listen up!

I heard the whisper,

loud and clear,

several times in a matter of days

"ask her what she understands about Jesus and belonging to Him"

what I knew about her life was contradictory 

some posts looked like she understood who Jesus is

some not so much

(and yes, I know that might be offensive and sound judgmental to some who read this, but I firmly believe and stake my life upon the fact that Jesus is the only Truth. Our sin separates us from God. Being in relationship with Jesus is the only way we are able to be reconciled to God. This isn't a thorough explaination of what it means to follow Jesus, but that relationship starts with acknowledging and agreeing with God that I am a sinner, repenting of my sin which means turning away and not going back like a dog to vomit. Life in Him, loving Him, is more than words and feelings. Being in relationship with Him means reading the Bible and praying so that I can learn how to follow and trust and obey Him. The closer I get to Him, the more my life should reflect His. I don't always get it right as this post will illustrate.)

Yes, I heard the whisper to contact her

but I had an excuse 

every

single

time

"I don't know how to start the conversation."

"I don't want to offend her."

"I don't want her to think I am judging her."

"FB obviously isn't the place to ask."

"She hasn't been feeling well."

"There's a lot going on in her family life."

"This is a conversation better had face to face and she lives 300 miles away. The next time I go that way I'll take her to lunch or dinner and we will talk."

"over the years I've prayed for God to send someone to show her"

So I didn't message her.

I didn't text her.

I didn't think to call her.

And a few weeks later I read a post that made me sick.

She is on life support.

I regret being afraid of offending her.

I regret not thinking to call her.

I regret not listening to the whisper.

I have prayed for her to get well enough to speak to her.

I have prayed and prayed that she is right with the Lord.

I have resolved to not ignore that whisper again

and I encourage you, that when the Spirit whispers, respond asap

regret is bitter 

       and weighty 

             and forgiveness does not erase the "if only's"

If you want to know more about Jesus, please reach out to someone you know who is following Him. You will be able to recognize them by the way they live. If you don't know anyone, please contact me and I will do what I can to help you get to know Him.

"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14: 6 

“If you love me, keep my commands." John 14:15 

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command." John 15:1-14