30 Days to Live, Bucket List, and John Mayer

There are major events in people's lives that spark change. I feel I have recently entered into one of those times in my life.

30 days to live (a message series from my church) has helped me to begin a life change that I desperately need to make. My Pastor has reminded me how brief my time on earth is. The key verse for the series... and verse worthy of memory... was Psalm 39:4-5 (NLT) -

"Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away. My life is no longer than the width of my hand. An entire lifetime is just a moment to you; human existence is but a breath."

I NEED daily reminders of this verse. I NEED reminders of the reality of this verse. I don't want to waste my life. I want my life to count for something. I want to be able to live in the moment. I long to leave a legacy for Christ. I desire to fight for peace in my relationships. I need to say what I need to say. And I understand that to do that I must keep an eternal perspective.

I started this blog as a result of the need I have to constantly remind myself that my life is a vapor (James 4:14). We are only here for a little while, then we vanish. My prayer is that in viewing my life in this way, I may learn to treasure Christ in ways I am not prepared for, nor ever expected.


By the way... Go see the movie Bucket List. The only conflict I have with the movie is that now every movie I see Morgan Freeman in I think he is playing the role of God... thanks Evan Almighty.

A WASTED LIFE

Holiday At The Sea

On several occassions, I have heard or read John Piper comment on a quote from C.S. Lewis in his sermon, The Weight of Glory:

"If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong but too weak. We are halfhearted creatures fooling about with drink and sex and ambition, when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mudpies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."

I have spent many hours of my life reflecting upon this quote since I first heard it several years ago. Everytime I have come to the same conclusion... I admit... I settle for mudpies. I am the ignorant child who cannot understand that a holiday at the sea awaits me. I am far to easily pleased with MY goals, MY ambitions, MY dreams. The "desires of MY heart" that the scriptures talk about, do not come close to the desires of GOD'S heart.

Ephesians 3:20 says that God is able to do more... sorry... immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine.

My Pastor always says "dream wildly." I think God shouts the same to us. He does not want us to be satisfied with our desires, He wants us to find the "infinite joy" found in the "holiday at the sea."

-Father as I continue to align my desires with yours, may you continue to remind me that my desires are small, and yours are large.

Above All Else...

Above all else, here's what I want you to know:

Mom and Dad- I will forever be grateful for the way that you have raised me and continue to raise me. I could not ask for a better set of parents. There is no way I would ever have come to know Jesus, if it were not for the way that you raised me. Thank you for teaching me how to treat people, how to treat each other, and how to live a life that is worthy of respect.

Mom- if I continue as an educator for the rest of my life, I hope that I will be like you... that even after 30 years in education, it will still bother me when I feel my students aren't achieving the goals that I have set for them. I have yet to meet another educator with the simple passion and honest caring for students that you possess. You have also always shown your love to your own kids, even when we haven't shown it in return.

Dad- if I ever make someone smile or laugh at anytime in my life, I know that I have learned from perhaps the best one-line comedian of them all. There is no other person in my life that makes me laugh inside like you do. You have been a great role model. The simple things you do for people have not gone unnoticed.


Laura Beth- Ever since you were little, I have always been PROUD of you. Thank you for putting up with a brother who many times was not there for you. If you ever got hurt or mad (and I bet you did) because of that, you never showed it. Even whenever I wasn't there, know that I have been so PROUD of your every accomplishment. When I think about my sister, my heart jumps! All I can really say is I would not trade you for anything.

Anna-Marie- You are truly the love of my life. You challenge me in ways I need to be challenged, and you reward me in ways that make me feel unbelieveably blessed. I enjoy getting to spend my life with you. I could not imagine my life without you! Thank you for your smile that makes me smile, your "laughs" that make everyone laugh, and your love that my words can't express.


To all of you-

HOME WILL ALWAYS BE WHERE YOU ARE.