Year 49 - looking forward to it!!

August 30, 2017

Wow, it’s been awhile since I posted a blog…but here goes!

It’s been a very eventful 7 months since my last blog in January.  Life has moved on and God continues to amaze me in so many ways.  Today, on my bible app, this scripture popped up and I spent some time reading the chapter instead of just the verse. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says this:

There is an appointed time for everything.  And there is a time for every event under the heaven-

It goes on to say, in verses 2 to 8:

A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
³ A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up.
⁴ A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.
⁵ A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
⁶ A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away.
⁷ A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak.
⁸ A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.

Vs 11-15 continues on with this:

¹¹ He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. ¹² I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; ¹³ moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God. ¹⁴ I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him. ¹⁵ That which is has been already and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by.

As I sit here celebrating my 49^th birthday, I have lived for 17, 520 days…48 years x 365 days…I have lived most of those days like this:

-Married to Lori, whom blessed me with 9,269 days of life married to her (1/13/1990 to 5/31/2015)

-Being a dad to Brandi for 10,118 days – she turns 29 years old in December

- 5,389 days, almost 15 years in gratefulness of walking with my Savior and Lord Jesus Christ..me not perfect at all, but He perfect in me.

-Approximately 9,855 days working in some form or shape of business.  Failed multiple times, but yet stood right back up. 

I look back at these numbers and remember the 1000’s and 1000’s of memories and moments etched out in my life. 

A time to give birth, a time to die;  A time to plant, a time to uproot

A time to kill, a time to heal;   A time to tear down and a time to build up.
⁴ A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.
⁵ A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
⁶ A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away.
⁷ A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak.
⁸ A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.

A lot of time has elapsed in my 49 years.  A lot has occurred – blessings and burdens.  I have lived life to the fullest at times and in fear at times.  But I have lived…

As I look back, it reminds me that I am still moving forward…in the last 2 years and 3 months, since Lori’s graduation to heaven – healing has occurred.  Growth has been ongoing – personally, professionally and ministry…Life continued on and God has been relevant, prevalent and sovereign in it all. 

Last week Tuesday, I bought tulips for Lori’s urn and picture – the first time in a few months. In my quiet time, I thanked her for all that she did for me in the time, the almost 26 years we had together – and thanked her for releasing me to be who I am called to be and live out the rest of the time I have here on earth living out God’s calling and will in my life.  God has done everything appropriate in His time…I have seen eternity lived out first hand, I have seen God work in my life and continues to do so.  I know for a fact that rejoicing in who God is and living out His will in my life – to love God and to love others is what I have been called to do.  For whatever time I have left here on this earth. 

There are many more moments, many more memories, many more tears, many more laughs – that I am still yet to live out. 

Yesterday, August 29, Lori’s oldest niece (Douggie’s Daugther) Kahea, gave birth to Arissa (she is almost as awesome as me, 1 day short).  It would have been Lori’s first Grand-niece.  It’s my first Grand-niece.  For Brandi, it’s her Goddaughter and her niece…life continues on, even when life ends for many others near and dear to us. 

Life is filled with the things of God.  Life is filled with things of this world…but we, you, me - Us – have an opportunity everyday to live out God’s purpose in our lives – love God/love people. 

I am in a new season – one filled with so much love and joy for the people and things God has placed for such a time as this in my life.  I have the opportunity to live out a new wineskin moment…I have all of the future in front of me, filled with love, filled with challenges, filled with adventures. 

However the many days, I have left, I will love fully, I will live fully and I will honor the legacy left for me by Lori and the hope and the plans that God has for me in eternity. 

To God be the Glory – LOVE GOD/LOVE PEOPLE!!!

Thank you Lord for it all!!!  I look forward to the hope and future You have in store for Me.  You are God and I worship and honor you in all that I am and be!! AMEN!!