I am 44 years old ...  and keenly aware of the fact that I am probably more than half way through this journey of life ... and the fact that on any given day I could be getting up, dressing, shaving, and getting ready for the last time makes me write this today.  My grandfather died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 42 and, like many others, I am sure he expected to live a whole lot longer than he actually did.

Isaiah 40 says, All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. There is not a lot of stability in this human existence ... the Lord knows the number of days and exactly how many each of us has left (but He is the only one who knows). Now, I am not being morbid, just realistic ... and focused.  On any given day, each of us could be waking up and going about our normal routine for the last time ... last time you go for a jog, kiss your wife, read the paper, brush your teeth, talk to your kids, ... 

How intentional and focused is your life?  Do you savor the experiences of each day, taking full advantage of every opportunity to express love to those you love, to bless your kids, to speak the truth?  Maybe you should stop holding back ... pray hard, laugh loud, be bold in talking about Jesus, give like it doesn't belong to you and live like there is no tomorrow. 

In the morning, if your wife is mad at you, say you're sorry and tease her till she breaks and smiles.  If you are mad at her, forgive her totally and completely and give her a big wet kiss!  Don't let spilled milk at the breakfast table or what the dog did on the carpet be a reason to grouch at the whole family.  Instead, bless your kids, tell you love them and, specifically, why you are proud of them!

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.                   Philippians 3:12-14

For many important reasons, I hope I have a whole another half to my life left.  For many other reasons, I would be thrilled to stand in the Lord's presence at any moment.  My prayer is that I would live ready for either each day, all day.  I challenge you to do the same.