I wonder how many of you are driving right now. Many of us listen to the radio when we drive. Listening to the radio can make traffic a little less terrible. Sitting in traffic seems to bring out the worst in people. Horns start honking, people make rude gestures, blood starts to boil – it’s amazing how people who are normally very even-tempered can lose their cool when they are driving.

Patience, though, is one of the hallmarks of the love that God shows us, and that we should show each other. In fact, it’s the first quality in the list describing what love is, in 1 Corinthians 13. That must mean it is important. 

Think about it. How much patience does God show us? We are continually messing up, making mistakes, doing what we think is best. God is continually having to wait for us to realize that we are going the wrong way. He is always taking us back, accepting our apology, and loving us just the same.

God is so patient with us, so we are called to be patient with others. This way we can show the world that we love with God’s love. Our love needs to be patient, as we love others regardless of how they frustrate us. So, the next time you are stuck in traffic, just smile and wave at other drivers. You never know how your patience could show someone else the love of Christ.           This is Luis Palau.

I recently was talking to an older man who said, “I wish I were as good as my dog thinks I am.” His comment made me laugh. It’s true; many people are perceived to be wonderful but know they really aren’t that great. You and I struggle with sin. It’s a daily battle. Though we may put our “best foot forward,” we know that there are areas where we fail time and time again. Even the great Apostle Paul struggled. He said, “what I want to do I do not do.” We know what is right. We know how we should act and think. And yet, it’s difficult.

The Good News is that God is a God of grace. Being a follower of Jesus does not mean you have to be perfect. We’ll never do all that we should. That’s okay. God isn’t looking for perfect people. He’s looking for people who know that they’re fallen and in response turn to Him. Don’t let the enemy hound you about something you’ve done in the past that has been forgiven. If you’ve come before the Lord and asked for forgiveness, it’s over. Rather than focusing on how bad you are, focus on the goodness of Jesus. His perfect life paid the price for our failures so that we do not need to be condemned. This is good news! Because of Jesus, you’ve been washed clean. Today, instead of beating yourself up because of your shortcomings, focus rather on sharing this wonderful news with those in your world.

This is Andrew Palau.

I just saw a quote that said, “The first to apologize is the bravest. The first to forgive is the strongest. And the first to forget is the happiest.”

Forgiving others can be really hard. Especially when they have wronged us on a deep level. But it’s pretty clear that forgiveness isn’t just about the person who committed the sin or the wrong against us, but it’s also about our own spiritual growth. Love and forgiveness cannot be separated. If we choose to live out the love of God as the purpose of our life, then forgiving cannot be avoided. Because the bottom line is, Jesus died for us to offer us forgiveness of our sins.

On a day-to-day level, the Bible says in Matthew 6, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” So, consider: whom do you need to forgive? What amends do you need to make? I encourage you to take that first leap and forgive the one who needs it—even if no apology has been made. When you forgive someone, you may feel that the Lord has moved in you, just as we pray He is also moving in them. Showing grace, instead of holding onto bitterness, will give you a wonderful opportunity to talk to them about Jesus – the great forgiver of our many, many sins.        

This is Luis Palau.

Have you ever felt abandoned? Maybe you experienced a tragedy and you lost someone you love. You’re devastated. Maybe you were passed over for the job promotion, and you feel your hard work went unnoticed. You’re discouraged. Whatever situation you face, know that God has not, and will not ever abandon you. In fact, God is with you now and forever. He promises never to leave or forsake His children.

The Bible says in Genesis 8:1, “But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.” If God didn’t abandon Noah and the animals, why will He abandon you?

When you feel alone or upset, talk to the Lord. Reach out to Him. Ask Him for comfort, for wisdom, and for His presence. If you have a friend experiencing a trial or hardship, listen to them and let them know you care. Then, use the opportunity to share about Jesus. Tell them how Jesus will never abandon or forsake them. Share about what Jesus means to you. Your experience could be just what they need to hear. So tell it today, won’t you? This is Luis Palau.

Are you struggling? Do you feel abandoned by God? I think we all go through times where we struggle to feel the hope in God. There was a time in my life when my son, Andrew, had fallen away from the Lord. He was living a wild life filled with partying and worldliness. As much as I tried to share the Good News with him or talk to him about faith, I felt him pulling away. But God kept me convicted. I felt the Lord saying to me, “Do not give up on Andrew. I am with you. I’m working on him.” So I kept on reaching out, and praying for Andrew.

And guess what? At just the right moment Andrew, our son, finally surrendered to Jesus at age 27. At last Andrew understood God’s grace, and repented, and God changed his entire life. In fact, Andrew went from a worldly life of sin to being an evangelist. Can you believe it?! Only God could change someone’s life in that way. Only God is the source of true everlasting hope.

Consider the person or situation in your life where you need God to move. The Bible says in Job 6:8, “Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for.” Pray to God. Share your request with Him. And be alert and expectant, because He is already at work.  Suddenly you’ll get your chance to share Jesus Christ.                      

This is Luis Palau.

Many times people have said to me, “Luis, how do I share the Good News? I’m not a pastor or an evangelist.” Of course, my answer is that we are all called to share about Jesus Christ, though we are not all gifted to be evangelists. Whether you’re a student, a parent, or a professional person, God was talking to you in Mark 16:15 in the Bible, which says, “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation.'” And the ABCs are a great place to start.

Why, you ask? Well, the ABCs are one way to share the basics of the Good News of salvation in Jesus. A stands for “Admit”. We must admit that we are sinful, that we make mistakes, and that we offend God our Creator. We all miss the mark. B stands for “Believe”. We must believe that Jesus is God’s only Son, and that He came to die for our sins on a cross, and rose from the dead. And C stands for “Commit”. We must commit to following Jesus by receiving Him into our hearts by faith.

So, I urge you to memorize the ABC’s of evangelism. Then, be on the alert. Look for opportunities to share the Good News of Jesus with others. Encourage others to admit, believe, and commit so as to receive the eternal life that Jesus Christ offers. This is Luis Palau.

My son is a teenager, dealing with all of those teenage challenges at school. In the past, he was able to skate by with minimal effort. He didn’t need to work hard to get good grades. It came easily to him. But now, things are a bit more challenging. He has to be disciplined to get the results he wants. One day, I chastised him to keep the pressure on. I wanted him to know how important it is that he prepare, study, and “put in the work.” Then it occurred to me, God is teaching me the same lesson! I had just been invited to be a guest speaker and didn’t prepare adequately. My presentation suffered because I didn’t put in the work and prayer beforehand. The same lesson I was teaching my son, God was teaching me.

It is important to teach our kids to do what is right. But it is just as important to be living examples of the lessons we’re trying to instill. It was inconsistent of me to hound Chris to do his homework when he knew that I wasn’t doing mine. I told him to work hard but I was giving less than my best.

Regardless of if you have children or not, you are watched. Your example matters. And, where it matters most is in regard to being God’s child. As His kid, we need to not just talk about His commands to love and serve one another. We need to live them. That’s how we’ll reach our world.

This is Andrew Palau.

Have you ever felt discouraged about the work you were doing? Maybe you felt like you were working hard for something good, and you just weren’t making progress? I’ve been tempted to feel this way before. It seems like whenever my team and I plan a big evangelistic festival, something goes wrong, and there is a point when I wonder if we’ll be able to pull it off. We do have an enemy, a spiritual enemy, who wants to hinder us in any way he can. But I always go back to Luke 1:37, which says, “For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Consider what God has laid on your heart. Maybe it’s something big — like God asking you to make a major life change, such as adopting a child or going on a mission trip. Or maybe it’s something less drastic, but that still takes courage — like God asking you to share the Good News with a good friend. Whatever the case, consider the fact that nothing is impossible with God. Absolutely nothing! When obstacles appear to stop you from carrying out the task God has laid on your heart, don’t give up. Stand firm in your faith, and press on towards the goal. Remember what Paul wrote in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.” He is almighty and He lives in you, and He gives you the power.          

This is Luis Palau.

Have you ever heard the saying that managers and leaders are not the same thing? Sure, a good manager can also be a leader, but just because someone is a manager doesn’t make them a leader. Managers give assignments and monitor tasks, while leaders give vision, encouragement, hope, and wisdom.

Jesus wasn’t a manager—but He was the world’s greatest leader. Why? Because He offered wisdom, guidance, hope, and joy. Jesus demonstrated servant leadership in the way He unconditionally loved us. As we think about being leaders, let’s look at Jesus as an example for how we should act. And if you’re a manager, consider managing with Jesus’ leadership style. In writing his letters, St. Paul said, “Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ.”  A willing slave, a voluntary slave, but that was his attitude.

In Matthew 20 Jesus said to His disciples, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  Not so with you. Instead, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant.” And Philippians 2:3 says, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves”. I hope we can follow Jesus’ example as we lead, influence, and love people in our own lives.

This is Luis Palau.

Recently, the Powerball jackpot in America was at a record high number. The winner or winners would receive over a BILLION dollars! This prompted one news station to do some research. They asked several businesspeople what they would do if they won the money, and then they asked several homeless people. As it turns out, the homeless people said they would give most of the money away—while the wealthy businesspeople said they would buy lavish things or take fancy trips.

Think about this! People who had little wanted to give away their earnings, while people who had much wanted more. When I heard about this experiment, I had to ask myself, “What would I do?” and “How do I live?” – Am I generous and selfless? Or do I keep God’s blessings for my own enjoyment exclusively?

The Bible says in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served to but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Today, as you consider your resources—your time, your money, your energy—I urge you to be selfless. Serve others in whatever way you can, and when people ask, “Why are you doing this?” give glory to Jesus and tell them that just as Jesus went to the cross to rescue us and bless us, you are doing these efforts because you love them and want them to meet God. This is Luis Palau.