1 Corinthians 3:16-17 English Standard Version

16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

For a number of years I did not think I would live until I was thirty and I lived that way. I abused my body and I almost died three times.

Now that I am older, much older, the importance of taking care of my body seems almost impossible given that we age and sometimes that gets ugly. Never had to take medication when I was young and stupid. Those pills were not medicine. Now I take about eleven a day.

There is more I could do for myself but now that I am retired I don’t seem to have the time to exercise like I should. Priorities change and I forget from time to time that this body doesn’t belong to me. It is the Lord’s.

He could change me in an instant but he doesn’t. I have a responsibility to do my part until He makes those final changes.To be honest with you I am tired and I have let self-help take a back seat to looking to the needs of others. I do not put myself first, and I haven’t for some time. It just seems selfish and I have serious responsibilities.

I don’t get as much sleep as I am told I need. After four hours I wake up and my mind starts thinking about all the things that I need to do. I prioritize and getting enough sleep has fallen to the wayside. I am not at my best with only four hours of sleep. I am aware of that and I am cautious about how I talk to others.

I don’t feel like a temple. I am but I don’t feel that way. Emotional well being is part of taking care of His temple. In that former life I didn’t care about myself or anyone else. That has changed and I care about everything now. Granted, I cannot control everything but I can pray about it.

I’ve lost two brothers to heart disease in the last two years. That weighs on my mind. I am doing better with my pacemaker but it alone will not guarantee life. Ray had one and he died anyway.

I don’t worry for myself, I worry for those I will leave behind. Have I done enough for them? All that I can do at the moment is to make sure I don’t leave them with debt to clean up after me.

This is an emotional reminder to myself that this body isn’t mine and I need to be more respectful of His temple. It is a matter of respect. Disrespect was that other guy. He is gone.

2 Corinthians 1:12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

Years ago I began this blog with the intention of having a conversation. Conversations require responses and I seldom have comments other than a few agreements. I do not crave attention here and I do not intend to be controversial. I only have one topic, Christianity.

I know that this blog is read in many countries around the world and I pray that God can work thru these words to glorify Himself and to enrich the life of others spiritually. I seldom hear from other countries and it is the individual’s right to post comments or not. What has kept me going is my faith in God and the hope that someone might come to know Him in an intimate relationship.

I share my experience and that which the Lord shows me. That does not make me an educator. One needs students in order to teach. I am not an evangelist as I have never been on a mission trip nor done street evangelism. I am not ordained. I wasn’t asked to be ordained until late in live and I believe that I can serve God best with what time I have left without ordination.

I try not to speak about subject matters where I have limited experience and knowledge. I have counselors and accountability partners to talk with on those matters.

I am talking about this blog now because I realize that this isn’t an effort that will outlast me. As soon as I pass on this effort will end and the posts will go the way of all things. It will end.

1 Peter 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.