I Will Be In The Stairwell of Your Final Moments

I was listening to the Galo radio show a few days after the events on September 11^th, 2001 when I heard this read over the air. It sent chills up my spine and to this day brings me encouragement and hope about God, and his sovereignty.

You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news on September 11, 2001. Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say “Good-Bye.” I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, “Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK…I am ready to go.” I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn’t coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to me for help. “I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!” I said. “Of course I will show you the way home – only believe on Me now.”

I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.

I was in Texas, Kansas, London. I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news. Did you sense Me? I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name – though not all know Me.

Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor. Some sought Me with their last breath .Some couldn’t hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames; “Come to Me… this way… take my hand.”

Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there.

If you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me?

September 11, 2001 was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are “ready

to go.”

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

God

~ author unknown ~

Who Has Time to Read?

So you don’t have time to read? Neither do I; but I have found time to listen.

Last year I joined Audible.com to catch up on my “to be read” stack and I’ve come to love it. They have a great selection of audio books from some of my favorite authors.

Audible is owned my Amazon and has great customer service. Three or four times over the past year I have purchased a book with my monthly credit only to be disappointed with the content or reader. Each time Audible has allowed me to return to book for another selection.

There are several plans but I belong to the base plan of 1 book credit per month for $14.95. I have found it takes me about a month (base on my travel time) to get through an 8 hour book. Then it time for a new one.

I highly recommend this service and hope that you will find it as useful as I have. They often have a free book or other great offers for new customers. Give it a try.

Abe Lincoln on Widows and Orphans

 

Lincoln’s words, taken from the end of his Second oath of office (The Ending of the Civil war). These are inscribed on the Monument that bears his name in DC.

You Are In A Season

I wish someone had reminded me five years ago that my current season of my life would soon be changing. I think sometime we get so focused on where we are that we forget where we are going.

There are times when we are entering a new season. Maybe starting new job, beginning a marriage or having a baby. With these seasons come excitement, expectation, and some anxiety.

At other times we find ourselves in the middle of life’s seasons. These seasons can seem long and can start to seem like they will never end. Work, tending to children and the daily grind of life can keep us from thinking about what’s ahead.

Finally, there are the closing of life’s season. Fall is my favorite time of year, yet it reminds me that winter is on the way. What is alive today will soon pass and the current season of life, whether filled with difficulty or joy, will soon pass away.

What matters today is that we live with one eye on eternity. There, the temporary seasons of this life will pass away and all that will remain is that one eternal season where we stand in HIS presence and enjoy HIS Season forever.

“And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” Revelation 21:23-27

Don’t Stop Telling The Story

“After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.” Judges 2:10

Two weeks ago, I heard Dr. David O’Dell urge parents to not fail in passing along their faith to their children. More specifically David challenged us to tell our children the stories of God’s faithfulness to us. This passage in Judges warns us of what can happen when parents fail to accept their responsibility to pass along the narratives of scripture (and the narratives from their own lives) that magnify the faithfulness of God to us through the generations. When we fail to tell these stories we will inadvertently raise up a generation who will not know the Lord nor what he has done.

Sheriff Andy Taylor: 10 Leadership Lessons

The passing of Andy Griffith on Thursday made me reflect on all the things this show has taught me. More specifically all the lessons I have learned from “Sheriff Andy Taylor”; having watch the show my entire life. Here they are in no certain order:

1. You don’t have to use force or intimidation to lead people. Love them, and they will follow you.

2. Help other people win. Even though you are “The Leader” it’s not a position of prestige but of service to others.

3. Always take time to listen closely to what people are saying (Especially your children).

4. Sing Often: music makes life more enjoyable.

5. Don’t take yourself and others so serious: Laugh more.

6. Go to church (I could write pages here, but for now just go.)

7. Encourage people by bragging on their efforts.

8. Learn your history.

9. Sometimes you have to put people in jail (discipline them). They won’t learn any other way.

10. Forgiveness in the key to lasting relationships.

Fading Glory?

Our family took a vacation to Washington D.C. back in April. We had a great time crusing the capital and learning about our national history. We saw firsthand many of the things that were instrumental in the founding of our country. But the most significant thing I observed while I was there were the three documents that were preserved in the National Archives. After going through a security check and climbing a flight of stairs we entered a grand room that was very dimly lit. At the front were two armed guards position between the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights. The guards were at attention and keenly watching each person as they passed the documents. Since photos were not allowed, I had to borrow the one you see below that shows the room.

As I looked at these documents, though fading as they are, I got a bit emotional thinking about ALL the people through these past 236 years that have died to defending these writings. From our founding fathers, to our presidents, all of our military personal and finally citizens like you and me, who have laid down their lives for the sake of these documents? While I don’t hold that these documents are divinely inspired in the same way as the Bible, they do have a special place in history as they allow me the freedom to purse God and love people freely. Thank you fathers for the gift that these Documents preserve. Even though the original ink is fading, may it not fade from the hearts and minds of the people it keeps. God, thank you for blessing America!