The Difference a Day Makes
Many times we think about the things we want to do to change our lives, but we forget to change the things we can today. Author and speaker, John Maxwell, says that so many of us underestimate the power of today. If I can change what I do in a 24 hour time frame, I can change my life.
For Chris and me, it’s the little things we changed in our daily schedule that changed our lives. Like Stephen Curtis Chapman’s recent hit Miracle of the Moment expresses, we are learning to live in the moment.
It’s amazing to us that the more people we talk with, the more we realize what an important question it is to ask every day of your life -- “If I knew I had one month to live what would I do and how would I live this day?”
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to be interviewed by KSBJ, a local Houston radio station, about the “One Month to Live Challenge”. One of the DJ’s on KSBJ shared with me that his father is going through the last months of his life. This has caused him to pose the question on air, “What would you do it you knew you had one month to live?”
Chris and I have been so moved by the powerful way you’re living your lives with such passion and purpose. It’s so exciting to read all of your stories on the blog!
Tell us, what are some of the little things as well as the big things that you are doing during this “One Month to Live – 30 Day Challenge” that are making the greatest impact in your life?
Comments
I honestly believe that that one of the toughest things to do is to forgive, after all our heavenly father tells us to love our enemies and to forgive them as he himself has forgiven us. At the age of 3 years old I was molested by a family member, at the age of 5 years old I was raped by my stepfather, night after night when my mother would leave for work he would rape me and beat me and threatened me that if I ever told he would kill my mother, I never said anything, It all continued for 2 years, up until I was 7 years old a school teacher reported the physical abuse but the sexual abuse no one ever knew about it. I am now 31 years old, single mom of 4 beautiful children, three boys and one girl. I have had a big problem with trusting anyone and most of my life I had lived with fears and anger in my heart. I have tried to take away my life 3 times, at the age of 13, 14 and 29 years old. At 26 I became a drug addict, my marriage ended, I lost my children, and my family wanted to do nothing with me. I gave my life to the lord in april 2, 2006 in Victory Outreach of sanfernando valley, and my life has never been the same. I have been clean for 2 years, God gave me my children back, I have a better relationship with my mom and siblings, and God has removed all those fears that tortured me forever. I have the peace that I never had and I love the Lord with all my heart. What would I do if I only had one month to life is to ask for forgiveness of those who I have hurt in the past and I would tell those who have hurt me that I forgive them because Jesus forgave me. I am blessed beyond blessed, and I want to encourage anyone who has dealed or is dealing with unforgiveness to draw closer to God and he will truly do the rest, in a heart beat. Thank you for the privlege of being able to tell you my story. May God bless you abundantly . Amen
Posted by: Amalia Giron | April 8, 2008 09:45 PM
The Edge of a Dream
If a gift can berth a dream,
The dream makes way for hope.
That hope is where i live.
Though the light seems very dim.
And I'm so tired of being strong.
But I'll keep holding on.
I am a soldier battling for my life, my sanity, my prosperity.
I can't promise you I won't cry
Or beg Him to crack the sky.
Would they miss me if He took me home.
Would they even know I'm gone.
But it doesn't really matter
I push on, and on and on.
I was not created to rot in the pit of poverty
Or to live life in the grip of oppression.
I was sculpted and molded with great care and tenderness.
And till my dying day I will remember this.
So the mountains can fall and crumble around me.
Let the wind and the rains crash over me.
Through the pain and the heartache and the grief
I will stand and fight for my dream.
Posted by: Toni McCorkle | April 1, 2008 01:33 AM
Please go to www.endthepain.org to read the most glorious healing I have recieved from God. I had brain surgery on 03-04-2008 for what is now called "The World's Worst Pain" by professionals. I say Jesus already suffered the world's worst pain for me. To the surprise of all who participated in my treatment, I realized 100% pain relief immediately after surgery. Please take the time to go to the Trigeminal Neuralgia Website and read my testimony. I praise God who lead me to Job 5:19.
Posted by: Lillian Kretz | March 22, 2008 07:40 PM
This month has been a month
of literally life changing
developments. I went to small group and opened up to them that I haven't asked for anything from GOD
since I lost my sister in
1977 even I have gone to church off and on for years
since that happened. My small group all prayed for me and I prayed for forgiveness and then things
started to change. My son started to attend a small group and that I wished for but never prayed for.
I prayed and read the whole
new testament until satan made my eyes tired and then
I would pray that all I learned would stay with me and influence my daily life. Then I asked GOD to
help me reach a goal to make my life personally better. When you don't ask
right then you get what you
ask for. I wanted to move
from the electronics dept to the IT dept to work with
computers. I got moved to the IT dept two days later
with no application to the
department. I received an email that said I need your paperwork to make the transistion and I had no idea what they were talking about so I approached my immediate supervisor and he had no clue and he approached his
boss and the same. It was
done as a restructuring plan with my old department
having any clue about it. That is a miracle! It came
with a 3 dollar/hr raise and almost 1000.00 bonus check. I am doing my same
job but I dress better and
get paid more. One word...Miracle!
I went out of the room and
prayed to God and told him
thank you and I wanted to
spread the word...GOD answers prayers..but his way and you must figure out
the why with prayer and meditation. I am working on
repairing my decaying marriage which has been more of a shared household for my son but we were the
perfect couple before he was born and I believe that
GOD will make it happen. He
is the creator of LOVE dept
and he all things are possible through him. I hope someone reads this and
just tries and release all
your pent of feelings and
surrender yourself to his
will and everything else
will follow.
Posted by: Jon D Alexander | March 16, 2008 02:57 PM
Recently I have had a really tough time dealing with my teenagers mistakes and the actions that they must face. I am a single mom of three and in 2006 thier father took his own life. I has ben extreamly hard being the only parent they have. I have missed quiet a bit of church and realized that was my comfort place. On Feb 3rd of 2008 just a few weeks ago I was headed to church on 1488. I never made it, I was in a terrible car accident and was air lifted to Herman Hospital. The car I had, a 2002 Jeep Liberty was totaled upon impact of a tree. I don't remember much and my injuries are not major. After I was well enough to walk, I went to see my car. I really could not understand how I ever walked away from that at all. The motor was coming through the driver side floor, Once I flipped over, fire fighters were there in what seemed like seconds. The seatbelt held me from falling to the passenger side and they began to bust glasses and cut me out. You see, this is my second chances to change my life and God gave me this chance because my work here is not done. Im sorry to anyone who might have missed church due to life flight in the middle of 1488.I have been in attndance ever since that horrible day. I got my chance no matter how, I attend to live life to the fullest and follow gods plan for me. Im not sure what all he wants me to do, but I am ready for the challenge.
Posted by: karen miller | February 18, 2008 07:33 PM
I think if I had one month to live I would want to become much closer to Jesus and pray a lot more .
Posted by: cheryl m. | January 31, 2008 01:36 AM
I live everyday as if it were my last and I have raised my 5 children to use the same approach to life. I believe that by this approach, one can live without regret.
I was diagnosed with MS in 1998. Although MS is not a life-threatening illness, it posed life challenges every in moment. I receved my healing in 2004. My lessons have been extremely difficult but the more difficult the lesson, the more glorious the triumph of faith in Jesus Christ.
Posted by: Lillian Kretz | January 20, 2008 08:02 PM