My Cousin passed on today and I feel so sad…….she was still young in my opinion.  It seems the older I get though,  the definition of  “old”  changes.  She was in her middle 50’s.  We were not close, she lived 3000 miles from me, but I have fond memories of her from my childhood.  She was beautiful and was always kind to me.  We talked very rarely and sometimes exchanged Christmas Cards.  I was going to call her “one of these days” and share the Lord with her.  I don’t know if she knew the Lord.  I hope she did.  Now she is gone and I feel regretful. I want to call all of my relatives and tell them about Jesus.  I want to call all of my old friends and warn them that they are going to meet their maker one day…….one day maybe sooner than they think.   My pastor told me that if you are more concerned with someone’s soul than they are with their own soul,  then they will probably not listen to you.  I tried to share the Lord with my 89 year old neighbor.  I was subtle and gentle.  I told her I’d pray for her.  I asked her if she believed in the Lord.  She told me that she did not want me to talk about any religion with her anymore. I told her I would not.  My boys and I continue to  pray for her.  When I bring her some cookies or soup, I just pray that somehow it will minister to her and soften her hard heart.  How can you be 89 years old and not think about your own soul?  I thought about mine when I was 10.  I would recite the Lord’s prayer and Psalm 23, and “Now I lay me down to sleep”.  I’d ask God for help and I’d pray for everyone I knew.  I didn’t understand the gospel…..but I sought the Lord.  I don’t remember a time in my life when I did not think about my own soul.  Now though,  I’m thinking about my relatives….. and friends….and neighbors.  Please Lord help me to be a light to them.  Help me to make time in my day for them. Forgive me Lord,  for not caring enough about where they will spend eternity.  I’m sorry Lord, I will try to speak of your love and forgiveness each day to someone.  Lord help them to care about their own souls.  Please Lord have mercy upon us knowing that our lives are but a vapor…and that we are just dust. Amen

Belief in Jesus: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

God’s love: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) “God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have ye been saved).” (Ephesians 2:4-5) “When the kindness of God our Saviour, and his love toward man, appeared …” (Titus 3:4)

Sin separates mankind from God: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” (Romans 5:12) God gives eternal life because Jesus Christ atoned for our sin: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

Saved (from sin) by asking Him for forgiveness just as we forgive others: “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14-15)

Confession and believing: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” — “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10) “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)