A Great Day

It has been a great day.  Not only because it was Sunday and I got to be in the Lord's house, but because I woke up this morning.  You see, each day is a gift from God.  The gift of another day with my man and my kids.  Another day with my church family.  Another day in the "land of the living" as my Granny use to say. 

As usual, my day has been busy.  Church and Sunday school, lunch, Wal Mart, skating party for Hanna's birthday in Winfield and then back to Fayette for Youth.  As I was driving home tonight, I was thanking the Lord for watching over me and protecting me.  I thought of the animals He might have His hand on so they wouldn't run out in front of me.  I thought of the cars I passed that might be driving and texting or driving and not really paying attention to the road and how God has protected me from harm.  It's so easy to take these things for granted.  We expect them I guess but they are actually gifts from God. 

I also thought about my ministry at church as a shepherd to the youth.  Man, what an important position God has placed me in this season of my life.  I am so thankful to be able to share life with them during this season of their lives.  I often wonder if I heard God correctly when He called me into youth ministry.  I wonder if I am making a difference.  Tonight, as I sat in the drive thru at McDonald's, God spoke to me.  I can't change their lives, only He can do that.  The only thing I CAN do is plant seeds and wait for Him to water and fertilize them.  These are such important years in a teens life when they are becoming independent and making decisions that will effect their lives in years to come.  I want to hover my "wings" over them and shelter them from the nasty world so they won't get hurt or make wrong decisions.  I realize I can't literally DO that but I sure want to.  They are a great bunch of young men and young women that I love dearly!

So in the wee hours this morning, God led me to 1 John 3:14 which reads: Anyone who doesn't love remains in death.  The Greek word for death is thanatos and means the misery of the soul arising from sin.  Sin in Greek is hamartia and means to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honor; to do wrong.  The longer we do not love, the more sin builds up and our lives become miserable.  We may not recognize the misery because we have become so accustomed to it and it seems "normal".  We think the world is out to get us.  We think we are the victim.  We think if it weren't for bad luck, we would have no luck at all.  You see, in all of those statements, love is not found.  What if we looked for the good in others instead of pointing out the bad?  What if we helped someone without wondering about their "history"?  What if we loved people where they were...even the drunk, even the adulteress, even the liar, even the...you fill in the blank.  What kind of impact would we make on the lives of others if we loved them regardless?  Matthew 22:37 says the GREATEST command is to love the Lord your God with  ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your mind.  If we would just love God that much, all the rest would fall into place.  I am confident in that!  I have been captured by death before and I never want to go back.  It's a miserable existence.

My prayer is that in these last days, and I am confident we are there, we would show love to others in our words, actions, gestures, and by the life we live.  Make someones day...love them.