He's Coming Back

Okay. I feel like last year I got grounded and reminded through several circumstances that we are not promised tomorrow and that our kids are not our own, but gifts from God. In fact, I wrote a post similar to this one, discussing these thoughts almost a year ago to the date.

And here I am again...

Because last night I went to bed late, due to being consumed with such thoughts, spending time in prayer, and being in my kid's rooms praying over them while they sleep.

Last night, a BHS girl lost her life in a car accident here in town. She is the third high school girl we know to die this way in the past year...praise the Lord she was a Believer (like the other 2) and had her destiny sealed in Heaven the day she proclaimed faith in Christ and became a follower of Him.

Here's what I struggle with:
My initial reaction to these things is sheer fear and terror and an urgent need to enclose my kids in a tight bubble of security (or my own fear, perhaps???)...to not let them go on a road trip with their grandparents in a few weeks...for me not to get in a car and drive to Dallas soon by myself...to not get out much and avoid busy highways...

But then I remember Jesus demands us to not live in fear...to not worry...not not be anxious about ANYTHING.

And so I pray...for forgiveness, and proclaim that God's will - whatever that may look like - is always - ALWAYS - better than mine. Always. Even if it involves tragedy.

So last night, I went into my kids rooms while they were asleep, and I prayed for them. I prayed what is the hardest prayer I have ever found to pray for my kids:
That God use them in mighty ways. That His will be done in their lives - whatever that may look like - to bring Glory to His name...That my desire for them is protection and long lives, but that I submit to whatever the Lord has in store for their lives, because His plans are always greater. But then my fervent prayer (as is always with Jason and I) is that they come to know the Lord...that they don't merely know of Him, but that they know Him.
There is a massive difference between the 2 which determine eternal blessing with Jesus, or eternal condemnation apart from Jesus.

And then, last night, I was reminded we have a job to do. In the midst of our earthly responsibilities, our greatest responsibility is to make sure people know the difference between knowing of Christ and knowing Him...we have that responsibility to instill this in our kids everyday, but also the rest of the World.

I was reading in 2 Peter 3 this morning about God's patience with Jesus returning and how God is patient so that all may come to know Him. I'm not one of those that wish Jesus would just come back. I used to be, but I feel convicted now every time I have that mind frame, because there are so many people that would perish in eternal condemnation if He came now. I'm thankful God was patient and waited on me.

So then later, I was reading this:
^"Truly, truly I say to you, whoever hears my word and

 believes Him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into

 judgement but passes from life to death. "(John 5:24)

So I know most of you reading this know of Him...but do you know Him?????