Sermon Central
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A Letter To Me
Contributed by James White on Mar 31, 2011 (message contributor)
Summary: HOW you were born the 1st time makes no difference… OH but WHAT a difference being Born Again makes. It doesn’t change your past, but it releases you from it. It will change your present and make you brand spanking NEW.
Brad Paisley wrote and sings a song which I am borrowing the title from today.
“Letter to me” speaks of a desire to send a message to his own past self.
It’s a note of encouragement…words to the wise and hope for the future.
From the moment of our birth, we begin a lifelong collision course with eternity.
And if I accomplish my goal today, someone…
maybe several will never look to the future quite the same.
I’m not sure I could convince you that… the future is so bright, you need to wear shades…but I do want you to take a glimpse at a brighter tomorrow.
I know in the Holy Ghost there is at least ONE person under the sound of my voice that has all but given up on their future.
You go through the motions, wondering if you’ll make it one more day.
Today’s lesson is a letter to you…NOT about your past…
This message is about the future…a brighter day…your hope for a better life.
Have you ever given any thought to the “future you“?
A Yale University graduate student has developed a website called www.futureme.org.
Anyone can go to this website and write a letter to their future selves and have it emailed to yourself up to 30 years in the future.
I’m not promoting this by any stretch of the imagination but I did read a few of the letters there that are open to be read by the public.
For instance, in April of this year, a guy named Greg received an email from his past self. It reminded him that he is his own best friend and own worst enemy.
It tell him, in case he has forgotten, that he once dated a woman named Michelle and that he had at one time wished to have a major in computer science.
> Some write to themselves in the short term, one year or less…
Another quite different letter goes like this:
“This is from yourself so you better not delete it. Hey girl, this is the past checking up on you. First thing I need to know is, Are you still with Chris?
Please say no…please tell me you got out…Are you happy? That’s the real question. Even if you’re still with Chris, please say no. Please say no…Are we still fat? Are you wearing a size 4 or smaller now? What’s up with the Bachelor’s degree? I think that’s probably enough harassment from a ghost of your past.
P. S...Maybe you’ll learn to love me a little by the time you read this…
I hope somebody does.
One last letter written by a 14 year old girl to herself when she turns 30.
“Its you…me…us from 16 years ago. Dude, how’s my life? Are you a big time lawyer or a big time actress? What are you? I attempted skateboarding…Did I ever get good? I better have. It’s weird because I’m asking you all these questions but in the end, I decide the answers.
>Before you exit the doors you entered today, I hope YOUR hope for a better day…a brighter tomorrow…an eternity with Jesus is what you look forward to.
Today message title is :
A Letter to Me.
John 2 : 1 - 10
And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee;
and the mother of Jesus was there:
And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him,
They have no wine.
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee?
mine hour is not yet come.
His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water.
And they filled them up to the brim.
And he saith unto them, Draw out now,
and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;)
the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine;
and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse:
but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
John happens to be my favorite of the gospel accounts…it is also the only one to record Jesus’ first miracle…the turning of water into wine.
Its almost funny…its one of the most remembered miracles and yet was not as amazing as MOST of the others…It can hardly be compared to commanding the wind of the storm or the healing of the 10 lepers.
