Tag Archives: Family photo

“Thank You”

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One of our nurse friends from Mercy Hospital sent the lyrics of this song (“Thank you”) to us. It is such a great reminder of the lasting importance that is attributed to intentional, yet seemingly small and unassuming acts that you and I carry out each day as we take light to a dark world. It ties in to the idea of the greater ‘family’ photo that we are creating one day at a time, the picture that includes everyone who has touched our lives, and those we have touched.

Have you thought about who is and might yet be in your great ‘family’ photo? Maybe a search through your address book or photo album from bygone years would reveal the names of someone you want to reach out to, to say, “Thank you for speaking into my life. Thank you for investing in others. Thank you for your testimony of faithfulness, for your friendship. You made a forever difference in my life.”

THANK YOU For Giving To The Lord ( Ray Boltz)
I dreamed I went to heaven
and You were there with me
We walked upon the streets of gold
Beside the crystal sea.

We heard the angels singing
Then someone called your name.
You turned and saw this young man
And he was smiling as he came.

And he said, “Friend you may not know me now”
And then he said, “But wait”
You used to teach my Sunday School
When I was only eight.

And every week you would say a prayer
Before the class would start.
And one day when you said that prayer
I asked Jesus in my heart.”

(Chorus)
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am so glad you gave.

Then another man stood before you
And said, “Remember the time
A missionary came to your church
And his pictures made you cry.

You didn’t have much money
But you gave it anyway.
Jesus took the gift you gave
And that’s why I am here today.”

(Chorus)
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am so glad you gave.

One by one they came
Far as the eye could see
Each life somehow touched
By your generosity.

Little things that you had done
Sacrifices made.
Unnoticed on the earth
In heaven now proclaimed.

And I know up in heaven
You’re not supposed to cry.
But I am almost sure
There were tears in your eyes.

As Jesus took your hand
And you stood before the Lord.
He said, “My child look around you.
Great is your reward.”

(Chorus twice)
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am so glad you gave.

Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am so glad you gave.

Forever

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I wonder if you might sit quietly with me for a moment as we think together about this word: FOREVER. I know it is quite beyond the comprehension of either of us, but let’s try.

Thinking about forever takes us before the beginning of time and past the time when time itself ends; before the foundations of the world were set and so far in the future we could never grasp sight of it. Somewhere in the midst of all that expanse is where we are sitting at this very moment. A little bit to the left of that your great great grandfather may have been thinking about this same thing. A bit to the right, your great grand daughter may be contemplating it too and wondering where she fits in.

Wouldn’t it be something to have a family picture of EVERYONE in your family all in one setting? It’s rare to find a five or six generation photo. Imagine a family photo of the forty generations covering just 1000 years, or over 300 generations covering 8000 years or so of human history. . . Each individual living in each generation quite unaware of the influence they have on those that will follow in their footsteps.

And here we are, taking just a moment every now and then to reflect on the impact of a single life, and perhaps a single decision made on one single day of that life, a decision to live as if it mattered. Because, even though you might not SEE the difference you make, it will be revealed one day. And all the seemingly meaningless loose threads of this time will come together when the great tapestry of life is revealed. Maybe there will be a family portrait taken, one that includes not just parents and children, but friends and strangers whose lives touched and were changed forever by intentional choices to be the light of the world to someone else. Intentional choices that consider the interests of others more important than your own. Choices that reflect that which will last forever, not just that which lasts for a time.

Choose to remain faithful to today in a way that will impact tomorrow, and forever. Living beyond yourself with forever in mind is your legacy.

“In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.” 1 Timothy 5:25