Prayer To Jesus

INTRODUCTION

I was born into a Christian family. My dad took me to church every Sunday starting at age 5. Soon after my little brother and mother joined us. Early on I understood how real Jesus was, and how He would share His blessings and power with those who followed His lessons. Of course as a kid, I was usually asking for help with tests and sports, but as I got older my requests grew, as did my understanding of the Lord.

I am not a biblical scholar. I am a Christian who takes my connection with the Christ very seriously. I have been to hell and back thanks to my own medical challenges, and Jesus accompanied me every step of the way. He showed me how to deal with my issues, as well as help others with theirs.

In my life I have spread the Lord's blessings as far and wide as I could. Oftentimes friends who are not religious have asked me to pray for them. I am one of those people whom you might say never stops praying. I feel that I am a citizen of heaven, and that that kind of status brings with it certain powers and blessings in this world.

This blog is my own gift to the world. Yes, Jesus provided the inspiration for it, but there is definitely some of my own thoughts and experiences wound in. I suggest that you read as much of it as you can, and please share it with your social networks using the buttons we have provided.

Thank you for visiting, and may Christ be with you always!

BEWARE JOBS THAT DON'T SATISFY CHRIST

Some of you might have followed my job odyssey over the last two years. As you might have noticed, I was holding my opportunities to a very high standard. It took quite a while, but I learned some wonderful lessons from the experience.

Money is great! I’m interested in money generally. I feel like the more I have the more I can help. Thirty four years on this planet seems to have proven that. But the problem with that mantra is that for some people, there is no way to achieve it without something I would call a wasteful job.

What is your most important asset? It is not your cash, and it is not your family or friends. God beats it, but not by much. Your most important asset is your time! You get a limited amount, it can be easily wasted and usually is, and there is no way to get it back once its gone. Most people waste entire decades! Hopefully I can help you avoid that.

Reaching out to people is a lost art. Having been in many different churches of different denominations, I have discovered that some churches do much more outreach than others. Why does this bother me? Well, first of all, the Internet allows quite a bit of power. When I look at these mega-churches, like Rick Warren at Saddleback, and Joel Osteen’s operation, I can’t help but think they really are not working the Internet as much as they should. Let me explain my logic to you.

Do you know how much a prayer ad costs on the Internet? Either through Google, or Facebook, or now Apple? About fifteen cents. So...for fifteen cents, you can target sections of the world where Christianity is sparse. In fact, those parts of the world are even CHEAPER usually. How much did YOU spend on frivolous stuff today? More than fifteen cents probably.

Take a moment. Assess your life. Ask yourself if you are really carrying out the mission that God, and YOU, have always desired for your life. If not...it is time to start a prayer blog. The tools are free and the ads are cheap. There is no reason to delay!

JUMPING THROUGH HOOPS = MORE HOOPS

When was the last time you performed in expert fashion, only to be given a bigger job?  One you most likely did not want?

I have always been an overachiever.  However, when I got into my last year or so of college, I discovered something.  Getting an A did not produce much of a difference than getting a C.  My GPA was somewhat locked down at that point.  Passing was about the only job I had.  I spoke to many other students about this phenomenon, and their perspectives were similar.

So what happens when you get to be so good at something, that your best day is the same as your average day?

For those of you who have had the joy of reading my book, Angel Interviews, which can be found on Amazon at www.ShayVillere.com, you kind of understand what happens.  The folks who try get one kind of job.  The folks who do not try get another.  What you end up with is merely a product of what you wanted.  Your desire dictated your effort, which dictated your current job and future job.

Take a moment to ask yourself if the corporate ladder is for you.  I know that many of you work in businesses, which usually have ladders.  Does climbing up another rung really make much difference?  Sometimes there is more pay, sometimes more effort, sometimes neither.  Sometimes you won’t know until you get there.

What is Jesus’ view on the whole thing?  Well, Christ just wants you to be happy.  His goal does not change. If suddenly you find yourself in a bad situation, He’ll help you improve it.  If you find yourself in a good situation, you should probably thank Him for the help He undoubtedly provided.

We all work for something.  Whether it is money, or happiness, or maybe the fight for another breath, we all care about something.  Deciding to focus on one path or the other is merely a product of circumstance.  Take every day with a grain of salt and do your best to follow the joy that God has obviously laid out for you to find.

DANGERS OF GROUP THINKING

I believe in libertarianism.  In other words, I believe that people, when left to their own devices, generally make as good or better decisions than groups.

Have you heard of Wachovia?  It is a now defunct bank.  It used to be the fourth largest and fastest growing bank in the USA.  I worked there for almost five years.  This was a bank that was worth somewhere around 50 to 60 billion dollars.  It had been in existence for over 100 years.  While working there I felt safe, comfortable, and generally happy and productive.  Until it all came crashing down.

Do you feel safe?....in your current situation?  Do you think that the risks and evils of this world steer clear of you?  What are your decisions like?  High quality....or criminal?  What moves you through this place we call the world?  Whatever your answers to these questions, the only safe bet there is....is for Jesus.

Some of you might think that I’ve been trying to interpret the bible in a more modern way than most churches do.  Well, I’m guilty of that.  I think that with every new age, comes a different reflection of biblical wisdom and truth.  I’m not against gays.  I don’t really think anyone can tell when the end of days is coming.  I also don’t believe in going to church on days when you don’t want to go to church.  I’m a big opponent of peer pressure, especially religious peer pressure.  I also think that if you worship Christ properly, you can probably get almost as much done as He did.

Please....evaluate your situation.  Is your life being run FOR you by someone else?  Or are you truly making excellent choices based on excellent facts....as factual as this world can be at least.

You know, there are happy ways to go through this life.  But lots of people, somewhere along the way, give up on that dream.  And then the prisoner effect comes into play.  You’re not IN prison, but you may as well be.  Folks...there is only one way out of that.  And yes...it is through the miracles of Jesus that YOU can produce purely by realizing that there is no separation between you and the Christ.  You have the power that He had!  You can move mountains and walk on water.  Maybe not in the literal sense, but what I’m trying to say is that your prayers and blessings and miracles....can be just as effective as His.

Understand that He walks right next to you, and always has.

THE DESECRATION MACHINE

It comes in all kinds of forms, and it hits all the religions.  The source?  Ignorance.

People become scared of that which they don’t understand.  Like children, we run from the dark, make fun of weaker people, and fight against invisible enemies.  What’s the point?

The point is to give us even more challenges.  Without all of this stuff to work with, how would we get through our day?  We would be incredibly bored and passive people.  However, with all the ignorance and hate in the world, Christians have more than enough to keep us busy.

Let’s focus on the one I really worry about the most - school age bullying.  I was bullied to a certain degree in school, when I was really young, and it created a certain bit of distrust in me.  As I got older I learned how to deal with kids who did not like me, but thankfully the older we get, the more civil we become.  The scariest thing about bullying is that some of the worst stuff occurs on school buses, where there is not much that can be done.  What’s the best solution?  Teach your kids to avoid trouble.  Also share with them the following video short by my colleague Dr.Jay Carter:

http://www.bullycaterpillar.com/main_page.html

So what happens to bullies as they get older?  They become jealous of that which they wish they had.  Most bullies are broke and lonely as adults, so they end up committing crimes and preying on vulnerable women and kids.  Sometimes they go so far as to damage schools and churches.  In the US we even have a pro football player named Michael Vick who killed dogs.  We also have a senator who just died, Ted Kennedy, who killed a woman during a DUI, and did not even spend a minute in jail.  What are people supposed to do when the guilty are not held accountable?

Folks, they are ALWAYS held accountable.  When justice is not met in the physical world, folks like me chase these people down.  Every single debt that is not paid for in person is paid for in other ways.  The cosmic bank is always in perfect balance and everyone pays what they owe.  There is no such thing as skipping a bet on God.  Life is actually perfect.  What creates imbalance is always righted.  True justice is always served.

If I have felt anything true in this world, it is that the guilty receive their punishment, and the good receive their rewards.  The strange fact is that sometimes the guilty and the good cannot tell the difference between the punishment and the reward.  That knowledge is left up to God, and only God.

ANGEL TRAVEL, THOUGHT, ETC

Flying is so pre-birth of Christ.

How deep does it really go?  Well, I’m not sure.  Beyond proclaiming myself as some expert on things no one is really an expert on, all I can really say is that it is advanced.

When you are going through a busy day, and problems come up, what is your standard statement? If I only had more hours in the day.  Well, angels DO have that.

Have you ever wanted to know what it would feel like to have a microprocessor inside your head?  The most powerful computer on Earth, the one the National Security Administration uses to crack codes from all over the world, probably does not stand a chance when compared to an angel brain.  Electricity and water power the human brain, but angel brains...your guess is as good as mine.

Take into account what angels need to do on any given day.  They help people, sure, but there are other activities.  Popular fiction loves to guess what they do, but until you’re there you probably won’t know.  In my Angel Interviews book I take some shots at figuring them out, but there are no guarantees.  As far as we can tell, the jobs are infinite, as is the number and type of angels.  Keep in mind that only three or four are mentioned by name in the bible.  In my opinion the bible would be a lot more informative if we could have gotten more details.

Sometimes when I’m driving, I see them flying next to me.  I know I’m not the only one with that experience, but I never tire of it.  It makes me feel better, protected I guess.  Jesus in the passenger seat, angels surrounding the car.  Nice way to travel.

If you were an angel, what is the first thing you would do?  My questions would not stop.  I would look into everything I could.  They get such a great glimpse of a world we never see.  It would just be nice to have such an expansive array of new things to learn and enjoy.  I want to get to that point so badly, but my human life is very enjoyable, even when challenging.

I’m not so sure that angels have items or need weapons or anything.  They most likely just mold this world to do what is needed.  It sure would be nice to work like that.  My work is all done through requests.  Granted, they are always accepted and processed, but I can’t turn bricks into bread.  I’m assuming that on top of moving outside of time, and being in multiple places at once, fish and wine is not much of a challenge.

Let your eyes open a little wider sometime.  It can make you feel much better knowing that God’s servants are just an arms length away from strong believers.

SERVANT TO BUSINESS PARTNER

I know, you’re used to it.  You’ve been a servant for a really long time.  That should change!

God wants you to be a partner in His work here on Earth.  He has so many missions, so many duties, so many plans...and He wants you to be a vested partner in these goals.  Have you ever stopped to think about what would happen if you stopped asking, and started discussing?  Would you like to be at the table, instead of on the floor?

Let’s look at this situation in two ways.  When you are a servant, you have no options.  You receive commands, and you carry them out.  No feedback, no discussion.  There is no freedom!  You have to ask for anything in order for it to be done.  Not so much fun in my opinion!

Now you’re a business partner.  Strategy decisions come into play.  You begin to give your opinion on things.  You get more say than you had as a servant.  You are now part of the overall direction of the organization.  Let us think about this for a minute.  You actually decide your own fate.  There are other partners, and some of them might have more equity than you, but you are one of the owners.  People listen to what you have to say.  You no longer have to wonder about where you stand!

I am a huge fan of actually being an equitable partner in what God is doing on this planet.  I love being a part of decisions.  I love changing the fabric of this reality when it makes sense.  I love seeing the stuff I see and observing much more than I did as a servant.  Obviously this role was given to me through God’s grace, but part of it was earned.  He would not have bestowed this kind of gift without lots of hard work and diligence.  For me it took almost thirty years.  Sound familiar?

Take a big inventory of the way you work with God.  Ask Him what you need to do to play a bigger role in the missions here.  Tell Him you are willing to go the extra mile.  And then watch the miracles roll through your life and the lives of the people you touch.  This type of work is wonderful, it is a blessing, and I truly love having the kind of talent, power, and communication that comes with this kind of life.

A MIRACLE GUIDE

Are results hard to come by?  Do you worship, and pray......and then socialize with your church members...and then worship and pray some more...but you are not getting what you want out of Jesus?  It is a common problem.  People go to church, maybe because friends invite them, or because family makes a special request...and deep in their heart they want to feel a connection, but it just does not happen.  Let me fill you in on something...

No one feels the serious rush all the time.  NO ONE!  Ministers don’t, priests don’t, experienced church goers do not.  If you are going through all the motions, but God is not showing up the way you expected....THAT IS NORMAL.

For years I have tried to describe miracles, and for years I have probably failed at that job.  The reason for that is because miracles are in a class by themselves.  Sometimes they are completely imperceptible.  This world is made up of miracles!  You are a walking, talking miracle yourself.  You have been brought up....and you may have grown quite old....without ever understanding that you have seen thousands of miracles each day.  But when you start walking around with what I call....the eyes of Christ....you have stepped into a new arena!

Okay, back to results.  The only thing required is to ask, and realize that you might not see the results.  God will DEFINITELY deliver!  There is NO PREREQUISITE for prayer.  God will hear you every time, in every circumstance.  He does not care about the volume of sinning you have done in your life.  He does not care about what is currently going on in your life.  He cares about YOUR SINCERITY!!!  Genuine prayers ALWAYS get God’s attention.

Take a minute, take stock of your life, and then write out a list of your needs.  THEN, write out a short plan for how you will start YOUR MINISTRY!  Folks, that is the secret.  The secret is working for God every day, in your own personal ministry.  It does not matter what you choose to do, just that you are helping the folks around you.  God is interested in give and take.  He tends to be very generous to those people who are very generous.

Understand that you and all those around you are miracles.  Then start firing off a bunch of your own!  Believe me, if you believe in Christ and work for Him regularly, you do indeed have the ability to create miracles.  Wherever you think they are needed, you can send miracles into those situations.  You can do it as fast or slow as you like, but folks, doing it none stop all day is a lot of fun!  I suggest you try and build up to that.

HIDDEN MEANING OF COINCIDENCE AND REFLECTION

There is no such thing as happenstance!

The world is a reflection of you.  Everything that occurs, everything that you see, hear, witness, and feel...can all be incorporated into your own life.  Luck is something that really does not exist, at least not in the context that you have probably been viewing it.

Have you noticed that after you make a key decision in your life, things either start to line up to support that decision, or instead they fight against it?  That is how everything tends to flow, even with something as simple as how to spend a day or who you choose to spend time with.  God is obviously a part of this system, and through these kinds of self-reflections, He is actually opening Himself to you.  He is indicating His judgment of your judgment.  What you are doing is either on a positive path or a negative one.  That is the entire makeup of you and your world, positive and negative.  The more you experience of either, the better or worse your journey is.

Take, for example,