Aging Ain't Easy

I will go in the strength of the Lord God:
I will make mention of thy righteousness,
even of thine only.
O God, thou hast taught me from my youth:
and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.
Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O
God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy
strength unto this generation, and thy power
to every one that is to come.
Psalm 71:16-18

My grandmother (Mother's mother) from the time I was very young worked as a live in housekeeper for a working couple in my hometown. I loved when we would go out for Mam on Saturdays to bring her to our house to stay until Sunday evening. I loved going out to that lovely home that sat on property with lots of trees. What time I had, I loved running through that yard. My grandmother did all of the housekeeping, cooking, laundry and whatever else had to be done in the house itself. The thing that bothered me was after asking my Mother how old my grandmother was, I recall her saying that my grandmother was somewhere in her 50's. I recall being mortified at that news. I often wondered to myself, “What is an old lady like that doing all that work? She could die.” I smile now as I think of someone in their 50's too old to do much of anything and yet that's how children would view people of age.

I don't think when a little kid that I knew too many really old people. In my church, there was the Loyal Mother's Sunday school class. Let me tell you, as a junior girl, those women were old...not just old...but O-L-D old. Most wore hats to church, carried big purses and Bibles, wore laced dress shoes, always glasses and smelled of either Sweetheart, Palmolive or Life Boy soap. They always smelled good. Most of them carried candy in their purses and that was an advantage of knowing those of their age as far as I was concerned. Most of those ladies were in their 70's and some early 80's. I wondered at times how they were even breathing because they were very O-L-D.

However, times have changed. “People of age” don't seem to look all that old to me anymore. I look in the mirror and see a woman in her 70's. I don't wear hats to church or shoes with laces unless at times I wear my Sketchers for a more informal time. I don't carry candy in my purse except for myself. I don't use any of those soaps. I think they have to be ordered from specialty places now. What I'm wondering at this point is how did I get to where I am right now. I have three doctors I see on a pretty regular basis, am taking more medications than I care to number, and have too many aches and pains that I feel with some discomfort at times. For it all, I'm in pretty good health and as active as I care to be, especially in serving the Lord. I just don't know how I got here. It all happened so fast.

I look at our three adult children. I have pictures I look back at when they were at various stages. For some reason, I guess I thought they would stay there for a longer time and so would I, but that didn't happen. Now they have their own children and adult lives. I'm so grateful for them. God has blessed me with them, but the same thing happened to them as to me. We have all aged and the process will continue as it is meant to do.

My thoughts along this line have come to mind as I have witnessed some older adults who seem to have developed a streak of bitterness in their lives. One lady told me how resentful she is of aging like she has. I asked if she knew what the alternative to living is and she indicated she would almost rather go to Heaven than be old.

I believe the important thing in this process is to remember that every stage of our lives is meant to have purpose. We don't reach the age of 55 and up and purpose of our lives ends. Where I and others are at our ages is a very special stage that contains perhaps more purpose than when we were in our 40's. If we carefully manage our lives physically and spiritually, we have a great deal left to offer our individual worlds.

By now, my hope is that: I know God's Word better than I ever have...that I know how to pray better than in earlier years...that I have a wealth of wisdom to share with others who seek it from me...that I know the importance of relationships...that I value the little things of life...that I've given up having to have the latest toy or gimmick. I still like doing some yard work, getting dirt under my nails while at the same time, enjoying the smell of freshly mown grass. I love sitting in the mountains with Bible on my lap, sniffing the fresh air and maybe even dangling my feet in a stream. I don't need much to entertain me at this stage and that's just fine with me.

I love the verses from Psalms I have included with this blog. I guess at this stage of my life and for other friends of mine, this section is not only a beautiful passage on aging, but is a challenge and guideline for anyone at any stage of life. Thus, my desire is that I will:
*go in the strength of the Lord God,
*speak often of the goodness and righteousness of the Lord,
*share with others those wondrous things the Lord has taught me from my youth,
*show God's strength to this generation and the one to come that includes my children and grandchildren.
*always pray for God's nearness in my life, no matter the age.

Someone younger asked me how one prepares for aging. I have suggested at a young age to be doing the things right where you are that you hope to be doing when you reach those golden years. Stay close to the Lord, live a good, clean life, save your money and live within your means (aging will force you to do it anyway), and under-gird everything about your life with prayer. Prayer and Bible reading isn't just for the old folks...it's for all folks no matter the stage of life.

To be honest, I really don't have time to be bitter nor would I want to be. As long as we are living and breathing, God has purpose for each of our lives no matter our ages. Enjoy having purpose...in fact, have fun in the Lord doing just that.

Thank You Father, for bringing me and so many others to this stage of our lives. May we not waste a moment, not a crumb of this experience. Help us to be of help and encouragement in the lives of our peers and those who come after us. Give us your wisdom and strength. In Jesus' precious name....Amen

Wounds Really Hurt

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger,
and clamour, and evil speaking be put
away from you, with all malice:
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, even as God for
Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:31-32

The first time I recall hearing the word “wounded” was around the time of World War II. I heard my Mother tell my Daddy of a family friend who had been wounded in the war. I recall asking what that meant and with my being VERY little, they didn't want to get into the whole thing. I knew whatever it was they were concerned about, it wasn't good as they were both very sober as they continued their conversation. My Uncle Paul was in the Army at the time. I recall a day or so later asking if Uncle Paul was going to “get wounded.” My Mother said they hoped not. I knew where I could get an answer so went next door to our neighbor, the Rennies. I walked into their kitchen and just point blank said, “Mrs. Rennie, what does it mean to be wounded?” She told me it generally meant that someone had been hurt in some way and it took time for their sore place to heal. That was all I needed to know.

I just looked up the word “wound” in the Miriam-Webster Dictionary. It gave me more information than I could have handled at a very young age. They defined the word from various angles. It spoke of “wound” as:

*to inflict injury

*an injury to the body by violence, accident or surgery that usually involves breaking of the skin.

*a mental or emotional hurt or blow.

That last definition was the one I was really interested in. We all could write our own books that would pertain to these kind of hurts or even sudden traumas. Such experiences can leave wounds in us that can last a lifetime.

Most of us, when the most disturbed about something tend to hold those things inside, refusing to reveal them even to a loving person who senses we may be going through a tough time. Perhaps we don't want even loved ones to see us as weak and out of control of everything in our lives. The bottom line is, we aren't in control of anything, especially when it comes to inflicted hurts, wounding, or inflictions by friend or foe. It happens.

I know the pain from physical wounds I've gone through, that really have been very few for someone my age. When little, I always had skinned knees that usually happened when falling while skating or while learning to ride a scooter. The worst part was that red stuff my Mother would apply to the wounds. I've had a broken finger and broken wrist, both that were put in splint or casts. They healed fine with very little problems. If you are like me, I would rather have then and even now, hoped the inner woundings could have been put in a splint or cast bringing about quick healing. Some of our wounds are deliberately inflicted by folks who really want to hurt us or do us harm. Some come by people or situations that hurt deeply unknowns to those who do the inflicting.

I have been browsing in my Bible looking at some giants in the faith who went through indescribably wounds. I think of those imprisoned from Joseph to the Apostle Paul. Stephen was beaten and stoned to death. David was on the run for a long period of time. His wounding was especially emotional, when we consider the one who was trying to kill him was his son. Job suffered physically and emotionally with lots of loss in his life. When I look at these men and others in Scripture, my hurts and wounds seem small, but my wounds are mine, all mine, when they do occur. Whether past or present, I have to learn to work through those wounds or I can end up being a very angry and bitter person. In those circumstances, I can't expect to have God's blessing on my life. Even with that information, I must come to grips with any wounds that I may harbor, even from many years ago.

By the way, wounds aren't just things inflicted on us. We are also guilty of inflicting wounds in the lives of others. At times, we don't mean to do it, but our words can pierce to the fiber of another like a knife. In this area, I think we ought to be careful about kidding with other people. I have often said that teasing can be a means of making a point with a smile on one's face. Even if someone is good at taking a joke, if not handed out at the right time or right way, can create hurt feelings that may linger for a long time.

I've never heard of a good wound. Even when a mom gives birth by C-section, she may have a beautiful baby, but suffer surgical pain she must get past. There are wounds that teach us lessons and sometimes we may have physical scars to remind us of them. They remind us to be more careful the next time. The scars from emotional wounds aren't easily revealed by the naked eye. They lie hidden beneath the surface only to be revealed by our words or actions. Those wounds may never completely heal and in those cases, our Lord Jesus is the answer.

Just today, I was thinking of Jesus' wounds while on the earth. We think of His wounds as being suffered on the cross only. I can't imagine Jesus coming from Heaven where there are no harsh words, no arguing, no teasing, no criticism...none of what we live with on the earth. Officials did everything to get a stir out of Him, criticizing and badgering Him. He knew what it was to be betrayed not just once, by disciples. He also knew the aching hurt from the death of a loved one. When you and I hurt and are wounded in any number of ways, Jesus knew it all, so He understands perfectly when we go to Him with our hurts. I can't imagine One so perfect taking on the sins of the world on the cross. In that process, He experienced the horrible taste of sin in His being. With all of His earthly experience, He more than understands when we bring those things to Him that crush our spirits. In reality, He is really the only One who can be of any help and healing of our every wound whether it be the healing of a surgical scar or the healing of any emotional wound, no matter how deep the cut. I love the fact that in it all, Jesus was wounded for me on a very personal basis. By the way, He did it for you as well.

Thank You dear Jesus for coming and not just dying for me but also living for me. In it all You can relate to every problem I face. It also means You know how to comfort and lead me through whatever hurts I face. What a relief to have You as Savior. I love you....In Your precious name...Amen

Learn By Heart

Thy word have I hind in mine heart,
that I might not sin against thee.
Psalm 119:11

While putting some finishing touches on our upcoming ladies Bible study, something dawned on me I hadn't thought of in years. When I'm about to lead such a study, I often look back at teachers from my past from whom I learned much and who taught me well. I think back to Sunday school teachers when I was more at the elementary school level. There were also excellent, godly ladies whose love each summer was for teaching in Daily Vacation Bible School. I dearly loved Bible School and didn't just attend them at my own church but would go to other churches sometimes for their Bible Schools.

I loved memorizing Scripture verses. After that, I really liked craft time. Memorizing the Bible came pretty easy for me. However, the thing that dawned on me was that I never heard the word “memorize.” In fact whether at church or in elementary school, I can't recall even hearing the word “memorize.” The first I heard the word, that I can recall, was in junior high school.

No matter where I was in an educational setting, the term that was used was “learning.” Grade school teachers didn't say to memorize spelling words. I recall teachers tell us to learn our spelling words by Friday because there would be a test. I remember at Bible School being told we would “learn” such and such verses. So what's the difference between the two concepts?

The bottom line is that what we memorize isn't always learned. There is a difference in memorizing a Bible verse and learning it....really learning it. That learning may mean committing a verse to memory, but in learning a verse, the concept of the verse is learned as well. I have read that the most memorized Bible verse among Christians if John 3:16. Unless I take on a different mental attitude, I can quote that verse perfectly. However, if you ask me after reciting that verse what I was thinking about while reciting it, most times I probably couldn't tell you. You see, memorizing is good, but it doesn't mean that there is meaning to the words unless I deliberately intend think on them.

In college, I had an English History class. In fact, it was a two semester class. I wondered after a month what I had got myself in to. I dearly love history and felt that class would broaden my knowledge. However, I had the sweetest lady as my professor but when it came to tests, she seemed to really go for dates on tests. She liked having the matching questions with a long list of dates on the left of the paper with answers on the right. It was the usual drawing a line from a date to an event. I can't tell you how many historical dates I crammed into my head, purely for the sake of the next upcoming test. To this day, I wouldn't be able to give you a single date from English history. The memorizing of that materials was an exercise in memorizing purely for the immediate.

Recently, I have been revisiting several verses I have no problem recalling from my memory bank. I am slowly going through them phrase by phrase, taking in every word, every thought. So often we feel guilty in our Bible reading if we don't read at least a chapter at one sitting. To sit and mentally chew on one verse doesn't seem to be enough. I wonder though, if God wouldn't be more pleased with our totally soaking in one verse than reading a whole chapter we really don't get much out of.

Those Bible school teachers often used that term “learn by heart.” I knew I would be learning the verse by memory but we did more than that. The verse was discussed as to it's meaning. If I just learn Scripture by memory, I consider that a head thing. If I learn a verse “by heart,” I believe the meat of that verse not only goes into my head for recall, but also to my heart where I call recall it's meaning as well as its words.

I'm determined to go back over some favorite verses from Scripture, taking one at a time, reading it over and over while asking the Holy Spirit to speak to me about the depth of meaning of it. I've put some of those verses on cards that I can drop in my purse and pull out during times of waiting or just for some times of “spiritual recreation.” We can become so familiar with Scripture at times that we fail to stop and let the truths of God sink deep into our spirits. There are some verses I have found lately that I am enjoying just squeezing all the stuffin' out of them I can.

Join me in “taking a new look, at the old Book...a new look at the Bible.”

Father, I'm so grateful for Your precious Word and for Your Holy Spirit Who is so willing to teach me its precepts and truths. Please continue to teach me and empower me to take it all in, making it work in my life. In Jesus' precious name...Amen

Conform...Why?

And be not conformed to this world:
but be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that ye may
prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God
Romans 12:2

I don't know of any parents who have seen children through their teen years who haven't at one time or another had to respond to the plea of a child who says in a very pitiful or even angry voice, “But the other kids are doing it.” Many times we parents have replied in varied ways, but usually whatever the reply, we try to get the point across that, ”You are not other kids.” We cautioned our children about following the crowd because in most instances, nothing good comes from blind conformity.

I've heard many pastors interpret the first part of our above verse that we aren't to allow the world to squeeze us into its mold. I'm afraid though, that we adults are often more guilty than our children when it comes to going along with the crowd. Today we are bombarded by the media to respond to the latest and greatest of anything being offered and it succeeds or we wouldn't be biting on the bait that is dangled in front of us.

It is amazing and almost disgusting to see all of the medication advertisements on TV these days. I asked my doctor at one point if folks go to them (doctors) to see if some of those medications would be good for them. He said it is surprising how many buy into those ads, even disregarding the warnings of their usage. Advertising puts great pressure on people who see it in the mail or in the media. We tend to be easy prey and advertisers are well aware of it.

Many Christians today are also following the crowd when it comes to types of churches, worship practices, and type of music. Mention to folks the latest Bible translation, and it's amazing how many will purchase a copy of it as soon as possible. I feel sorry for Christians who get caught up in cults. For their own reasons, they have followed the crowd hoping some empty place in their hearts can be filled.

People may agree with me, but the Christian life can be very lonely where the company of others is concerned. This spiritual walk of ours is, or should be a very personal walk with God. No one can do it for us. It must be one on one with our Heavenly Father. There's nothing wrong with enjoying the fellowship of other Christians, seeking their prayer support and even their counsel. When it gets down to the reality of things, no one can live the Christian life for us.

One thing I noticed by Romans 12:1 was Paul's usage of “ye” or “your.” Yes, he was writing to the Corinthian church, but was writing to individuals. That verse speaks to you and me in a very personal way. Paul begins in verse one to throw out a challenge:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the
mercies of God, that ye present your bodies
a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,
which is your reasonable service.

Paul beseeched those Christians by God's mercies to give over their lives as living sacrifices. Sacrifices for the Jews had to be holy, pure, nothing flawed and nothing else would be accepted by God. In light of all Jesus had done for them (and now for us), it was only reasonable for them to do such.

It's not easy living holy and dedicated lives in the corrupt world we live in. Our culture pulls and tugs at us to keep up with others, do as they do and live in the same fashion as they live. This pull isn't just out in the world but is often found in churches we attend. Many churches are conforming to “worshiptainment” and we are viewed as being narrow and judgmental if we don't go along with it. In some churches, the preaching and teaching of God's Word has become watered down in order to enable people to have a comfortable faith.

So, how do we NOT conform to this world. Paul says we are to be transformed...changed from one state to another. That takes concentrated effort on our part. It will mean consistently renewing our minds. Philippians 2:5 tells us to “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus....” It means first desiring the mind of Christ and making that our godly goal, not a human goal but one for God's glory only. As we do that, Paul tells us that as we keep our focus on having the mind of Christ, we will come to really know so much more about what is involved in being in God's perfect will.

The world does want to form us to it's shape, but you and I have a different call on our lives. I've heard pastors say that the problem with being a living sacrifice is that once on the altar, we can crawl off. However, a dead sacrifice in our day isn't of much use. God wants us alive and functioning for Him with that transformed mind that pleases Him.

Father, help me to be consistent in my walk with You. As I read Your Word, may You, Holy Spirit, bring it to reality in my life. May it not only bless me but also convict me when I'm not even close to my “reasonable service” for Your glory. In Jesus' precious name....Amen