When All Is Said and Done...

I recently celebrated my forty-second birthday. Each year as my birthday rolls around, I reflect over the previous year. I evaluate my goals, my motives, my vision for the future.

Have I honored God? Have I followed Him, faithfully? Where is He leading me next? What is He commissioning me to?

This year, I looked in the mirror, I realized my reflection doesn't lie. (LOL.) The wrinkles are a little more pronounced. The contour of my shape has certainly changed over the years  (LOL.) BUT more than physical attributes, I ponder, What is my spiritual reflection?

As a Christian I am called to reflect God's glory. In a world of desperateness...I am called to reflect His love. What do others see when they look at me?

My prayer for this next year is to fulfill 2 Corinthians 3:16-18, which says, "...whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (NIV)

I want the Spirit of the Lord to be present in everything I do and in every relationship I encounter. I want His freedom to reign in every situation. I want to (with unveiled face) reflect His glory and be transformed more and more into His likeness, with an ever-increasing glory, which comes by His Spirit.

How about you?

When all is said and done I want to have loved whole-heartedly. Charged forward even when no one else does. I don't want to live a portion of my life for Him...I want to love Him with ALL my heart...I want to press forward. Love unconditionally. Give with and over-abundant generosity. Practice Gratitude and Grace. Live for eternity--not for the here and now. I want to affirm and encourage others, without hesitation. And...love Him with ALL MY HEART, SOUL, MIND, AND STRENGTH.

If that is your prayer, then invite the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh. Ask Him to empower you with His life. After all, "it's not by might, nor by our power, but BY HIS SPIRIT..." Only through Him can we do all things!

As a side note. I want to thank you for being my friends. Thank you for partnering with me in ministry. Thank you for your words of encouragement. I am humbled by God's grace, evidenced through your friendships!