They were sitting there, at a conference, when my grandfather looked at grandma with a big smile on his face and said, “Mama, I’m going home”; and plop, his face dropped into his soup. They say, grandma just sat there and giggled for a moment, before the reality of it all hit her. Without warning, grandpas body quit and his spirit was in heaven.
I have heard what seems like a million stories over the years, about how he/she was just sitting there, when they didn’t wake up or come home, they were found dead. In perfect physical condition, running everyday; they sat down on the couch and died. Surprise Surprise !!
I remember waking one evening, I was sitting on the edge of my bed, When I heard an almost audible voice, “call 911”. Then POW a horrible pain hit me in the chest and neck. I walked out of my room, looked at my daughter and said, “call 911” . All I remember is the paramedics asking questions I couldn’t answer; I couldn’t talk. It all seemed like a dream… but I also had that still small voice whispering; You are not going to die, not tonight.
Below you will find today's devotional that inspired all this…
But First:
(James 4:13-17 NLT) "Look here, you people who say, "Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit." {14} How do you know what will happen tomorrow? For your life is like the morning fog--it's here a little while, then it's gone. {15} What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that." {16} Otherwise you will be boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil. {17} Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it."
(James 5:1-3 NLT) "Look here, you rich people, weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. {2} Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags. {3} Your gold and silver have become worthless. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh in hell. This treasure you have accumulated will stand as evidence against you on the day of judgment."
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Plans of Tomorrow
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Monday, May 13 2013
"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." - James 4:14b
A group of workplace believers meet at my office every week for fellowship, study, and prayer. One man attended our group for several years. Jim was well liked and in good health. One Thursday he showed up as usual. The next morning I received a call, "Jim is dead! He died in his easy chair last night!" Jim had no prior problems and there was no indication he was about to go be with the Lord. Naturally, it came as a shock to us all.
Whenever things like this happen close to home, it brings us face to face with our mortality. A friend of mine said he was challenged by someone to do an experiment. He challenged him to live his life for one year as if it were the last year he would live. He responded to the challenge and did as proposed. It changed his life forever. He began to focus on different priorities and people when he viewed life in these terms.
James gives us a perspective on viewing tomorrow.
Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that" (James 4:13-15).
Life is fragile. Consider where you are investing your time and energies. Someone once said they had never heard anyone on his deathbed say that he wished he had made more money in his lifetime or he wished he had made a certain deal. Usually it is something like, "I wish I had spent more time with my kids." Ask the Lord to give you His priorities for your life.
