EIGHTY-TWO AND COUNTING

I have been young and now I am
old, yet I have not seen the
righteous forsaken or his
descendants begging bread.
Psalm 27:25

Writing this blog early will have to do for Monday. I chose to write today because it's my birthday. Can't believe the Lord has given me 82 years. I may have mentioned my mother talking about my Sunday school teacher when I was about 5. She said that Nellie Barker was 65 years old. I remember crying because it sounded like she was about to die.

I recall talking to Brian's grandmother when we were first married. She was in her eighties at the time and spoke of all the things she had seen historically during her life. I guess in my lifetime, I too have seen major events and changes. One of my biggest changes was going from my Royal typewriter to now a computer keyboard. I would go back to the first in a minute.

Aside from wars and various tragedies that I felt deeply about during my lifetime would have to be that of the attack on Pearl Harbor. It was my first stark memory in my life as I was only about three at the time. I remember women in our neighborhood talking about pearls. Back then, most women had pearl necklaces and I thought someone had lost theirs and everyone was crying over it

At the age of ten, I accepted Jesus as my Savior. I wish I could say there were bells and whistles with fireworks, but it wasn't anything like that. I knew I was saved but had a lot of growing to do. I received my first Bible when I was twelve and from that day, loved it's cover but loved more the pages inside. I wish I hadn't had so many growth spurts in the Word through the years, but did. Since getting married in 1969, my Bible has been a constant companion.

All of us have our favorites in Scripture...some may be verses we have memorized or just lean on. There may be a chapter or two we almost have by memory because of reading them so often. Our Bibles might fall open to certain pages because of so many visits to them.

One such chapter for me came into my life about 45 years ago. I suggest it for women who struggle with depression or who have had rough life histories. I again soaked in this chapter last night and will continue to do so today. That chapter is Psalm 139. This chapter just oozes with God's goodness in our lives. I strongly recommend it for the good or bad times as well as the so-so times.

In this chapter we see how well God knows us...in entirety. It's hard to absorb the fact that there is Someone who knows my history, my in's and outs, my every move and thought, etc. It puts me on alert to do better. I'm also assured in this chapter of God's consistent love and care for me, loving me despite who and what I am at times. A love like all of that is impossible to find, but it's Him, our Father. No matter our age, young or old, this chapter speaks to us all. We see how precious we are to Him and yet challenges us to be more for Him than we ever thought we could be....no matter our age.

My utter shock in these moments is how fast my age seemed to come upon me. Life sure flies which encourages us to make the best of it all for God's glory.

Father, how precious is Your Word to us. It is clear, challenging and full of Your love and concern for us. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for speaking through David and on into our individual hearts. Thank You that through Jesus, we share spiritual birthdays. In Jesus' precious name I pray...Amen