He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.  Matthew 10:37-39

Almost there, but remember it is not a destination, nor a prize but a launch pad to the everlasting.  I frequently recall your dreams, even those of your childhood and want you to remember how positive you were that you would go to the moon, be a movie star or build giant roller coasters that went very fast.  You were filled with love my son, my daughter and I had placed within your heart the desire for the impossible.  Time to believe once again, because you are going to need to have faith in order to achieve that which lays before you.

Are we fulfilled by a simple life?  Perhaps, but we all know that there is something missing even in the simplest contented life.  We were designed for this time in history with the foundation, Spirit and talents to herald God’s return.  Yes, I miss the idea of comfort, simplicity, orderly struggle to complete the tasks of life.  That opportunity was meant for some but not for us.

I am sorry that the requirements of life are making a standard American dream unrealistic.  However, I have heard each of us singing to God about His Will for our lives and proclaiming, “I surrender all”.  Was that mere conversation, theatrics or half-hearted commitment? What now that the day approaches that will reveal the purpose of your creation?  We are free to turn away and sit this one out, but can we?  Isn’t this the moment we were made for, hoped for and prayed about all those yearning evenings spent alone with God?

Where will you be when your Brothers and Sisters do the impossible through Christ?  Will you be standing next to them arm in arm, shield to shield in prayerful determination?  Or will you be sitting this last quarter out, having decided to make your last best efforts about perfecting your life here?  I cannot.  I was never made for the sideline but to take the field heralding the coming King, in victory.  Yes, it may cost me all, most likely so, but in losing all I will have gained much more than I’ve lost.

Think of Paul friends, lived his saved life in service of the Kingdom and then lost his head for bringing the Gospel to the World.  Could you do it to achieve what he did for Christ?  What about John the Baptist who proclaimed and baptized Jesus, then lost his head after giving all in power and persistence.  What if in order to achieve that impossible thing it costs you not only your happy life but perhaps a greater price?

That is what we fear isn’t it?  Giving it all for Christ.  Or are we holding on to our worldly achievements?  Isn’t that surrender?  And we are unwilling to surrender our contentment how then will we ever be able to give it all for him?  Look I want what God wants for each of us.

I want to feel that moment of purposeful fulfillment when I know that I know my raison d’etre, my meaning for life, but I will never find it serving my worldly existence.  Yes, I may fool myself and believe that God just designed me for great things, set me up in the most important time in history and filled me with the Power of His Holy Spirit just so I could be a good Dad, Husband, Plant Worker and animal lover.  It just doesn’t make sense.  Certainly it has allure and pleases my desire to live a good life, but that has nothing to do with his will but instead my own.  I wish it were an easy word that I have to share with you, but it is an honest, true and fulfilling Word.  And for that it is Time.

I do not know what He is going to ask of each of us, but shouldn’t we be ready to give it all when asked?  What if?  I pray for good courage for all of you, in Jesus’ Name.