism to someone because of what they are wearing or what they look like. Yes, I understand that as humans, we are attracted to attractive people, but sometimes when you rely on how things are supposed to be, you miss out on so many things that could be.

When I think about a trip I took to Chicago two weeks ago, I think of all the homeless people I saw on the street and how I didn't really say anything to them besides telling them I didn't have money to give them. It breaks my heart. I wish more than anything I would've had a conversation with at least one of those people.

Apart form being homely looking I think of obesity. It's so easy to immediately judge someone who is obese. I guarantee that every single person who is reading this post has seen an obese person at some point in your life and had the thought: "I hope they don't get stuck by me." It's a little less room, but whatever! We are not supposed to show favoritism to anyone. Favoritism is forbidden.

This topic has a special place in my heart since my trip to Toledo last Thursday. Every person that we saw on the street that day was different that I was and was a complete stranger. But as soon as you converse with them, you realize how unique of an individual that person is and you learn a little bit about their story. You have to remember that there are no outsiders to Christ's love. Even when we as Christins proclaim to love our neighbor as ourself, that means everybody. There are no outsiders. God made each and every person different and in his own image. We are all special, all different in our own special ways, and all are blessed even though some might not believe it.

My main point is that when you are really loving your neighbor as yourself, you are doing right. I really don't know about you, but I want to do what is right, I long to do what is right, I long to be obedient to God in every aspect of my life that I can be.

Here is the scripture to go along with what I just said. I am going to conclude with that. I hope that this post encouraged you to not show favoritism, and that hopefully you start to think a little differently, along with the idea that when you love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing right.

Favoritism Forbidden 

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing the fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my  dear brothers and sister: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? If you really keep the royal law found in scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just as one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, "You shall not commit adultery," also said, "You shall not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs judgment. (James 2:1-13) 

Every good and perfect thing

Recently, I had my perspectives a little thrown off. I was wrong and I will admit it. This past school year was a year full of ups and downs. Somedays things couldn't go any better, and others, it was the worst thing ever. Over and over agin that would happen and I never really figure it out. I always thought God was testing because I would like to think I have a pretty strong relationship with him.

There was a particular moment about two-three weeks ago where I was so frustrated and fed up with some people. I had just recovered from food poisoning and all I wanted was to sleep so that my body could rest up but that is not what happened. I love my guys on B3 (the floor I have lived on the past two years at Bethel) but I was frustrated with them. I felt like crap and all I wanted to do was sleep.

Long story short, I eventually got to go to sleep around 2 a.m. and woke up at 7:45 a.m. the next day to meet with a mentor of mine. As we were talking he asked me how I was and I told him about the previous night. I told him that as I was laying in bed, frustrated because of how loud it was, I was trying to take the high road by not reacting and not saying anything that I would regret. I read the text that I sent to me girlfriend, and I was like, here is what I sent to Jennifer.

"As I lay here, sick, tired and frustrated, there are so many wrong ways in which I want to react right now. But I am not going to. I am going to take the high road, and what happens, happens. I think God made me sick and tried to test me when I was at my worst for a reason."

That is where I was wrong. Yes, I believe I did the right thing by not reacting, but I was wrong thinking that God got me sick and tested me when I was at my worst. It really caught me off guard when Red (mentor) corrected me with this one.

He told me that he was proud of me for not reacting but he said I was wrong to an extent. He remained me of a passage in James 1.

When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Them, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don't be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us brith through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created. (James 1:13-18) 

I was reminded that every good and perfect thing comes from God. What I thought God was using against me was not from God.

So next time you’re being tempted, remember that God is not tempting you.

Every good and perfect thing comes from above.

Looking for volunteers!

As I sit here this evening starting at my computer screen, I really have no idea what I should blog about. I read my bible but there wasn't really anything from tonight's reading that jumped off the page for me. That is a rare occasion too. I can usually pick out at least one thing that I can use to encourage you all.

So I titled this post "looking for volunteers," because I need some help. For those of you who don't know I will be going on a trip to China from May 12th-June 6th. I will not be able to bring my computer because I don't want to worry about bringing it to the other side of the world. The main reason though is that we are not supposed to connect to wifi while we are over there.

Since I won't have my computer and will not have access to wifi, there will be no blog posts unless I get some volunteers. I am not saying that you have to or anything but if you feel you have something on your heart that you want to share, I would love for you to share it.

It can be anything. A cool story that you have. A bible verse. Something that you read. If God used something to impact you, I believe that you can use that to impact someone else.

If you are interested. Get a hold of me if possible. I would love to hear in advance so that I can get it arranged for someone to get the blogs posted for me while I am gone.

I hope and pray that God brings some people with cool stories and encouragement to not only help me out, but to help the readers out.

Riverfront Fountain

Tonight, I had one of the greatest and most unique opportunities that I have experienced in quite some time. My mom and a couple of people from our church have been going to this location in downtown Toledo for the past year. It all started with a couple of relationships that were all because of God.

It's tough to describe what it is in a couple of sentences but I will do my best to try. For those of you who don't know, Toledo is not one of the nicest nor safest cities around. If you have driven through downtown Toledo I am sure that you were able to make that observation.

Last week my mom texted me and asked me when I would be home from school. I told her Thursday and she ran the idea through my head that I should make a trip downtown with her. At first, I didn't know if I was going to be back in time but then God got a hold of me, and I felt like I needed to be back in time so that we could go.

Right outside this apartment complex, there is a big fountain that is surrounded by seating and people who are constantly coming and going. This is the perfect place to interact and have encounters with people.

Our plan going into tonight was to have some food and a grill, and we were going to grill out, right outside the apartment complex. This was the perfect spot. There were buildings all over, and people coming and going. Some of the group stayed to run the grill right outside the apartment and others walked around the block in circles over and over again to see if we could find anyone to invite to have some free food and have a conversation with.

Basically, if we saw someone walking around outside we were going to ask them if they had plans for dinner and whether they did not didn't we invited them over to grab a burger, chips, a cookie, and some corn, along with an ice cold water.

Obviously there were going to be people that would say no and some people who would say yes. The really didn't have any other options.

Usually during the conversations, the people asked how much the food was or why we were doing it. Our answer was always that we are Christians and we were out here serving and loving people.

Once we got the grill set up, my mom asked if I was ready to go, and I was like sure! So we approached two guys and asked them if they wanted some food and they kindly told us no because they already had plans, which was totally fine. Then my mom and I saw another lady sitting by herself close to the fountain and we asked her if she wanted some food and she kindly declined as well. We started 0-2 but that was fine! I was having a great time and so was my mom.

My mom and I decided to take a walk around the block, and as soon as we were finishing a lap, a member of our group had approached a lady and asked if she wanted something to eat and she accepted. We got one! I was thrilled and so was my mom. This lady' name was Tiffany and she had been living in the complex for 10 years and was so happy to see us out there. My mom and I talked to her for quite some time. My mom asked her if she had any prayer requests and the lady had a lot. Tiffany was so concerned for so many of her friends and family. As the conversation concluded, my mom asked her if we could pray for her and we put our hands on her and prayed and it was so powerful.

My mom pointed out the one of the coolest things about doing something like this is to be able to hear what people are going through and what types of prayer requests they have.

While we were making laps for quite some time now, there were these two ladies who were parked right by where we were cooking. They eventually made their way over to where we were at and gladly joined us for some food. This lady's name was June and she was such a sweet heart. My mom and June talked for the longest time, and I wasn't around for the majority of the conversation. I got to talk to June about my upcoming trip to China so it was super cool to talk to her about that. I also was able to tell her how I go about reading my bible on a daily basis and I hope that was helpful for her because she said she struggled with that. June had such a big heart. During my time listening to her talk to my mom, I was instantly able to tell that she had a big heart. She talked about all of the people that she loved and cared for and made me wish that I loved and cared for people like she did. She was one of those people who you talk to and their smile and mood just fills you with so much joy. June also had many prayer requests and my mom and I were able to pray over her as well. It was so sweet, as we finished praying with her, she had began to cry.

Next up, was Ralph. He was working for the street department and was sweeping the streets. He was approached by a member of the group and he came over and got something to eat as well. I got to meet him but wasn't a part of the conversation that him and my mom had. She told me that her and Ralph were talking and he was actually in nursing school until he dropped out because he would've had to take another loan out and he didn't want to do that.

The craziest God moment of the entire night was when Derek and Cynthia came into the picture. They were out on the street asking for money when someone from our group saw them and told them that we were serving food. This couple was married and they were in a very desperate situation. Derek is unemployed and Cynthia had just gotten a job. They had been living at a hotel for the past month and hotel management was threatening to kick them out tonight if they didn't pay some money. Members of our group decided to chip in some money so that they had a place to stay tonight. It broke my heart. As soon as Cynthia came to grab some food, you could tell that something was wrong. She had a sense of panic about her. She wanted to take as much food as possible so that is what we gave her. Scott, a man with a heart that I want someday, prayed with her and talked with her for a while. The couple did not have a way to get to the hotel unless they took the bus or if one of us drove them. Before they had to leave, someone from our group and I drove Derek to this building so that he could grab some pans. It was one of the saddest couple of minutes I had ever experienced. As we were driving to this building, Derek was telling us about how he has lung cancer and that his mother and sister both died from it. He said that they both passed away on the same date exactly a year apart. It broke my heart. He also pointed out places where he and Cynthia used to sleep. He pointed out a book store that had an awning and said that is where they used to sleep when it would rain. He pointed out this building that had some drains in front of it and he told me they used to sleep there when they were freezing because the drains produced heat. My heart was broke. I really don't even know if we stopped to get pans. I feel like we might have been stopping to get their belongings and they just said that we had to get their pans because that was all that they had. Derek also told us that he had given his cancer to God which was so amazing to hear. We got back to the fountain area, and they decided that they were going to take the bus. Cynthia told him that she wanted to take the bus. Before we left, we gave them all of the food that we had left over. My mom and I also went to our vehicle and got some more bags, because the bag that they were carrying around was a trash bag and had holes in it. My mom also stores some stuff up in her car if she ever sees homeless people. She has towels, some goody bags, laundry detergent, etc. So we put one together really quick and ran it over to them as well. As we were saying good bye to the two, Derek told us that Cynthia wanted to stop by some other people that they new who were way worse off and she was going to give them some food. So let me point out. This couple was about to get kicked out of a hotel tonight, because they didn't have the money for it, and they were serving and helping people who were worse off then them.

Once we packed up our stuff to leave, we decided that we were going to go to the hotel where they were staying. We drove there so that we could pray with the hotel workers. We pulled up to the hotel, and standing right in front of the parking lot, Scott asked me to pray. So I prayed for the workers at the hotel and for Derek and Cynthia and that God would bless them and that the hotel workers would show them grace and patience.

Sitting in the car about to leave, my mom said something about how maybe this is where we should serve next. So maybe that's next? God might have put Derek and Cynthia in all of our lives so that we would for some reason be brought to that Knights Inn someday again.

Gives me chills just thinking about.

One of the best parts of the night was the feeling of knowing that is exactly where God wanted me tonight and was exactly what God wanted me to do.

God opened up my heart so wide tonight, and I encourage you to serve and to love, just as we as Christians are called to do.

Saved in order to do good

Did you know that you were saved in order that you might do good? 

Saved in Order to Do Good

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone. At one time we were too foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress about these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After than, have nothing to do with them. You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned. (Titus 3:1-11)

Let's dig into this scripture: 

- we are reminded that we are to be subject to rulers and to authorities. That might be difficult for a lot of people to remember because it is very easy to not like the person who is in charge of you, or the person in charge of your town, state, and even country. It is just way to easy for us to from opinions about those types of people. But we have to remember, although it might not seem like God appointed them to be leaders, he did, and when we don't listen to and respect them we are, in a way, disobeying God. 

- we are reminded to be obedient. We need to be obedient to God. Obedience to God for me is doing what I feel like he wants me to do every single day. Obedience means trusting him and his plan for my life every single day in every circumstance. 

- be ready to do whatever is good. One thing I have learned is that when you live life with the mindset that you are going to do good, it causes you to be ready to do good. When you think it, you will do. It's like what you magnify. What you choose to magnify you are going to get more of. So be ready to do good, when you live your life that way, you perspective about everything will be different. 

- slander no one. There is no reason that we need to go around saying things about people that is not true. That is not loving your neighbor as yourself. 

- be peaceable and considerate. When you  are peaceful and considerate, your life becomes better. You show more love to other people, you become more patience, and your eyes are open to so many new things. 

- be gentle toward everyone. This relates to what I have talked about above. It's the same idea. When you are gentle towards everyone, you notice different things about them that are so good. Being gentle toward everyone will change your life. 

Here is what we used to be like: We were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 

It all changed when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 

We need to devote ourselves to doing what is good. Doing what is good is excellent and profitable for everyone. Imagine a world where everyone does good things for one another! 

We are reminded that we need to avoid foolish controversies. There are foolish controversies that try to poison our lives every single day. That is the work of evil. Evil doesn't want there to be a world where everyone does good. 

At the end, we are told that we are to warn a decisive person once, then twice, and if they don't listen the second time, we are not supposed to have anything to do with them. Those are the people who are wrapped up in being sinful and are self-condemned. 

If you take one thing away from this point I hope you take away that trust in God = doing what is good. When we proclaim that we trust God with all of our hearts, we need to also devote our lives to doing what is good. 

Doing good for the sake of the gospel

Do you ever wonder what you are supposed to teach people? Or like what should guys teach to other guys and girls teach to girls? I know that I wonder that sometimes. I know that I can encourage whoever, but sometimes there are only things that I want to encourage guys with. On the other hand, maybe there are things that girls only want to encourage girls with. Maybe you are that way as well.

After reading some scripture tonight in Titus 2, I think I found a decent answer in regards to what I was talking about above.

Men

Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. (Titus 2:2)

Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching shoe integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. (Titus 2:6-8)

Women

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands so that no one will malign the word of God. (Titus 2:3-5)

Lucky, as men and women of God, we serve a God who gives us grace and offers salvation to all people.

What God teaches

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope-the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager do to what is good. (Titus 2:11-15)

One thing that is important to understand that we as humans, don't have the power to change hearts, only the Holy Spirit has the power to actually do that.