Just in case.

I'm leaving tomorrow night for Vancouver for a few days to attend my Grandpa's funeral. Whenever I have to fly some where I am faced with my mortality. I've been faced with it a lot lately in Francis Chan's book Crazy Love.

I have a bit of a habbit of writing my family a letter when I fly somewhere (as if I'm not more likely to die driving somewhere) just in case. I've decided to put it on here because it's not as likely to get lost or eaten by a toddler :) Usually they are very long with a large portion for each child. This time I don't have so much to say.


To my family.

Never forget that no matter how many times I failed, I loved you. You will fail too, and I hope if you have learned anything from me it is that God's grace is big enough, period.

Serve God, no matter what the cost may be. Be it your life, your relationships, your comfort, your security, your money, your time, your sleep. Give it all to him. Not just in your heart. But give it in service for him. There is nothing on this earth that is worth holding onto. It is all for God.

No matter what it costs you or how much it hurts, read the Bible and do what it says. People will hate you for it. They will say that you don't love the way Christ wants you to. They will say that you are legalistic or a hypocrite. People who always stood beside you will leave. We are not here to please man, man has nothing for us, man's opinion does not matter. The only thing that matters is God and his word. They are the only ones who will be there in the end. Our life here is but a vapor. A fleeting moment. Don't waste the little time you have.

Do not worry about things. God will give us all that we need. If you are hungry he knows. If there is no food, don't question God, worship him. He will not forsake you. He is sovreign, don't ask why he's letting you go hungry, thank him that he's allowing you to even draw breath.

I want you to love each other. But not the way this world loves. Serve each other, give your lives for each other. HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE. If your brother or sister is sinning, don't let them feel good about it. Show them their sin, let them see how detestible it is to God. Pray for them and help them out of the pit, but don't sit there and watch them wallow in it. What does darkness have to do with light?

Honour your Father. He is a man with much wisdom. More than most his age. Submit yourselves to him while you are in his house, and honour him and his opinions even when you leave. He is not perfect, but neither are you and the Lord has set him over you to train you up and send you out. As long as he isn't telling you to sin (and I don't mean the kind of thing that you think must be sin because it's uncomfortable and you really don't like it, I mean the "thou shalt not"s and the commands of Jesus.) do what he says. Period.

This isn't a fluffy love letter. I know that you understand how much I love you. These are the things that I want to live by, the kind of person that I want to be. I pray that they will be the same for you, that is why I've written them.

May the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and may your rejoice and worship him even when it doesn't seem to.

I love you all,
Momma