Though our Lord Jesus Christ was rich, he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.

Well today is a big day in my life – I’ve hit what I call the Sammy Hagar year – 55!  In the past I made a pretty big deal of the day, the week, even the month leading up to my birthday.  This year seems a bit different though.  I’ve been so caught up in work that I haven’t given the day much thought.  I’ve always bought flowers for my wife and mother and I even forgot to do that this year.  But I have made a quiet commitment to try and live my life more in Christ and not in me and maybe that is why this year seems different.  I did read the readings this morning but I didn’t find much to write about, so I went to tomorrow’s readings and there it was.  My “theme” for this coming year was right there in the second reading.  It is my hope that I can keep moving closer to God, closer to my wife, my children and my extended family.  I think this reading sums up my goals…

But you, man of God, pursue righteousness,
devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
Compete well for the faith.
Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called
when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.
I charge you before God, who gives life to all things,
and before Christ Jesus,
who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession,
to keep the commandment without stain or reproach
until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ
that the blessed and only ruler
will make manifest at the proper time,
the King of kings and Lord of lords,
who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light,
and whom no human being has seen or can see.
To him be honor and eternal power.  Amen.

Do something great for our Lord today – pray that I am able to live that life.  Pray for a better me – a man of God, pursuing righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.Know that I will pray the same for all of you.

God’s will, not mine, be done.

Be not afraid; just have faith.

Jesus, I trust in You.

He must increase; I must decrease.