Girlfriends in God - Dec. 13, 2006

 

December 13, 2006

Add Life to Your Years

Gwen Smith

 

Today's Truth

In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. (John 1:4 NIV.)

 

Friend to Friend

I wanted to hurl my alarm clock into an eternal abyss this morning.  The warmth of my covers and the safety of sleep beckoned my heart to stay, linger and forget what lies ahead of me today.  This afternoon, I will sing at the funeral of a precious 18 year-old family friend who died in a tragic car wreck this past weekend.

 

Her name was Macie.  She was a girl who lived life to enjoy life.  She sometimes babysat my kids and would often catch a ride home from church with us.  She always had a spring in her step, a hug for a child, a kind word on her lips and a sweet smile on her face.  To know Macie was to love Macie.

 

I recently read a quote by Barbara Johnson that said “You never know when your time is going to expire, so remember: as you add years to your life, it is more important to add life to your years.”  Macie only lived on this earth for 18 short years, but she added life to her years when she surrendered her heart to Jesus Christ a year ago.  I imagine that she is now skipping along streets of gold and is probably loving on the babies of mine that are waiting for me in heaven.

 

In my pain-filled sorrow, I long to turn back the hands of time and alter the course of Macie’s demise; but in my peace-filled soul, I know that she is exactly where she is meant to be…in the perfect presence of God.  That being said, today I will choose to offer up a sacrifice of praise to the sovereign God of the universe.  In my sadness, I will choose to bless the Lord for His perfect plan.  I will thank God that Macie professed her faith in Christ and was prepared to meet Him when her last breath was breathed.  

 

Adding life to your years is all about Jesus.  In John 10:10, Jesus said “I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full.”  I’m compelled to live today in the fullness of Jesus…in response to His mercy. Colossians 2:6-7 says, So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  I want each day that I live to be filled with purpose, leading others to Him. 

 

This afternoon, as I say goodbye to Macie, I am going to hug on my children and love on my husband a little bit more than normal.   Hope you do, too.

 

Let's Pray

Heavenly Father, thank you for offering eternal life through the perfect and complete sacrifice of Jesus.  Thank you for replacing my human hopelessness with your divine hope.  Please help me look past the distractions of this world and to live each day to the fullest – in You.  In the life-filled name of Jesus, amen.

 

Now it's Your Turn

As we are not guaranteed tomorrow, I would like to direct us to ‘add life to our years’ today…

 

  • Is there someone who you are holding a grudge against or owe an apology to?  Contact them today and be sure that your heart has attempted to make peace with them before the sun goes down.
  • Hug your family, say “I love you,” and focus on what really matters.
  • List 10 people within the scope of your influence.  Pray for them by name today.
  • Read the first chapter of John.

 

For more on this subject, see Gwen’s CDs.


G.I.G.

Girlfriends in God, Inc.

P.O. Box 725

Matthews, North Carolina 28106

 

Web site: www.girlfriendsingod.com
Email: info@girlfriendsingod.com

 

Originally published Wednesday, 13 December 2006.

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