I slept in this morning until 5:30AM! Why? Because I was up until after 10PM last night watching Perry Stone @ Free Chapel and it didn't finish until then. Then I laid awake for a bit thinking about the service. It was a good one.
Perry shared a story about one of his favorite cousins and how she was always smiling and taking care of others and telling others about Jesus. Then one day she was on her way home from taking care of someone who was sick, and as she sat at a stoplight (and the comment was made that in the little town they lived in, 60 seconds, one minute was the lull between the stop light changes), a truck carrying 9 cows on it and going 55 miles an hour - ran a red light and slammed into her - T-boned her - and although she did not have a broken bone in her body, no blood anywhere, her diaphragm was crushed, and she passed away within seconds from not being able to breathe. 60 seconds. We were shown photos of the car - what was left of it. And the question was asked....
If you knew you only had sixty seconds to live.... would you know with all certainty that you would be with Jesus? If you got in your car this morning and drove to work, or to the store, or to take a child to school, would you know that if you were to die in sixty seconds, that you would be in heaven? I think the majority of the church went to the altar last night - many of them youth. But it does cause one to think, does it not? You will not always have 60 seconds to ask God to forgive you so that you will be with Him.
When I used to drive to work - and it was at least a 30-50 minute drive one way, as I backed out of the driveway, I would pray that God would send His angels to surround me and protect me and my vehicle, that He would help me pay attention to things around me, that He would forgive me of any known or unknown sins - that if I was killed going to work, I knew I would be with Him. And on the way to work I would pray over my family. And also going back home - Lord, please protect me and get me home safely.
In thinking about that, I realize that I have gotten out of that 'habit' since I don't drive to work each day now. I do still pray for my family before I start work, but not necessarily for my safety. Where am I going, after all? I am in this room nearly 12 hours or more a day. Anyway - we do still pray over our car and us whenever we take a trip (which we will tomorrow - YAY!!), but every day driving - not so much. With the way people drive nowadays, the distractions of phones and other things, perhaps we SHOULD be praying every time we get in our cars - for God to protect us and our vehicle and keep us safe. And pray over our loved ones who drive to work or to other places, that God would protect them, that if something happens, heaven forbid, that they would be with Jesus at the end.
I feel we all ought to get in the habit of praying over those we love - and ourselves - every day - and especially every time we get in a car. Pray that your loved ones will know Jesus as Lord BEFORE they get in that car. Sixty seconds isn't a long time, and will your mind be thinking of where are you hurt, can you move, or will it be thinking of Jesus, I'm ready to come to You?
Deep stuff, huh! It really gave me a lot to think about last night. And obviously, it is on my mind this morning. As adults, we are responsible to teach our children about Jesus. I at least got my children in church for as long as I could. But I admit our home life wasn't one that always reflected Jesus. I have had to do a lot of confessing on that, and asking forgiveness. That's why I have to really pray over my children and their children - because in their own anger at how they were raised, they have neglected telling their children about Jesus. Some have been in church, at least occasionally, but knowing Jesus personally far outweighs any thing else. I want my children to go to heaven. And that is why I pray for them. That God will turn their thoughts and their hearts to Him and they will seek His face, and turn from their ways, and lean into Him. Only Jesus can heal the past. The past doesn't have to control us any longer.
Time is escaping me this morning since I got up so late. I skipped some of my reading so that I could type in here. So glad I have tomorrow off work and we will be heading north, probably about noonish. Beat the rush out of town, hopefully. Hubby is still insisting on driving, so we will be definitely praying before we leave the house! I just need to decide what yarn and what books I want to take with me for this little getaway. Only one full day so don't need much. Maybe I can finish one or two of the books I'm in the middle of. I crochet on the way so that I don't see the road. I can't read as hubby likes to talk to me since he has me a prisoner in his car. :-D
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) If my people, who are called by my name, would seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sins, and will heal their land.
Need some healing? You know what you need to do. Turn to Jesus and just ask. That's all you got to do. Just ask Him to forgive you - and He will. Sixty seconds - or less - what would you do? Are you ready to meet Jesus?
Blessings!
