I read something today that choked me up a bit in a book called Crazy Love. It was found in the writing of a young girl who put words to the feelings I have burning in my heart - the thoughts that seem foolish, but resonate as true. This teenager would spend her baby-sitting money on Bibles that she passed out to all of her unsaved friends. She wrote this essay when she was 12 years old…
“SINCE I HAVE MY LIFE BEFORE ME”
by Brooke Bronkowski
I’ll live my life to the fullest. I’ll be happy. I’ll brighten up. I will be more joyful than I have ever been. I will be kind to others. I will loosen up. I will tell others about Christ. I will go on adventures and change the world. I will be bold and not change who I really am. I will have no troubles but instead help others with their troubles.
You see, I’ll be one of those people who live to be history makers at a young age. Oh, I’ll have moments, good and bad, but I will wipe away the bad and only remember the good. In fact that’s all I remember, just good moments, nothing in between, just living my life to the fullest. I’ll be one of those people who go somewhere with a mission, an awesome plan, a world-changing plan, and nothing will hold me back. I’ll set an example for others, I will pray for direction.
I have my life before me. I will give others the joy I have and God will give me more joy. I will do everything God tells me to do. I will follow the footsteps of God. I will do my best!!!
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Three years after writing this, she was killed in a car accident. Around 200 people committed their lives to Jesus at her funeral.
Will you be a history maker?
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Standing by for Flight 895
I type to you from 34,841 feet above the earth’s surface. I think I’m somewhere near the North Pole. Most of the time I keep myself so busy that I don’t enjoy simply writing. Since I’m not going anywhere for 15 hours I will take the time to share a few moments of my Thanksgiving Day with you.
Have you ever flown stand-by before? It can be a grewling process. Hoping, praying that somehow you’ll get a seat on the flight you so desperately want to get on. You and a small crowd of people stand by the gate agent desk after every paying passenger is on board. Everyone waits for the deep sigh of relief that is the call of your name signifying that they have printed you a ticket. Knowing today’s flight from Chicago to Hong Kong was going to be a long one, I was putting all my positive thoughts toward getting a seat in First Class. Unlike most of my flights throughout the year, this had an actual possibility of happening. First class. Yes PLEASE. So in the days preceding this flight I’d send up little prayers of “Lord, please give me a flight in First!?” And since I’m wanting to hear God’s voice more on, well, every subject, I was attempting to listen.
During the hours before the flight, I felt like the slightest whisper from God was, “You’re not getting first class today.” What?! Must be hearing God wrong. He didn’t just say that? Nah. This is one of the few or only possibilities I will have for an amazing seat in First Class! “Please please please will you give me a seat in first?” Silence… with a grin. Do you ever feel that – God’s just grinning at you not saying a thing like an all-knowing dad? I tried to quench my whine of a prayer and tell Him how I’ll sit wherever he wants me to. Grimicing I thought, “So Lord, where will I be sitting?” He’s says, “Now how am I supposed to surprise you if I keep telling you before it happens? Sometimes I just want to leave it till the last second. Be patient.” Ooookay. He’s always good to me. I have no need to worry. But I still was caught holding my breath a bit. Finally, the call came over the speaker, “Passenger Melilli!” Awesome – I’m on! … but where? I ran over to the desk to gratefully collect my ticket. 7H. What does 7H mean? Seems like the front, but dare I get my hopes up? Wheeling my bags down the line to get on board, I decided to just get in the coach class line and handed the gate agent my ticket. He smiled and said, “I think you’ll be closer to your seat going through this door.” And ushered me through the other line door – the red carpet one!
As I practically skipped down the jetway, I was still a bit puzzled. I had thought business class was overbooked. Turns out it wasn’t! As soon as I sat down a flight attendant breezed by offering a tray filled with glasses of champagne or orange juice. I helped myself and tried hide my shear elation at the total comfort around me. God was right (as always), I wasn’t in First Class, but I was sure well taken care of. Thank you so much, Father God!
Have you ever flown stand-by before? It can be a grewling process. Hoping, praying that somehow you’ll get a seat on the flight you so desperately want to get on. You and a small crowd of people stand by the gate agent desk after every paying passenger is on board. Everyone waits for the deep sigh of relief that is the call of your name signifying that they have printed you a ticket. Knowing today’s flight from Chicago to Hong Kong was going to be a long one, I was putting all my positive thoughts toward getting a seat in First Class. Unlike most of my flights throughout the year, this had an actual possibility of happening. First class. Yes PLEASE. So in the days preceding this flight I’d send up little prayers of “Lord, please give me a flight in First!?” And since I’m wanting to hear God’s voice more on, well, every subject, I was attempting to listen.
During the hours before the flight, I felt like the slightest whisper from God was, “You’re not getting first class today.” What?! Must be hearing God wrong. He didn’t just say that? Nah. This is one of the few or only possibilities I will have for an amazing seat in First Class! “Please please please will you give me a seat in first?” Silence… with a grin. Do you ever feel that – God’s just grinning at you not saying a thing like an all-knowing dad? I tried to quench my whine of a prayer and tell Him how I’ll sit wherever he wants me to. Grimicing I thought, “So Lord, where will I be sitting?” He’s says, “Now how am I supposed to surprise you if I keep telling you before it happens? Sometimes I just want to leave it till the last second. Be patient.” Ooookay. He’s always good to me. I have no need to worry. But I still was caught holding my breath a bit. Finally, the call came over the speaker, “Passenger Melilli!” Awesome – I’m on! … but where? I ran over to the desk to gratefully collect my ticket. 7H. What does 7H mean? Seems like the front, but dare I get my hopes up? Wheeling my bags down the line to get on board, I decided to just get in the coach class line and handed the gate agent my ticket. He smiled and said, “I think you’ll be closer to your seat going through this door.” And ushered me through the other line door – the red carpet one!
As I practically skipped down the jetway, I was still a bit puzzled. I had thought business class was overbooked. Turns out it wasn’t! As soon as I sat down a flight attendant breezed by offering a tray filled with glasses of champagne or orange juice. I helped myself and tried hide my shear elation at the total comfort around me. God was right (as always), I wasn’t in First Class, but I was sure well taken care of. Thank you so much, Father God!
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