Saturday was an interesting day on our farm. I worked with my dad to sort out some calves to be sold at a livestock market. The way things went wasn't exactly like I had planned. First the calves wouldn't voluntarily go into a holding pen to eat feed while I shut the stall door behind them. This generally works and is much easier and safer for all involved. Instead they stayed out in the large open area of our barn meaning my dad and I had to sort out a few to keep at the farm while trying to keep the ones to be sold in the barn. We got down to one last 500 pound bull calf we needed to put back in the field and we were close to getting him out of the barn. Then out of nowhere a 400 pound heifer started freaking out. If you've never been in an enclosed space with animals that size, then you don't know what exciting (or terrifying) is. When the heifer lost her mind she came charging at me with no plans of slowing down. Now I'm a big guy at 6'5" and 195 pounds, but I was not about to get ran over by a 400 pound freight train. As she made a lap inside the barn and headed at me, my only option to avoid the ER was to climb the wall of the barn and hold on to the top of the wall for dear life. If you've ever watched a rodeo where people climbed the wall to get out of the way of a bull, then you get the gist of what I looked like trying to get out of the way of this crazed heifer. Fortunately for me she ran under me and missed me when she kicked at me. After 2 more laps inside the barn and two more wall climbing adventures that would've make Spider-man proud, we finally were able to get the bull calf out of the barn. After a few minutes the heifer calmed down and followed other calves as they went in the stall.
So where is the spiritual lesson in locking yourself in an enclosed place with quarter ton animals that can run you over and send you to the hospital. Well, I'm glad you asked. The lesson is all about training yourself spiritually and developing a stronger faith. Last year when we sorted calves in the summer time to send to the market. I was 50 pounds heavier than I am now. Also I didn't exercise in anyway and wasn't taking care of my body. Since October of last year I've changed my eating habits and started exercising 5-6 days a week. Saturday it paid off because I was leaner and stronger than I was a year ago and it kept me from some serious injuries. Had a calf went crazy like that last year, it would have definitely ended differently for me.
When we become spiritual couch potatoes we aren't prepared for those difficult times that arise in our life. We are out of shape spiritually, we are weak in our faith, and we aren't living on a healthy diet of prayer and bible study. The result is we don't have the energy or strength to spiritually keep ourselves from harm. Instead if we put in the dedication, day in and day out, to care for our spiritual bodies, then we will see a different result when those difficulties in life appear. If we're spending time in prayer and bible study, then God will use those spiritual disciplines to strengthen us from the inside out. If we exercise our faith daily by strengthening our spiritual lives through other opportunities such as service, worship, fellowship, and giving, then we are regularly preparing ourselves for those days when things don't go exactly as planned. Does this mean things will be perfect for us? No it doesn't. What it does mean is that when things go from perfect to terrifying, you are better equipped to handle the situation because God has already prepared you for it.
If you've not been actively strengthening your spiritual life, then make a commitment and start today. Do what is necessary and make the needed changes so you will have a stronger faith tomorrow. Allow God to start working in your spiritual life in such a way that you will be better prepared for those difficult moments in life.
If you enjoyed today's post, be sure to Share it on Facebook and Twitter so others can be encouraged too!
Over the past 3 weeks my wife and I have spent nearly 2 of those weeks without our kids. First we were away on an anniversary trip for a week and then our boys went on vacation with grandparents for the better part of a week. It was weird not to have all the hustle and bustle around our house that normally accompanies two nearly-teenage boys. During the time apart, Misty and I found ourselves regularly commenting on what we thought the boys were doing, how they were getting along without us, and how we missed having them around. The two weeks we spent apart gave us a glimpse of what it will be like when we are in the "empty nest" stage of life. I'm sure that will be an exciting time in its own regard, but we aren't in any hurry to get there. Regardless of how slowly we want it to arrive that day is coming.
One thing we talked about during our sabbatical from children was what it would be like when we permanently did not have kids in the house and how our relationship would look then. We discussed how we had worked over 15 years of marriage to continue to grow together as a couple and what that would look like when the kids were not around. We also talked about how bad things could be if we had not continued to nurture our relationship, but instead we were just roommates raising kids together. The image that comes to mind when I think about the latter is an unhappy, older couple sitting silently in their living room while one watches TV and the other reads without speaking all evening. When the time comes they go to bed without hardly a word and repeat the same activities the next day.
So how do we keep from ending up as the unhappy grouches that simply live in the same house, but are too stubborn to do something about it? First off, you need to pray for your spouse and your marriage. If you aren't regularly lifting up your spouse and your marriage to God, then you aren't doing your part to help make either of them the best they can be. Secondly, find common interest and develop those interest in meaningful ways together. If it's reading and collecting books, find a way to do it together. If it is quality time relaxing, then do it together. If it is hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, shopping, working in the yard, or some other pastime, then find ways to do them together. Lastly, talk with each other. When I do premarital counseling, we do one session on communication and conflict. I strongly urge the couple sitting before me to make sure that regardless of the issues they have in marriage they must keep the lines of communication open. I also warn them that if they quit communicating, then they are putting nails in the coffin of their marriage. Talking with each other is much more than nagging, complaining, or asking "How was work today?" Small talk and complaining is not effective communication when it comes to maintaining a healthy marriage relationship over the long term. Yes your day at work is important, but what do you talk about once you retire? Talking with your spouse also doesn't include talking at your spouse. Communicating with your spouse means sharing and receiving input. If all your doing is talking at your spouse, then you might as well be talking at a fence post. Share with each other and watch how keeping the lines of communication going will help keep your marriage vibrant and growing.
I realize that every marriage situation is a unique relationship in and of itself. Each couple brings in their own individual baggage and then you have these two imperfect people attempting God's perfect plan for relationships in marriage. I wish there was a magic bullet that would allow all marriages to avoid falling into the unhappy grouchy roommate scenario but there is not one. Hopefully today's post will help you put a few things into action in your life and marriage that will keep your marriage strong and healthy, even once the kids are gone. Because that day is coming.
If you and your spouse are experiencing difficulties do not put off getting help. The longer you wait the worse things will be. Marriages are under constant attack from Satan and he is doing all he can to destroy families and marriages. Seek out a counselor, whether it is a pastor or some other form of Christian counseling, to help you address the problems in your marriage. Keep in mind it will take time and effort to fix your marital problems. You did not get in this place overnight and you will not get out of it overnight. Need help with finding a marriage counselor contact me at pastornick@northcatawbabaptist.com and I will do all I can to help you get in touch with one.
If you enjoyed today's post be sure to Share it on Facebook and Twitter so others can be encouraged too!
One Sunday following church, while driving to my parent's house for lunch, my youngest son made one of those comments that just left us laughing and shaking our heads. As often as he does this you would think we would be accustomed to it by now, but he always seems to amaze us. My wife made a comment about stopping by the grocery store to pick up something for supper for the upcoming week. Only hearing part of the conversation, our son said "Don't buy hamburger at the store. It's disgusting! We need some 'homemade' Black Angus beef." Raising beef cattle does have it's advantages when it comes to knowing where your meat comes from and having a regular supply of "homemade" meat as he put it. As for his comment, I have a feeling that if we fixed store bought hamburger he would never know the difference.
How are you when it comes to biblical teachings? Can you tell the difference between the good stuff and the imitations? Do you take a smiley televangelist at his word or can you discern when someone isn't teaching the truths of God's Word? The only way to know whether what you're being taught is wrong or not is to have a firm grounding in what is right. It's a matter of growing in your faith and developing your faith outside of the corporate worship setting at church.
Here's an example of how this works. If I were to stand before my congregation and quote that the bible says "God helps those who help themselves" or teach that "Cleanliness is next to godliness" then I am sure some would assume that I had pulled it out of the Bible. Why not? He's the pastor. He has to be teaching from the Bible, right? Not exactly. Those two phrases are often quoted lines, but they aren't in the Bible. One is from a 17th century discourse on government and the other is a Babylonian proverb, respectfully.
The problem is biblical illiteracy forces us to accept false teachings as the truth. The Apostle Paul regularly warned his churches to watch out for those that taught anything other than the truth. He even went so far as to call some who taught a false gospel dogs and mutilators of the flesh (Philippians 3). The point is that if we don't have a good working knowledge of what the truth is, then we will easily be sold a false truth that isn't what we want or need. My encouragement to you is to grow in your own walk with Christ so that when you hear something or read something that isn't quite kosher, you can easily pick it out.
If you enjoyed today's post be sure to Share it on Facebook and Twitter so others can be encouraged too!
One night I was called out around 8:30 PM to go make a hospital visit at the ER. As I walked into the living room to tell Misty goodbye, I turned toward the TV to see what she was watching. I mainly looked because the name of the show was said and it really caught my attention. The title of the show is "How (not) to kill your husband." After I looked at the TV, I then looked at Misty and she had a mischievous grin on her face. She reassured me it was just a commercial for the show and not the actual show. She then said that she may need to watch it though! This TV show is similar to others where they basically show you what a person did in their attempt to murder their spouse and why they were caught. I guess you could consider it a how not to get caught guide, which is pretty unnerving!
Marriage is a fickle thing. There are some marriages that are so bad they actually do want to kill their spouse (and in some cases actually attempt it). There are some marriages that last for 70 years and we are amazed at how they have done it. Regardless of how great a marriage seems to be or how badly it seems to be going, marriage is a struggle. See, marriage is God's perfect union being attempted by two imperfect people. And because we are imperfect people we bring our own baggage, our own selfish desires and our own issues into a relationship made for more than just us. When you add two people with their own baggage, selfish desires and issues, then mix in kids, finances, jobs and family issues, we have the ingredients for a very explosive bomb. This bomb has the potential to leave collateral damage for years to come. So how do some couples diffuse the bomb and others can't seem to put the burning fuse out before its too late?
My answer is this, I don't know. I do know this, marriage takes the work of two people not just one to make it work. I also know that marriage is work, it's not easy to make marriage work. The hardest job in the world is raising kids. The second hardest is marriage. Misty and I have had our rough patches in marriage like all couples, but we've been committed to doing what was necessary to make our marriage work. If both spouses aren't committed to making the marriage work, then the fuse will continue to burn until it sets the bomb off.
To make a marriage work you also have to change your perspective. Just like when a child is born, a parent's perspective changes from a self-centered perspective to a perspective that focuses on someone else's needs. When we get married, our perspective has to change. Our marriage isn't about what it does for us. Our marriage is about glorifying God and what we can do to make our spouse the greatest man or woman they can be. It's about putting their needs above our own and constantly working to show our love to them. Can any of us do it perfectly? No we can't. Should we strive every day to do all we can to edify and build up our spouse? Yes. Otherwise we are simply watching the fuse burn towards the bomb.
I'll end with this. A few years ago I stood in the ER with a man who had just lost his wife of 71 years. They had a great marriage. Was it perfect? No. Did they both work hard to make their marriage work, especially when he served in WWII? Yes they did. That night I saw the picture of what a great marriage is all about. I saw a man who had loved his wife completely tell her that he should have loved her more, that he should have done more for her. He understood what it meant to set aside his self-centered desires and put the wants and desires of his wife ahead of his own. That's how you diffuse the bomb. That's how you make a marriage not just good, but great.
If you enjoyed today's post be sure to Share it on Facebook and Twitter so others can be encouraged too!
Albert Einstein has been credited with giving the world its most memorable definition of insanity. Although Einstein probably didn't come up with the definition, the definition is no less memorable. The over-used cliche is that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. I can definitely relate to this and consider my self to be certifiable at this point. Last week was hay making time for many in our area due to the warm and dry weather. While baling hay for the first time this season, I worked in our largest field first. As I finished bale after bale I noticed I wasn't getting bales to be tied tightly like they should be. Now our baler is older than I am, which means you have to manually move an arm on the baler to wrap the string around the bale while it is in the baler. All this means is that there are less mechanical issues when wrapping a bale and problems are more likely to be a user problem. As you can guess the user, yours truly, was the problem with the bales being loose. I went through the same process time after time trying to figure out what I was doing wrong with no luck. Finally towards the end of the day I figured out that I wasn't lowering the throttle enough to wrap the bale tightly. After a few hours of being the definition of insanity, I finally figured out what was wrong.
When it comes to our spiritual life, we can easily find ourselves being the definition of insanity. We do things the same way, over and over and over again, while expecting completely different results. Think about some of these scenarios. We go weeks, months or even years without putting time into our relationship with God and then expect Him to speak to us at a moments notice or in a time of distress. We neglect our time reading the Bible, picking it up only to carry it to church, and then wonder why God's Word hasn't changed us and why we don't live more like Christ. We don't think a thing about God Monday through Saturday, and expect God to "Wow" us in worship on Sunday morning. These are just a few examples of how, in our spiritual life, we do the same thing over and over again, week after week, year after year, and expect God to do something different. Unless we're willing to change the way we approach our spiritual life and our relationship with God, we shouldn't expect different results. We shouldn't expect God to do something in our lives unless we're willing to step away from the old way of doing things that never resulted in a closeness to Him in the first place.
Take a deep look at your spiritual life and examine those areas of your life that need to change so you can get a different result. If that means getting serious about your Bible reading or prayer time, then get serious about it. If it means using Sunday worship as a pep rally for the week ahead or an after party time of celebration for the week behind you, then do so. Don't be satisfied with the status quo when the status quo didn't accomplish anything to begin with. Make the changes necessary to keep yourself from being the definition of insanity.
If you enjoyed today's post be sure to Share it on Facebook and Twitter so others can be encouraged too!
There is a phrase we use from time to time that has it's origins in housebreaking dogs. The practice is that of rubbing a dog's nose in whatever type of mess it makes as it learns to do it's business outside rather than inside the house. The phrase is "rubbing your nose in it." We frequently use the term in a shortened version when we tell someone "don't rub it in." We tell people this phrase when we've messed up and they continue to remind us of our failure. Why do we ask them to stop? Because no one likes to be reminded of their failures. It can be depressing and discouraging to be reminded of those failures that brought us pain and embarrassment. But what about if the one "rubbing it in" is the Creator of the Universe? What then?
About 7 months ago, I really felt like God was speaking to me about something in my life and I told God I would pray about it for about 6 months and see where He was leading. For a few weeks I prayed, somewhat consistently, about it. But since it wasn't something I was particularly excited about, I put it on the back burner of my prayer life and revisited it very rarely. I mean almost never. Fast forward to a month ago. To just about the time I should have finished praying over this prayer concern. I had put this item so far back on the back burner that the house would've already been burnt down because I seemed to have forgotten it. For the next few weeks God made me absolutely miserable. Anything pertaining to things around this prayer concern made me miserable. I couldn't figure out what was going on or why I was so miserable. I sat down to talk with a pastor friend I go to for advice and as we talked I figured out why I was so miserable. I was miserable because I had avoided praying for something God had clearly showed me I needed to pray about. After talking with my friend I had a new perspective on this prayer concern and a fresh commitment to pray about this concern. After I received this new perspective and commitment to pray, it seemed like God started to rub my nose in my decision not to pray months ago about something He wanted me to pray about. Every time I turned around it seemed like God was saying, "See here's another example of why you should've been serious about praying months ago!" I even told my wife that God didn't need to rub it in anymore because I understood that I had messed up.
So what do we do when we find the Creator of the Universe rubbing our nose in something? We take it like a big boy or big girl and learn from it. When God reminds us of a failure that could've been avoided if we would have followed His counsel, then we ought to see it not as punishment but discipline. One definition of discipline is "training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character." This is what God is doing when He reminds us of those things we should have followed His lead on. Proverbs 3:11-12 (NIV) says, "My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in." As a loving Heavenly Father, God is not punishing us by reminding us of a failure, but instead using it to discipline us so we won't make the same mistake again. He is simply correcting and molding us so we will better follow His lead the next time.
Coming from a guy who learned this valuable lesson the hard way, I encourage you to take my advice. Listen to what God tells you to do or what you agree to do for God! It is much better to do what you should than to have God rubbing it in when you realize you should've done it in the first place!
If you enjoyed today's post be sure to Share it on Facebook and Twitter so others can be encouraged too!
Yesterday I had an interesting conversation with an adult that attends our church. While he was helping with our worship service a 12 year old kid sitting beside him made an interesting observation. The kid took notice of the communion table and how it was prepared for our church to celebrate communion. The elements (juice and bread) were on the table and covered by a white cloth. The kid candidly mentioned how the communion table looked like it had a body on it with a sheet laid over it. I'm sure this kid has watched plenty of television shows where they've seen something similar and there was a body under the sheet. When this adult shared this comical story with me, I couldn't help but think about how accurate this kid's perception was. Although there is not an actual dead body under the sheet on a communion table, there is still a body on the table.
When Christians celebrate communion, or the Lord's Supper as it is also known, they are celebrating the most pivotal moment in human history. They are celebrating the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for them when He died on a Roman cross for the sins of the world. They are celebrating and remembering the sacrifice Christ made so we could have forgiveness of our sins, a right relationship with God, and eternal life in heaven when this life is over. We are told in the Gospels and 1 Corinthians 11 about when communion was instituted in the church. Paul puts it best in 1 Corinthians 11:23 when he writes, "The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed..." The night before Jesus died on the cross He enjoyed His last meal with His disciples as they celebrated Passover (the Jewish festival commemorating their deliverance from slavery in Egypt). During the meal Jesus took the unleavened bread and told His disciples that the bread represented His body which would be broken for them. He then shared the bread with them. He also took one of the Passover cups of wine and shared with them how the wine represented His blood that would be shed for the forgiveness of humanity's sins. He then shared the cup with them. On that night, Jesus started a tradition of remembering His sacrifice that is still practiced by Christians nearly 2,000 years later.
Communion is a serious time of reflection and self examination. Paul warns us in 1 Corinthians 11 not to take communion in an "unworthy manner." He means we should not take communion with unconfessed sin in our hearts and with disunity between us and another member of the body of Christ. To prevent taking communion in an "unworthy manner," Paul tells us to examine ourselves so we don't bring judgment on ourselves by sinning against the body and blood of Christ. The wonderful thing about communion is that it is about more than remembering the sacrifice Christ made for us all those years ago. Communion causes us to look forward to the future as much as we look to the past. Communion is done in anticipation of Christ's return when He will rule and reign in eternity and believers are able to celebrate Christ's eternal kingdom by enjoying communion with Him.Communion with Christ and the entire body of Christ (the church) will be a great celebration of Christ's victory over Satan, sin, death, and the grave.
Today I would encourage you to look differently at the body on the table next time you have an opportunity to celebrate communion with your church. Examine yourself, remember the sacrifice, and look forward to a heavenly celebration with Christ.
If you enjoyed today's post be sure to Share it on Facebook and Twitter so others can be encouraged too!
Six days a week I get up before everyone else in my home and go workout in my garage. Recently I noticed an interesting trend. Each day I sit on the couch in my living room and put my socks and shoes on before heading out the door. I recently noticed though that every time I sit down I promptly put my left leg on my right knee and put my sock and shoe on. Then I cross my legs the opposite way and put my right sock and shoe on. Now that may not seem very interesting on the surface but it is when you consider the fact that I do it every time I put my socks and shoes on. I mean every time! I started paying attention any time I put my shoes on and every time it was like a version of Groundhog Day going on right in front of me. I have tried figuring out why I have the unusual habit but I can't figure it out. I've always known that I was a creature of habit, but this one has taken me by surprise.
Whether we want to admit it or not, we are all creatures of habit to some degree. We prefer to stay up late or get up early. We prefer our coffee just a certain way. We use a certain amount of salt on our french fries. If you were to think about your daily routines, you'd quickly find on some level you are a creature of habit.
When it comes to your spiritual life, it pays to be a creature of habit. When you develop healthy spiritual habits, you receive greater spiritual rewards than you would otherwise. When you are in the habit of worshiping God in His house on Sundays, regardless if it is 75 degrees and sunny outside or raining cats and dogs, you find that your worship experiences impact you all the more. When you are in the habit of spending time in God's Word (the Bible) each day, you find that God is able to speak to you about the issues you face and provide you with strength. When you are in the habit of spending time in prayer each day, you find that God is able to work in your life to mold you to resemble His Son. When you are in the habit of serving God, you find that you are reminded that this life isn't about you, but it is about showing God's love to others. When you are in the habit of giving to God as He expects, you will find that God is able to use your finances in a greater way than you ever did by yourself.
Being a creature of habit is not always a bad thing. When it comes to practicing spiritual disciplines that will help you grow as a believer in Christ, the best thing you can do is become a creature of habit.
If you enjoyed today's post be sure to Share it on Facebook and Twitter so others can be encouraged too!
I would probably say that the spring planting season is my favorite time of the year. This is the time of the year when the garden is plowed, ripped, and tilled to prepare for this year's garden. As the weeks progress, you see small rows of green plants starting to peek out of the ground. Some plants, started weeks ago, are transplanted to their new home in the garden or a raised bed. This time of year holds untold possibilities for the coming harvests later in the year.
The success of the planting season is not found so much in the planting season itself as it is the months to come. The real success is determined over the weeks and months after the seeds are planted. If you plant the seeds and never till or hoe around the plants, then weeds can easily grow up around your plants and choke them out. If rain doesn't fall for weeks on end, then plants can dry up and be ruined. If varmints, like deer, raccoons, and groundhogs, get into a garden, they can decimate a crop in a hurry. Plenty of rain, fertilizer, and warm temperatures can have the exact opposite affect on a garden. Gardens that are regularly watered and kept free from common problems can produce a bountiful harvest.
The planting we do with spiritual seeds in our spiritual life are just as fragile and can be just as bountiful as a vegetable garden in your yard. If the soil of your soul is not plowed and tilled to receive the seeds that need to be planted, then those seeds will never take root. I think a guy named Jesus said something similar one time (Matthew 13:1-23). We have to put the work in to make sure our hearts are ready to receive the seeds God wants to plant in us. Once we plant spiritual seeds, let's call them truths, into our hearts, then we have to tend to them so they might take root and grow to be strong spiritual truths in our lives. If we don't do the work to get rid of the weeds in our spiritual hearts, those truths we've planted will get choked out and never impact our life. If we don't water the seeds of truth with the life-giving waters of prayer, Bible study, service, giving, and worship, then those truths will shrivel up and die. If we allow the varmints of sin to attack those truths we've planted, then they will root out and decimate your spiritual crop.
If you take great care of the spiritual truths you plant in your heart, then you will reap a bountiful harvest. Some of that harvest will be like fresh vegetables picked at the peak of the growing season when they are the ripest. You'll enjoy those truths being harvested from time to time in your daily walk. Others will be enjoyed at harvest time, when you have grown in your faith and you have an abundance of the truths impacting your life. Finally, others will be experienced in the coldest days of a spiritual winter. Like a jar of green beans canned in the middle of the summer and enjoyed on a cold January day, the truths you plant and nourish will one day sustain you when your aren't sure what else you can rely on.
I hope today's post has encouraged you to do what is necessary to plant spiritual truths, tend to them, and harvest them in your walk with God.
If you enjoyed today's post, be sure to Share it on Facebook and Twitter so others can be encouraged too!
As a pastor I have the opportunity to be present in the lives of people at some of the most important times in a person's life. Births, deaths, weddings, salvation experiences, baptisms, and many other life events. I have stood in rooms when people have taken their last breath and had the opportunity to hold a new born baby taking some of their first breaths. As I consider the things said by people at some of these life changing moments, two things become abundantly clear. Two things are of greater importance to people, especially those about to pass away, than anything else in this world. It is not that they wish they had spent more time working. It is not that they wish they had made more money. It is not many of the day-to-day "important" things we seem to be so consumed with most of our life. These two things are what seem to really matter when it is time for a person to leave this world. These two things are faith and family.
For a person who has put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, their faith is what sustains them in this life when times are hard and when times are good. This same faith is what they want others to experience. The need to point this out is never so clear to a person as when they are on their death bed. The need for their family and friends to hear the importance of the gospel (the Good News of Jesus Christ) is never as clear as when they know they will not be able to share it again. The important thing for those of us left here on earth is to develop our own faith in Christ and heed the warnings of those who have gone on before us. By developing our own faith in Christ we are better able to weather the storms of this life.
The relationships we've built in this life time is what makes life worth living. In this crazy world, family takes on all sorts of faces and descriptions. Sometimes families are blended and sometimes they are not. Sometimes family is the neighbor you take care of when they have no one left to care for them. Sometimes family is that elderly great-grandparent who is full of wit, wisdom, and on some days a lot of spice. Sometimes family is a friend that could pass as a sibling and no one would know the difference. Regardless of what family is comprised of, when this life is over the one thing people long for is to show their love for family.
From the observations of a relatively young pastor, these two things are what matter most to people when life comes to an end. Last week I was able to witness my 80 year old grandmother sharing these two things with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren shortly before she passed away. She wanted the generations following after her to know how important it was to love Jesus and how much she loved them. These two things are what really matter in this life. If you have love in your heart for Jesus, growing in your relationship with Him, and have love in your heart for your family, then everything else will take care of itself.
If you enjoyed today's post, be sure to Share it on Facebook and Twitter so others can be encouraged too!
