Well, it’s the day before Christmas Eve. Shoppers are still out fighting the crowds to get that last minute gift. Every year we go through the same motions. It wouldn’t feel like Christmas without people flocking the stores Christmas week. My husband and I did all our shopping early to avoid the crowds and the insane traffic. All the gifts are wrapped and under the tree. Ah…but one thing we can’t buy to early is the food for Christmas dinner. For that we have to wait in those long lines at the grocery store. Ugh! I thank God my husband doesn’t mind shopping for groceries. He gets up early to beat the crowds. Anyway, earlier this afternoon I had a prescription to pick up at Walmart. As expected the lines to turn into the Walmart were backed up. The parking lot was full, but not to bad. We were just going to the pharmacy. I wasn’t expecting a crowd there. Anyway, as we walked up to the store I noticed a bumper sticker on a car that read “You may die tomorrow” I thought it odd… so… I took a closer look and in tiny, almost faded letters it read “so live it up today.”

I started thinking of so many comebacks “If you’re lucky you may die tomorrow and not today.” “Who’s to say you won’t die today?” I know some people have a difficult time talking about death and dying, but for me…death is a part of living. A spiritual death draws us to God. A physical death puts us in His presence.

So, sure we may die tomorrow and for sure we will all die – one day.

One of my favorite quotes from Rich Mullins –

“I’ve been traveling around now for about fifteen or twenty years. Do I look like it? Everyone always says, ‘You look so tired – can we pray for you?’ I’m like, ‘Man, if I didn’t look tired, you should pray for me. I would’ve had to have made a deal with the devil to not look tired. I deserve to look this way.’ I abused myself as much as possible in the last twenty years. Which is fine with me. ‘Cause I figure, sooner or later, life’s gonna kill us all – you may as well go out doing something you love to do. Or eating something that you like to eat, like cholesterol.” — R. Mullins

Who would have thought that Rich Mullins would leave this earth so young? Yet, he did. Only the Lord in heaven knows when our time is up.

Proverbs 27:1 (NKJV) “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”

James 4:14
“Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”

Proverbs 16:9
“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”

Job 14:5
Since his days are determined, the number of his months is with You; You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass.”

Meanwhile, we should live – live as if today is our last day on earth. Live grateful for the grace and mercy of loving God. Giving thanks for His birth, this Christmas and every day, that the God of the heavens sacrificed His only Son that we may live. We are so familiar with this story – the story of Christmas. But for all who place their faith in Jesus – it’s more than a story…

Isaiah 9:2, 6-7

The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined.

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Be blessed!