IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE

Our pastor has been preaching a series entitled "In the Blink of an Eye".  I hope it will end soon.  Not that it has not been good.  It has.  But that is part of the problem.  It has been TOO relevant!!

It seems ever since he began this series several weeks ago, one "example" after another has occurred that brought home the term "in the blink of an eye". 

The crux of this series has been that the in the "blink of an eye", three things happen:

Life Happens

Tragedy Occurs

You are Spiritually Changed

The beginning Sunday of this series, our pastor showed photos from the recent tornados in Missisippi and Alabama as well as photos from the earthquake/tsunami in Japan.  In the "blink of an eye" those areas were devastated, destroying homes and lives.  I have driven down the streets of Smithville, MS and I have talked with some of the survivors of this small town of 900.  I have heard their stories of how their lives totally changed "in the blink of an eye".  They will never be the same.

In the days following we have seen the death of a baby,  a tragic car accident that claimed the lives of several family members, the drowning of a young man celebrating his best friend's upcoming marriage, several instances of sudden illnesses that have threatened the lives of several of our members, more severe storms in Joplin, MO as well as international tragedies in war torn areas. 

Just a couple of months ago, I wrote a blog entitled WINDS OF CHANGE (4-3-11).  In it I wrote about a friend from church who came home to discover her precious husband of 31 years gone home to be with the Lord.  This week, exactly 2 months from the day of his funeral, my friend joined him, losing her battle with leukemia.  It was sudden and unexpected.  She was gone "in the blink of an eye".  Life happens.  Tragedy occurs.

I attended her funeral today.  Sad because two young men have lost their mother only months after losing their dad.  Sad because parents lost a child, something that is just not natural.  No parent should have to bury their child.  And two sisters lost a sibling and a friend and a hole is left in this family.  But...as sad as that all is, this was NOT a sad funeral.  Why?  Because she had been spiritually changed as a child.  She had put her faith and trust in the Lord Jesus, and today though we wept, we did not weep as those who have no hope.  The body we saw in that pink casket was merely the shell of the woman we knew.  In the "blink of an eye" she was changed, from mortality to immortality (I Cor. 15:54)  and she is now present with the Lord.(II Cor. 5:8)  And, those of us who have also been spiritually changed, will one day see her in Heaven.  That gives each of us cause to rejoice!!

Yes, life can happen in the "blink of an eye"...our world as we know it can turn upside down.  But when you know the Lord Jesus, you are held in His mighty right hand and nothing can pluck you out of it!!  (John 10:28)

MAYBE TODAY?

Shortly after we arrived home Sunday evening a neighbor called to tell me that another neighbor, a young mother of 2 little boys, had been tragically killed in an automobile accident while on vacation in Colorado. It struck me like a ton of bricks.

I had just begun to get to know this young woman as we played Bunco together once a month. She was a working mom and had a lot on her plate. Her little boys are about 7 and 2.

The dad and the 7 year old were en route to Colorado, too, but they were driving towing their boat. This was to be a fishing trip with extended family. The mother and his parents had flown to Denver and were taking a rental car to the vacation location in Wyoming where they were all to eventually meet. The 2 year old remained at home with a nanny.

I'm sure months of planning had gone into this trip and the anticipation had probably been building and building. I can just imagine little Jimmy's excitement as he and his dad hooked up the boat Sunday morning and began their cross country journey together...father and son. What special times together.

Certainly Ashlea and Jim's parents were also relieved to have landed in Denver and be making their way through what had to be some beautiful country as they neared Wyoming. Their destination was almost in sight and Jim and Jimmy would be joining them soon.

None of them had tragedy on their radar. I'm sure when Jim and Ashlea kissed each other goodbye and when she kissed little Jimmy goodbye, none of them ever dreamed that it would be the last time they would see her alive. But....God knew. The clock was ticking and soon the last second of her life would be heard in Heaven and then the curtain would close on her life.

Today we each have our plans for the day. Maybe it's work as usual. Maybe we have a TO DO list a mile long that we are dreading, kids are back at school, lots to get done. Maybe you are planning a trip or anticipating a big event in your life like Ashlea and Jim were. None of us know when that last second on our clock will chime....but God does.

Psalm 31:15 says "My times are in thy hands..." Only God knows our appointed time of death. "It is appointed unto man once to die, and then the judgment." Heb. 9:27. It is a certainty that we will all face that day at some point. We just do not know when.

It could be today.

If today were to be YOUR day, are you ready? Do you know if you died today that you would spend eternity in Heaven with God?

A SNOWY DAY

It has snowed today. Everything is covered in a blanket of white. Thankfully, we seemed to have dodged the bullet for the predicted ice storm. Others in the Mid South were not so lucky.
Ice has caused numerous accidents on roadways, thousands are without power on a VERY cold day, and many schools are closed to the jubilation of teachers and kids alike.

Funny how something so beautiful can be so deadly. Kind of like sin, isn't it? I will never forget the country song that said "I never knew the Devil had blue eyes and blue jeans." He appears as an angel of light, but brings with him nothing but death and darkness.

Sin can be so insidious. It can seem so right, so rational, so perfect...til it entraps us and takes us down. Eve bit hook, line and sinker. She listened to the voice of the enemy contradicting everything God has told her. Yet her desire to "be like God" overcame her desire to please Him. That is the case for sin every time. We want to be in control...not God!

Don't let sin overtake you. Be aware of the enemy's tactics. He is a liar. He has come for one purpose and one purpose only...to steal, to kill and to destroy!!

Keep your eyes on JESUS today. Remember, it's all about HIM. We are here for one purpose...and one purpose only...to glorify Him. Let that be the driving focus of your day today...to glorify the King.

WHAT WOULD THEY WRITE?

Below is a poem recently written by a young man about a 20 something year old friend of his who died suddenly of a seizure. She was not a believer. This is the sum of her life.

She…

She was created.

Created with purpose.

Created with love.

She lived.

Lived as she was taught.

Lived without hope.

She loved.

Loved what she knew.

Loved not the truth.

She tried.

Tried her best.

Tried for nothing.

She rebelled.

Rebelled from her God.

Rebelled… oh the pity!

She wasted.

Wasted her life.

Wasted forever.

She is suffering.

Suffering without limit.

Suffering unimaginable.

She is lost.

Lost in purpose.

Lost forever.....

--Joey Shaw

What will someone write about YOU when you die?

HE AROSE

After Friday and the cross, came Sunday and the empty tomb. JESUS IS ALIVE!!

That is the central message of the Gospel. HE IS ALIVE.

No other religion worships a living Savior!

Because HE LIVES, I have hope for tomorrow.

Because HE LIVES, I have eternal life.

Because HE LIVES, death has no hold on me.

Because HE LIVES, I have a home in Heaven.

Because HE LIVES, I can have victory over sin.

Because HE LIVES, I am never alone.

EASTER = "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16