The Lord has blessed me with many things in my life. Among them my wife and children and grandchild, good health and the joy of being chosen a born again child of the living God.
Although I have known and reverenced the Lord my entire life, thank you mom, it was not until 1999 that I gave my entire life to the Lords service.
My first mission trip was in July of 2000 and I have been on more than 60 mission trips since then. With my 66th birthday rapidly approaching I will conclude 47 years of the blessing of full time employment. Some would decide its time to relax and enjoy the balance of life. I have reached a point that the balance of years that lie ahead are much fewer years than what is behind. The replacement of calling the end of my working years retirement, is to call it refirement!
What lies ahead is nothing short of exciting! Some may call it the second half, like a sporting event and time to rally from what ever the first half has provide and truly finish strong. Instead of being concerned about what I will do with all the freed up time, the challenge is what I will have to prioritize in order to be effective and move the Kingdom forward.
Reading Philippians 3:13 Paul states “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead”. No matter what point we are in life, we have arrived there in the Lord’s perfect timing.
There have also been many significant events that we have been a part of that bring us joy in remembering and a smile to our Lord. But we cannot dwell on these past accomplishments or virtuous deeds or on sins or failures. None of us has got it right up to this point and never will but the Lord has plans for us,plans to prosper us and not to harm us (Jeremiah 29:11) as long as He provides every breath. I have to be transparent here and say that I have been feeling physically and mentally past my prime lately and the Lord provided a daily reading from Joshua 14:10-11. Paraphrasing Caleb, he was 85 years old requesting his retirement of the hill country and he still felt as strong both mentally and physically and spiritually for battle as he did at 40 year old, wow! And it will be a battle, but one the Lord is leading and He promises victory as long as we set our hearts on following Him.
The first quarter of 2017 is now behind us and the next quarter approaches halftime this year, time to press on forward.
Firstlight has and will provide you with opportunities to serve and keep our eyes on the forward movement of the Kingdom.
Please join us as we prepare together,working side by side in service to our Lord!
~ Bob Roth
