"...and hope putteth not to shame; because the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit which was given unto us." ~ Romans 5:5

Yes, it is the last day of 2013 here on this 31st of December and I am sitting here thinking about the year that has passed and the one that is coming up. I think most of us know what really counts is what we have done to further the kingdom of God because that's what will last for time and eternity. I suppose as we face a brand new year we can ask ourselves what is it that we want to leave behind because we all will someday and it might be soon. That's in God's timing. Yesterday I read the obituary of a man named Sam. After giving the details about the Church and the Pastor conducting the memorial, the write up included how that he left this world at the age of 39 but reading the tribute to him causes me to sense how he has left behind a living legacy, and it inspires me to do the same. What say you?

Excerpt from Sam's Obituary:

Sam was a Construction worker most of his life, and for the last few years, Levi was right there beside him. He was just a Jack-Of-All-Trades. He just knew how to do everything. Sam always had a smile on his face. His smile and personality was full of so much laughter, and it is already being missed by us all. He was the MOST LOVING PERSON, the MOST GIVING HEARTED PERSON, and the BEST DADDY his kids could've ever asked for. He was the best roofer you'd ever seen. Sam would give you the last $5.00 in his pocket, if he knew you needed it, even if it broke him. Sam would mow your yard if you were sick, and couldn't help yourself. He paid electricity bills for people who had less than him. He took people heaters so they wouldn't be cold. He took Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinners to those who would've had none. He just wanted everyone to have the same things he did. We can't begin to explain the sweetness that came from his heart...there just isn't enough room on paper. He was a Forever Friend to many, A Loving Son, A Loving Brother, and a Loving Uncle, and an Amazing Father that loved his kids and Ronna more than anything. He was the kind of person that we all looked up to, and the kind of person that would do anything to help another. He just had the BEST HEART in the world. He was perfect. If you ever met Sam just once, you would remember. He left an imprint on each person's life that he met, and no one could forget that smile and that sweet laugh that followed it. Sam was such a hard worker. He loved being outside, building bonfires, and spending time with his family and friends. Every weekend, you could probably find him at the pond, just fishing with Stevie. While he was working on his and Ronna's house, you could find Riley & Jagger right there beside him, helping him out. Riley would hand him the hammer, or Jagger would hand him his nails. If he was outside in the yard, you could find Gemma right at his feet. She was his little shadow, and tried to follow him everywhere. If no one would get it for her, she knew that "Daddy" would. He left an imprint on our hearts that will never fade away. When the wind blows the trees, we'll know it’s his Spirit watching over us...when the sun shines, we'll remember that is was Sam that lit up our lives with his smile...when the flowers bloom, we'll remember that sparkle he always had in his eyes, when he say, “I Love All Ya'lls...Sweet memories that we'll have forever, and never forget...We Love You Sam!

To make a difference folks, that's what we are called to do. May God provide us with the attitude and heart to pursue this as our desire in 2014. Amen.  ...More later.