Reflections of Reflections... of a Christian Madman At 45
I looked at a photo today. So many days have passed by since it was taken. So many days have passed by since I really took the time to see it truly with my heart and not only with my eyes. It is a picture of my wife and I taken almost seven years ago in Time Square when we were dating. We just had finished seeing the Broadway play "Beauty and the Beast" and we were walking back thru the city when it was taken. You know I still can feel the power of that moment. Even today, after all the years I can still feel the magic of holding her hand and being near to, what once was a dream, but that now was walking so close to my side. She looked so beautiful that night. And me, well I remember feeling that there was no other place in the world that I could ever want to be. I believe there are times in each of our lives that contain these time
s of excellence and brilliance all wrapped up into one special moment. These days are precious, in the sense that they can last forever, not only in our minds but in our hearts as well. Even today I can still smell the smells, and feel the pulse of New York City as I reflect on those memories. The scent of hot pretzel stands, the sting to my ears of the buzzing traffic and taxi driver horns raging thru the night air and the glow of all the bright lights that if you gaze too long at them could blind you. A night filled with joy that made me truly feel that I was alive. Yes, seven years have passed since that memory was made. Little did I know back then that we would fall in Love and that 7 years later our children would be starting kindergarten. Sometimes I think that life happens to us and that we don't even realize it. I am 45 years old now. Almost 5 years have passed since I wrote "Writings of A Christian Madman At 40". Maybe some of you have read that book, maybe you haven't. A little while ago someone who read the book asked me if I have changed since I wrote that first endeavor. I paused and thought about it for a second and said yes. I have changed greatly over the past 5 years. Then I went on to say that God has changed me greatly over the past 5 years. I told them the biggest revelations from the Lord that I have received through the years are these. That our time here is short. Each day we believe that we are going to live here forever on earth. That is just not true. Every second of our lives is precious. Each day and each encounter will not ever come back again, and that we shouldn't wait until we retire to start living. Retirement begins today no matter what your age is and even if you are still working, fun and enjoyment should not ever be left in the waiting room. The second revelation that the Good Lord has given me is that God wants us to be honest with him. Even through our mistakes and wrong decisions the Lord doesn't want justification. He wants a recognizing that we made a mistake and most importantly that we care what God thinks of us. Here we have a relationship. A respect of the Almighty in Heaven. Sort of like we know that he is here in our lives and that God matters even in the little things. Sometimes I believe that we can forget God and all the Goodness he brings to our lives. We have to visibly guard against the Devil's tricks of self dependence and E.G.O. ( which stands for, Easing God Out), in our travels here on earth. Having a concern and reverence and respect for the Lord will help prevent us from thinking to much of ourselves. We need to constantly remind each other that we are the creation not the creator. This will keep us humble when we realize and keep the thought that God keeps each of us alive and provides every breath we take as a gift. This awareness will help us not think to highly of our importance in the scheme of life. God Reliance not self reliance, one may say is the key to keeping us on the right track. And lastly I have come to the awareness of how much God knows of our lives. He is our loving Heavenly Father. He knows our pain, our sorrow, what makes us happy and all our dreams. God made you and I. All our tears are stored in a bottle, all our motives are weighed in our hearts by the Lord. All our thoughts are known even if there not spoken out loud to God. There is no place we can hide from him even if we try. We just can’t and even if we could, why would we run away instead of running to him. God is LOVE. The world is filled with so much pain, so much hurt. Maybe you feel that you have been misunderstood and that no one knows what you have been thru and that no one can possibly understand what you have gone thru and are still going thru today. God knows. He always knew. He is just waiting for you to run back in his arms and tell you he is glad you returned to him. It doesn't matter where you’ve been and what you have done. If you have received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior you are forgiven and saved by his precious blood. You can have a new today and a new tomorrow. All your tomorrows will be new. It is called having your name written in the Lambs Book of Life and being called, Born Again. In other words, Your Hope Is In Jesus. I think I am going to go and hug my twin boys now and tell them I love them and that I am excited about their first day of school. Then I will send a text message to my oldest son and daughter telling them that I love them and miss them very much today. Maybe, I might even call my brother and Mom and Dad and tell them I was thinking of them today and just ask how they are doing. I might even send my best friend an email in Mexico to share with him my thoughts today. God willing, right? And of course. I will kiss my pretty wife on the cheek when she comes thru the door after her shift at work. Can't forget that of course!! But I think the most important thing I can do, not just today but everyday, is thank The Father In Heaven, The Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit for the spirit of Truth that lives within me now. How grateful I am to Jesus. Thank you Jesus for Everything. Thanks for not giving up on me.
All Glory and Honor to you Lord.
Love ,Your Son--the GloryStealer
Al
Chapter 2