I love the Christmas season. Wreaths go up on doors, and lights go up on houses. Christmas music is played in stores. Christmas trees pop up everywhere. In Oregon, where I live, most of those Christmas trees are real evergreens, and so Christmas even smells good. The problem is that the Christmas season seems to be starting earlier and earlier every year. Now stores are decorating for Christmas long before Thanksgiving, and so it can be easy to get irritated by the songs and the fake snow.

More and more, Christmas has become about materialism and commercialism. Did you know that Americans spend over 450 billion dollars every Christmas? Every Christmas! Much of that money is spent on presents that break or are forgotten in less than a year…just in time to start the whole cycle over again.

But for those who love Jesus, Christmas is not about money or shopping. It’s about the greatest Gift of all, the Gift given for our salvation. And this present came in the package of a little baby. “For unto you is born this day a Savior who is Christ the Lord,” the angel said. Now that is a message I never get tired of hearing. Or sharing! Reaching your world is sharing God’s Good News, the Gift of Jesus, year round, but especially at Christmas. This is Luis Palau.

Each time I see a racing ambulance I am reminded that life is short. At any moment, any of us could take our last breath. It’s a sobering thought. Life is fragile. Every day 155,000 people die. But, for those of us who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, we can take great comfort in the fact that God knows all these things. He is sovereign and has ultimate rule over our lives. As Psalm 139 says, “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

Three years ago my family and I were in a horrible plane crash. Ever since then I’ve looked at each day determined to live life abundantly.

Though there is comfort in knowing that God has a plan, that nothing catches Him off-guard, the uncertainty of tomorrow really should be a powerful motivator for today. Because we don’t know what tomorrow holds for us, or for others, we must make the most of every day, every interaction, and every conversation. Friend, there are too many people who still need to hear about Jesus Christ. We all have a story to share. Together, we should take advantage of every day we are alive.

If God has placed someone on your heart, perhaps a family member or co-worker or neighbor, don’t delay. Pray for that person and pray for your own boldness and compassion. Then share with them the Good News of Jesus Christ. Now is the best time. It’s the time you have to reach your world. This is Andrew Palau.

Someone once asked me, “Luis, why don’t you talk more about the things God is against?! You know - all of the hot-button issues.” I kind of chuckled, because isn’t this so true of us today? We want to draw a line in the sand with what we believe, and what we don’t believe, so that everyone knows where we stand. I agree that we ought to be moral people, who listen to God’s clear teachings in the Bible. We do our best to live them out in our own lives. Yet I think the best way to show the true character of God is not by screaming the things that we are against, but rather, sharing His endless, unconditional love and power.

John 13:34-35 says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” This week, think about who in your life needs to experience the love of Christ. Who needs to hear about the kind of love that doesn’t depend on work or deeds?  That kind of love is freely given to us by a grace-filled God. Share that Good News with that person, won’t you?      This is Luis Palau.

It seems like every time I go into a bookstore, there’s another bestselling self-help book on the front shelf. “How to be successful” or “How to be rich” or “How to be happy” or “How to be fulfilled”. It’s not that I’m against reading - I’m all for reading books that grow you spiritually and mentally. But I do get dismayed by all of the man-made “self-help” on how to be this or that when the real truth for how to live is found in the Bible, and it’s actually quite a bit simpler than these books lining the shelves at the local bookstore.

John 15:5 says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” The truth for living a life of meaning, and purpose, of peace, and excitement, and fulfillment is this: rest in Jesus. Let Him into your heart. Walk with Him. Give Him your worries and fears. Trust Him to guide you. Pray to Him for wisdom.

As you walk with the Lord, your life will change. And as others see your life change, they’ll be intrigued. That will be your opportunity to share with them about Jesus Christ.  When we receive Jesus into our hearts, our troubles don’t just go away. But when we accept Him, and walk with Him, we can rely on His strength, wisdom, love, and grace to see us through anything. So, abide in Jesus. And share about Him today.                                                           This is Luis Palau.

Did you know that time is actually sacred? I think sometimes we get so caught up in running from thing to thing - errands, or school, or work meetings - that we can forget this. But the time we have each day, and more importantly, how we choose to spend it, is sacred. The Bible says in Ephesians 5:15 and 16, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time…“ and in Colossians 4:5 the Bible says, “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of time.”

The bottom line is, everyone knows our days are numbered, because we’ve all had to experience the loss of a loved one, or perhaps we’re experiencing aging ourselves. So we should be capitalizing on the moments we do have by living life in a way that matters. My grandson mentioned a popular phrase to me that says, “You only live once.” And it’s true!

So, are you living in a way that glorifies God? Are you seeking the lost people in your part of the world, on your neighborhood street, in your apartment complex, and sharing with them about Jesus? Are you demonstrating your faith in the things you post on social media, or the way you treat strangers? Time is limited. Spend your days sharing the Good News.                          This is Luis Palau.

It seems like now, more than ever, this world is full of distracting noise. I was in New York not long ago for a festival there. When I was in Times Square I noticed this noise more than ever. Countless advertisements everywhere you looked. Retail stores all over. Crowds of people running from place to place. It is all too easy for us to get caught up in the noise. We accept what the world is telling us through this noise: to be constant consumers, or work longer hours, or compare what we have to what our neighbor has… Whether you are a stay-at-home mom, or a businessperson, or a student, there are noises in your life. And while not all noise is bad, it can certainly be a distraction from what the Bible says we ought to be focusing on.

The Bible says in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” So, this week, I encourage you to do just that! Seek God first. Carve a few minutes out of your day where you can have quiet, and listen to God. As you turn off the noise from the outside world, and you open your ears to the wisdom God has, you will be inspired to share His life-changing peace with others in your life.       This is Luis Palau.

In today’s world, we all know that people are looking for hope.  Politicians run entire campaigns recognizing that hope is a need of man.  People are searching. They wonder. And they often, sadly, look in the wrong places.

Where does hope come from?  We can offer true hope, not just political hope or surface-level hope, but real hope. We can offer this real hope to people desperate for good news.  We can be the evidence that hope is available as we sacrificially serve.  Hold out the evidence that the presence of God is true hope in our lives.

The Bible says in the Psalms, “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.” “The LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.”

Our hope does come from the Lord. Will you share this hope with someone today? I know that there are people in your life, just as there are in mine, who need to hear the Good News. As followers of Jesus, it’s our joy and honor to tell others of Him. Will you do it today? Sharing the hope of God with a hurting friend or family member is what Christ-followers were made to do.

This is Andrew Palau.

It’s not popular these days to say there’s one way to Heaven. But did you know that’s what Jesus said about Himself? Jesus said, “I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life. No one comes to the Father but by me.” If you want to reach your world, there’s no way to do it other than sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ himself - that He is THE only way to God!

In a country in Asia we were having a luncheon for bankers and business people.  There were Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Roman Catholics, and evangelicals.  “You really love Jesus, your God, don’t you,” a banker said to me as I was surrounded by other business people.  “He’s the God of the western nations, isn’t he?”  And I caught on to a certain touch when he said that, and I said, “Wait a minute.  Jesus loves the Buddhists, Jesus loves the Hindus, Jesus loved the Muslims.  Why, Jesus even loves Roman Catholics and Protestants.  Jesus died for all the Buddhists, Jesus died for all the Muslims, the Hindus, and even the Protestants and Catholics.”  And you know, several of those businessmen gave their lives to Jesus Christ.  They had thought that Jesus was the western God.

Who do you know who needs to hear about the uniqueness of Jesus Christ today? You’ll never regret sharing the truth with a family member, friend, neighbor or co-worker. There’s nothing more important!

This is Luis Palau

In the book of Second Timothy in the Bible it says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” This verse means that everything we need for living and serving can be found in the Bible. Sometimes I think we can overcomplicate matters. We read book after book, attend seminar after seminar… all the while the God of the Universe has given us His own actual words.

The Bible says that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. So to effectively evangelize, we need to be sharing God’s actual words with others. I would encourage you to memorize at least ten verses from the Bible.

If you’re just getting started reading the Bible, I would suggest beginning with the Gospel of St. John. Pray and ask God to help you understand what He is saying. Read through one chapter several times. Then write down what you learn. This will help God’s Word sink into your mind and heart. That way you will be ready to share the reason for the hope you have in Christ. Searching for God outside of His Word is futile. Let us all be people who know God’s Word, so we can share His Word with others.

This is Luis Palau

Once we realize our true state, it can be hard to grasp that God would freely give us eternity with Him. But that is just what He did. In our humanity we want a more logical solution. We want something we can do. We want to be a part of the deal. We think to ourselves, maybe Jesus can do part and we can work hard and accomplish the rest. Maybe if we try really hard to “be good” and “live for God” we can earn our way to Heaven. But that is not the Good News of the Bible. We are called to have faith – that means to trust what God says. But do you know that on your own you’d never muster up enough? Even faith is a gift from God. God gives us the faith to believe. The Bible says faith comes by hearing God’s Word.

We can’t take credit for anything. Our faith in God, and eternity with Him is through His grace alone. And thank goodness for that! Because otherwise we’d all be in trouble.

In Romans, St. Paul writes, “And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.” Whom can you share the grace of God with today? Perhaps through hearing the Good News from you, a friend or neighbor will come to saving faith in Jesus Christ.

This is Luis Palau.