Life is Short

Tonite we found out a dear man from our community was killed in a semi accident in Colorado.
He was driving his rig in the bad weather out there, hauling a load of bricks...the pictures are awful. He goes to church with my parents and well known by so many. He was always smiling a HUGE smile....always blessing people BIG....always radiating Jesus....awesome husband, father, grampa. If you didn't see him at church on Sunday, his wife and him were ministrying at truckstops and jails. He was just an amazing man. The man that was team driving with him was not a Christian...Big E was saved. His team driver survives...Big E is now dancing on the streets of gold in Heaven with Blake. God is a God that never ceases to amaze me. He chose to take the man that was ready for eternity home with him...and he's giving the other man a chance to think again about life and what it means. What a loving Father.

Tonite we also found out that some dear friends of ours are expecting their first child. And I'm sure today somewhere in the world, a baby was born already. And I'm reminded again of the song: Blessed be Your Name.

"You give and take away
You give and take away
Still I will choose to say,
Lord, Blessed be Your Name."

Heavenly Father...we just lift up to You the Steffen family tonite. Father, we just ask that You would hold them close in Your arms of love. Comfort them as only You alone can do. Give them the peace that passes all understanding. I pray that You would hold Betty close and lavish Your love upon her heart as tonite she will be missing her husband and her best friend. Father, be with their children and grandchildren...may the comfort of knowing that their Daddy and Grampa is with Jesus be greater than the sorrow. May we celebrate the Godly and joyful life of Earl Steffen...AKA: Big E from Tennessee! We will miss his smile. And Father....may this be a reminder to us...that life is short...it truly is a vapor. May we love deeper, forgive quicker, and live for You alone. In Jesus' Name...Amen.