The Recommendation Series – Live Today!

I’ve lived a long life. I’ve laughed, had dreams, and suffered much heartache. Through it all, God has been present. He’s known about it all and planned only the best for me.

In the good times I’ve learned how to sit back and relax, breathing in the summer air and watching the colors of fall sprinkle through the trees. I’ve held my own newborn babies and then felt that softness in my heart again with my grandchildren. I’ve watched young believers energetically rise above their circumstances and boldly walk into their new lives of faith with enthusiasm. Ah, good times.

Then the days of adversity appear and my reaction to them challenges my relationship with Christ. Will I accept His comfort and rest in the reassurance of His care? Or do I challenge Him on every front with not only questions but also a fighting tongue with actions to match? Do I cringe away in unbelief that a God of justice has put me through yet another faith test?

Recently, two friends of mine passed away. One was very old and one was my age. The older saint was ushered into heaven with praises for a life well lived and hallelujahs for his relief from pain. The other one was just so sad. She was a person in her prime waiting for an easier life in retirement with her mate. That’s not going to happen now. There will be new plans made and new dreams. I know that path, for I’ve already walked it.

What we have to remember in these two cases is that both of them were believers. They are experiencing heaven in a way we cannot begin to know about. They are walking down streets of heaven, seeing saints from the Bible who can tell them all those stories face-to-face now. What an amazing experience that must be!

It’s too many funerals for me in one month, but the one thing I’m taking from them is this: I’m living my life every day like it was my last. I’m more driven now than ever to tell kids about Jesus and make sure my relatives know about Him, too. The desire to meet some personal goals in my spiritual life has been put on the top rung, not in the middle or near the bottom. The stuff mart has stopped and my hands have become open to whatever God is giving me. He will bless the giver and give peace to the faithful. 

Extraordinary People – Recommendation Series

I know people who have never left their place of birth! How could that be possible in this day and age? There are actually people who confine themselves to familiar things and miss the best part of life—meeting extraordinary people.

.

I’ve traveled a lot in my lifetime; every day is filled with meeting people with stories I couldn’t even make up they’re so amazing. On a plane trip recently I met a young man named Que who has to stay in Singapore for nine weeks at a time for his job. He has twin children and a loving wife at home in America. He doesn’t like being away from them one bit! I’m praying his job changes soon and that I planted seeds for the Lord.

You may have read that I had an exciting opportunity to travel to Singapore for a global summit for children’s ministry leaders.  While there I was introduced to hundreds of people from around the world. All of their stories were so interesting and some broke my heart to hear. I learned about customs in other countries and I told them about some of ours. We laughed together over things that were similar (children and their pranks) and cried over others (children and their needs). I will never forget their conversations or the faces of those extraordinary people telling their remarkable stories. They are forever stamped on my brain.

Keeping your world so small keeps you small. Hearing about other countries from newscasts is not experiencing the world. Reading a stagnant newspaper is not interacting with an extraordinary person. Get out into the world and experience all God has created! It’s absolutely, outrageously beautiful out there! Experience the mountains, the valleys, the buildings with grand architecture. Search for the slums and the churches and the people who can enrich your life just by knowing them. God will lead if you will go.

How? Start with a mission’s trip with a team you know from your church or a local ministry. Go prepared to minister and give of yourself. Accept their world; don’t try to change them to meet yours. Let them tell you stories about their lives and how they got to where they are now. You’ll be amazed at how humbling it is to just listen, not talk. God will bless your efforts and broaden your worldview! Go meet some extraordinary people today!