CLEOEJACKSONIII.COM
  • My Home Page
  • My Life and Ministry
  • My Ongoing Thoughts
  • My Favorite Bible Verses
  • My Favorite Stories
  • My Favorite Jokes
  • My Favorite Quotations
  • My Favorite Giving Thoughts
  • My Favorite Children's Stories
  • My Favorite Web Links
  • My Favorite Churches
  • My Contact Info
"Helping Others Communicate"

THE LIVING DEAD

1/30/2017

 
In my last post, titled DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY (and listed below), I referenced a short piece from my files called  “TEN RULES FOR HAPPIER LIVING”.  Before I continue (and as it is very brief), I repost it here.  as you read it, pay particular attention to number ten on the list.

1.   Give something away (no strings attached)
2.   Do a kindness (and forget it)
3.   Spend a few minutes with the aged (their experience is a priceless guidance)
4.   Look intently into the face of a baby (and marvel)
5.   Laugh often (it's life's lubricant)
6.   Give thanks (a thousand times a day is not enough)
7.   Pray (or you will lose the way)
8.   Work (with vim and vigor)
9.   Plan as though you'll live forever (because you will)
10. Live as though you'll die tomorrow (because you will on some tomorrow)

 
Little did I know just how much how God was going to drive that point home over this past weekend. 
 
On Saturday evening, we hosted our 15th annual Wild Game Supper at our church.  Our speaker this year was Dr. Sammy Gilbreath.  In addition to being an avid outdoorsman, Dr. Gilbreath serves as the Evangelism Director of the Alabama State Baptist Convention.  Suffice it to say that the Lord has given him a tremendous gift for communicating the Gospel.
 
I share this because he stayed over on Saturday night and spoke during our Sunday morning worship service.  The title of his morning message was, of all things, “LIVE LIKE YOU ARE DYING!”  How is that for timing?!
 
In this brief message, he shares his testimony of having to confront his own mortality much sooner than he had ever expected.  The message he shares is well worth viewing.  It is short, candid, and quite thought-provoking.  For all these reasons, I thought I would post it here today.
 
If your time permits, I encourage you to watch it.  (It is less than 30 minutes in length.)  Having done so, take to heart the things he has to say.  Their relevance is undeniable.
 
To view the message “LIVE LIKE YOU ARE DYING” (the same message as preached this past Sunday at our church, only here preached earlier at the First Baptist Church of Gardendale, Alabama back on February 1, 2015 (apparently a sports emphasis Sunday), click here:
 

http://www.truthcasting.com/Gardendale-First-Baptist-Church-AL-2-1-15-Message-Live-Like-You-Are-Dying--114381.sermon.
 
Dr. Gilbreath is right.  Ultimately, we are all dying!  So make the most of the time God gives you in this world...  live each and every day to its fullest!  For when our time in this world comes to an end, as it surely will, it will be too late to live otherwise.
 
As the Apostle Paul puts it in his New Testament Letter to the Ephesian believers (chapter 5, verse 15-17, New Living Translation):  “Be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.  Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.”  

And then, as both the Apostle Paul and Dr. Gilbreath would surely admonish, go do God’s will!
 
VIDEO SOURCE: 
http://www.truthcasting.com/Gardendale-First-Baptist-Church-AL-2-1-15-Message-Live-Like-You-Are-Dying--114381.sermon. 
SCRIPTURE SOURCE: 
http://biblehub.com/nlt/ephesians/5.htm. 
SEE ALSO: 
https://alsbom.org/sammygilbreath/.

Comments are closed.

    Cleo E. Jackson, III

    Occasionally I will add
    a few thoughts to my blog. If you find them inspirational, I will be
    honored.

    Archives

    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010

    Categories

    All