by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
I learned this week that a man I went to school with had taken his own life. My first thoughts revolved around the sadness I had for the child he left behind.
That little boy would never really get to know his father. But as the week went on I began to think about his salvation. The last time I saw him was about 10 years ago, during a very dark time in my life. It was during that time that I was involved in drugs and considering my own suicide.
I was listening to a sermon this week about Heaven and Hell. The preacher said something to me that really stuck out. Over 6,000 people a day in the United States go into Eternity. Over 6,000 people! But where do they go? Heaven or Hell? That question has left an aching in my heart. I know where I'm going when I become one of those 6,000 people. But the sad reality is, there are MANY who don't. And I haven't always known.
Today I ask many "what if's?" What if I wouldn't have opened my eyes to Jesus when I did? What if I was still wandering this world lost, looking for all the wrong answers? What if someone would have reached out to him? What if I would have been that someone?
I don't know where his eternity will be spent. But as I look around at many of my loved ones today, I know the answer. But that answer doesn't have to stay the same. Where do I go from here? What do I do? My first step is prayer. My second step is to be an example. The third, and hardest step is speaking the truth.
6God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power 10on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10
Sobering words if I say so myself. I praise the Lord that I am able to say with confidence, not cockiness, that on the day of Christ's return I will be among those glorified, not punished with everlasting destruction. I praise God that I have received that promise. It was only three years ago that I received that promise.
It's only too late when He has called your name one final time. Where is your Eternity?
by | Life Application
Someone asked me yesterday about my pet peeves. I told them that judging others bothered me. I had never given much thought about the things that bothered me about others. I just knew what I liked and didn't like.
- Judgmental people.
- Drama.
- Arrogance.
- People who can't just get to the point.
These are just a few. But I found myself last night doing these very things that I hate, which brings up another one of my pet peeves, hypocrites. I got a wake up call last night - one I don' t feel proud to admit.
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by | Life Application
I feel so grateful to be holding my head up and writing this blog today. For the past four days that hasn't been the case. I've spent the weekend in and out of the ER, with doctors telling me they had no diagnosis. Finally, I'm on the right path to wellness.
I'm making a list of things to be grateful for, despite what's happened to me in the past week.
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by | Life Application
My life just took a giant leap into the next healing phase. I don't know whether to fall asleep from exhaustion or jump and shout from relief.
My "pop" passed away in February. It has been a difficult, exhausting, unbelievable, emotional, confusing, sad, happy, and overwhelming five months. I have celebrated his "Homecoming" to Jesus. I have cried myself to sleep wanting him to come home. I've asked why many times. I have been in denial. I've even refused to talk about it.
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by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
This is a story from From Robert J. Morgan in On This Day.
Missionaries Dick and Margaret Hillis found themselves caught in China during the Japanese invasion. The couple lived with their two children in the inland town of Shenkiu. The village was tense with fear; every day brought terrifying reports of the Japanese advance. At the worst possible time, Dick developed appendicitis, and he knew his life depended on making the long journey by ricksha to the hospital. On January 15, 1941, with deep foreboding, Margaret watched him leave.
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by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
In Kay Arthur's Lord Teach Me to Pray, she discusses several times throughout the study a man named George Mueller. I'm a fan of history, so I decided to look his name up. He's definitely a man worth reading about. In 1836 Mueller and his wife started an orphanage. By the end of Meuller's life he raised over 10,000 orphans. As if that's not enough to be impressed with, it's how he provided for those orphans that amazed me.
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