Leading a Christian Life

So what does this mean? And how do your really do it? What are the rules, or as Johnny Dep says in "Pirates of the Caribbean", "the guidelines."

I feel like it all starts with the Golden rule, "do unto others." I feel like God looks down on us and blesses us for the things we do to and for others.

Why do I feel so strongly about this notion? Because over the past month or so I have been incredibly blessed with a successful new business, and a feeling of comfort that I haven't enjoyed in many years. The only thing that has gone wrong in the past couple of weeks is that I couldn't match the top, to a bottom, of my tupperware. Pretty minor huh? Any other minor hurdle I've been able to overcome fairly easily and quickly.

I also have the feeling that I would like to share a Christian relationship with a women. I haven't had that feeling in many months. In the past I've had a tendency to date when I didn't have everything in my life dialed in, as a result have had more than one relationship turn into a train wreck. Since I feel like I've got my life dialed in the way I want it, found my center, and have the balance and desire to really commit to a relationship maybe God will bless my life with a Godly women.

Here's what I did to I think earn myself bonus points with God.

My new business maintains foreclosed homes. When I started to have more work than I could handle by myself, I reached out to a local faith based mission for a man or two to help me.

God lead me to and introduced Kenneth and Jerome into my life. These two men are from completely different sides of town than me. They are also ethnically and culturally very different than me. Both of these men are are strong believers, and have dedicated their lives to Christ in order to get back on track. Their commitment to living a Christian life is leading them in the right direction. Without the grace of God, these two men and I would have never met.

Over the past couple of weeks Kenneth and I have spent quite a bit of time together working on various projects. Good things have continued to happen for both of us.

In a sermon a while back a Pastor said "If you want to be happy, get a hobby. If you want to be complete, get a relationship." He said this in the context of a man and a women, but I feel like the same thing applies to any relationship where two people support and hold each other accountable.

So if your looking for step one to leading a more Christian life, find someone that is in need, help them out, and stick with it.

What do you think the most critical elements of leading a Christian life are? I've love to learn more about this from everyone.

Peace,

MPK

God has blessed me!

Almost exactly a month ago I started a new company that specializes in cleaning up and maintaining foreclosed houses. Mainly what we've been doing is rekeying doors, cleaning up the yard, removing debris, and other small tasks that are are required to get a foreclosed home into shape to sell. Needless to say given the amount of foreclosed homes coming on the market, I've been busy!

With a small amount of money that my Father loaned me, I bought a lawn mower, blower, weedeater and some other equipment. That was enough to get me started. For a guy that has always driven a desk, driving my truck around town and pushing a lawnmower is a humbling, yet liberating experience.

One of my closests and dearest friends, K.C., is a Real Estate Agent that specializes in listing foreclosed homes so I had a source for some work. Up to this point, she's kept me busy and been an incredible resource for building my business. I don't think I will ever be able to tell her how much I appreciate her support, encouragement, but most of all Christ like friendship.

As I got busier, I knew I was going to need some help but was not sure what I was going to do, or where I was going to go. When I needed some help the most, God lead me to the Salvation Army where I met Ken and Jerome.

These two men are incredible spirits who, like me, are relying on God to help us get our lives back on track. They have great attitudes, work hard, are smart, but most of all believe that having a strong relationship with God will lead them in the right direction.

About the same time I met Ken and Jerome, God gave me another customer! And more work! This doesn't only benefit myself, but also Ken and Jerome.

My Mother told me "The Lord works in mysterious ways!" Given what has happened in the past month, I would say that this is definitly true. How else can you explain why I have been blessed with such incredible parents, friends, Ken and Jerome, and a new customer? Sure a little luck might be involved, but I'm pretty sure none of this could have come together as well as it has with out a little devine intervention.

When I think back to where I was a couple of months ago, I have to pinch myself as a reminder that all of this is real. I am so greatful for God's help in all of this.

Lord thank you for everything! Thank you for my parents, for KC, for my family, for my friends, for Ken and Jerome, and for the ability you gave me. Thank you for allowing me to be your humble servant!

Peace to everyone and may God bless and surround you with good people!

Peace,

MPK

Pray for MLK day

Heavenly Father, let us remember the words of Dr. Martin Luther King that one day we will all live in a world where we" will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character". Let us band together "to march ahead" against racial injustices for together "we shall over come." In your name we pray. Amen

From the works of Dr. Martin Luther King:
Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."²

This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

I haven't forgotten the post for today!

I just haven't felt inspired to share a prayer on a particular topic today. Mainly because I have so many good things in the works that I can't stay focused long enough to find something profound to share. I am going to do my own private devotion and mediation I do everyday however.

I am thankful and distracted by a new opportunity that I have been working diligently on. While I'm not going to completetly let the cat out of the bag, I am working with a local Mission to get some of the Men in their program back to work. I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am to help some Men get back on the right track.

I'm thankful to God for many things! My friends, my family, my ability, my drive, and my ability to work through problems. I believe that all of these are gifts from God, therefore I am grateful.

Please pray for a couple of friends of mine...SS that she find her purpose, KP that she become the women God made her to be, ST that resolve will be positive, and SW for God to bless and renew her relationship.

For everyone else, may God bless you with a great attitude, open mind, and clean heart.

God does listen!!!

Thank you to everyone for blessing me!!!

Prayers for Gods Grace for Tuesday, January 13, 2009

O Lord my God, who created me in Your own image and likeness, grant me this great grace, so necessary for my salvation, so that I may overcome my fallen nature which drags me down to sin and the loss of my soul. I see in my fallen nature the law of sin opposing the law of my mind (Ro 7:23), leading me captive to sensuality.

Without the assistance of your holy grace, infused copiously into my heart (Eph 1:7), I cannot resist these passions.

I need a great abundance of your grace to overcome my fallen nature, which has an inclination toward evil even from my youth (Gn 8:21).

O Lord, how absolutely necessary Your grace is for me, both to begin a good work and to persevere until I accomplish it. Without grace I can do nothing (Jn 15:5), but I can do all things in You, when Your grace strengthens me (Ph 4:13).