Our church started a new 5 week series this past Sunday. "31 Days to Live... Life is Short, Make it Matter" This past Sunday's message was a challenge to all of us to prepare for the next 4 weeks...... let's live the 31 days of October as if they were our last. For some reason, this sermon series seems to be challenging me (in a positive way) more than others. I have tried to come up with reasons why: 1. It is a hard concept to try and think of your days as numbered. For so many of us, we just expect life to keep going until we are really old, wrinkly and gray. 2. Ryan and I have seen this past year just how short life is when we attended the funeral of our college and seminary friend, Michael, who lost a 2 year battle to melanoma cancer. and 3. I am such a planner....I like knowing what's happening and when and what to expect and how I plan on getting from point A to point B. This sermon series is just another reminder of the fact that no matter how much I plan, I am SOOOOO not in control.
Chris, our pastor, gave us several things to do and think about as we go through this series:
1. Commit to memory Psalms 39:4-5
2. Make a list - if you knew, for whatever reason, that you had 31 days left, what would you want to do. Cross through any on your list that are not feasible for you to do during this month (like quit a job), but if there are some things that you can do during the next 31 days, then do them now. Don't wait until your days are numbered.
3. Commit to be in the moment....wherever you are, Be All There!
4. Embrace Christ....if you don't know him as your Savior and Lord, now is the time to seek that relationship. Everything that matters flows out of your relationship with Him
So, as I go through this month, the questions I keep asking..... What really matters? What is most important?
Our church has a big sign out front advertising this new series. Many people who work at my school pass by our church each day on their way to work. At the beginning of the week I had several people ask, "Hey, what is this 31 days to live" thing all about? It was a great chance for me to share what our church is talking about. Our church also passed out bracelets for us to wear during October as reminders of what matters most. As I was talking to co-workers, several made the comment, "I'd rather not think about things like that." I agreed that the idea is not a fun one to embrace, but as I have continued to think about this over the course of the week. I can't help NOT thinking about it. I so much want to one day, when it is my time, be able to cross into the gates of heaven ready to worship the King of Glory. Thinking through these things now I hope will prepare me for that day. I want to spend the next 31 days trying to grow in my knowledge of Him, pray for His guidance, and deepen my relationship with Him, so that no matter what happens, the most important thing, my relationship with Him is solid as a rock! And then I will be a little more prepared to celebrate life and family and friends no matter how many days I have left!
Any thoughts?
Well, Emily has bid farewell to her paci! She has been without the paci for 2 weeks now. She had only been using it during naptime and at night for at least 6 months. But 2 weeks ago, we took it away for good! I thought I had let her keep it a lot longer than I did with Alex. But when I started looking back at Alex's baby stuff I realized that I took his away at about this same time. I just took it away....cold turkey! Emily adjusted fairly well. She did shed a few tears when it was time for a nap or bed, for the first few days, but she has recovered nicely! We told her teacher at her preschool that we had taken it away and they made the one at school magically disappear as well. They said she did great....maybe the crying at home was more for my benefit than anything! : )
Emily & Her Paci - February 2008
