I am a different person since Jesus changed me. If anyone does not believe in Him, perhaps they
could try to learn what a different person this
new Merlin is.
     Jesus did not make me brilliant or give me the
academic gifts that others may have, but people who knew me said, “What happened to Merlin Carothers?”
     The old Merlin felt free to take anything he wanted without feeling guilty. However, if someone
tried to steal from me I would have violently protected whatever I considered to be mine. I was often sad and angry about many things in my life. Some of the people I knew were also sad and
angry about their lives. My confidence in my future was close to zero and I blamed my problems on everyone but myself. To me, people were untrustworthy and unreliable, so I trusted almost no one.
     Then I was introduced to Jesus. Suddenly my attitude toward people changed. Through the years I have wanted to help others. Some have wanted help, while others were not interested.
     How does Jesus make such big changes in us? He works at a place down deep in our hearts. He changes and keeps changing our thoughts and feelings about everyone. When I think about people
my first impulse is, “What can I do to help them?” God has given me the zeal to help people.
     I want to help you! My strength and time are limited but no matter who you are or what you have done my first reaction toward you is, “How can I help you know, trust and love Jesus?”
     Jesus always desires to work through us to help others understand His Good News. He accepts, loves and wants everyone to be part of God’s eternal family.
     Because Jesus loves us so much we want to be
more like Him. When we fail, we are sad and pray
for strength to do better. He always forgives us
because He understands that our hearts want to
please God.

     If you have failed Him, look up! He says: I will
be merciful to them in their wrongdoings, and I will
remember their sins no more (Heb. 8:12 TLB). What
a miracle this is. God can forgive and forget!
     Rejoice and be glad. Shout to God with the
voice of triumph. Sing and make melody in your
heart to the Lord. Believe that God is working for your good as He promises in Romans 8:28. Now you are ready to go into all the world and tell everyone the Good News of what Jesus has done
for you.
     Have I made all of this sound too easy? If so, I need to say that it is not easy. Changing a human heart is the most difficult thing that has ever been
done. God knows that we are stubborn, defiant and selfish creatures. Since the first person was created, we have thought first, last, and always about what we want.
     God worked out a plan that was so perfect that Satan could not defeat it. God would come to earth, live a perfect, holy life and then credit His own goodness to our account! What a perfect plan. But to receive His free gift we have to believe Him. Not just say we believe. Believe Him, period. Nothing else we try to do will work. Only believing Him will make us a different person. His goodness
makes a grand entrance into the center of our hearts. We are not made perfect but His seed is sown in us. This seed grows and grows. It begins to crowd out the bad things that Satan had sown in us! Our sad hearts become glad hearts.
     The old you becomes a new you! This new you wants to tell people near and far that Jesus can make them a different person.