Marriner’s Moments: Resurgence – Part 2

By Pastor Melvin O. Marriner
Grove Church

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
 – Philippians 3:14

REsurgence means rebirth, recovery, resurrection – the act or process of rising again or becoming stronger again. That said, a starting point in 2016 might be to ask yourself, “am I living life to the fullest and giving it my best, with no room for improvement?” If you answered YES – trust me – you are NOT in the majority. Most of us, no matter how good, dedicated or determined we are; no matter how much we have accomplished or what station in life we are, have room to do better or do more – if not in our personal lives, in our homes, community or church.

Purpose fuels passion and passion fuels the heart. As we press toward the mark in 2016, we may need to RE-dedicate ourselves to something or someone that energizes or stirs our passion. For others, it may require REigniting a spirit of enthusiasm. We may find ourselves navigating uncharted territory as we REsurrect a long-lost dream or goal. Moreover, instead of looking inward, we may need to REfocus our attention upward, inward and outward – looking to God first, within ourselves and then to others – our family and community. Perhaps you may need to ask the question, ‘how can I make a difference?’ For some, the answer may be as simple as committing to a sit-down family dinner at least once a week, while for others it may be as monumental as moving to another state, changing jobs or returning to school to pursue a “second act.”

One of the hindrances to pressing toward the mark is that sometimes we get so caught up in ‘our stuff’ that we fail to see or serve the needs and desires of others. We must become more accountable for our actions and go that extra mile to demonstrate an attitude of care and concern for others. Simply put, we may need to reach outward to serve OTHERS, to find our passion.
Peace and power,

© Dr. Melvin O. Marriner, January 2016

We invite you to join us at Grove Church, 5910 West Norfolk Road, Portsmouth, Virginia, Sundays at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., Tuesdays at noon and Wednesdays at 7 p.m.