Five Hundred Twenty-five Thousand, Six Hundred Minutes.....

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." Psalms 90:12 KJV

One of my all time favorite songs is "Seasons of Love" from the Broadway musical, Rent. The lyrics of this powerful song speak to my heart as I think about the New Year before us, and about the scripture above. Teach me to number my days, that's the prayer of my heart today. Listen to these words:

Five hundred twenty-five thousand

Six hundred minutes,

Five hundred twenty-five thousand

Moments so dear.

Five hundred twenty-five thousand

Six hundred minutes

How do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights

In cups of coffee

In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.

In five hundred twenty-five thousand

Six hundred minutes

How do you measure

A year in the life?

How about love?

How about love?

How about love? Measure in love

Seasons of love. Seasons of love

Love. That's how I want to measure this year. I don't want 2011 to be marked only by the passing of time, but by the trading of each precious moment God gives me for something valuable. I want this to be a year God can use me to share hope and faith with the people around me. I pray He will show me how to love more deeply, and be more like Jesus in all my relationships. I pray this year will truly be a Season of Love. That's my prayer for you, too. Let me leave you with a prayer, and a link to this song, if you're interested. Happy New Year!

Father, teach me to number my days, the hours and minutes, too. Help me to be more like You in 2011, sharing Your love and grace with the people who cross my path. Help me to trade the 525,600 minutes you give me for something of value. In Jesus Name, Amen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp5Eyt7knus

NOT ABANDONED

No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. John 14:18 NLT

“A Michigan mother drove roughly 12 hours to Omaha, so she could abandon her 13-year-old son at a hospital under the state's unique safe-haven law, Nebraska officials said Monday. There was no sign the boy was in immediate danger before he was abandoned early Monday……” -excerpted from an article by Jean Ortiz and Josh Funk, AP writers

This happened yesterday morning! I was speechless when I read this article. A 13 year old boy’s mother-his mother!- drove 12 hours with her son in the car, so she could abandon him at a Nebraska hospital! I’m the mother of a 13 year old boy, so this article hit me hard. Though this law was written to keep desperate mothers from abandoning their newborns in bus stations and dumpsters, it has turned into something lawmakers never intended. In cases where abuse and neglect cannot be proven, there are no consequences for the parent who simply walks away from their child. Appalling! I love my son John more than I can even say, and can’t understand any mother doing such a desperate thing. The article says the boy was in no immediate danger, but I beg to differ. I think he is in grave emotional and spiritual danger. What must’ve been going through his head as he realized Mom was dropping him off….for good? And by the person who’s supposed to love him more than anyone else! He must be wondering “What’s wrong with me?” “Does anyone care about me?” “Do I matter?”

As I thought about this poor boy being abandoned, I was reminded of the verse above, in John chapter 14. God has said to us that He will NEVER abandon us! Though we disappoint and disobey Him, His mercy is new every morning. Though our sin separated us from Him, He sent Jesus to build a bridge back to Himself. The Bible says when we receive Christ, we’re are adopted as sons (and daughters!) into His forever family, NEVER to be abandoned or cast away.

We’re surrounded by people who’ve been broken, rejected or abandoned by those who should have loved them. Our paths cross every day. How will they know this kind and loving Father who will never, ever abandon them? How will they know unless we tell them? I wish I could tell this young boy that God cares. That he does matter, and that God has a plan for his life. Every Sunday and Wednesday at Crossroads, we have the honor of leading someone to Christ for the first time, or seeing them renew their commitment to serve Him. The message that God will never abandon us is life changing. Whose life will you change today?

Prayer for today: Heavenly Father, Thank You that You will never abandon me. Open my eyes to those around me who need to hear that You’re a God who loves, heals, forgives, and never, ever abandons. Grant that I may be bold to share your love with those who desperately need it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

"I'M BEAUTIFUL!"

“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. Isaiah 1:18, NLT

I often see scripture illustrated in living color through the lives of my children. The way kids see things, the way they react is so transparent, so honest. When my daughter, Caitlin, was in kindergarten, she was invited to attend the “Cinderella Ball” with her Daddy. It was a fundraiser for a local school, and it was to be a memorable Father-Daughter event, chock full of Kodak moments. Dads would wear suits and ties, and the daughters could wear anything that made them feel like a princess. What a wonderful idea!

I must confess that when Caitlin was little, I dressed her like a frosted cupcake! She had dozens of fluffy, ruffled confections hanging in her closet, in every shade of the rainbow. Well, every pastel shade, anyway. She had lacy socks, and darling hair bows, and she never objected to anything I put on her. Fast forward to the preschool years. Jeans and t-shirts became her outfits of choice. Though she wore cute little dresses to church, she much preferred the comfort of her well worn jeans. She got used to seeing herself that way.

So now it was time to choose something “princess-y” to wear to the Ball. We shopped at the local pageant and bridal store and found a sweet ballerina length dress of white matte satin and tulle that made her feel very royal, indeed. After what seemed like years to Caitlin, the day of the Ball finally arrived. Her hair was done in a charming up-do, we put on a dab of mommy’s perfume and a little clear lip gloss for fun. When she was all dressed, she looked in the mirror and gasped “Mommy! I’m beautiful!” It wasn’t an expression of vanity, but of surprise! She was so used to seeing her reflection with tousled hair and hand-me-down jeans, she was truly shocked at how she looked!

Today, Caitlin is a beautiful fifteen year old. She’s returned to jeans and t-shirts, and hasn’t been to any Balls with her dad lately. But there’s a powerful truth illustrated here. Our sin makes us feel like we’re dressed in tatters and rags. We’re used to seeing ourselves that way. But if we’ve trusted in Christ, His blood has washed us clean of our sin. And God doesn’t see our old ragged “clothes” when He looks at us. He sees us all dressed up in the finery of His righteousness, sparkling white as snow. Like Caitlin looking into the mirror at home, we can look into the “mirror” of God’s word, discover who we really are in Christ, and exclaim “Daddy! I’m beautiful!” because He made us that way. Have you trusted in Christ?

Prayer today: Father, I believe that Jesus died to wash away my sin, to make me a child of God, to make me whiter than snow. Be the forgiver and leader of my life, starting today. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen.