What Month Is This?

Wow, is it December already?  Where has the year gone to?  Overall, 2017 has been good to me.  I am very blessed with health, family, two jobs, and so much more.  Yes, I can look at all I don't have and still want, but I am content with my current station in life.  One of the Biblical lessons that still haunts me is the Parable of the Talents.  What have I done with what God has given me?  The jury is still out on that one, but I earnestly believe opportunities to perform God's Will are still out there.  Am I looking for and capitalize on them when they avail themselves?  Honestly, I must answer I don't know.  Life has definitely not turned out the way I wanted or planned, whatever lofty ideal I had in mind.  However, God can take my perceived failures and turn them to His Glory and for His Kingdom.  The only thing I can do is make God number one, a priority, in my life and hope for the best.  I must still make goals and cast a vision for this life each and every day.  December holds quite a bit in store for yours truly.  First, I turn another year older at the end of the month.  The hands of time don't stop for anyone.  Hopefully this causes us to constantly re-evaluate our lives and move in the direction the Holy Spirit leads us.  I don't believe God has a specific will for our lives, but a general will.  In Colossians, the Apostle Paul speaks about glorifying God in whatever we do, whether that is to simply eat or drink.  Am I discharging that mandate?  I try, but so much of the time I dwell in bitterness and resentment over failed dreams and the idea I'm not where I wanted to be in life.  In fact, that cynical and jaded mindset often pours forth in my speech and attitude.  "What is the point to all this?", I often say.  As you can see, I continue to mentally wrestle with meshing God's spiritual kingdom with the earthly world I live in.  What I ask, is for my readers, along with myself, to not give up on God.  He certainly won't give up on us if we earnestly seek Him.  Secondly, I must take care of my yearly legal obligation.  The good news is I only have a little under three more years of this stuff, and it will all be over in the blink of an eye.  Then I will truly become a free man.  If financially able, I do have plans to take off on a multi- week or multi-month hiatus once that day arrives.  That is definitely something to look forward too if I stick with the plan of action I have formulated in my mind.  The end of the year draws near.  Finish strong and finish well.  At the end of the year or at the end of life, be able to say, "We have finished with character and integrity."  Happy December!

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