Next year I will be 70 years old. It is a time to examine what I’ve done and what I will do if God grants me a few more decades. It is sobering to hit a milestone and realize that – at best – I will have about 15 strong years left, maybe twenty. (My dad died at 94, my mother at 100, but my older brother and sister both died at 80). What will I do with that time and how will I live my life?
I found the proclamation below written by Dr. Bob Moorehead and I edited it quite a bit to fit my own life and situation. Yes, I posted it a couple years ago, but thought on January 1 it is good to reaffirm and recommit. I hope you like it; I hope you join me.
MY PLEDGE AND DECLARATION
I am a part of a group of redeemed and committed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. The questions were posed and the answers given; the doubts have long vanished. Feelings are fleeting and fads are fading. Faith and reason direct me.
I’ve discovered the power of God, fallen in love with the Savior of the world. I’ve cast my lots with the King and his Kingdom – with Christ and his Church. I will live out my days in the heart of the Catholic Church. I am not the first to cross the Tiber; I won’t be the last. I am in good company.
I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith in the present, learn by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.
My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed.
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, whimper at persecution, faint at martyrdom, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won’t give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I’ve preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until He returns, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes.
And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. I will have my San Damiano Cross around my neck. My sins are forgiven, my soul is redeemed, my voice sings loudly. My colors will be clear for my flag waves high. I am Steve Ray and I am a Catholic Christian until the end.
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Got a lump in my throat reading this. Thank you for sharing. It reminded me of how St. Therese of Lisieux was greatly tempted at the hour of death; now I know that love must be tested by faith because much is given, much must be expected. God bless you always Mr. Steve Ray.
How beautiful thank you for sharing this gives me something to work with in setting my goals. I am not too much younger and want to have a plan and purpose so that when I stand before our LORD he will be proud of me, for what HE thinks of me is really the most important thing to consider in any decision. Thanks for your work and all you do! May God continue to bless you.
Soon I will be 74. I’ve had some trials, some failures and some success. Mr. Ray, I see you too have had your “come to God meeting”. You now stand firm and know where you are. All the best. A blessing to you.
Steve – I have to tell you how much you have enriched and cemented my Catholic faith. “Crossing the Tiber” should have Hallmark status, “Upon This Rock” as well. I loved the Apostolic Fathers DVD, and have numerous times watched your youtube videos, the ‘Papacy’ is my favorite! Well, so is the ‘Eucharist’, and ‘faith alone’, and ‘born again’! From the knowledge I’ve gained from you, I have been able to defend The Faith on other website threads and blogs hundreds of times. When I heard that you were speaking at the Oklahoma Men’s Conference, I was excited beyond all measure until I was told is was MEN ONLY!! Argh! Anyone, my deacon got me a CD of the conference, guess it will have to do. Thanks so much for you dedication. I thank God for all the brilliant protestants, who, like you, have made the crossing, and are leading the charge to bring our brothers and sisters home!
I was a fallen away Catholic who left the church for decades and returned in 2011. I decided to dedicate the rest of my life to learning to know and serve God. One day shortly after that, I was lamenting the time I had wasted being separated from God and how, if I’m fortunate, I may have only about 20 years of life left. I thought to myself that God was probably thinking my dedication to Him was not that big of a deal in light of the few remaining years I have left. I then opened my Bible and my eyes fell on the passage in Matthew that says: “The first shall be last and the last shall be first.” Thank you, Jesus!!!!! He was telling me that it was OK — it’s never to late to go down that narrow path to Him.
Happy New Year, Steve
This morning as I was in prayer, I saw a much earlier period in my life. In that period, I did not honor my parents in how I treated them, nor in how I led my life. But, I also saw a particular act I did for them at one time, and I saw that God had forgiven me for my repented sins, and had counted this one tiny act as righteousness. My sins were like a mountain of sand, and my act like a tiny grain. Yet, God forgot my sin, while remembering this action.
That Mercy, which is the character of Our God, inspires me to seek and to walk in His Grace, which empowers me to stand with you, and proclaim my commitment to do all in my power to bring Him the Honor He so richly deserves.
In this Year of Grace, may we rise to the challenges, and let nothing stand in the way of us fighting for the salvation He has won for us.
Onward Christian Soldiers.
God Bless You
Michael Brandon
Your love of God and His Catholic message are so strong, I would not be surprised at 40+ years. God bless you and Janet in your mission. I know that I have benefited as have countless others.
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