Life without an *

In 2001 a movie came out called 61* which was about the 1960 Major League Baseball season where Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris' pursued Babe Ruth's home run record. They were teammates playing for the New York Yankees and while the New York fans and media were pulling for the popular and personable Mantle, a long-time Yankee. The quieter Maris was viewed as an outsider, aloof and unworthy. As they got closer to the record, MLB Commissioner Ford Frick, who also happened to be Babe Ruth's admirer and ghostwriter, makes a decision. Unless the record is broken in 154 games (the same number Ruth played in 1927), the new record would be listed separately from Ruth's record, because MLB's season is now 162 games long thus making it a record with an *. Maris did break the record in the last game of the season and for the longest time his record was a 61* until 1991 where they decided records were records and they would not be separated.

Many of us walk around as followers of Christ*, believing we are forgiven*, knowing that we will get to spend eternity in heaven someday*. We view ourselves as an "outsider, aloof and unworthy" of taking part in any blessings that God may want to impart on us or our family. We believe God can do great things, BUT just for other people. God can do great things BUT just not for me. Our entire walk with Christ has an * by it because we think "I am not good enough," "I can't live up to His standards", "He could never forgive me for what I have done so I work a little bit harder for it",  "If he knew me and what I have done, he couldnt love me let alone die for me", "Yes I know I get to be his follower, but I am sure I must walk around with an asterisk*" Right?  Wrong!
Because Christ lives in you, nothing else needs to be added, not even an asterisk*. You are a full-fledged child of God!

Romans 8:14-16 says, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
¹⁵ So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶ For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.
We may say that we are children of God, but we live as though we are slaves...slaves to sin, slaves to shame, slaves to unworthiness, slaves to doubt all making us children of God*

Whenever I am walking around with the asterisk*, I find comfort in the Story of David. David loved God, followed God, obeyed God, but after some of the decisions he made (adultery, murder just to name a few) God could have put an asterisk* after everything David did after that. He was a great man of God*, But...., He loved me*, But...., He obeyed me,*...Most of the time...

But He did none of that...instead in Acts 13:22 it says, "After removing Saul, he made David their King. He testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'"
That's right God, after everything David did, called him "a man after my own heart." Oh how I love that!
God wants to remove the * from your life today! I don't know what it is for you, but it could be the one thing that is holding you back from all that God wants to do through you. Maybe your * is guilt for your past, maybe your * is feeling inadequate, maybe your * is unforgiveness for someone else. Whatever has popped in your head while reading this, I urge you to stop what you are doing and pray...pray to take the asterisk* away:)  What Christ did on the cross was enough for you and for me!

If I can pray for you in any way please let me know! Here is to a New Year and living Life with out an *!!!