IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE - Are YOU Ready?

Terri and I went to Wal-Mart today after lunch to get a few things and Terri was told some news that really affected me. One of her assistant store managers, Chandra (who I saw Friday - she was shrink-wrapped to a pole in Wal-Mart to raise money for a local charity), was killed in an automobile accident Saturday. In the blink of an eye - she was gone. That quick. No warning. Nothing. This feeling has come upon me before when someone that I knew or Terri knew died suddenly. It makes me stop and realize how precious our relationships with family, friends, and fellow human beings are. Everyone is a creation of God but not everyone knows Jesus as their personal savior. Those are the ones that I cry for. The ones I pray for. I don't want anyone to spend eternity in hell just because they won't accept the gift of salvation that God gave us - his son Jesus. People say they believe in God. But do they REALLY know what that means? Have they asked for forgiveness of their sin and asked Jesus into their heart? Do they really KNOW Jesus died for US so we can spend eternity with Him? That He is the son of God, died for our sins and rose again 3 days later? So many people think it is so difficult to get to heaven. It is not - if you truly believe:

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." Romans 10:9-10

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

We cannot "work" our way into heaven - we get to heaven by grace, through faith - by believing in Jesus and confessing our sins and asking for forgiveness. I know, without a doubt, that Jesus is my savior and I will spend eternity with Him.

This young lady who died, Chandra, we think was a Christian, but are not positive. I hope she was. When something like this happens, I want to just hug everyone I know and tell them I love them. Because I may not be here tomorrow. I want them to know how special they are. I want to live my life in the way I know Jesus would want me to - giving glory and honor to Him, to do everything I do FOR Him. Even the little things. I want to do this not because it will get me into heaven but because I love Jesus and want others to know that I do and that they can too. And ask them to not put off till tomorrow their acceptance of God's gift of salvation - accepting Jesus as their savior - their personal savior. Because tomorrow may be too late --- In the Blink of an Eye---Are YOU Ready?

LOVING MY WEEKEND OFF

Finally - after several weeks of working Fridays or Saturdays, I am back on schedule with having my Fridays off. And this weekend and next I do not have to work Saturday either!!! Two 3-day weekends in a row!! Yesterday was a very relaxing day - slept late (late for me - 9:00) and then ran errands and came home and took a nap!!! Yeah!! Today we are going to take Terri's sister Melody out to lunch - Mexican of course. Then we are going to go see the new Gray Fossil Site Museum. They have recently received from the Chicago Museum - SUE - the T-REX!! She is on display at the Gray Fossil Site Museum. I love dinosaurs and this new museum is supposed to be quite nice. Then the rest of the day will be spent ??????

No plans for Sunday - just play it by ear. Of course, I will go to church in the morning and Praise the Lord!!!

Weekends like this help me to sit back and reflect on all the wonderful things God has given me and how much I love Him. I know that no matter what comes up, He is always there and I know He will show me what He wants me to do. And I pray I will always obey Him. One of the best gifts God has given me is my family. I love each and every one. Wish I lived closer to my family - it would be nice to see them more often. But when we do get together - boy do we have a good time!! Thank you Lord for my family and for the wonderful time we have when we are together. Thank you for blessing us and thank you for your love - which is beyond our understanding!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM

February 2 - to some it is "Groundhog's Day", - to me and my family - it is Mom's birthday. She would have been 89 years old. Happy Birthday Mom!! I know that there is nothing here on earth that could compare to the birthday you are having in heaven. I thought about you alot yesterday at work. I even told co-workers it was your birthday and shared some of the wonderful memories of past birthdays. I told them how you had a manicure on your last birthday here and that you had never had one before and you really enjoyed it. I remember how you always made OUR birthdays special for us as we were growing up and we really enjoyed making YOUR birthdays so very special for you the last few years. I loved trying to surprise you with unusual gifts. And you loved everything we gave you. It is hard to believe it has been 4 years since you left us. I miss you so much Mom. I miss being able to talk to you about how I feel, my sorrows, my happiness, everything. But I know you are beyond happy in heaven and someday I will see you again and be able to tell you again everything I feel. So, Mom, I want to say again - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I miss you very much but I know I will see you again in heaven!!! I LOVE YOU MOM!!