“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” 

Martin Luther King, Jr.

John and I just returned from the first half – first leg, if you will, of our Love and War tour.  And what an honor.  Really.  To speak about things that matter.  Our marriages.  Our hearts.  Our God.  JESUS.

And to have the opportunity to meet so many of my brothers and sisters this side of Heaven!  To look into their eyes and see the life of Jesus or the hunger for Jesus.  Desperate hearts.  Grateful hearts.  Hopeful hearts.  The hearts of men and women engaged in the most important battle on earth.  Fighting for their spouse, their children, their friends, their own hearts…fighting with God for the good.   For what matters.

Our first stop was Abilene, Texas!  Once we landed, we saw a large private jet being loaded with boxes upon boxes.  Then we saw many pairs of new crutches going onto the plane.  That’s when we guessed the plane was headed to Haiti.  We were right.

We got home late yesterday afternoon and we weren’t home long before our youngest son, Luke asked permission to go out.  He wanted to go to a concert given by a friend at a local coffee shop.  They were taking donations; raising money for a ministry in Uganda that helps to rescue women and girls being trafficked in the sex trade.  Yes, Luke.  You bet.  You can go.  Money’s in my wallet.  Drive safe.

I am being struck again by the major and minor themes of life.  Suffering.  Anguish.  Pain.  Death.  Destruction.  The enemy.  Yes, true enough and strong.  But the minor theme.  My eyes are opened again to Mercy.  Generosity.  Healing.  Love.  Forgiveness.  Hope.  Tenderness.  Life.  Resurrection.  Jesus.  The major theme.

Love conquers all.

Life conquers death.

Jesus conquered the enemy.

We are more than conquerors in Him.

What a great gift to be alive in Christ, to have his life and his love pour through us, to live for Him, to offer Jesus.  What an amazing thing it is to live a life that matters.