After my cancer diagnosis, I had to wrestle in a unique way with my own mortality, but in prayer and Scripture I found renewed hope and God’s amazing “peace that passes understanding,” as Philippians 4:7 says.

The old promises still stand, but there’s a freshness too. I go into detail about my own process of finding peace in this season in my new book—and peace certainly was elusive for a while. Satan really attacked. But one verse that has kept coming back—and felt almost like a new one to me—was Psalm 18:30. It says: “As for God, His way is perfect. The Word of the Lord is flawless.”

These days, I keep searching my soul, asking about the state of my own faith. I know many are praying for my healing. Many have written to me, convinced that God is going to heal me. I’d sure like that—to be able to tell people that story.  So if the Lord decides to heal me and keep me on planet Earth for a few more months, hallelujah!  Otherwise, I’m ready to go and see Him face to face.  

On the other hand, I’m 85 now, and have lived a full life. I’m thankful for it. I made mistakes along the way, but I feel I did what God told me to do. And in that place, the psalmist’s words speak to me. It’s really true: “[God’s] way is perfect.”  It really is!        

This is Luis Palau.

After all these years, I sometimes still get butterflies sharing the Good News with someone I know. Here’s what we all need to remember: We never know what another person will think about the message of Good News. Who are we to kill a conversation about Jesus Christ before it begins? But many Christians are more worried about what the other person is thinking about them than what the Lord told us to tell them.

Yes, it’s a shame Christianity has been painted by some as extremist. In response we can only do our best to demonstrate what real Christians are like—and not get inside our own heads all the time to try and prepare for fallout that usually never happens.

The real stories are stories about the generosity of Christ followers, the sacrifices we make, and the love and joy we show in the name of Jesus [1 John 3:23].

In the end, I don’t think there are that many external barriers to evangelism. We imagine there are, but that’s on us. We hold ourselves back.  Many perceived obstacles transform into open doors when you get close to people in faith and love. Give it a try today.  Then write me and tell me your experience.  It’ll help and encourage me!            

This is Luis Palau.

The No. 1 barrier to proclaiming the Good News is in our own minds. It’s our own Christian embarrassment about Jesus.

We are so quick to make assumptions. We think we know what the other person is thinking. We construct elaborate apologetics in our head, all based on what they might feel, words they might say, how they might react. We argue on their behalf against us, thinking they’ll dismiss us as an extremist, or fundamentalist, or whatever. Come on!

We don’t know our own minds most of the time, let alone someone else’s. These made-up arguments in our heads about all the reasons why the other person is uninterested or will reject us or do something else only paralyze us. It’s silly. And it’s because, deep down, we are embarrassed to talk about Jesus. I say “we” because I sometimes struggle with this in my own day-to-day witnessing. I still get butterflies sharing the Good News with someone I know. Or a new acquaintance.

How much better to heed the example of the apostle Paul. He called himself “God’s ambassador.” Nonetheless, Paul requested of the Christians in Ephesus: “Pray for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel (Ephesians 6:19).  Let’s do the same.

This is Luis Palau.

A sharp journalist recently said, “Luis, you’ve always been adamant about calling the Gospel the Good News. Why is that phrasing so important to you?” I replied, “Because other than journalists, people like good news.” The Gospel of Jesus Christ is Good News. The point of our message is basic. It’s the same message the angel carried to the shepherds: “I bring you good news of great joy that shall be to all people” [Luke 2:10].

In English, the word “gospel” means nothing to most people. But “good news” does. In general, Christians have spoiled some of our power by communicating messages in insider theological terms. Now, I am an avid student of theology. It’s vital. But why separate everyday people from the simplicity of Jesus? Why make saying yes to His invitation any harder than it needs to be? A good ambassador speaks a common language with those to whom they are sent.

Romans 1 impressed me ages ago. There Paul talks about the good news from God the Father about His Son, Jesus. I love that.  It’s good news on our conscience, because sins are forgiven.  It’s good news in relationships because we love other people.  And it’s good news because we know we’re going to heaven when we die. Believe me, most people won’t react badly if you say, “Hey! I have good news for you.”  Try it!     

This is Luis Palau.

Recently, I met a man who appeared to have a wonderful life. He was clean cut, had a lovely wife, and had two young children. After awhile of talking to him, I learned his story—and it wasn’t what I had expected.

This man had dealt with a serious drug problem for a number of years. After many failed rehab attempts, he finally found Jesus, and something inside of him changed. Over time, Jesus transformed him and today – he has been clean for over two decades. The crazy thing is, I hear this type of story all the time. In fact, I lived this kind of transformation. God completely redeemed my heart, and I also am a new man because of it.

Maybe you’re somebody who is struggling right now. Perhaps you’ve turned your back on Christ. Whatever your situation is, I promise you, nothing you have done is too much for God’s forgiveness.

2 Corinthians 5:17 In the Bible says that if “anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation.” So go forward with that confidence and believe it. If you have received Jesus into your heart, He lives within You. And He has the power to change your life.

If you haven’t yet opened your heart to the Lord Jesus, I urge you to do so. With Jesus, your life will never be the same, and it gets better and better and better.

This is Andrew Palau.

When you hear the word “refreshment,” what do you think of? Personally, I think of a nice cold glass of fresh lemonade on a hot day. Maybe for you, it is sweet tea on a porch somewhere. Maybe you think of water after a good bike ride. It can even be some hot chocolate after a day of skiing or snowboarding. Refreshments make you say, “Ahhhh. This is what I was missing.” Refreshments make you feel fresh again. This usually means you lacked something that this refreshment provides. You get back your energy, your joy, and your spirit. Can a glass of lemonade really do all that?

The Bible talks about springs of water as marker points, because they were places people could be refreshed. Can you imagine carrying your water bottle around for days, not sure exactly when you’d find water again? This is why Psalm 23 talks about God leading us by “still waters.” What comes next? “He restores my soul.” The Lord is the one who refreshes us fully through the Holy Spirit and His written word. He provides us with water, yet He is the true refreshment. He can restore us to health, happiness, and good living.

Once you’ve been refreshed, look around at all of the thirsty, tired people around you. You must share God’s refreshment with them, reaching your world one thirsty person at a time.                      

This is Luis Palau.

Along with warmth and flowers, spring can bring a sense of renewal. Renewal is just what it sounds like: to make something new again. But those of us who have ever tried to fix something that is broken know that nothing is ever put back to the way it was. For example, have you ever broken a piece of pottery? You can glue the vase back together again, but the cracks are still there. It will never quite be the way it was before.

The Japanese have an art called kintsugi. Broken pottery is repaired using lacquer sprinkled with powdered gold. It is evident that the pottery has been cracked. The difference is that the crack is now beautiful. Instead of the crack being hidden, the brokenness makes the pottery more interesting.

Life’s winter can lead to cracks in our hands and our hearts, but you know what Jesus does? He fixes us. When He says He will make us new creations, that doesn’t mean we will be exactly the way we were before. We will be better, after being repaired by the master craftsman. As the Psalmist wrote, “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” God’s work in us makes us like new again: flaws, cracks and all. And when we are renewed, we can show others that Jesus can repair their cracks too. Let us reach our world by being beautiful examples of God’s work in us by the Holy Spirit.           

This is Luis Palau.

If you do a Google search on “spring cleaning,” you get over 24 million results. Lifestyle websites have checklists and advice for how to clean your home so it is ready for the summer months. Most of us don’t really like cleaning. It’s a lot of work, it’s tiring, and it never seems to be done. But don’t you love the feeling after you have swept the floors and cleaned out your closet and scrubbed the bathtub? You can smell the freshness in the house, and everything just seems a little more hopeful.

Sometimes our lives need a spring cleaning. After the dark months of winter, where we have hidden ourselves away, it’s time to get everything out into the light. We need to be honest about the dirt in our lives, and start identifying bad habits and ways we have fallen into sin. We should look at how we spend our time, and consider if Jesus would be pleased with what we watch, say, and do. We must evaluate whether our responses to others show we are faithful followers of Christ. Then, when we have finished collecting the dirty laundry of our lives, we should ask God to wash it and make us clean again. We should say, like David did in the Psalms, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Once we do so, we will be renewed and refreshed, showing the world what a relationship with Christ looks like: clean and joyful. 

This is Luis Palau.

For many places in this world, winter means snow. The ground freezes and cold, white snow piles high. It crunches underfoot, and you learn quickly when the snow is wet enough to make the best snowballs. Where I live in Portland, Oregon, winter means rain, and lots of it. We might have one or five days of snow each winter, and the entire city shuts down. We are never prepared, but the children love to play outside in the snow. It’s an exciting adventure that is gone after a day or two. Then it’s back to our normal mild, damp conditions.

Regardless of your climate, the winter months can be long. Winter can seem like it is forever — gloomy and cold. But spring comes, and with spring comes hope. Flowers bloom, and temperatures warm up. The ground thaws, and planting can begin. New life grows.

Sometimes the winter of our lives seems to last forever. We can feel stuck and hidden, as if we cannot change our bad habits or our decisions. But spring is dawning. As it says in 2 Corinthians, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” The old life is melting away, and new life is possible with Christ and His love and mercy dwelling in us. This is hope that must be shared with your world.         

This is Luis Palau.

Thank God His grace isn’t “fair.” Like the thief on the cross next to Jesus, none of us deserve God’s grace. That’s why grace is grace–God’s unmerited favor. Yes, it goes against all sense of “fairness” that such a thief could get heaven after living in open rebellion against God all his life. Then again, the words of Jesus leave no doubt: “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Feel the authority? With the power that upholds the universe, Jesus assures a legally convicted, admitted criminal of eternal life. As it does today, that assurance of salvation rested in the unbreakable promise of God–not man’s fickleness–based on the Savior’s substitutionary work on the cross.

God forgives anyone who has committed blatant sins, whatever they may be, if that person truly repents.

God’s grace is ultimate generosity, love without limits. In those agonizing moments of Grace lifted up from the earth, a criminal repented of unbelief and rebellion. Before the day ended, he joined Jesus in paradise.

Though it wouldn’t be fair, having squandered so much, prodigal America has never needed grace more. Thank God, there’s no bottom to God’s ocean of grace. This message of grace is the message that we can use to reach our world.    

This is Andrew Palau.