Learning to live for HIS glory

They sat around their regular table, another pulled up to it filled with unfamiliar faces.  Laughter mixed with earnest expressions . . . one familiar face was missing. Gradually word got back to where I stood at register.  That one familiar face is gone.  Forever.  "At least he's resting in peace now." Those words haunt my heart. Is he? Did he know the Savior?  Is he living now in the peace and joy that come from the very presence of God? Or has he entered a forever living death? Condemned because he never accepted the gift of Jesus as Savior? I saw him multiple times a week, wished him a good day, endured his teasing . . .  but . . . did he know the hope I have? I don't know.  I can't know. But this, I do know . . . one day, friends, we will all face death, and on the other side stand before a righteous GOD .  How will He judge?  Rightly He would find us all guilty, and send us away to forever torment . . . forever separat...

It happens...again. In the middle of the everyday struggles of life, Perspective shifts. My eyes and mind cloud over. Pain. People's opinions. . . But does all this matter? Really? He lifts my eyes up, Again. Reminds me: Eternity matters . And because of that, How I live my everyday matters Too. And I cling to a thin thread of trust, Begging, Don't let me forget again. Remind me daily, Souls matter. Prayer matters. And Jesus wins. Lord, burn eternity into my heart and eyes.  Let me live in my everyday with a forever perspective, and use me, somehow, someway to make an impact that matters in eternity. Amen.

I planned on leaving for a dear friend's wedding this evening.  Plans change.  Some sickness has set in at my house, and we aren't able to make the trip.  Sadness and disappointment resulted. This morning though, as I sat with the Lord, He reminded me that the most glorious of weddings is yet to come . . . and no sickness can change the fact that I will be there!  Oh . . . words fail me to describe the GLORY of that thought!  I am so thankful for my Jesus.  There was a time when I was sick--dead, actually--He brought healing and life.  Through His death, I live, and one day will be a part of the most glorious and beautiful wedding of all time. =) =) I'm beyond thankful.  Missing this wedding is sad, but missing that wedding would be devastating.  I rejoice that I can be confident I won't!  And my heart breaks for those who will realize they are sick too late.  Do you know this, friends?  Have you accepted Jesus' gift of hea...

As God continues to challenge me in this area of living every moment of every day in His presence I'm learning that that's the starting point for quite a few other lessons.  In actuality, I am living in His presence every moment of every day, the question is whether I'm living in awareness of His presence. As I try to put this lesson into practice in my life, I'd like to share a few of the things I'm learning through it: When I'm living in the awareness of His presence I start to see people through His eyes.  And when I see them through His eyes, it becomes easier to love them with His heart. I'm less concerned about my comfort and more concerned about His glory.  Last night I was reading It's Not About Me by Max Lucado, in there he talks about 2 Corinthians 4:17, which says, "For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison."  He's talking about the brevity of life when compar...