.LAST BREATH.

Hi again. This is the third installment in the monthly devotional project, SEVENS...

.LAST BREATH.

If you could plan it out, what would you say with your last breath? Take a minute to consider it. As this thought occurred to me this morning on my drive to work, I amused myself with a few...
"Ta-daa!" ...or... "And now, let's see what's next." ...or... "I regret nothing!" - I actually had some friends in college who agreed that this is what they would say if they ever fell off a cliff to their death.

But what really would I choose to say? I don't know. I might go with "My life is just beginning."

What would you say?

A few years ago, my dad and I went with a friend of his, to pick up a Studebaker truck that someone had sold him. Dad was in a Studebaker drivers club with this friend, and this was a somewhat common but always joyful occurrence - going to "rescue" a special old car from someone who didn't need it any more. This was on Saturday, and my dad's friend died on Sunday. I remember trying to help my dad deal with the sadness by saying, "at least he got to do something he loved."

Earlier this week I was asked to speak at a weekly Bible study at a local middle school. A girl had been killed on her way to school on Monday of that week, and I would be standing in front of close to 200 of the students - her friends, her classmates - on Wednesday morning. Many of them had seen her just days before... a lively 7th grade girl!

That very evening, my wife pulled the minivan (with our two kids inside) into the church parking lot, and through her tears she simply said, "We almost died." I tried to make light of it, so the kids wouldn't be scared, but as I pulled my 2-year-old our of her car seat, I realized once again just how precious they are - how precious life is - how empty I would feel if they were gone with no notice.

That same night, an old friend told me that a child at the school where she teaches had died a few weeks ago. He was in school one day, gone the next.

Another good friend lost her grandmother yesterday. The family knew she was dying, but didn't know how soon, so they went quickly to be with her. They had prayed for nothing more than the chance to talk with her before she died.

None of these stories have a sweet, happy ending.
None were the way we would have planned them.
No one knows when their last breath will be.
But what we DO know is that EACH breath we get is a gift from God. EACH breath is a privilege. So as your "assignment," I would like you to...

First, take a deep breath, hold it, thank God that He has given you life - and breath. Then GO! Make the best of every breath you have. Take the time to say some important words to the people you love. You may need to heal a relationship or two. You might need to make a difficult phone call or visit someone personally in order to do this. And someone may even say some very hurtful things back to you while you are sincerely trying to mend a broken relationship. But your responsibility is to give it your best. Open your heart.

So... it's not going to be easy. But I will give you the same advice I gave those middle schoolers: Care more. Listen more. Show genuine concern for others. Help provide peace and comfort for each other, amidst a world that is all too full with sorrow, brokenness, hurt, and pain. And above all else, cling to the cross: Jesus knows very well what it's like to experience separation and sorrow. Thank him for going through this process with you.

Hearing from you will help me know if these thoughts are making a difference to you. Let me know if you're accomplishing the "project."
Thanks for readin' ... and be blessed!

Aaron

PS - this came, in part, as a result of a conversation with an old friend, who is actually on the mailing list. Thanks, Ruth.
(Originally published December 7, 2007)

.THANKFUL.

Posting another of the "back issues" for you... Once again, please post your comments, and if you would like to get the monthly devo, please email me at uthminsta@hotmail.com

This is the second installment in the monthly devotional project, SEVENS. Each month, on the 7th, you will be asked to do something for God. It will be something different each month, but the goal each time will be for us to spend time with God, to grow, and to reach others. Last month, we prayed, directed by some brief scriptures. This month...

.THANKFUL.

November is a month when the weather changes, the leaves are changing, or falling, and you can break out your favorite sweatshirt. Autumn is beautiful. It's something to be thankful for. In fact, this month, we want to stretch our appreciation for ALL our blessings... even the most simple things. God has indeed blessed each of us in more ways than we could count.

So... if you count today, it's 16 days until Thanksgiving. Your "assignment" is to list your blessings. Do you have a home? Electricity? Running water? Transportation? And not just the "stuff" ...who loves you? Are they a blessing? Give it a try. Literally, go get a pad of paper, and each day take a few minutes to write out what you're thankful for. Write out your blessings.

Then... make it your practice EACH day, from now until Thanksgiving, to live in appreciation of those people and things. How you choose to apply that is up to you. A friend reminded me today that "we are blessed so that we can BE a blessing," so you may choose to find a person who means a lot to you and share with them how much of a blessing they have been. You may choose to see that you have more blessings than you need, and choose to share them. But however you choose, above all else, give God the glory for each and every blessing. Be thankful.

Practicing, exercising, truly LIVING in thankfulness will not be easy. If you're like me, you'd rather complain about the slow driver in front of you than be thankful for having reliable transportation. Thankfulness, like all aspects of spiritual maturity, is no simple thing. Growing never is. I pray success for you.

Aaron

PS - there is no contest for the person who comes up with the most things. :) But just out of curiosity, I'd like to know what you come up with, if you care to share. Hearing from you will help me know if these thoughts are making a difference to you. Thanks for readin' ... and be blessed!
(Originally published November 7, 2007)

.PRAY.

Okay, here is the original post that went out on October 7, 2007. Only SLIGHTLY edited. Please post your comments. And if you would like to get the monthly devo, please email me at uthminsta@hotmail.com

Hi
This is the first installment in the monthly devotional project, SEVENS. Each month, on the 7th, you will be asked to do something for God. It will be something different each month, but the goal each time will be for us to spend time with God, to grow, and to reach others.

Okay, here we go.

SEVENS. October 7, 2007.

You may have heard the acrostic A.C.T.S. used as a means of teaching people ways to pray: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. Over the next four days, slowly read (and reread) the scriptures for each day. Soak them in. Then do your best to have a conversation with God using these four "conversation starters." Throughout your day, take these thoughts with you and let them direct your attitude. Allow the Word and your time with God to affect your daily life.

Day one.
Hebrews 12:28-29
God, I ADORE you because...

Day two.
First John 1:9
God, I CONFESS to you...

Day three.
First Thessalonians 5:18, Revelation 11:16-17
God, I THANK you because...

Day four.
First Timothy 2:1-8
God, this is what is on my heart...

It seems like a pretty simple project, but really... consider what it takes for us to give our whole selves to God. This is no simple thing. I pray success for you.

Aaron
(Originally published October 7, 2007)