My life and my crosses,
Really are the same.
It’s all that I’ve experienced,
In this world, since I came.
It’s the time spent in the DASH,
From beginning to the end.
It points to the direction,
Where all eternity, I will spend.
What does my cross testify?
How did I spend my time?
Did I seek the value of others?
Or use it all for mine?
I want my testimony to be,
That I was looking to my God.
Keeping focus steady,
To obey His guiding nod.
Sold out, in a lifestyle,
As an example for others to see.
A mind made up, unchanging,
Looking back, will never be.
A burning bush for Jesus,
On fire from His touch.
Reaching out to others,
Who know the DASH –
Was made of much.
Wendi Maddox
Author’s Look~
In all the days of living, from the beginning to the end, everyone will face THINGS.
Some of the THINGS were not in the PLAN and we would be very pleased to not be bothered by them. These are the crosses that we bear- the unexpected, the no thank you, I don’t really want to. . . intermingled with all the rest that comes in the daily. How we react, deal with, overcome, or succumb to it all will be the testimony of our life.
The DASH. We see it on all of the headstones in the cemetery. The person represented there was born on a specific date, a DASH, and then they died on a specific date. The DASH is not specific. It represents ALL that happened in between. How was that time spent? How were the crosses dealt with? Was it all for self? Was God’s ways respected?
This was written from a sermon preached by Rev. Bob McGray in Nashville, TN several years ago. He was trying to remind us listening that day, just how important it was to make the most of the DASH. The time between our beginning and ending here on Earth, so that our ETERNAL life will be lived rejoicing in Heaven with God! The testimony of our cross is the life that we live here with its variety of experiences.
What do you want your testimony to be?
Paul echoed this in 2 Timothy 4:7-8 (ESV) . . . I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
Paul bore many crosses during his life’s journey, and he kept a clear testimony of the transformational power of Jesus Christ in his life. He finished the race well, to reach his eternal reward. Let’s follow his testimony.
Make the most of the DASH!
So good, makes you think…I want my testimony to be about souls and the work of God and not all about me!
Me too. . .and it’s so easy for us to get caught up in all the other things, when that is not even our desired purpose. We need these kinds of messages to make us pause and look up for a minute- to evaluate.
I listened to a preacher preach a message called the DASH. Wish I could remember more about it and who preached it, but was similar to what was said here. Great message here and thought provoking. What we do in between that dash is what is going to matter. Thanks
It can’t be preached enough. We stay distracted from our purpose, so it is ALWAYS a good reminder for us all!