Billy Wayne's World

Dear Friends,
I am excited about what God is going to do for 2009. While it has been a year of changes for me, it has been the year of great blessings. I have had the opportunity to reflect on a lot of things over the last couple of months. One thing I know is that I am more determined than ever to share the gospel of Christ.
I am overwhelmed at what God is allowing to happen in our world. I believe that in America we are reaping the consequences of our overindulgence and materialism. When I look at the stock market or the financial status of our economy, I can’t help but see what we have done to ourselves.
God is a very patient God. I have seen Him time and again allow us to do what we want to do. The end result is absolute failure. I have often said, “When we make bad choices, we suffer the consequences”. Hello, America! Hello, Christian! What has happened to our convictions. Why do we think we can get by with being so selfish and self-centered?
Yes, God is a God of grace and compassion. He also has other attributes. He is also a God of holiness and judgment. We want to embrace the “warm, fuzzy” part of God and not His call to righteousness and purity. We want to call the shots and ask Him to come and bless our plans.
Over the last few months, I feel that I have been in one meeting after another listening to people give excuses as to why they are doing what they are doing. What happened to “conviction.” As believers, this is one thing that will be present in your life if indeed you have Christ in your heart.
The Holy Spirit lives in us to guide us. He gives us peace when we are following Him. He “convicts” us when we sin and follow our own desires. HE IS PRESENT in us.
I can’t understand why some people go to ministers or spiritual leaders to ease their conscience for the disobedience in their lives. Sometimes, people want me to make them feel better about what they have done wrong. Some put the blame on everyone else except themselves. I know that we have all done that to some extent, but peace will never come until we ask for forgiveness from the one we have hurt the most….JESUS.
It amazes me at how people can live in blatant disobedience to God. They can be bitter, unforgiving and arrogant and in the same breath ask God to bless them.
We should be a people of conviction. We should not be so concerned about others that we forget who we have really hurt. May we learn to have hearts that are sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s convicting power. If we don’t, we are going to end up miserable, self-seeking people.
God has allowed America to suffer for her prideful arrogance and materialism. God still loves us enough to discipline us and break us. Only the humble experience His presence.
Break me, O God. Convict my heart. Let me be what you want me to be. Don’t let me seek peace from mankind about my sin toward you. May I approach you with a repentant heart. May I always seek to restore broken relationships and trust. May I not be the excuse that others use for not wanting to be a Christian. I want to be a man of conviction.
As things around us seem to spin out of control, may we be able to point people to the unmovable, unchanging God. We can only do that if we are willing to be all that Christ calls us to be. It’s time to step up.

For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. (1 Thessalonians 1:4-5)

Convicted,
Billy Wayne