The Blood

Have you ever felt like you have been climbing a hill for a long time and can finally see the peak right in front of you? The past six months have been so refreshing for my family. We have gone through a lot, but most has been so good! God has blessed me with so much (My newborn daughter, and buying the new house is probably the coolest). I still feel like I am climbing, but seeing God bless your life right in front of your face is so amazing! Most of the time it is easy to see God looking back at your life past, and hard to see him in the present and future. Not now... this season in my life I can actually say I can clearly see His hand at work in my past, present, and future!



With that said, yesterday I saw how quickly that could be altered. Miranda and I were on our way down to James Island to give blood at our church. We did not have the kids with us. We were at the intersection of I-526 and Highway 17. Turning left onto 17 we had a red light. It turned green and I hit the gas. The car next to us honked his horn (I assume to get my attention) and as I looked to my left, a car barrelled through the red light from my left running the red light at about 50 MPH. I hit my brake just in time to have him zoom right past the front of my car. If it weren't for that guy to my left honking, I would have been T-Boned... and I don't think it would have felt to good. Kind of ironic that I was going to give blood, and had a near death (or at least a near "bad accident") experience.



The bible teaches that it is the blood of Christ that gives us life and redeems us:

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." (1 Peter 1:18, 19)



"How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!" (Heb 9:14)



Pastor Joey made the announcement on Sunday asking us to give blood this week. He said something that made me look up and pay attention (that is big for a guy with A.D.D.). He said something like this... 'If we call ourselves Christians, then giving blood is one of the most practical way to show the love of Christ since it was the giving of His blood that saved us!' Me giving blood yesterday may not have led someone directly to Christ, but just maybe it saved someones life and gave them more time on this earth to hear and experience Jesus... and maybe that person will later give their life to Jesus.



Two things I want you to get out of this post: First, it is because of the shedding of Jesus' blood that we can call ourselves Christians. Second, if you are a Christian... I think you should feel obligated to give blood, since it was His blood that saved you.



If you would like to give blood, South Carolina is in great need right now. Please visit the American Red Cross website and sign up today at a local blood drive. Just as Pastor Joey said on Sunday... Most of you will simply say "Yeah, I am going to do that!" and then never do it. If you said while reading this that you are going to do that. Do me and the person your blood might save a favor, STOP what your doing right now and go to the website and find out how to give blood right now. Do not wait. They need your blood. Thanks!



In His Blood,

AG