What does “friendship” mean to you? Unconditional acceptance, Unwavering Commitment, Unswerving Loyalty? The Holy Scripture states, “There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.”

Many centuries ago, a young man named Patrick discovered this friend. In the year 401, a village on the coast of Britain was attacked by slave traders and a 16 year old boy was taken. Stripped of the comforts of his home life as well the future of an education and career, he was made a shepherd-slave to a distant clan. For Patrick, life was miserable. In a land of unknown languages, he experienced severe hunger as well as months of isolation on bitterly cold mountainsides.

These severe circumstances drove Patrick to God. Turning to his family’s faith, he spent his bitter days in constant prayer. As he did, a deep love of God and a profound sense of God’s Spirit was at work within him.  Scripture says, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”

Can you imagine what Patrick endured?  God knew. And just as He knew what Patrick endured, He knows what you are going through today. Scripture tells us God has felt our very weaknesses. Perhaps you are being held in captivity to your own thoughts. In captivity to a terrible family situation or a life destroying habit. Regardless of where you find yourself, I want you to know that Jesus said, “I don’t call you servants, you are not a slave…I call you friends.”

If you have a need and would like someone to pray with you, contact us today at http://bit.ly/1KzCS1T

Scriptures: James 4:8, John 15:15

I remember an experience with a new roommate in college. We went to the local shopping center for lunch, and as we were walking through the long corridors, my roommate suddenly began having a panic attack. She fearfully repeated, “Leslie, Leslie – why are all these people staring at me? What’s wrong with me??” At first I didn’t understand what she was saying, and frankly, I didn’t even notice! Then it dawned on me, they weren’t staring at her. I told her to walk several steps behind me and see what happened. She was so relieved to see nothing was wrong with her, and that they were actually staring at me!

I have spent my life being the tallest person in a classroom, on a basketball team, in a restaurant, at my office, or just about anywhere. Recently, I remember stopping for the day in Mumbai. As we enjoyed the sights, people began following me, wanting to take pictures with me. Small groups of young people, women with children and entire families kept gathering around me for pictures! I didn’t know what to think…I’m tall? I’m unique? Do they think they recognize me? I finally realized I wasn’t going to see any sights, so I just decided to enjoy the people!

Have you ever felt self-conscious? Have you ever wondered if the whole world is staring at you? I have. According to Psychology Today, self-consciousness keeps us fighting the battle to control our self-image. But obsessing over our shortcomings inevitably traps us in embarrassment and shame.

How do we rise above self-consciousness and triumph in life? First, contrast self-consciousness with self-worth. Self-consciousness is an awareness of differences and shortcomings compared to others. Self-worth is built upon an internal perspective of ourselves. It is discovery of our intrinsic value, lived out through our dreams of the future. The dictionary states self-worth is the sense of one’s own value as a person. It is self-esteem or self-respect.

Self-worth can find its basis in biblical truth by knowing that we are created in God’s image; by understanding that we are wonderfully made; by realizing that our lives were written in God’s book before we were born!  This Creator has chosen to live in the hearts of people! You can identify with Him today! How? By simply calling upon His name! God in heaven, Who revealed Himself to us through His Son Jesus is waiting right now for you to call upon Him! Why wait? Call on Him now!

Joshua Blayhi says he had an encounter similar to the biblical account of Saul on the road to Damascus, where a bright light appeared and Jesus spoke, telling Blayhi to stop killing or he would die. Saul of Tarsus, who became Apostle Paul, was a persecutor of Christians and orchestrated the stoning of the first recorded Christian martyr, Stephen.

How could this be? How could these men break free of the desire to murder over and over again? How could their hearts and imaginations be so totally changed? Apostle Paul would later state in the scriptures that we have all sinned, falling short of God’s Glory. Certainly, not all are killers but all are sinners. In the accounts of these two men we find the death of a sinner…but we also see the resurrection of a saint!

Becoming truly free not only required God’s forgiveness, but both Saul and Joshua Blayhi had to forgive themselves. Self-forgiveness is often a bitter pill to swallow. Although God’s grace had forgiven both, each daily faced the effects of their sin.

Neither Paul nor Joshua demonstrates any fear in declaring the good news. One man lived 2000 years ago, the other lives today, but the same truth delivered both men and gave them strength to face their sin and devote themselves to helping people and—in Joshua’s case, to seeking restitution!  Paul said to the church at Rome, “I am not ashamed of the gospel (good news), for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes!”

Today, Jesus offers you freedom from your past and hope for your future! You can be forgiven and you can forgive yourself!

How many evils committed could disqualify you from God’s mercy? How many murders would be unforgivable and banish you to eternal suffering? Joshua Blahyi, a former Liberian warlord, knows something about God’s grace. Raised to be a tribal priest, he began conducting weekly human sacrifices at age 11.  As an adult, he became one of the most feared warlords of Africa. After giving his life to Christ in 1996, and beginning his ministry in 1999, Blahyi renounced his violent past and confessed to murdering nearly 20,000 people during Liberia’s 14-year civil war.

Still feared by many, he was the subject of a “PBS” documentary. Curious about this radical conversion, the filmmakers followed Blahyi for 5 years as he sought forgiveness from those he had harmed.

Though the consequences were unknown, Blahyi agreed to admit his crimes before Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. According to The Christian Post, he says, “I went to the TRC because I wanted to reconcile with my country and free my conscience.”   Fortunately, the commission recommended amnesty.

How could a person change so dramatically? How could one’s conscience be cleansed from such horrific actions?

Forgiveness has both a horizontal and a vertical aspect. Horizontal forgiveness releases us from judgments that bind us to unhealthy relationships. It is the gatekeeper to the unforgiving spirit. As long as we are alive, we will encounter hurt and disappointment. What we do with this disappointment will determine our future.

Vertical forgiveness begins at the heart of God and extends directly to our hearts. It is a supernatural force of divine love that has the power to lift every burden. God’s forgiveness can lift our perspective of our relationships and ourselves. It can cause us to rise above every offense and see things from a heavenly perspective.

Are you troubled in spirit? Right now reach out for God’s divine forgiveness and discover a new liberty and freedom in Him! You can be free, happy and loosed from the chains of an unforgiving spirit!

I believe that you can find the power of divine forgiveness! You can accept Jesus’ forgiveness in your life for your own wrong doings, sins and shortcomings!  And you can freely forgive those who have wronged you! Jesus said, ‘There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’

If you are looking for forgiveness today, say this with me: ”Jesus, I believe You forgave me 2,000 years ago. Right now I receive Your forgiveness, and I ask You come into my heart now.”

If you prayed this prayer, I want you to go to our website at www.lesliemcnulty.com and find the tools that we have for you.  Tools that will help you find a life full of love, faith, and hope in the future!

According to the Holy Scriptures, King Solomon was considered to be the wisest and richest king who ever lived. He had all the power, riches, wine and women he could ever desire. He pursued the essence of happiness, and his sad conclusion is found in a book called Ecclesiastes. He found only emptiness. His verdict on pursuing happiness? Who needs it!

We conclude that he was searching for happiness in all the wrong places. If that’s so, where do we find happiness? Many have reached the same conclusion as Augustine, a powerful 3rd-century noble, who pursued women and wine. He said, “Indeed, man wishes to be happy even when he so lives as to make happiness impossible!”

Walking down one of the streets he had frequented before, a local harlot called out, “Augustine, it is I! It is I!” Augustine responded, “It is not I! It is not I!” Why? He had discovered a new identity for himself!

There are several revelations that have lit up the world through history. John the Baptist gave us the sign of the new era when he said: “Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” Up until that simple declaration there was no way out of sin except for an intricate religious system of law and sacrifices.

Martin Luther brought back into focus a way of life lost to generations when He said, “The just shall live by faith.” This lifted the burden of fear off of the world who had no confidence in a heavenly future.

F.F. Bosworth said: “Physical healing is in redemption.”  This gave confidence to millions to claim and receive their healing when no physical evidence was present.

What simple statements are bringing peace, power, and purpose into your life?

Scriptures: John 1:29, Rom. 1:17, 1 Peter 2:24, Isaiah 53:3-5

God has put a road in front of you. Not just a little overgrown path but a great highway! Even if you are uneducated, unemployed, unsophisticated or any other negative thing, you still can live error free on this road provided by God.

If Jesus is your Lord, you will even find protection there from the lions of life. Those that roar as well as those that bite! It is not a hard road for you to find. Jesus said “My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Scripture: Matt. 11:30

In the modern song entitled, “I Am a Friend of God”, the writer asks the question of God, “Who am I that you are mindful of me? That you hear me, when I call? Is it true that you are thinking of me?”

Mother Theresa said, “Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty.” The writer of “I am a Friend of God” concludes his song by stating of God, You (God) call me friend! You have a friend in God! He has said in His Word, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So go ahead and take His hand….He’s there, right now!

Scripture: Hebrews 13:5

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