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
Mercedes Benz s500 rentals Salem ..You're looking at one star in the middle of a... Read More
On Shamans and Shamanism ... Shaman, a Tungus (Siberian) word,... Read More
When the Tsunami struck Asia and East Africa on December... Read More
What is Enlightenment?What do we really mean when we talk... Read More
Though closely akin and sometimes used synonymously, John Rawls distinguish... Read More
I know God will not give me anything I can't... Read More
This article is a reply that deals with certain criticisms... Read More
Several years ago after I presented a workshop entitled "Spirituality... Read More
According to H. G. Bosch, the newspaper cartoonist H. T.... Read More
For it is written in Bible in chapter 2 Peter... Read More
Want more peace and joy in your life? Daily stress... Read More
There's nothing new about "the new age" except the attitude... Read More
Second Isaiah, so called because his book of prophecy was... Read More
I have studied many of the great Religions, Quantum Physics,... Read More
Welcome to the GOD 1.0 Tech Support Page. GOD 1.0... Read More
We all hear of the concept of the "Enlightened Master",... Read More
We shamans are a strange breed.....often we tend to isolate... Read More
Spiritual stuff is a hard sell Roy and one of... Read More
Spending 'Quiet Time' with the LordFrom the beginning of my... Read More
The following article is an exploration of the Spring holiday... Read More
Many of our great religions hold that numbers contain hidden... Read More
Some men see things as they are and say, "Why?"... Read More
Ok, let's start with the amazing story of Robbie and... Read More
Irish myth has the power to transform your life into... Read More
Stress & Spirituality ? How Spirituality Affects Stress LevelsTake a... Read More
Dowagiac cheap limo service ..Life is just a journey. Princess DianaWhether we are... Read More
A magnificent source of life insurance and it's FREE. You... Read More
The "Left Behind" series is inspiring, in that it makes... Read More
Because of the bright lights behind me, the golf balls... Read More
As humans, we are the species that operate with symbols.... Read More
I want to share with you something that happened to... Read More
After more than three decades of church ministry, I have... Read More
As communion was being passed this morning, I listened to... Read More
Getting the most from a Tarot card reading relies on... Read More
There is an inherent generosity in the human spirit to... Read More
My fiancee' and I frequent a restaurant in L.A. called... Read More
Being critical of Buddhism isn't easy.Buddhism is the most likable... Read More
What is Enlightenment?What do we really mean when we talk... Read More
Do you want victory in your life? Do you have... Read More
Presently, many of us live in uncertainty. Due to the... Read More
Want more peace and joy in your life? Daily stress... Read More
Do you think it's acceptable for people to make millions... Read More
Life is full of ups and downs, trials, and tribulations.... Read More
"In the sixth century of the sixth millennium, the gates... Read More
I have been counseling people on weight loss, exercise efficiency... Read More
If you spend a hundred bucks and buy the right... Read More
What could be a scary thought for some? How bout'... Read More
I am often asked to explain what I mean by... Read More
"You have not handed me over to the enemy but... Read More
Now, we all know that we shouldn't be lead by... Read More
Spirituality |