Please Pray

Hello to you all. I just wanted to hop on really quickly to ask you to please pray for my friend, Kim Smith, and her 6-year-old daughter, Hannah. Kim's husband Michael passed away unexpectedly in his sleep early Friday morning. My heart is so heavy for her and the days ahead.

Michael was my boss when I worked at Hunter Street Baptist Church in the student ministry from 2001-2004. He was one of the funniest people I have ever known. He loved students and invested his life to further the Gospel in the next generation. He worked as a youth minister from the time he was 18 until his death at age 40. I know He is with the Lord and there is hope in that for Kim and Hannah...but my heart just hurts to the core for their loss.

This weekend I was able to take a trip with the ladies I lead in Bible study at our church to Chattanooga, TN to the Precept Ministries Women's Conference. The theme for the weekend was, "Having Hope in a World With No Hope." Continually throughout the weekend as I silently lifted up prayers for Kim, I was reminded by God's Word that He is our hope...He is Kim's hope and Hannah's hope...and Michael's faith has become sight because his hope was in Christ. I prayed throughout the weekend that the Lord would remind his family of these truths in the coming days, weeks and months.

Please join so many of us who are praying for Kim and Hannah as they face what I'm sure is the darkest days they've ever known. So many of you who read have faced devastating losses so I know you will pray...and know how to pray for them.

Life is fleeting, and short, and unpredictable. I cannot end this post without asking you if you are at peace with your Creator? The Bible says in John 14:6 that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life; and no one comes to God except through Him. Please know that this is what God says, not me. All men have rebelled against God and so our relationship with God is broken. But God the Father has not left us as orphans. Because God is holy (set apart and different) sin had to be judged...His anger towards man's disobedience had to be poured out. He is just and He cannot ignore sin. Instead of pouring it out on us, the sinners, He poured it out on the perfect sacrifice, His sinless Son, Jesus. Christ was born into the fallen world and was tempted in every way we are, yet never sinned. Therefore, He could be the blameless sacrifice and bear God's anger and punishment for the sins of the world. He willingly gave up His life on the cross, was dead for 3 days, and was raised back to life. The penalty for sin is death (see Romans 1-3), and Christ tasted death and defeated death. Now, through faith in Christ, you can be saved from the penalty of sin...and you can live the life God created you to have here on earth.

If you do not have a personal relationship with Christ, I beg you to read the book of John in the Bible. Message me or find someone you know who does have a relationship with Christ and talk to them.

I know that Michael would want his life to be remembered as being a passionate follower of Christ. Nothing would bring him more joy than for his death to result in others trusting in Christ.

Please pray for Kim and Hannah. And cherish your loved ones...love them well...none of us are promised to wake up. Each day is a gift. Make them count!

Love you all...