Don’t just sit there.

Recently, I read about a book entitled 101 Things You Should Do Before Going to Heaven, and it got me thinking about making a list of things to do on Earth before I go to heaven. Christa and I are creating a list together and individually. However, our list will not only be about things we desire for ourselves, but one that incorporates truly living through loving and serving others with the hope of leaking the Gospel to others. A great guide for designing this list may be found in these vereses. I have included a few ideas below, and hope you will add some additional ideas in the comments section.

Give away something valuable
When our washing machine, which is on the 2nd floor, flooded our home, Christa and I realized how blessed we are to have a home, esp. one with a solid roof. While dealing with the incident, our “valuables” remained in storage. It taught us that most of the things we own are not only a blessing, but do not really mean anything. Think about it, if your home were to catch on fire, what would you reach for? What would you desire if you only had a few minutes to save some items? Now flip this … What would be burned? Would the items lost really matter? Think about taking one of those items, which has worldly value, and giving it up for someone who needs it (or sell the item and give someone, like a missionary, the money). After all, it would be an awesome thing to take something that has worldly value and give it eternal value!

Change churches for one Sunday
I have been thinking about this a lot lately. I have a passion for seeing Seacoast expand into lower socioecomic communities, but, though I have spent some time in these neighborhoods, I have never attended a church in these communities. I often drive by these churches admiring them for being where they are — it has to be tough to survive financially with the majority of the congregation being poor. However, God blesses them. These are the types of churches Jesus would visit if He came to Charleston today. Plus, Jesus often encouraged them in His Word.

Take a homeless person to lunch
Even as I type this, I get nervous. All kinds of excuses run through my head, but they are just that, excuses. Besides, who do you think will be more nervous, you or the homeless person? Jesus said that he came to preach the good news to the poor, and He continually encourages them … So, shouldn’t we? I have a feeling that spending some time with a homeless individual will prove to be an amazing time of love rather than simply a time of charity. Besides, how cool would it be to run into this person in heaven?!?

Discover your life verse
Ever since I was a little kid, my grandmother reminded me of my life verse. For each of her grandchildren, she prayed that God would lead her to a verse that she could give us as our life verse. I never thought much about it until I could no longer ignore God’s call. When I finally started giving my life back to God, those verses became my strength and continually resonanted in my heart and mind. God’s Word became real to me through the Spirit, and He knew it long before. Spend some time in God’s word and pray that God may lead you to your life verse … you can do this by …

Spending an entire day with God

~ by wilewis3 on August 10, 2006.