Church was good yesterday. I mentioned about the guest pastor yesterday and church was unlike anything we had been to. He called up three different people and gave them a Word from the Lord, and it must have been right on, for they knew that God had seen them, He knew their dilemma, their situation; He heard their cries for help.... and He answered them. It was a powerful service. The anointing of the Holy Spirit was there, for sure. I would have loved to stay for the second service to see what would happen... but hubby didn't want to stay.
Later in the afternoon I went across the stress to visit Ms. Diane - and ended up staying for nearly two hours! We had a great conversation, and I even got to ask her a personal question.... "Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior?" Her response was, "I believe in God." I told her that it isn't the same thing. Even the devil believes in God. But accepting Jesus as LORD is totally different. We had a good conversation, but I didn't push it. But it is weighing on me this morning and I am hoping to be able to go back over today and really talk to her about accepting Jesus as Lord of her life.
I saw a post by my friend's husband's son yesterday on Facebook that answered my internal question and I know it brings my friend peace about his very unexpected death. His son wrote, "In recent years, Dad gave his life to Jesus and accepted Him as Lord. He read his Bible every day and spent time with Jesus every day. When I called him, we would always discuss what he was reading in the Bible." Wow. What an legacy this dad is leaving for his children! The son, even though he lives in another state, was able to share about his father's walk with Christ!
My prayer is that when I die, my children will be able to share that they knew I spent time with Jesus. I want to leave a legacy like that; that my children, grandchildren, and even my great grandchildren, know that Jesus is first in my life. And I pray that it will encourage them to seek Jesus and dedicate their lives to serving Him. There is nothing like seeking Jesus first. I don't mean just in the day; but also in every step of my life.
There is no greater joy than knowing your children walks with the Lord.
It will be a short week as Thanksgiving is Thursday. I need to write out my grocery list - or at least make sure that I have everything I need to take over to my daughter's for that day. And then, on Friday, we are having friends over for dinner, so I need to make a decision on what I'm going to fix.... for sure... and then make sure I have everything for that. It's going to be a 'cooking' couple of days and I'm loving it. You know how I love to get in the kitchen and cook. I need to get started on my baking the cranberry pumpkin nut bread. There are a few that do like it, and I always make sure they get it for Christmas. - and throughout the year if there is some in the freezer. I meant to bake yesterday... but it just didn't happen.
I was able to get hubby to leave the TV off last night and read. He 'read' his phone... but I was able to finish a book I have been reading here in the mornings. It was an amazing book and Kyle Idleman, the author who wrote not a fan was right on target. The name of this book is One at a time. In it he talks about how we reach people for Jesus, one at a time. I found it interesting that I read this one chapter AFTER I had spoken with Ms. Diane about her relationship with Jesus. In it he talked about sharing Jesus with just one person. Of course it is always good to share Jesus with many (think pastor preaching to a congregation), but get the focus of one person and reach them for Jesus.... I think that, plus my friend's husband passing, makes me feel I need to visit Ms. Diane again soon, and continue our conversation, for any of us can pass at any time.
So my question to you is..... what legacy are you leaving your children? If you should pass away today, what would your children remember about you?
Jesus is always available, waiting for the one lost prodigal, the one lost sheep, to 'come home'. He loves you beyond measure and if we come to Him in true repentance, He will hear you, He will forgive, and He will welcome you with open arms. Just like the prodigal father did.
Luke 15:11-32 (NKJV): "Then He said: "A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and i perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."'
"And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
"But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.
"Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.'
"But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, 'Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.'
"And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.'"
I've always loved the story of the prodigal son. Why? Because I can picture the father, every day, standing at the highest point he could go, and watching for his son to return. As a parent, I, too, stand at my 'highest place', watching for my children to return 'home'. Not to my physical home, but home to a life in Jesus. They have known Him, but each have turned away. I stand in the gap for them, praying and watching for their return. And I know that the Lord hears my prayers for each one, and will bring each one back to Him, in His time.
Where are you at with the Lord? Is He #1 in your life? Or do you only bring Him out on Sundays? Can you say Jesus is Lord of your life? Seek Him, while you still can, for the time is growing short.
Blessings!
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