I want you to take some time and get quiet before GOD. It's time to think and reflect on your life, for YOU are running out of time!
We all think that this life is so long, and that we've got plenty of time before we have to return home. But before you know it, you'll be looking into the mirror at an older man (or woman) and asking yourself this question:
"Where oh where has the time gone?"
Here in America, we have a bad habit of focus on and teaching that "work" is the principle thing. Europeans jokingly look at us and quote this phrase: "We work to live, but the American's live to work!"
It's true! From the time we are very young we are taught that we need to work and save and invest, so that we can someday retire on that! (and then waste away as the medical system gets it all back)
But the fact of the matter is that if you are going to "live", then NOW is the time! NOW is the day!
Recently we took a 7-day cruise with several family members, visiting the Jamaican Island, Cozumel Mexico and the Cayman Islands. We had an awesome time! But upon returning I realized that I have been spending, foolishly, my life in 10yr increments, working, working at working, and studying to be able to do more working! I am now "55" years old! I have great in my beard and hair! When I look in the mirror I send a much older man than I'm used to seeing, and do you know what I think now? I'm wishing that someone had come into my life to help me to "open up my thinking"! I really would have liked to be "thinking outside of the box", MY box in particular, and stretching the possibilities of my potential.
The Bible promises us 70yrs (3 score and 10 in the King James), and 80yrs if we're strong in GOD. Nowadays many are living well into the last part of their eighties and sometimes early nineties! So, taking that into consideration, at 55 I have about 20-30 years left, and that is rapidly playing out before me!
Here's what I've come up with, after considering all of this:
1.
What am I here for? I am here to fulfill a mission, a calling, that GOD has placed upon my life. HE has "things" that he wants me to accomplish before I leave. How much of that have I completed? How much have I done? If you're like me, you're really coming up short on that one!
2.
Am I too late? Well, I'm not going to lie down and grow old and die, that's for sure! As far as the age is concerned, I have no choice but to get older in years. But that doesn't mean that I have to grow older looking, or fat and flabby, or begin to take on all of the aches and pains and ailments of old age! I thank my god that "I" have a covenant ... a agreement, a "promise", with the ONE TRUE GOD! It promises me health, and long life! It promises me wealth and prosperity!
Now if you're one of those who's going to pull out your violin and play me a sad, pious song, and start telling me that the Bible was talking about "spiritual wealth and health" instead of financial wealth and healing for my body and mind, then I might just throw up on you!
Paul prayed for us that we might "prosper and be in good health" ...
just as our soul prospers! In other words, as your soul prospers, or as you
prosper in your spiritual health and wealth, Paul prayed that we would "also" prosper in our physical health and wealth! He wanted us to enjoy a healthy life, a healed life, and money to enjoy that with!
3.
What can I do about it? Well, first of all I am going to lose weight, and work out. I am going to train my body to be muscular and fit, healthy and strong, for the things that I am going to be doing! Young people do it. Why can't I? There is no practical reason why I can't. In fact, if I DO, I will prolong my life and I will increase the quality that I enjoy while I have that life.
In addition to exercising and losing weight, I am going to eat healthy. I am going to be more active. I am going to take up kayaking, and do more camping and hiking. I am going to swim more, and get "outside" more! I am going to dress like I was trying to find a new wife, so that my wife will be excited when she sees me, because I will look sharp, healthy, fit and handsome! Now I know she loves me already, but lets face it guys ... don't you like it when your wife puts on make-up, and keeps up her tan, and dresses in gorgeous clothes? Well, if you like it don't you think she would like it in you?
I am also going to seek GOD on wisdom and knowledge, on connections and networking opportunities, so that I can take the gifts and the abilities that GOD has given me, and find one or several that will make me money! I want to have over and abundance! I want to be able to freely give to others, to encourage them, and to bless them! But I also want to be able to bless and encourage my wife, with trips and adventures, with nice clothes, and with lots and lots of time ... to "love" me! GOD gave us to one another ... I think it's time we got serious about each other!
What Are You Going To Do?I want you to ask yourself this question:
"What can I do to change my life?"
I am not talking about being nicer, or helping with some of the chores, I am talking about a radical, "rock your world" change ... to "everything" that you now do! I am talking about a total and complete re-evaluation .... of your health, your exercise routines, what you eat, and how much you make and what you do with it!
How, on GOD's green Earth, do you ever expect to impress this world and be an example of a member of the Family of GOD, if you drive an old car, wear mediocre clothes, and walk around 20-30lbs overweight? Hey, don't get mad at me! GOD get's on me ... I get on you! That's the way it works! I'm having to make a LOT of changes in my life too! How about you?
Remember the movie Courageous? Did you see it? If you haven't, you NEED TO GET IT! This guy begins to re-evaluate his life and what is going on in it after he loses his daughter in a car accident. And in the process, he finds some things in the Bible that challenge him. His friends say, "Well, you're a good enough father." And he answers them, "But I don't want to be a 'good enough' father ... " and he goes on telling them what he has learned from the Bible about accountability, about character, and about excellence!
If you are a Born-Again Believer in Jesus Christ, then you have been born into the Family of GOD. You are the child of GOD! Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords ... is YOUR Big Brother! YOU have got it made, and you don't even know it! But as a Believer in Jesus, how do you expect to make an impression on the world when your life is in shambles? How can you show up, overweight, in-debt, and looking 10-20years behind in your style of dress, and expect anyone to want what you have?
You've got to come into the room, "knowing" that when YOU come into the room, GOD comes into the room! HE is inside of you! And you need to act like it, look like it, and believe it inside of you! I didn't say this was easy! Being mediocre is easy. But showing "excellence" in your life, your body, your habits, your exercise and your diet, and your finances ... "THAT" takes character! But more importantly, THAT changes lives! People hear enough hype. They want to "SEE" the Life of GOD working ... IN YOU!
Jerry Savelle puts it nicely, "If it's meant to be, it is up to me!"
Jesus said, "If you can believe, ALL THINGS are possible." He also told us that we are supposed to "greater works than HE did"! So, the challenge is out on the table, waiting for a man (or woman) of character and excellence to take it up!
This week, remember that the Bible tells us to make our bodies a living and holy sacrifice unto GOD. Remember that the Bible teaches us that GOD gives us the "power to make wealth" so that we ... WE, may establish HIS Covenant here in the Earth. It's time to get busy!
Make me proud!
-pastor rich-
WORD CHURCH is a church, a ministry, and a fellowship, even an outreach, where like in the days of the Apostles and Acts, the people joined together! 
