I have almost died twice in my life. The first time was from pneumonia when I was 4 years old. I was hospitalized for a week and although I remember little of the experience, to this day I have to be diligent about my respiratory health because another case could be fatal. The second time was when I was 18, and I fully recall that experience. It was January 1994, and I was a second semester freshman at the University of South Carolina. I went to class and band practice, ate supper with my family, and studied for a quiz in one of my classes when I suddenly got violently ill. I still don't know exactly what it was, but it hit hard and fast. After a few miserable hours with no improvement, I finally ruled out a stomach virus and asked my parents to take me to the emergency room.
Lying on a bed in the ER with a nurse trying to find a vein in my arm, all I could think of was that I hadn't had a chance to live. I was only 18, had just started college, and my brother was getting married in 3 weeks. It seemed ironic that I would be spared death at age 4 to barely grow up. I definitely conversed with the Lord that night. The main thing I prayed for was a chance to serve Him in this world as an adult. I felt I really hadn't done much for Him up to that point, and had spent all of my life in preparation for a future that I may never have.
The next thing I remember was waking up in my bedroom the next night. More than anything, I was relieved that I woke up at all. Despite being weak and achy from my ordeal, I was overjoyed that my prayers had been answered and that God had a purpose for me in this world.
Anybody that has had a near-death experience will tell you it's the most frightening thing that can happen. Suddenly, all of the little things fall away and you see what's really important. The blessings seem to shine brighter and you start to realize what matters to you the most. One thing I realized is that every day is a gift from God that should never be taken for granted. Every morning is a new opportunity to serve the Lord through the gifts He blessed us with. Every new dawn brings with it the grace of new chances to serve Him and build faith in one another and ourselves.
No matter what you are facing in life, remember, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:23-24 RSV) I know from experience that the same old routine can get mind numbing after a while, and I also know that sometimes you go through seasons where it seems nothing goes right. We all face trials and challenges, and all of our lives are difficult in one way or another. The good news is that, no matter how bad things seem, the Lord is always with us and gives us the gift of another day to set things right. Hard times never last. The Lord graciously forgives the mistakes of yesterday turns them to the forgiven wisdom of today. It may take a while to reach that goal, make that dream come true, or resolve that problem, but you have a chance with every sunrise to take steps toward that goal. If you faithfully persevere, one day you will wake up to a bright sunrise on a clear horizon.
Where there is life, there is hope. If you woke up this morning, the Lord has given you a golden opportunity. Hope gives us the chance to learn from the experiences of the past and move forward. All of us are given this gift with the dawn of each new day.
How will you use this gift today?
Sherri Fulmer Moorer is a freelance Christian/Inspirational writer from Columbia, SC. Her writing focuses on applying faith to everyday living situations, and is based on her own personal experiences and the experiences of those around her. Her goal is to show people that the battles they face in life are shared by others, and how the Lord can use their experiences to build faith. She is the author of Battleground Earth - Living by Faith in a Pagan World (PublishAmerica 2004), which is a book about spiritual warfare and discovering faith in day-to-day living. For additional information, please visit the Battleground Earth web page at http://hometown.aol.com/bgearth/index.html
house refresh service Lincolnshire ..Listen to the sound of silence. Enjoy the peace and... Read More
For me, the best poetry stirs my soul; it awakens... Read More
Our Creator is an infinitely loving and generous provider -... Read More
You are a spiritual being. You recognize something in you... Read More
Lonely Song"a box of paints - lament for my da"It... Read More
One of the first things you will find that God... Read More
As communion was being passed this morning, I listened to... Read More
There's nothing wrong with wanting to improve ourselves either outwardly... Read More
The Many Waters explores the universe and sifts through the... Read More
God rides a Harley, God drives truck, God is a... Read More
In the make-believe world, too, fiction and films are filled... Read More
I honestly am not sure why this hit me so... Read More
Although spring is just around the corner, there have been... Read More
In Corrogue I am finding it's a wonderful life.Let me... Read More
Each time our children graduate from one stage to another... Read More
There is no such thing as a coincidence. Albert Einstein... Read More
Most of us have heard talk or have read something... Read More
Heaven is a place of abundance and earth is a... Read More
Many may wonder what is God's will, or how do... Read More
Chaos: "complete confusion" and "the formless void before the creation... Read More
I once read a story about a Catholic priest who... Read More
There is a specific technique that a Shaman uses to... Read More
Did you ever see something go wrong around you and... Read More
The question isn't, "Is there life after death."Rather, the question... Read More
Just for a moment think of what is stopping you... Read More
licensed cleaning services Lake Forest ..Not going to church has the advantage of having free... Read More
How many Christian people do you know who are bearing... Read More
Well I had a website that I was posting on... Read More
AN ARISTOCRATIC UPBRINGING:There are many people who write about sex... Read More
Now, we all know that we shouldn't be lead by... Read More
... Read More
David understood the aguish only those who have chosen to... Read More
Excerpt from The Journey That Never Was: a guide to... Read More
I have, in my opinion, the world's perfect job. Just... Read More
Qohelet had grown old with time when he delivered his... Read More
Love...it's a deep emotion. Sometimes we say it in jest... Read More
A while back the Lord had given me this message... Read More
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.... Read More
What could be a scary thought for some? How bout'... Read More
"What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is... Read More
Sometimes trying to be spiritual holds us back from actually... Read More
"Our mind is capable of passing beyond the dividing line... Read More
Good morning Roy, good morning JosethWhat about me, were do... Read More
"No man is a prophet in his own country."That line... Read More
At any given moment, there are 'things' occurring within the... Read More
"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the... Read More
Whether we admit it or not, we operate by emotion.... Read More
Jack Nicholson (Col. Jessup) (marine cornel) YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE... Read More
Many of us have been taught that it is wrong... Read More
The word "gravity" is a word coined by Sir Isaac... Read More
Spirituality |