Relevant Life

At the writing of this article, I am 46 years old and will  be 47 in the month of February 2019. It seems like yesterday I was a 16 year old teenage boy who had his eye on the world and wanted to do many things.  30 years later, I wonder if I have accomplished what was on my 16 year old bucket list.

By 16, I had spoken in many churches as a teen evangelist. My parents had divorced and I was a sophomore in Highschool and in seminary. ( Long story) My two oldest siblings had already moved out and had their own lives. I was slowly getting my black belt in Karate, I was on the track team, and a loner who pioneered his own path. What did I want to do when I grew up? Well there was only one thing I kept hearing God speak in my head. That was being a Home Missionary. I did not understand what that fully meant until later in life, but I had a good grasp of what God wanted. I did not see myself as just a pastor. In the Baptist church during that time you only had a few callings to chose from either a pastor or a missionary. (Ok, truth be known that has not changed much)Therefore, everyone pushed me to the pastoral side and I started seminary at age 15. ( True Story).

American Christianity is notorious for pioneering titles and callings and placing them in one comfortable baggie. Most believe, even today, that you can’t be a minister or pastor unless you are in full time ministry. I call hockey pot! Anyway I digress. At  16, all I knew was that God would use me in the United States and my connection or platform would be about relationships. Each year, I grew in the Lord and my life became a little more interesting. I moved back down to Florida with my mother, I joined the military at age 17, and got married to my high school sweet heart at age 19. I became an instant father and was a children’s church and teen church leader at a local church in South Carolina. I also had a drama ministry called DOTS ( Drama on the Streets) and was on the board for a Teen Rec Center called Straight Street. I was busy… Maybe too busy?

Fast Forward to today.  I have planted and pastored two churches. I turned them over to other leaders and neither church exists  today. I have traveled to several countries around the world and help people and leaders. ( Still do that somewhat now) I have moved and lived in several different states through the company I work for. I have four grown adult children and still married to my high school sweet heart. Currently I am on a plane traveling back to be with my family.  I was on a personal business trip that is kind of top secret right now.  This trip is a discovery trip to see where God wants my wife and I to be.

For the past 9 years, I have been slugging along trying to find my place in the world. I have entered the “Half Life”  of my existence and look back wondering if I have been successful in what God has called me to do. To be honest, I don’t think I would change one thing. I have done and experienced things by age 46 that most have not done in a life time. Here is the truth. There is only one thing that matters in this world. It is all about pleasing the living God. If we live our lives doing that then we can never doubt how successful you have been in life.

Matthew 6:19-21  “Stop storing up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal.  (20)  Instead, store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust don’t destroy and thieves don’t break in and steal.  (21)  Your heart will be where your treasure is.

Our goal in life is to simply follow hold heartedly after the Lord our God. Many in the world don’t understand this truth, but Jesus made it clear.  Our treasure is not from this planet. Our purpose is not of this earth. Our purpose and reward is only found in Christ. How do you measure success? How do you determine if your life has been meaningful? Are you pleasing the Lord right now with your current life choices?

I can honestly say that I have not been on the heavenly treasure hunt for the past few years. The past four years have been a fog for me and I have allowed the corrupt things of this world to consume me. Don’t get me wrong I have stilled followed and served the Lord, but it has been a meaningless religious existence. What consumes you the most is what owns your soul the most. For me, it is vital that I get back on track and get back  to my heavenly mission. So what about your? Are you fully following God’s plan for your life? How can you get back on track?

Getting back on Track

1. Change your mind to the things of Christ.

It is ok to have your head in the clouds if your focus is on the things of God. You still have to be affective in the world but you don’t have to be of this world.

2. Repent and own your mistakes.

3. Get rid of all distractions. ( What consumes your time the most or consumes your free time the most? For some it is TV, Kids sporting events, over working at a job, and other things)

4. Invest in a consistent prayer and fasting  life.

5. Make sure the Bible is your number one read. ( Smith Wigglesworth learn how to read by only reading the bible. It was is number one book he read most of the time. For him, the word was life and came alive every time he read a passage.)

6.  Treat time as a precious jewel. ( Time is a construct of our human existence. We are surrounded by it and have to treat it with respect.) Use your time wisely.