Cleaning out your email folders

It's a task I put off until I have to do it. But, like cleaning your room, it's a task that causes you to find things that were lost. Or people who were lost. Or yourself whom you lose all the time. I found this in a letter I wrote to a friend a couple of years ago. Pastor says we should preach to ourselves. This letter to someone else from "years ago me" caused "present day me" to feel conviction. Maybe I've shared it before-- if so, blame the contagious Alzheimers. (umm, that's a myth, in case you don't know)

"Providential timing amazes me so often. I've been concentrating very hard on similar thoughts lately. Going through the events of the past three years have really shaken up my beliefs on "what life is supposed to be like", on living life for other people's expectations, etc. Now, I am dealing with the other side of that: will I live my life for my own temporary ideas of pleasure? What is truly most important to me-- not just in my words, but in my practical life choices? Do I glorify God in how I speak, how I spend my money, how I spend my time? I don't want to look back on my short life with regrets. I don't want to be deceived by my own desires into wasting my life on things that aren't truly important. I want to live with zest and passion for the things of God. I want joy to explode out of me to those around me. I want to be a pilgrim, however that plays out in my life. So now, I'm sharing with you, friend.

You have so much potential. But potential is only potential for so long. Once the time is past, it's just wasted potential. Don't live for what anyone else wants for you, only Christ. Reevaluate everything if you have to to make sure that what you are doing is what He wants for you. Anyway, that's the advice of someone who doesn't always follow it."