the gift of mondays

i've decided that today would be a great day to share a poem i wrote more than 20 years ago. it seems the message is as important today as it was back then. i've always loved writing poems. from the time i was a young girl, the sound of words-especially rhyming words, has been music to my ears. i consider it a gift, of course, to be able to write things that touch people. to be able to write things that mean something to someone. i never think it's me. i never assume that i've created this talent on my own. i know, i've always known, that my writing is an incredible gift from God. and knowing that makes it a huge responsibility. one that i don't take lightly. one that i don't want to waste. i pray that in everything i write that i always use my gift in a way that gives glory to Him. the poem is called "Jesus saves" because He did. and He does. He saved me from this world. He saved me from myself. He saved me when no one else could. and if you need

1440. that's how many minutes are in each day. that's how many there were yesterday. and the day before. and the day before that.  1440. that's over a thousand opportunities to make a difference. over a thousand chances to make someone smile. over a thousand moments to touch someones life. seems overwhelming really. and unrealistic, of course. to think that we would spend all of our time today on other people. to think that we would look for ways to help others without first helping ourselves.   after all we've got a lot to do in one day. and by the time we get done doing everything we need to do for us, there's usually nothing left for anyone else. and even worse, there's usually nothing left for God. oh, we could throw in a couple of prayers here and there. maybe a quick thank you. a hurried hello. but there's just not enough time in the day. we reason with ourselves that He understands. He knows our heart. He knows our intentions. He knows if

i want to live my life as if Jesus dying on the Cross means something to me. i don't want it to be obvious only at Church. or only on Easter. or just at Christmas. i want it to be an everyday love affair. i want to wake up thanking Him, go to bed thanking Him, and spend every moment in between trying to bring Him glory. i want more than a casual relationship, i want Him to be my best friend. i want Him to know my voice. i want to know His. i want to be like David-someone "after God's own heart." i want to remember His sacrifice. remember His suffering. remember His willingness to take the place for my sins.  i want to remember how He was betrayed. how He was ridiculed. how He was mocked. and realize that He did it for me, so that i wouldn't have to pay the price. because i could never pay it. He knew that. and He did what He had to do-what only He could do-so that i might have eternal life. i don't want that realization to get lost on me. i don't want