by Ricky Doc Sauceda
Last year, about this time, I was about to embark on the most wonderful journey in my faith since my early years as a REBORN Christian. If you care to, you can research my NOTES and discover the background for this. I want to focus on the balance of sources I used then and am using now...to get strong in faith...very strong.
I listened to a local Christian radio station here in Houston, Texas "off and on" throughout the years. Needing to hear some sermons, I started listening once again last year. Every morning I was at work by 4:45 am and I turned on my radio and would listen to the radio programs. The early ones are what I was expecting...drab and standard...not much substance. But, later these new voices I had never heard before were giving very inspiring messages. Charles Stanley, Chuck Swindoll, David Jeremiah, Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Beth Moore and Alistair Begg became my sources for INNER STRENGTH. They pointed the way to how to really get the most out of reading and learning the Holy Word.
Do you understand that? Not just reading...learning...making it a part of me. Taking the words of the bible and breaking them down...book by book...chapter by chapter...verse by verse. I cannot go a day without listening to who I regard as my teachers...their radio segments are such a blessing. I would miss one and go to their website and play it from there. I know there is something missed if I don't listen to a broadcast...they are so knowledgeable and have really good lesson plans. In addition, I listen to Family Life Today, Haven Today, Love Worth Finding, Breakpoint, Focus on the Family, Unshackled, Thru The Bible and many others.
The Lord is the one who sacrificed for all of us...and for each of us it should hit home...home being your mind-body-spirit. Are you foolish enough to think God is not why you have goodness in your life? Literally. So, people get sick...die...maybe good people who you feel did not deserve it. Yes, there are starving people, abortions, murders, poverty...all kinds of bad things. Do you really want to blame God to the point where you don't want to learn why?
Too many people turn their backs on the Lord because they aren't happy. So, they refuse to love God to get back at him...the attempt is to hurt God. He suffered in a way nobody can...and He still loves us. The entire purpose of Jesus Christ's life was to be our sacrifice...for our sins. But, think a moment here about the stance about God not caring about what goes on in the world. Didn't Jesus perform many miracles while He walked the earth? Who was Jesus? He was God born as man...so God was showing us what?
Love. My reading of the Old Testament has revealed a continuous message...it stands out...there is no way to ignore it. God has a great deal of patience, and He does love us. But, we get carried away with ourselves. We enjoy the offerings of the world, rather than focusing on sharing love with one another. It is a recurring theme for people - we have a huge amount of vanity. Even some us that follow Him...we have materialistic desires and believe we are bestowed such things by the Lord. The Lord told us "not" to give into desires, but we want to believe otherwise - because we are fools.
He is not coming back to die on another cross. He is not coming back to distribute wealth equally upon all of mankind. He is not coming back to give you any earthly desires, whatsoever! He is coming back to rid the world of evil - of Satan. Then He is going to establish a new order and be our King. That is why He is returning and we need to stop with all of our foolishness.
That is what these radio ministries are teaching...it is what I have always taken to heart since I was SAVED. There was once a time when the evangelicals had pretty much made a mess of ministry and the general opinion was that all they wanted was to fill their pockets with cash. So, nobody has taken radio ministry serious for some time. Well, I am glad I began listening to it last year. I am glad I have made it a part of my everyday way of listening to radio.
That local station here is called KHCB and they hold an OPEN HOUSE every year. I went to the one last year and had a blast meeting other listeners and some of the station personnel. I have even gone to a couple of volunteer functions there and got to enjoy them even more. So, now it feels like "my" station...just like the bible is "my' bible...Jesus is "my" Jesus...God is "my" God...church is "my" church...the Holy Spirit is "my" Holy Spirit.
Once more, do you understand? What is it that makes it "my" of anything? Love...I put all of my love into all of it...for the Lord. I know the world is a crazy place, but I know where I can go to get peace...my tree! It does take an effort to fill yourself with Him..."meditate on the word day and night." (Joshua 1:8) I have not put so much effort into anything since I raised my three children...and I can rest with the Lord on that part of my life.
I am not an idealistic youth...I am an idealistic mature man. What I am sharing is my wonderful year of learning. The entire year, my mind was with the Lord and I have grown so much as a result. I really do not even recognize myself, but I am very happy for the "spiritual" me. I am in a great place and I want it for everyone. Consider the bible, it consists of two Testaments. The New Testament began in the Old. They are the proof that God loves us!
Increase your sources! Get strong! Get focused!
Blessings to you.