I have what you want!

It’s my birthday and I have what you want! And I want you to have it!

I know you may be thinking what’s he got? Does he have that 700 hp Shelby I saw on the Speed Channel? No, I don’t. Does he have my mortgage payment? No, sorry nope. My tuition? My future spouse? My health? My hair back? My fantasy football title? An iPhone? Sorry, none of those either.

I do have a copy of The Truth About Chuck Norris that I’m gonna give away tonight at TreeHouse. But you can buy your own copy.

You might ask — as you should — well, what have you got?

Today’s my birthday, it’s #47.

We all have a birthday, so that’s not special. Troy Friessen and I both were born on November 10th, so that’s not unique. As a matter of fact Paul Fletcher and I were both born on November 10th 1962. [Happy birthday guys!]

What I have is the certainty that when the Bible says that God said “I am with you” it’s true! Wait, don’t blow me off. Don’t dismiss me! Let me explain!

Since I believe that God is with me I talk to God — I pray — and ask God to help me.

Help me to be a good spouse — I am.
Help me to be a good parent — I am.
Help me to be a good friend — I am.
Help me to be a good role model — I am.
Help me to be someone I respect — I am.
Help me to be someone I am proud to be — I am.
Help me to be forgiving — I am.
Help me to be compassionate — I am.

I used to be self-centered. I used to use people. I used to lie. I used to cheat. I used to disrespect. I used to not be trustworthy.

God changed me, period. It takes work to cooperate with God. It takes work to choose wisely when I would rather choose foolishly. God and an awareness of the presence of God helps me choose more wisely. God will do the same things for you too.

I have what you want.

You wanna be a good spouse, parent, friend and role model. You want to be respectable, respected and respect-worthy. You want to be forgiving, forgiven and forgivable. You want to be compassionate and be known for your compassion.

You want to be someone you’re proud to be. I am.

I have not arrived. If you know me, you know I’m not perfect and I never pretend that I am.

The benchmark — Jesus Christ — is always ahead of me, but I am becoming who I should become because I live believing that God said “I am with you” and I know it’s true!

It’s my birthday and I have what you want! And I want you to have it!