RICH AND FULL.
That is how I feel right now after spending 8 days in Orlando, Florida at the every 4 year All Staff CELEBRATION of Young Life.
How grateful and blessed Scud and I both feel that we are part of this Mission.
Can I do the celebration justice by trying to recap my highlights? Probably not, but i will give it a try.
Spiritually I am incredibly blessed. With our speakers of Tim Keller and Francis Chan, how could you NOT be?
Tim challenged us to remember, reflect and live by allowing the Gospel to change us.
How can we as followers of Christ have any racial bias? That we should hang out with people who are not like us at times. And how grateful I am that Young Life is now in 77 countries around the world, with another 20-30 targeted. I'm sure Jim Rayburn never envisioned this, but thankfully this is how the LORD led us. I'm grateful for Bob Reeverts to starting this along with Bob Mitchell. And for how Marty Caldwell has pursued this so actively.
And Francis Chan?? Well he changed his whole message backstage by the Holy Spirits' leading and talked about how we must know and be into God's word. This has been something on my heart for years now. WE as a mission MUST promote the Word of God. Too many of us have never read the Bible. I have been aghast at how few of our younger staff and volunteers have not even read the New Testament in its entirety.
How blessed and grateful I am to Recie Raley and June Hoch, who taught me and challenged me to love God's word as a young bride and mother. I know this is a word that God wants us as a mission to know, to take to heart.
And our prayer time was incredible. Led by my dear friend, Donna Hatasaki, she brought us into the Lord's presence and gave us a word picture of coming to the table where Our Father, the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit sat and welcomed us, told us how they loved us and we dropped our burdens onto them. We aren't meant to carry such heavy loads and they are. I cried as I left burden after burden with the Trinity, knowing how capable they are to sort thru them.
And I believe with every fabric of my being that we exalted and lifted up the NAME of Our God. We had an incredible worship band who brought us to the throne of grace each session. OH GOD, may we continue to Praise and Worship YOU.
And 2 of the testimonies of kids that Young Life reaches brought me to tears. Michael, a Capernaum kid shared the Gospel in the most real way ever. This is his words of what the Gospel is:
Jesus suffered.
He died for you.
On the third day He rose.
He wants to be in your heart.
He touched all of us in ways only he could.
And there was Sierra, a almost 20 yr old single mom from our Young Lives division, who gripped us with the story of abuse, abandonment and promiscuity, but whose life was transformed and redeemed when she encountered Jesus Christ.
Whether its with middle schoolers, high schoolers, college friends, teen moms or the special needs kids, we as a mission are reaching out to lost, the marginalized all over the world and I am so thankful to be part of this mission.
And if that wasn't enough...we had fun. I mean we had LOADS OF FUN.
Can you believe that YL rented out Sea World just for us?? it was CRAZY and unbelievable. And food was free!! And in case we got chilled, we were all given jackets to wear!! And then we had a rocking good time with a concert by the CASH family and entertained by comedian Jeff Foxworthy, and then an incredible fireworks display!! PLUS the funnest (is that a word) roller coaster ride I have ever been on: face down the entire ride and you had no idea what was coming!!
AND then...we got to have time with friends we never get to see enough of. Wishing i had more time with Rick and Beckie, Bob and Shannon,Mike and Michelle, Susan, Donna, Amy, Gary and Jeanne, Mike and Shari, Alan and Sharon, Dave and Kaitlin,-just to name a few. But the sweet real conversations I did have warm my heart and thankful for even brief times with those I love so much. And made new friends too.
I started my time with a pre conference with Young Life College that challenged me and made me so grateful that God has blessed me by allowing me to impact the lives of kids in college. And how extremely proud I was of 2 of my girls, Kendra and Sarah for giving of their time to volunteer and serve the YL staff.
I am extremely grateful to the YL planning team. You guys R.O.C.K. OUTSTANDING JOB.THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
ALL PRAISE AND GLORY TO GOD OUR FATHER, JESUS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT who lives in each of us, trying to get us to be who the Father envisions us to be!! May we continue to lift up high the Name of Jesus, so that adolescents everywhere might hear , know and experience the LOVE OF OUR GOD.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
AGAIN...BE STILL
It has been awhile since I last wrote anything, one month ago I wrote on "Be still and know that I am God"
Psalm 46:10 has long been one of my favorite verses. Mainly because so many things happen in life that I don't understand. My human finite mind cannot comprehend why God allows certain events to take place.
I realize that today, it has been one month exactly that GOD took Troy Gray home to be with HIM. Only a month?? IT seems longer. And Katie May? this weekend will mark 6 months since she entered eternity with her Savior and LORD.
And my friend Amy and her family has now been without Wade for 5 1/2 months. And there are others that have entered heaven seemingly all too soon for us left behind.
And now, just recently, our friend and co-worker at Woodleaf , in an accident that is too hard to fathom or comprehend, went to heaven, to spend eternity with the GOD he served so well.
Guy Gresham too, was one taken too soon for us.
My mind can't wrap itself around all these heart wrenching deaths.
And then I remember GOD.
He alone is GOD. He knows things I never will.
He has plans I might never comprehend.
BUT one thing I do know is that HE IS GOD.
And I need to trust Him.
I need to be still. I need to cease striving to understand.
I need to believe that He can always work something good out of a tragedy.
I do believe this with all that is within me.
After forty years now of walking with Jesus Christ, I am more certain than ever, that HE always has a plan. That He is always good. That He never has stopped loving us. That even in the midst of tragedy and heartache, He has never abandoned us.
Ironically, today is the 2 year anniversary of the "natural disaster" that rocked Haiti, the poorest nation on earth.
Was God not there? Did He not care?
Oh YES, He was there and He still is.
He has used this and is using this still in countless ways.
Do I understand why this happened? Absolutely not. Did God make this happen? I certainly don't think so.
Again, its one of those things that I will never understand. So much destruction, so many lost lives, such utter devestation.
BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.
YES, HE IS STILL IN CONTROL. Even if it doesn't look like it.
And yet another tragedy has hit our YL family.
As Anthony lays in a coma, on life support, with not alot of brain activity, I choose again to trust GOD.
Because, where would i be if I didn't? what hell would i be going thru if I didn't believe He was present in every situation.
I seriously do not understand all this. I can't possibly.
What i do know, is that this was NEVER part of God's plan.
When sin entered the world, so did death.
Death was never a part of God's plan. Which is also totally incomprehensible to this small mind.
I just finished Beth Moore's bible study on Daniel on New Years Day.
Do you know what Revelations 21:4 says?
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of hings has passed away."
Satan and his demons are thrown into the lake of fire, and THEN Christ defests death.
The last enemy of God to be defeated is death.
HE never intended that, and in the end, HE gets the FINAL say, and death is no more.
So altho, I don't understand so much of what has happened in the past 6 months, I choose to believe that God has never been out of control. Crazy that my last post from 2011 and my first post in 2012 are on the same thing:
BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.
Psalm 46:10 has long been one of my favorite verses. Mainly because so many things happen in life that I don't understand. My human finite mind cannot comprehend why God allows certain events to take place.
I realize that today, it has been one month exactly that GOD took Troy Gray home to be with HIM. Only a month?? IT seems longer. And Katie May? this weekend will mark 6 months since she entered eternity with her Savior and LORD.
And my friend Amy and her family has now been without Wade for 5 1/2 months. And there are others that have entered heaven seemingly all too soon for us left behind.
And now, just recently, our friend and co-worker at Woodleaf , in an accident that is too hard to fathom or comprehend, went to heaven, to spend eternity with the GOD he served so well.
Guy Gresham too, was one taken too soon for us.
My mind can't wrap itself around all these heart wrenching deaths.
And then I remember GOD.
He alone is GOD. He knows things I never will.
He has plans I might never comprehend.
BUT one thing I do know is that HE IS GOD.
And I need to trust Him.
I need to be still. I need to cease striving to understand.
I need to believe that He can always work something good out of a tragedy.
I do believe this with all that is within me.
After forty years now of walking with Jesus Christ, I am more certain than ever, that HE always has a plan. That He is always good. That He never has stopped loving us. That even in the midst of tragedy and heartache, He has never abandoned us.
Ironically, today is the 2 year anniversary of the "natural disaster" that rocked Haiti, the poorest nation on earth.
Was God not there? Did He not care?
Oh YES, He was there and He still is.
He has used this and is using this still in countless ways.
Do I understand why this happened? Absolutely not. Did God make this happen? I certainly don't think so.
Again, its one of those things that I will never understand. So much destruction, so many lost lives, such utter devestation.
BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.
YES, HE IS STILL IN CONTROL. Even if it doesn't look like it.
And yet another tragedy has hit our YL family.
As Anthony lays in a coma, on life support, with not alot of brain activity, I choose again to trust GOD.
Because, where would i be if I didn't? what hell would i be going thru if I didn't believe He was present in every situation.
I seriously do not understand all this. I can't possibly.
What i do know, is that this was NEVER part of God's plan.
When sin entered the world, so did death.
Death was never a part of God's plan. Which is also totally incomprehensible to this small mind.
I just finished Beth Moore's bible study on Daniel on New Years Day.
Do you know what Revelations 21:4 says?
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of hings has passed away."
Satan and his demons are thrown into the lake of fire, and THEN Christ defests death.
The last enemy of God to be defeated is death.
HE never intended that, and in the end, HE gets the FINAL say, and death is no more.
So altho, I don't understand so much of what has happened in the past 6 months, I choose to believe that God has never been out of control. Crazy that my last post from 2011 and my first post in 2012 are on the same thing:
BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
BE STILL
I don't understand the ways of God so much of the time.
Maybe I am not supposed to understand.
If I did, would I need Him?
Psalm 46:10 says:
BE STILL and KNOW THAT I AM GOD.
BE STILL. BE QUIET. LISTEN.
Is that what it means to be still? The dictionary says that still is to remain stationary, or to remain at rest. It also says to remain calm and tranquil; free from turbulence or commotion.
But today its hard to be still.
Its hard to be at rest.
Because I just don't understand.
I don't understand why GOD you took Troy Gray home to You.
He was only 29. He had Kelly and their two sweet children who are 4 and still an infant.
Why not take me Lord? I have lived. I have had my children and watched them to grow into adults who love you. I have been married for a long time to such a wonderful man. I had 31 years of a nursing career, and the last 4 encouraging college kids to spend a lifetime walking, running and experiencing life with YOU.
I have had the joy of my grandsons.
I have had lifelong dear dear friends. I have lived.
Troy? He was in the prime of his life. YOU were using him for Your forever Kingdom purposes. And yet, YOU decided to bring him home to You.
Of course I don't understand that.
I don't understand either why You also took sweet Katie Parsons May home in July. WE all had prayed so much for her to get her lung transplant.
Maybe, like I said earlier, its not for me to understand.
The second part of the verse is easier for me to comprehend:
AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.
That part I get. YOU ARE GOD.
I believe You.
I trust You.
I know YOU have our best in mind.
I know YOU want us to have an abundant life-the kind only You can give.
So even tho I don't understand YOUR ways LORD, once again, I choose to trust you.
You even tell us in Your precious WORD: Who has known the mind of the LORD? Who has been His Counselor?
And in the 55th chapter of Isaiah you again remind us:
My ways are not your ways...My thoughts are not your thoughts.
So today , in a day where my heart is way too sad, I choose to believe you.
And I thank you for Troy's life. I thank You for sweet Katie's life.
Please tell them I will see them soon.
And I really am trying to be still.
Maybe I am not supposed to understand.
If I did, would I need Him?
Psalm 46:10 says:
BE STILL and KNOW THAT I AM GOD.
BE STILL. BE QUIET. LISTEN.
Is that what it means to be still? The dictionary says that still is to remain stationary, or to remain at rest. It also says to remain calm and tranquil; free from turbulence or commotion.
But today its hard to be still.
Its hard to be at rest.
Because I just don't understand.
I don't understand why GOD you took Troy Gray home to You.
He was only 29. He had Kelly and their two sweet children who are 4 and still an infant.
Why not take me Lord? I have lived. I have had my children and watched them to grow into adults who love you. I have been married for a long time to such a wonderful man. I had 31 years of a nursing career, and the last 4 encouraging college kids to spend a lifetime walking, running and experiencing life with YOU.
I have had the joy of my grandsons.
I have had lifelong dear dear friends. I have lived.
Troy? He was in the prime of his life. YOU were using him for Your forever Kingdom purposes. And yet, YOU decided to bring him home to You.
Of course I don't understand that.
I don't understand either why You also took sweet Katie Parsons May home in July. WE all had prayed so much for her to get her lung transplant.
Maybe, like I said earlier, its not for me to understand.
The second part of the verse is easier for me to comprehend:
AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.
That part I get. YOU ARE GOD.
I believe You.
I trust You.
I know YOU have our best in mind.
I know YOU want us to have an abundant life-the kind only You can give.
So even tho I don't understand YOUR ways LORD, once again, I choose to trust you.
You even tell us in Your precious WORD: Who has known the mind of the LORD? Who has been His Counselor?
And in the 55th chapter of Isaiah you again remind us:
My ways are not your ways...My thoughts are not your thoughts.
So today , in a day where my heart is way too sad, I choose to believe you.
And I thank you for Troy's life. I thank You for sweet Katie's life.
Please tell them I will see them soon.
And I really am trying to be still.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
The GIVING OF GIFTS
This is the time of year, when we spend so much time figuring out what to give people we love dearly, for Christmas.
My problem is: Christmas has become so over commercialized. Its become a way for the Retail in America to stay afloat. We are bombarded with ads thinking we need this, we need that.
Kids change their minds hourly to what they might want depending on what they see advertised on TV.
My email box is overflowing with "SALES". My mailbox brims with catalogs.
I love giving gifts. I always have.
But I am so concerned that we have really lost the true meaning of Christmas.
I vividly recall years ago, taking our children to see "Christmas in the Park" in downtown San Jose. We walked by the large Nativity scene and I overheard a woman say loudly, "What does that have to do with Christmas?".
WHAT?
IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH CHRISTMAS.
Do you see the "CHRIST" in Christmas?
JESUS was the ULTIMATE GIFT and GOD THE FATHER is the ULTIMATE GIFT GIVER.
I do love Christmas. It is my favorite time of the year. I put up decorations and leave them up for a month. Although up in the mountains where we now live, the folks keep them up for 2 months!!
I love to give gifts. I love to bake goodies. I love the fact that I can be with the people I love the most.
I have had my 2 grandsons gifts for months now. Kellen is getting a San Francisco GIANTS bed comforter. I think he will LOVE this, and he certainly needs no more toys.
Jax is getting a wagon-because I think all kids need a wagon and somehow I forgot that with Kellen.
I have bought some other gifts for my kids. But they are small.
Instead, the past few years, I have given them gifts from World Vision.
All of us can really buy what we need. We have all that we need.
But giving them gifts that help others has such more meaning to me. In time, I hope they see why I choose to do this.
This morning I literally shed tears as I looked at the possibilities of the gifts online. I chose carefully and prayerfully. You can be sure that every year someone will get something to do with medicines that are needed. I spent 31 years being a nurse and my heartstrings break when I read the stories.
Instead of wishing I had more money to give material things to my loved ones, I wish I had tons of money to give to all the items listed.
I would love to encourage you to give to World Vision.Or to Heifer. Or to Samaritan's Purse. Or to Advent Conspiracy.
These are the gifts that are life giving and life changing, that won't be forgotten a month after the decorations are put away.
This morning I read in a devotional: "I came that they might have life and might have it abundantly" (John 10:10). To me, to live abundantly, means to give generously.
Christmas is for giving.
Let's just make sure we give gifts that are worthy of the money we spend.
My problem is: Christmas has become so over commercialized. Its become a way for the Retail in America to stay afloat. We are bombarded with ads thinking we need this, we need that.
Kids change their minds hourly to what they might want depending on what they see advertised on TV.
My email box is overflowing with "SALES". My mailbox brims with catalogs.
I love giving gifts. I always have.
But I am so concerned that we have really lost the true meaning of Christmas.
I vividly recall years ago, taking our children to see "Christmas in the Park" in downtown San Jose. We walked by the large Nativity scene and I overheard a woman say loudly, "What does that have to do with Christmas?".
WHAT?
IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH CHRISTMAS.
Do you see the "CHRIST" in Christmas?
JESUS was the ULTIMATE GIFT and GOD THE FATHER is the ULTIMATE GIFT GIVER.
I do love Christmas. It is my favorite time of the year. I put up decorations and leave them up for a month. Although up in the mountains where we now live, the folks keep them up for 2 months!!
I love to give gifts. I love to bake goodies. I love the fact that I can be with the people I love the most.
I have had my 2 grandsons gifts for months now. Kellen is getting a San Francisco GIANTS bed comforter. I think he will LOVE this, and he certainly needs no more toys.
Jax is getting a wagon-because I think all kids need a wagon and somehow I forgot that with Kellen.
I have bought some other gifts for my kids. But they are small.
Instead, the past few years, I have given them gifts from World Vision.
All of us can really buy what we need. We have all that we need.
But giving them gifts that help others has such more meaning to me. In time, I hope they see why I choose to do this.
This morning I literally shed tears as I looked at the possibilities of the gifts online. I chose carefully and prayerfully. You can be sure that every year someone will get something to do with medicines that are needed. I spent 31 years being a nurse and my heartstrings break when I read the stories.
Instead of wishing I had more money to give material things to my loved ones, I wish I had tons of money to give to all the items listed.
I would love to encourage you to give to World Vision.Or to Heifer. Or to Samaritan's Purse. Or to Advent Conspiracy.
These are the gifts that are life giving and life changing, that won't be forgotten a month after the decorations are put away.
This morning I read in a devotional: "I came that they might have life and might have it abundantly" (John 10:10). To me, to live abundantly, means to give generously.
Christmas is for giving.
Let's just make sure we give gifts that are worthy of the money we spend.
Monday, November 28, 2011
THEAGSGIVING
We went to Texas on Thanksgiving Day. All 10 of us.
No the title isn't misspelled.
It was Thanksgiving in Aggieland.
Scud went to Texas A&M for college. All four of our kids are Aggie fans because of their dad.
They all wanted to go to a game at A&M.
So for Scud's 60th birthday, the kids gave him (and all of us) a trip to Texas to see the Ags play Texas. Could be for the last time and we had no idea when the trip was planned and tickets bought. A&M is joining the SEC next year, so they may never play their dreaded rivals again.
BUT we had an absolutely amazing time. Despite the last second win (literally)by tu.
We toured A&M, had breakfast with 4 guys Scud had a bible study with all four years in college, got lost in the texas back country and ended up in the Woodlands at Sharon's home with a visit with Nanny and Sharon's family.
This was the first time Elouise had her children, her grandchildren and her great grandsons together in one place. Who knows if it will happen again?
EVERYTHING WAS INCREDIBLE.
WELL almost...Kellen and Jax got sick, and then when we got home, Katie and Nate got sick too.
But truly, I thank God for the most enjoyable time and for kids who love and respect their dad immensely.
THANK YOU KRISTI, ADAM, TODD, RYAN, KATIE AND NATE.
No the title isn't misspelled.
It was Thanksgiving in Aggieland.
Scud went to Texas A&M for college. All four of our kids are Aggie fans because of their dad.
They all wanted to go to a game at A&M.
So for Scud's 60th birthday, the kids gave him (and all of us) a trip to Texas to see the Ags play Texas. Could be for the last time and we had no idea when the trip was planned and tickets bought. A&M is joining the SEC next year, so they may never play their dreaded rivals again.
BUT we had an absolutely amazing time. Despite the last second win (literally)by tu.
We toured A&M, had breakfast with 4 guys Scud had a bible study with all four years in college, got lost in the texas back country and ended up in the Woodlands at Sharon's home with a visit with Nanny and Sharon's family.
This was the first time Elouise had her children, her grandchildren and her great grandsons together in one place. Who knows if it will happen again?
EVERYTHING WAS INCREDIBLE.
WELL almost...Kellen and Jax got sick, and then when we got home, Katie and Nate got sick too.
But truly, I thank God for the most enjoyable time and for kids who love and respect their dad immensely.
THANK YOU KRISTI, ADAM, TODD, RYAN, KATIE AND NATE.
Monday, November 21, 2011
40 YEARS
This past Saturday was the anniversary of me beginning a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Forty years ago, while driving home from college (Univ of Puget Sound) in my green VW bug, I remember asking God to come into my life and take control. I had spent the previous evening with my friends Bill and Dave-who were college roommates, playing the devil's advocate. Both my friends were followers of Christ and wanted me to know that God would never leave me or forsake me once I began a "new life" with Him. I asked so many questions, and they gave me answers. We talked into the wee hours of the morning and I remember wondering how the heck I was going to stay awake for the 12 hour drive back to Palo Alto.
But as I drove, I reflected on our conversation and after a few hours, it seemed right to ask Jesus to come into my life.
40 years later, I consider that to be the BEST decision of my life.
I never walked away from Jesus, but there were times in the early years, that I went sideways a little-trying to live the life of a follower of Christ and a college sorority girl.
I have had tremendous joy and tremendous pain in these 40 years. I have been blessed beyond measure. I have an absolutely amazing man to share my life with. I have 4 wonderful children and 2 incredible sons by marriage. I have 2 cute little grandsons who always can make me smile and laugh. And I have an invaluable support system of some of the kindest,caring, loving and forgiving friends imagineable.
The pain I have experienced has left me raw and vulnerable. It has stripped away my pride and made me feel helpless often. But I have never been without HOPE, because I have the stability of a GOD who will always uphold me.
It is the pain where I grow and learn lessons that otherwise probably would have escaped me. The ones that after the suffering has lessened, I realize that Jesus had something so important to tell me. Painful lessons that I would not trade. Lessons that taught me of the extreme faithfulness, love, grace and mercy of God.
40 years of walking with Jesus. Two thirds of my life trying to become the person that He envisions me to be. So extremely grateful that God never has given up on me.
Now, I can't even fathom what my life would be like without Jesus Christ. I would not be who I am today or who He wants me to be tomorrow. I know I would be more selfish and self-absorbed, more concerned about my wants than anyone else's.
Thankfully, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt , that this life is to be all about JESUS and very very little about me.
I am so so grateful that God has allowed me to know Him. I cannot imagine my life now apart from Christ. Now I just want to know that with however many years that I have left in this life, I will use it for His purposes, for His Kingdom...and happily do so.
Psalm 142:5
"YOU are my place of refuge. YOU are all I really want in life"
Amen and Amen.
Forty years ago, while driving home from college (Univ of Puget Sound) in my green VW bug, I remember asking God to come into my life and take control. I had spent the previous evening with my friends Bill and Dave-who were college roommates, playing the devil's advocate. Both my friends were followers of Christ and wanted me to know that God would never leave me or forsake me once I began a "new life" with Him. I asked so many questions, and they gave me answers. We talked into the wee hours of the morning and I remember wondering how the heck I was going to stay awake for the 12 hour drive back to Palo Alto.
But as I drove, I reflected on our conversation and after a few hours, it seemed right to ask Jesus to come into my life.
40 years later, I consider that to be the BEST decision of my life.
I never walked away from Jesus, but there were times in the early years, that I went sideways a little-trying to live the life of a follower of Christ and a college sorority girl.
I have had tremendous joy and tremendous pain in these 40 years. I have been blessed beyond measure. I have an absolutely amazing man to share my life with. I have 4 wonderful children and 2 incredible sons by marriage. I have 2 cute little grandsons who always can make me smile and laugh. And I have an invaluable support system of some of the kindest,caring, loving and forgiving friends imagineable.
The pain I have experienced has left me raw and vulnerable. It has stripped away my pride and made me feel helpless often. But I have never been without HOPE, because I have the stability of a GOD who will always uphold me.
It is the pain where I grow and learn lessons that otherwise probably would have escaped me. The ones that after the suffering has lessened, I realize that Jesus had something so important to tell me. Painful lessons that I would not trade. Lessons that taught me of the extreme faithfulness, love, grace and mercy of God.
40 years of walking with Jesus. Two thirds of my life trying to become the person that He envisions me to be. So extremely grateful that God never has given up on me.
Now, I can't even fathom what my life would be like without Jesus Christ. I would not be who I am today or who He wants me to be tomorrow. I know I would be more selfish and self-absorbed, more concerned about my wants than anyone else's.
Thankfully, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt , that this life is to be all about JESUS and very very little about me.
I am so so grateful that God has allowed me to know Him. I cannot imagine my life now apart from Christ. Now I just want to know that with however many years that I have left in this life, I will use it for His purposes, for His Kingdom...and happily do so.
Psalm 142:5
"YOU are my place of refuge. YOU are all I really want in life"
Amen and Amen.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
DECISIONS DECISIONS DECISIONS
We make countless decisions everyday.
We make many of them without really even thinking. For instance, we get out of bed every morning-we could decide to stay in bed.
And then some of our decisions we think about maybe just a little. Like what will I have for breakfast, or will I have breakfast?
Then there are other decisions that weigh a little more on us. Like which college should I go to?? what career path should I take?? Should I move? Should I stay?
But what about those MAJOR decisions...those life changing ones? Like getting married.
Is this THE ONE? That one decision can change your life for a very long time. Well unless you are Kim Kardashian, and then it will change your life for 72 days.
I bet that Joe Paterno is really thinking over his decision right now to just report what he heard about his coach that was abusing young boys. That one decision has now affected so so many people. And JoePa's career, a brilliant coach who has the most wins of any college coach, has now been ended and marred by that decision.
And Bernie Madoff. He made decisions over and over again to lie, cheat and steal people's money. Why? Because he was greedy. He will now die in prison. His son ended his life because of the guilt and humiliation. I'm pretty sure he would take back all those decisions if he knew the final outcome.
What about the egomanical leaders who kill people to get their way? Who devise schemes to utterly ruin people's lives? Recently, we have watched Sadam Hussein, Osama bin Laden and Muammar Gadaffi lives end -all because they were individually responsible for killing thousands upon thousands.
What about the young man who has gotten his girlfriend pregnant? And now she wants an abortion and he wants the baby?? Would he have had such casual sex if he knew the heartache he was now experiencing?
And what if you are cheating just a little? On a test? Or a paper?? Thinking that no one would notice or care. What if that started a habit of taking things that didn't belong to you? I can't believe that Bernie Madoff started his cheating and stealing just recently.
We often think our decisons don't really affect others.
But they do. Sometimes people get deeply hurt by our decisons.
The decision that has affected my life the most is one I made 40 years ago. The decision to believe that God loved me so much, that He wanted a relationship with me so desperately, that He sent His One and only precious Son to take on my sins. So that we could have communion with one another.
That decision that I made on November 19, 1971 is the BEST decision I ever made.
That decision has had the most impact on my life.
That decision has slowly, thru 40 years changed me to realize that life isn't about me, but its all about GOD. The ONE who made me, who created me for His Glory.
What about you? What kind of decisons are you making? Do you realize they could last a lifetime?? and then some??
My prayer for myself, and for you, is that our decisions would be made so that they would reflect God, reflect the person that He envisions me (us) to be.
We make many of them without really even thinking. For instance, we get out of bed every morning-we could decide to stay in bed.
And then some of our decisions we think about maybe just a little. Like what will I have for breakfast, or will I have breakfast?
Then there are other decisions that weigh a little more on us. Like which college should I go to?? what career path should I take?? Should I move? Should I stay?
But what about those MAJOR decisions...those life changing ones? Like getting married.
Is this THE ONE? That one decision can change your life for a very long time. Well unless you are Kim Kardashian, and then it will change your life for 72 days.
I bet that Joe Paterno is really thinking over his decision right now to just report what he heard about his coach that was abusing young boys. That one decision has now affected so so many people. And JoePa's career, a brilliant coach who has the most wins of any college coach, has now been ended and marred by that decision.
And Bernie Madoff. He made decisions over and over again to lie, cheat and steal people's money. Why? Because he was greedy. He will now die in prison. His son ended his life because of the guilt and humiliation. I'm pretty sure he would take back all those decisions if he knew the final outcome.
What about the egomanical leaders who kill people to get their way? Who devise schemes to utterly ruin people's lives? Recently, we have watched Sadam Hussein, Osama bin Laden and Muammar Gadaffi lives end -all because they were individually responsible for killing thousands upon thousands.
What about the young man who has gotten his girlfriend pregnant? And now she wants an abortion and he wants the baby?? Would he have had such casual sex if he knew the heartache he was now experiencing?
And what if you are cheating just a little? On a test? Or a paper?? Thinking that no one would notice or care. What if that started a habit of taking things that didn't belong to you? I can't believe that Bernie Madoff started his cheating and stealing just recently.
We often think our decisons don't really affect others.
But they do. Sometimes people get deeply hurt by our decisons.
The decision that has affected my life the most is one I made 40 years ago. The decision to believe that God loved me so much, that He wanted a relationship with me so desperately, that He sent His One and only precious Son to take on my sins. So that we could have communion with one another.
That decision that I made on November 19, 1971 is the BEST decision I ever made.
That decision has had the most impact on my life.
That decision has slowly, thru 40 years changed me to realize that life isn't about me, but its all about GOD. The ONE who made me, who created me for His Glory.
What about you? What kind of decisons are you making? Do you realize they could last a lifetime?? and then some??
My prayer for myself, and for you, is that our decisions would be made so that they would reflect God, reflect the person that He envisions me (us) to be.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)