In 10 Years...

I think if we knew just how short life is, we would live every day to its fullest.

Take me for example. At the moment, I am eating M&Ms while blogging and wondering about age. At the same time, I'm writing a book. On top of all that, I'm wondering what we're having for dinner. And somewhere WAY back there, God is speaking.

GOD: "Melissa, get your lazy self out of that chair!"
ME: "But God! I'm telling people about You!" *pause* "Want an M&M?"

OK, maybe He's not calling me lazy (or maybe He is; I'll never know). But I have this one thought that's been really scaring me. Here goes.

In 10 years, I will be 24. I will be an old lady. I might even be married (ok, that's not something I'm totally dreading, to be honest). I will be teaching Shamu impersonators how to jump over my head (and not land on me in the process). Who knows, I might make it to Oprah. But the point is this: my life is flashing before my eyes and I'm sitting here munching on trail mix.

And where will you be in 10 years? You might be 27. That's middle aged, baby. The downhill slope. I wonder if people get wrinkles at 27...?

I'm enjoying life. I love my family, my friends, my pets, my church, my God. I love shopping and simply wearing clothes (well let's hope...). I love writing and I love this blog and I love you readers. But, honestly, how am I making a difference in the world?

My aunt died last night...

My Aunt Shana died of cancer last night. She's been struggling with this for two long years. We went to the hospital to see her Saturday. She couldn't even move, speak, or even open her eyes. All she could do was hear us say we love her. She would try to talk to us, but you couldn't make out what she was saying. Even at death's door, Heidi Klum would be jealous. My aunt was so beautiful, God's closest thing to perfect.
I have never been so close to death before and actually understood it. Her breath was shallow, her abdomen swollen from the tumor, she couldn't see or speak or move. She was being fed through a tube. Her husband and 4 children were all tired of crying. My uncle said, "God bless her, she fought the good fight, that she did."
April, her oldest daughter, was in Rome. She had to fly home early when she got the news and rushed to the hospital. She brushed her mother's hair and six minutes later my aunt died.
It seems so unfair. Why her, God? She's never said a mean word in her life! Why her family, God? Her youngest isn't even married yet....Why couldn't You let her live to see him happy? Why not let a murderer die in her place? Why, why, why?
I don't see how anything good could come out of something so terrible...death so close...hearts so broken. But I don't see a lot of things. I can be at peace because God sees everything. Aunt Shana is with God right now, in paradise, free from the cancer that plagued her before. She's free. And I'm going to see her again, I know. It doesn't heal the wound completely, but it makes you feel a little better.
So, what does death mean for us? To be honest, I am scared of death, of pain and of feeling myself shut down, of coming to the end of the road. As a Christian, you might think that you're not supposed to be scared of death. Don't. It's OK to be scared, just remember where you find life. God doesn't fade away, so when you give your life to Him, it's in good hands. It can't ever fade and you'll have it forever.
"We do not want you to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again so we believe that God will bring with jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him." - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." - Revelation 21:4

Stop Waiting for Someday

It's scary to think about the future, death, and your life purpose. Did you know your grandchildren's grandchildren won't know who you are? They won't know what you loved to do or which vegetable you hated most. They won't even know your name!

Think about it. In several decades, nobody will ever know you even existed. Your Facebook page will be deleted. Your house will be sold. Your money and property will be divided among those written in your will. Your dog will likely be dead by then. Your children will be very old, if they are alive.

There's one person, though, who will always remember you. There's one person who will always know you and love you. That person is God.

When everything you know is gone and everyone has forgotten you, God will still be there. You're not gone, or dead. You're with Him.

Until then, God has a purpose for you right now. We fall into the habit of "someday". Someday when you're an adult, someday when you get a better job, someday when you get married, someday when you get rich and famous, then you'll embark upon the greatest adventure of your life. Only then you'll be ready to fulfill God's plan for you.

That's not true! Someday starts today. I don't know what God's plan is for me or for you, but I do know that it's big. I do know that if you follow Him, you'll do things beyond your wildest dreams!

Remember God tells us, "I have plans for you -- plans to prosper and not to harm you." If you're waiting for "someday" now, you'll still be waiting for it when you're 30, when you're 50, when you're 87. God's plan for you starts NOW! It's already working. He's already laying the paths out and getting every little detail right so that it will be perfect for you. Today, with me, put God's plans for you into action.

Dear God,

I realize that you have amazing plans for me, beyond my wildest dreams! I don't know what they are, Lord, but I'm willing to trust you and take that first step in the right direction. Please help me to make good choices and live out your plan for me. I pray this in Your name.

Amen.

All I Need is You

Congrats to my 7th follower! Thanks! I hope this blog inspires you to do something for God. :]

This is a poem Rachel and I found in her room when we were going through her old notebooks. It's really sweet and about her grandma dying which made me nearly cry so yeah.

All I Need is You
by Rachel V.

I see the rain falling outside my window.
I hear the hail hitting my window.
These dark black clouds keep me away from you.
It's like a shield parting me from you.
And this is the time that I must stand strong.
The time I must hold the tears back.
And I'll do it all for you because
I miss you, I love you, I'm trying to live my life without you.
So now take my hand and pull me along all I need is you.
During the day a tear will run down my face,
that's a sign that I'm thinking of you.
I know you are thinking of me, too.

I was wondering...what if we had this relationship with Jesus? He died...for you. And it was sad -- the worst death anyone could die...yet it was the one who would set the world free of sin, if they just believe. Think how Mary Magdalene and Mary and Joseph and Martha and the Twelve and all those people who loved Jesus so much...how did they feel?
And yet, Jesus didn't stay dead. Just like Rachel's grandma is not dead -- she's in heaven, with Jesus.
If we had that kind of sweet, loving, hold me relationship with Jesus, we'd be stronger, happier people. We'd be loved.

Prayer Point: Steven Curtis Chapman

Please pray for the singer Steven Curtis Chapman. I'm sure you've heard of him -- he's written songs such as Broken and Dive.

Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife had 3 kids of their own -- boys. Then they adopted 3 little girls from China.

Why pray for him and his family? One of his sons was in the car and drove into the driveway, accidently running into his little sister, the youngest Chinese girl in the family. She died.

So please, please pray for Steven and his family for the whole month or longer. He needs it.