Amber's Life

Let me tell you about Amber Donovan Mathenia, a girl Carrie and I went to college with. She was in Carrie’s small group. She was in my sister’s sorority, and she was also in a lip-sync group with me. We were the B-52’s, and we lip-synched to “Love Shack.”

Amber graduated, got married, and then she and her husband moved to Ethiopia to be missionaries. They adopted 2 kids, recently a 6 month old boy (see picture above). She and the kids were back in the States for a while, close to Memphis where she’s from. Last Tuesday, Amber and the kids were driving along the highway when a Dodge pick-up pulled out in front of them. The kids came out okay, but the crashed killed Amber. A 28 year old mother. Gone just like that.

If you’re the parent in this situation, what do you do? How do you respond? Would you be prepared? If you're a close friend, how do you respond? If you're the husband (who was in Ethiopia when he found out) in this situation, what do you do? How do you respond? Actually, you can read his response on his blog--http://www.cold-water-news.blogspot.com/

The great news is that Amber has a relationship with Jesus Christ. She is in heaven worshiping the God who saved her. Over the last week, I have been thinking more and more about how short life is, how real heaven and hell are, and how my gracious God wants to use me as long as I'm here on earth (and that may not be long--we just don't know).

So to all of you who are Christ-followers, PLEASE pray that God would comfort Amber's family. Also, pray that God would use this tragedy to lead more people to treasure Him. To all of you who are Christ-followers, PLEASE make a difference with your life. In 28 years, Amber made more of a difference with her life than most Christians make in 60 years. To all of you who are Christ-followers, PLEASE remember that you only have a certain amount of time to share with others what Christ has done on the cross. As I've heard someone say, "Good news is only good news if it gets there in time."

And finally, to all of you who may not be Christ-followers yet. Maybe you've been wrestling lately with what it means to follow Christ, or maybe you haven't given Christ much thought. PLEASE, I beg you, consider coming to Christ. Turn from your selfish ways, and put all your trust in Jesus, who loved you so much that he died for you. Don't assume that you'll be around tomorrow. Life is short, eternity is long. Think about it. I'll let you chew on these amazing verses which were read at Amber's funeral on Saturday:

1 JOHN 4:9-10 (NLT)

9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.