Matthew 16:24-28

Then Jesus said to the disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me.

If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it.  But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life.

And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? Is anything worth more than your soul?

For I, the Son of Man, will come in the glory of my Father with his angels and will judge all people according to their deeds.

And I assure you that some of you standing here right now will not die before you see me, the Son of Man, coming in my Kingdom.”

A physician in Denver,
working with Hospice of Metro Denver,
wrote this:

I just had one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and wanted to share it with my family and dearest friends:

I was driving home from a meeting this evening about 5, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd., and the car started to choke and splutter and die.  I barely managed to coast, cursing, into a gas station, glad only that I would not be blocking traffic and would have a somewhat warm spot to wait for the tow truck.  The engine wouldn't even turn over.

Before I could make the call, I saw a woman walking out of the "quickie mart" building, and it looked like she slipped on some ice and fell into a gas pump, so I got out to see if she was okay.  When I got there, it looked more like she had been overcome by sobs than that she had fallen; she was a young woman who looked really haggard with dark circles under her eyes.  She dropped something as I helped her up, and I picked it up to give it to her.  It was a nickel.  At that moment, everything came into focus for me: the crying woman, the ancient Suburban crammed full of stuff with 3 kids in the back (1 in a car seat), and the gas pump reading $4.95. I asked her if she was okay and if she needed help, and she just kept saying, "I don't want my kids to see me crying," so we stood on the other side of the pump from her car.

She said she was driving to California and that things were very hard for her right now.  So I asked, "And you were praying?  That made her back away from me a little, but I assured her I was not a crazy person and said, "He heard you, and He sent me."  I took out my card and swiped it through the card reader on the pump so she could fill up her car completely, and while it was fueling walked to the next door McDonald's and bought 2 big bags of food, some gift certificates for more, and a big cup of coffee.  She gave the food to the kids in the car, who attacked it like wolves, and we stood by the pump eating fries and talking a little.  She told me her name, and that she lived in Kansas City.  Her boy friend left 2 months ago and she had not been able to make ends meet.

She knew she wouldn't have money to pay rent January 1st, and finally in desperation had finally called her parents, with whom she had not spoken in about 5 years.  They lived in California and said she could come live with them and try to get on her feet there.  So she packed up everything she owned in the car.  She told the kids they were going to California for Christmas, but not that they were going to live there.  I gave her my gloves, a little hug and said a quick prayer with her for safety on the road.  As I was walking over to my car, she said, "So, are you like an angel or something?"

This definitely made me cry. I said, "Sweetie, at this time of year angels are really busy, so sometimes God uses regular people."  It was so incredible to be a part of someone else's miracle.  And of course, you guessed it, when I got in my car it started right away and got me home with no problem.  I'll put it in the shop tomorrow to check, but I suspect the mechanic won't find anything wrong. Sometimes the angels fly close enough to you that you can hear the flutter of their wings.

Time is valuable because your time is limited.
So plan your time wisely.

Jesus said in John 5:24-30

“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.  I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.  For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself.  And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.  By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.”

TIME PASSES QUICKLY
AS THE CLOCK BELOW SHOWS.
YOU CANNOT TURN THE CLOCK
BACKWARDS ONE SECOND.

Psalms 55:22

"Cast your cares upon the Lord and He will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous be shaken."

Who are the righteous?

The righteous are those who are in a right relationship with God--surrender to God, asking the Holy Spirit to guide them in what they say, to accomplish God's purposes.

“Have faith in God.”
Mark 11:22

Faith is the foot of the soul by which it can march along the road of the commandments.  Love can make the feet move more swiftly; but faith is the foot which carries the soul.  Faith is the oil enabling the wheels of holy devotion and of earnest piety to move well; and without faith the wheels are taken from the chariot, and we drag heavily.  With faith I can do all things; without faith I shall neither have the inclination nor the power to do anything in the service of God.  If you would find the men who serve God the best, you must look for the men of the most faith.  Little faith will save a man, but little faith cannot do great things for God.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:17 (NRSV)

Recently, I had the opportunity to rock climb on an indoor climbing wall.  I was apprehensive about this new experience because heights make me uncomfortable.

After I put on the safety harness, the belayer -- the person who controls the safety rope -- fastened a rope to my harness with a solid knot.  I turned to the wall and began climbing.  At times I grasped rocks with both hands while one foot sought a new support.  At other times my feet stood secure while I groped for a new, higher handhold.  Although I worked hard, I realized I was free from the fear of falling.  Why?  I was not afraid because I trusted the safety rope, the harness, and, most of all, the young man who held the rope.  I was free to climb, to explore, and, finally, to reach the top.

The same is true in my spiritual life.  I feel that I can achieve anything Christ calls me to do when I entrust my life to his care.  Knowing that Christ is "holding the rope" and that he is there to catch me when I fall.  He encourages me to move out to have confidence and openly show his love and compassion to everyone I meet.

Prayer

Lord, thank you that you are
completely trustworthy.
Help us to trust you with
everything about our life.
Amen

HERE IS A THOUGHT

The more we entrust our life to Christ,
the more freedom we have
to live an abundant life.

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