Shelbi Bay. Wake. Pray. Slay.: 09/09/13

"You Only Live Once"

This year my hometown of Blountsville, has lost 4 kids. Alyssa Huffstutler (19)

, Christian Stipes(17) & Wesley Wescott(20), & Wesley Estes (22). All attended J.B. pennington High School, where i graduated. Too many young lives are going without a warning. We may not understand why God lets these happen ,but we can make sure that the short time we are here isn't wasted.

"YOLO" A common "motto", if you will, in 2012-2013 for young teens and free spirits. YOLO standing for You Only Live Once,Originally coming from the hit song "the motto" by Drake.

The question is "do we really live once?" This life is temporary(on earth). You move on to your eternity ,which is either Heaven or hell. I have so many people tell me ,"live everyday as your last", but in their minds that means something fantastic everyday like; bungee jump, skydiving, making a bucket list etc.

Did you ever think that Living everyday as your last actually could be spent sitting still, enjoying What God gave you, being thankful, and living selflessly.

God gave us too precious of a gift, Life, a payed debt and freedom of our sin. Too precious to spend our time wasting it on ourselves. When Jesus said in

James 4:14

English Standard Version (ESV)

14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

He meant Living life abandonment through Him, not necessarily spending a bunch of money, buying anything you want, telling people off you have been bitter towards for years. quitting your job, taking awesome trips, and just thinking about yourself.

He wants us living everyday growing in Him, Having a personal relationship. When you really think about it, living everyday as your last is spending it with the one whom you will spend eternity with. This earthly life is not the only one, and it's short.

Christ calls us to love others, live selflessly, and die to self. I would rather die knowing that I sacrificed my life for others, helping people, making a difference in someones life and living for the One who created me than be known for how awesome i was at sports, or how pageants or awards i won, and my talents that i didn't even achieve on my own in the first place.

Skydiving, bungee jumping, rock climbing, nothing is wrong with any of those, but I think we focus so much on how much we can go out with a big bang than really slowing down and living day to day with nothing to lose.

Philippians 1:21

New International Version (NIV)

21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Do we really think like Philippians 1:21? So I encourage you,as I have been convicted myself We could all go at anytime. I could even be taken up in mid sentence. Or the next hour... Would you be ok with that? Who's life did you impact for the Glory of God?

Tell people you love them if you love them. If you don't ask God to help you see them the way He does.
Give people compliments, they are wasted thoughts if not shared. Like that girls shirt? tell her , might make her day.
God lay someone on your heart? Let them know.
God has a reason and a purpose for everything and everyone.
If you are still living and breathing on this earth God still has a purpose for you. I don't care who you are or what you've done, He still wants you here for a reason. Use it wisely, for Him.