In a recent interview with Barbara Walters, convicted money scam artist, Bernie Madoff, made this statement: "Now I have no fear -- nothing to think about because I'm no longer in control of my own life." Obviously he is not in control, he is in the beginning years of a lengthy prison sentence. As I listened to the interview the phrase '...I have no fear...because I'm no longer in control of my own life,' caught my attention. Isn't that how we as Christ-followers are supposed to live, no fear because we allow God to be in control? When we accept Christ as Savior we are also to follow Him as Lord, putting all things in His control.

Madoff went on to say: because he is not in control he can actually smile some. I know that when I stop worrying, trying to force decisions and allow Christ to guide my steps I smile a lot more.

One of the last statements Madoff made was: "I deserved to be punished."

That's my story too, I deserve the punishment of my sins, yet by God's grace and sacrifice of His Son I have been pardoned. (Romans 3:23-24)