39

Contemplation is a gift…for some. For me? - it’s a never ending cycle of self examination. Constantly examining and re examining myself ,my life , my experience and what I can do with it all to help others…but the truth is , I can only help myself. If I am being intellectually honest , the only person that can benefit from my past experiences is me…To take the lessons learned and be a living example in a very true sense The truth is no one may ever benefit from the things I have to share about my life and mistakes I’ve made or the love that burns within me for my God who bought me back with the blood of his son… But If I am who I believe I am , from all of this self contemplation and self examination I subject myself to , then I HAVE TO TRY.

I turned 39 this past Friday…This truly was a day I thought I would never see 20 years ago , and yet it came and went and I am now 2 days into the last year of my 30’s… and then came the thought - What now? Have I done enough? Can I do more?..As the progression went I finally came to the big question -

“Is God pleased with me?”

Then I was quiet for long time…

IS God pleased with me?… I wanted to believe so , but based on what? My faith? My Love? My Hope? My obedience? My knowledge and application of his teachings?The number of people I have helped? - What?… My reputation?

In the book of Revelation Jesus addresses the church at Sardis and their reputation by saying at the end of verse 1-3 “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. “…

Though their reputation was good , they were DEAD… Why?

Because their works were incomplete - How?

Because their HEART WASN’T IN IT. - “Verse 3 -Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. “

John 4:24 tells us “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”… if you are just going through the motions and your heart ain’t in it - It AIN’T TRUTH…And just like the church in Sardis , you are DEAD…

So as I begin my 39th year of life - I will give nothing less than MY ALL to WAKE UP and STRENGTHEN what remains so that my works are complete in the sight of MY GOD.. and I will REMEMBER what I have RECEIVED and HEARD but most importantly - KEEP IT..

As far as my reputation goes -who really cares , if God doesn’t? That’s not why I do this..I do this because I JUST CANT HELP IT… Because I was worth saving…and so is everyone else…

WHAT we do is never as important as WHY … And in ALL I do - My God deserves nothing less than ALL of my heart…

The invitation to study the Bible is STILL open… ;)

Read Ephesians 3:16-18