Seize the Day

My times are in Your hand. —Psalm 31:15
Before entering the broadcasting field, Jim Valvano led the North Carolina State University basketball team to a national championship. Then cancer developed in his lower back. Invited to address the Duke University squad, Jim had this to say,

“Life changes when you least expect it to. The future is uncertain. So, seize this day, seize this moment, and make the most of it.”

God gives us an urgent directive in Hebrews 3:13, “Exhort one another daily, while it is called Today…” Why is there such a strong insistence on today?
It may be that today, this very day, could be the last one in our time here on earth. Today may be your last opportunity to accept God’s gift of salvation, or if you know the Lord already, to share this gift, to share His love with a friend or loved one.
James has this warning about presuming upon our tomorrows: “You do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (4:14).
Seize the opportunities that God gives you today. That’s sound advice… for all of us.
Redeem the time—God only knows How soon our little life may close;As every passing moment flows,Redeem the time!
Plan as though you’ll be living for a century; live as though you’ll be leaving today.
Today open your ears to hear His voice,
Today open your heart to receive,
Today open your eyes to see,
Today open your mind to know,
Today open your mouth to share,
Today rest in the Lord,
Today exhort one another,
Today partake of Christ.

Sonny Lane-First Year

Only Jesus

If I have but Jesus, only Jesus—
Nothing else in all the world beside—
O then everything is mine in Jesus;
For my needs and more He will provide. —Olander

Take Up the Cross and Follow Him
When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.

Earthquaking

Early I awoke this morning...laying awake in the stillness and quiet when I heard a tiny rattling sound but could not figure out where it was coming from...then what sounded like a sudden gush of wind but it was different...a kinda eerie feeling overcame and in the pit of my stomach there was a churning, goofy, butterfly, uneasy feeling...the window rattled, my bed did a little wave like thing, like the floor dropped out from under me...not for long but long enough...the little rattle returned and then all was still and quiet again. I looked at the clock and it was 4:39 am when it was all over...how long it lasted I do not know but what it was I was pretty sure of, it was something I had only experienced once before in my life (16-18 years ago) but it was unmistakable...an earthquake was my thought and...a report on the radio and news on the internet served to confirm what I already knew that it was indeed an earthquake. Wow!

A 5.4 on the Richter Scale with its epicenter about 180 miles away in Illinois. I sit here amazed, in awe of Your Almighty Power! I remember shaking and earthquaking in Your Word...Isaiah, at the cross on the ninth hour..."It is finished!"...on Resurrection morning, in the Book of Acts on the Day of Pentecost there was a sound from heaven like a mighty rushing wind, and as the disciples had fervently been praying "The place where they were assembled was shaken and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke The Word with boldness." Wow!

Awakened, shaken physically, let it be for me too a spiritual awakening, shaking...oh to be filled with The Holy Spirit, flowing freely, fully, in me and through me, Your temple...proclaiming, living Your Word, in Your Power, by Your leading, for Your glory I pray, Amen!

First Anniversary

My parents Sonny and Peggy...vows kept...covenant fulfilled!

Defining Moments

Today I share an excerpt from the pages of Our Daily Bread...
One year ago, people around the world were stunned by a shooting rampage that left 32 victims dead on the campus of Virginia Tech University. In the aftermath, the mother of one critically wounded student who survived said she did not want the ordeal to become the defining moment in her son's life. Instead, she hoped it could be "something positive, some great celebration of his life."

When the unthinkable happens, it may seem impossible to believe that anything can overcome the emotional scars. Yet, the life of Joseph offers a powerful illustration of God's transforming power...The defining moments of our lives are not determined by the things that happen to us, but by our response through the grace and power of God. —

When rough the path from day to day,
When sorrows fill our eyes with tears,
Our choice to find our hope in Christ
Can lift our soul and calm our fears.

This comes with a prayer that you may know His constant abiding presence and peace surpassing understanding and sustaining grace.

Today is a special day for our family, especially my Mom, it's first wedding anniversary for Mom since Dad passed...also May 6 is coming soon, the day of his homegoing...both are days, in fact, every day is a day to celebrate his life. and the One Who is the Resurrection and the Life, The Way, The Truth and The Life, and for His gift of eternal life delivered and paid in full...today I celebrate Jesus Christ!

E.S.P.N.

Acrostics have always been a good way for me to remember and share Biblical Truth...here is another that came to me recently-

E-encourage one another
S-support one another
P-pray for one another
N-need...we need one another...we need God.

Today in Our Daily Bread Devotional this Truth was reinforced

Encouragement! We all need it, especially in our walk of faith. The book of Hebrews tells us to keep urging each other on. "Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, . . . but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching" (10:24-25).

Help me, Lord, to reassure and strengthen
Others by the words I speak today;
I would always try to be affirming,
As our pathways cross along life's way.