WHAT IF YOU KNEW?

Ask yourself this question..."What if you knew you would be with Jesus today? What if you knew tonight you would not be sleeping at home...but in a few hours you would be falling into the arms of Christ?

My best friend's mom will probably be in heaven by tonight. It's an eery thought for our human minds to comprehend. She has been sick for sometime and symptoms show that today could possibly be her last day on earth. As I type this...it almost seems unreal. She is ready. She knows the Lord and she knows that once she takes her last breath...her real life begins. To think that heaven is preparing to accept her possibly today is a little unsettling but also exciting.

What would I do if I knew today was my last day? I don't know if we can accurately answer that. We can speculate and guess...but what would we really do.

I guess we should always live like it's our last day. Say what needs to be said. Reach out to those who need help. Give like it's not our's to give and love like we aren't afraid of getting hurt.

Pray for the Horvath family and tonight when you go to bed...think of Helen...she'll be with Jesus.


****UPDATE

At 9:30 am this morning Helen went home to be with Jesus.

HE AMAZES ME!!!!

This has been a very challenging week in our household...but it ended on a postive note. We were able to go to Kalahari Resort this weekend and enjoy some downtime. Well almost downtime. I was at a confernce so Wally and the kids were able to enjoy the waterpark. Speaking Thru Me Ministries had a booth and I had the honor of representing this incredible ministry. Many women responded well to our mission and a lot of interest was created. Friday night I was feeling really tired and a little discouraged by things involving my week. A lady approached my booth and began talking about her desire to speak and write. She began to energize me as she shared how she felt like God was calling her to speak and share her story. I encouraged her to contact Leigh and offer to write devotions for a radio opportunity Leigh has been given. She gave me her name and it looked very familiar. Then it dawned on me...I had met her three years ago. I asked her if she had attended an event in Mentor three years ago. She looked at me and began to cry. She said "Yes...and you shared your testimony at this event." I looked at her and said "Cancer survivor...you had shared with me your story of surviving ovarian cancer." Then I began to cry. We both remembered how we had a lengthy conversation that evening and promised to get together after the event. We had exchanged phone numbers and we had both accidentally threw them away. She shared with me how recently God was prompting her again to write and speak but she didn't know where to begin. She prayed that God would allow her to run into the speaker that she had met three years ago (me) who had encouraged her to follow what God was calling her to do. She didn't remember my name or where I lived. He did just that. He had me drive over an hour and a half away and had her drive even further for our paths to cross. How cool is God. We both just felt sort of awestruck of what God had done. Don't you love it when you experience such a personal response from the creator of the universe? I do! I want more of those personal encounters. I want them daily. I want to truly be in sync with God! I am so glad that this lady is again in my life and I am SO GRATEFUL that God never loses my number.

FEELING DEFEATED

Today I was driving to church and I had a heavy heart. For those of you who know me well know that I am PASSIONATE about teaching young girls about modesty. For many reasons this is near and dear to my heart. I am saddened by the way our young girls feel that they need to dress. Ways that I feel also sadden the One who created them. I guess this always hits home when I see the many many prom pictures that are posted on social network sights. My heart goes out to not only the girls but to the guys. Guys who are trying to live a pure life but struggle with this when girls are scantly dressed. I have heard many girls say "that's their problem...they shouldn't be thinking those thoughts." I don't think girls truly understand the mind of a young man. For those who profess to be followers of God's Word He makes it very clear that we are "not to cause our brother to stumble." My heart was heavy today as I truly felt that satan is winning in this area. I don't like to lose and I don't like it when, as someone in ministry, feels defeated. Tears came down my face as I prayed for our young girls. I prayed that they would see the importance of living a modest and pure life.

If I could talk to each one of those girls here is what I would say:

1) God created you in a unique and wonderful way. Turn off the world and tune in to Him.

2) I would challenge them that if they are walking the walk...they need to dress the walk. What you wear on the outer self can sometimes detract or often represent the inner self.

3) If God has called you someday to be a wife then that means your husband is out there somewhere. Protect what is meant for him...not the eyes of others. As Dannah Gresh says "be a secretkeeper".

Today I was praying to God and asking him to "show up today in a large way." I asked that He affirm the call that He has placed on my life and reveal Himself to me.

I left church the same way I entered..defeated. Defeated by situations and people. The intent of this post is not to host a "pity party" but to just lay it out there and say...there is a battle. As scripture says..."the battle is not against flesh and blood..." I need to equip myself a little better for battle. I need to be in the Word more and on my knees more.