Life...death

Was going to write about Romans 8:12-14. Shattering verses, you are under no obligation to live according to sin, because you've died to that. And if you willingly and wantonly continue on that path it leads to death, and shows that you have not died with Christ, so you won't live with Him. Proof you're living (even if you mess up regularly as I do) is seen in being led by the Holy Spirit. So it boils down to pride (ie. selfishness) in choosing me instead of loving God enough to choose Him...and yet factor in God's amazing love wooing me even then. See Will's blog for some good thoughts on this in Genesis: http://seriousperfectlove.blogspot.com/2010/01/simon-says.html.

But what's on my mind is life and death. I've been in the hospital a lot lately for church members. On Monday I got to hold a fresh (under 1 hour old) baby and hold him up and pray for God's blessing on His life. About an hour ago I stood at the side of a bed in another hospital and held the hand of a dear lady and prayed God's blessing on her as she laid there unable to speak or swallow. The similarities of those two settings were crazy. Two precious beings loved so dearly by God, and both so small and helpless. Unable to take care of themselves or to even vocalize their feelings, dependant on others to protect and nurture them. One just beginning life, one ending it. Such joy in one room, such sorrow in another, but both brought on by such deep love. Life is so short, and goes by so quickly...

I hope I don't waste any of my days. I pray that my talks with my little girls will leave them with a legacy of knowing and loving God. I hope my wife is thankful in 40 years to still have me around. I pray that my time in church is not wasted on empty words but deep relationships that change me and those I encounter for eternity. I hope to not be the man I am today tomorrow. I pray in thanks I am not the man I was. I hope...I pray. Life...death. Wow, so much is wrapped up in those three little periods between those two words. Life...death. So much to do.