AS OLDER FOLKS DO

Remember those who led you,
who spoke the word of God to you;
and considering the result of their
conduct, imitate their faith.
Hebrews 13:7

Recently I have been thinking back on my home church and folks I watched. We don't realize as we age how “little eyes” watch us. They may not know why they watch, but I think it's a part of life. Those people watched may never know until Heaven the influence of those watched by little people, especially. This is usually true of children who watch adults in any life situation...school, church, neighborhood, relatives, etc. I recall what an adult watcher I was in growing up days, especially at church.

Kirby Walters was the head of our church deacon board for who knows how long. He sat faithfully on one end of the same pew every service. He was a very nice looking “older” man physically and quiet in nature in my contacts with him. I liked even a moment to greet him. He was a pipe smoker using the cherry scented tobacco so I became acquainted with that warm aroma. He was a faithful man.

Aunt Ida Mayer was anything but quiet. She was a small, thin lady with a strong voice. Aunt Ida was a real woman of prayer. She lived two houses down from our church. Sometimes in the summer as I walked by her house, her front door would be open, but had a screen door. I couldn't see into her house but could hear her. Boy, could she pray. I don't think I've known a woman in my lifetime that was such a prayer warrior as Aunt Ida. When she prayed on Wednesday night, we settled in for a good spell of time.

Rose Stevens lived over the track from our house. She walked to every service from her home. It made no difference what the weather was like, she could be seen passing the front of our house walking at quite a clip for a lady who may have been up in her 70's. If we offered her a ride, she kindly refused. She always smiled, never missed a service and usually had some candy in her purse.

Ruth Young was one of those ladies every small church either has or should have. She did a little of every kind of task from teaching to secretary. She taught me how to teach children during a VBS when I was in high school. Little did I know how far that time she spent with me would take me through my life. At the end of our first VBS she said to me, “Glendarae, some day you will be a great Bible teacher.” I don't know how great, but she started that thought in a young heart and teaching has been a huge part of my life.

Gus Peebels was also a deacon and dad of my best friend, Donna. Before really knowing him, there was one thing I always noticed. He always carried a big Bible, reference style. It wasn't that he carried a Bible, but as I recall, His Bible looked a little tattered in places. He was a dear godly man. I came to know that such happened when a Bible was well used. Gus was a man of the Word and I still remember seeing that Bible . I was watching.

All of those folks are in Heaven now and and I'm so grateful not just for them but others who walked the walk before a little scrawny, blond headed girl who just watched. There were others, too many to list who help me along in so many ways. I believe they will be rewarded for their influence not just in my life, but in the lives of so many others.

In those I've mentioned, all were so different in so many ways . In each of them, no matter the age, weaknesses, where they sat in church or what they gave to the ministry, each exemplified a faithfulness that is hard to come by in our day. We used to have really big snow storms. No matter what, you would find each of those folks in their places at church. Even Rose still walked at her usual speed headed to church. That's hard to come by in our day no matter the age of church members.

Jesus was THE One who taught us the most about faithfulness and lived it with every step He took on this dusty old earth. His focus was on His Father and the Father's will no matter the difficulty, harassment, disappointments and physical trials. He was faithful in every aspect of His life. May we be a faithful people, never knowing big or little who may be watching us with a kind of wonder. It has come so quickly from those days, but now I am one of those of age as you might be. We won't know when younger eyes are watching when around us, but now we are the ones being observed...a bigger responsibility than we know.

Make some time to think back on the church of your younger days and those folks you watched. Take time to thank God for them and their influence in your life.

Father, I thank You for those in my young life who were examples for me and who taught me more than they could ever know. They were just a few among many You allowed me to watch and learn from. Mostly I thank You for Jesus, my supreme example of love and faithfulness. In His precious name....Amen

CHARTING THE PAIN

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and
all that is within me, bless His
holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and
forget none of His benefits;
Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
Psalm 103:1-3

For several weeks now, I have been basking in Psalm 103. I would encourage anyone taking a look at it. The first five verses are full of so many “I will's” of God that are mind blowing. In verse three, I so appreciated God's forgiveness of my sin, but who also heals ALL my disease, whatever it may be.

For months I prayed for healing of a bad knee without having to seek medical intervention. However, it seemed I should seek orthopedic help. After all, God heals all our disease even when medical services may be needed. God still should get credit for our healing.

One thing in this process I knew about already but became more personally aware of and that was of a pain chart. It's very simply a line numbered from 1-10. When asked my pain level by a nurse or doctor, I was to respond according to that magic line with the numbers....one being the lowest level of pain and 10 being the highest. I don't know how many times I've been asked, “What is your pain level?” I guess it gives the professionals an idea of the status of the patient's healing progress.

In the process, I was thinking along the way if we were to presented with just such a chart but not related to physical pain. Using the same form but looking at our spiritual status, I wonder how I would view my own spiritual health. Unfortunately, our spiritual well being can vary at times depending on our good or bad circumstances.

The thing that encourages me is that God doesn't need any kind of chart connived by human beings. He is well aware where you and I are all the time whether we be in pain or concerns be physical, emotional or even spiritual. He meets us at every place in our lives. He not only knows where we are in our various states of being, but has the answers and healing we need. He is not a Heavenly Father afar off. He waits for us to cry out to Him for His loving care. I'm afraid in our struggles, we call on others before giving God a thought. We know from His Word that He loves us beyond any human love. We also know that nothing is impossible for God and He will always work for our good. Where are we today on that little chart 1-10 in our relationship with Him?

Thank You Father for Your patience with us as we scuffle about trying to solve so many of our situations without giving You a thought. Our love and trust at times is feeble at best. Forgive our lack of faith and help us in Your strength to seek healing and to be renewed in our faith. We love you. In Jesus' precious name....Amen

 

PURE DELIGHT

Delight thyself in the Lord;
and he shall give thee the
desires of thine heart.
Psalm 37:4

It's been some time since I have visited this verse even though it is a favorite of mine. The word “delight” isn't a word we use very much anymore, but it's real in its every aspect. Scripture speaks of delight as God takes great pleasure in being a cause of our delight. The above verse speaks of a mutual delight between the Lord and us on a very individual basis. I define it as an event that causes my “innerds” to tingle to the point I want to giggle like a little kid. It's having one's blesser being blessed almost beyond words.

Over the last 3-4 months, I made a personal decision to watch for God's working in my life in little things that often get lost. People do kind things for each other all the time, but it's easy to see how God is the One prompting so many of those things coming our way. Afterall, we know that every good and perfect gift comes from God Himself.

Coming back from therapy this last week, I was weary and sore and as we turned the corner to our house, the thought just crossed my mind, “I wonder if there will be flowers on the porch when we pull up?” I receive few flowers which is okay...its just not my thing. We pulled up and no flowers. There was no big thing about it. Soon a call came from a florist wondering if we would be home for a delivery. Flowers came. I can't even describe the beauty of the arrangement and it even had some little butterflies included (my favorite insect.) My friend knew nothing of my need of a special touch from God, but He did and He knew just who He could trust in the process.

I surmised who they could have come from but was I surprised. They were from a newer and dear family to our church. She and I almost always touch bases with each other at church. I have known her son and family and coming to know the rest week by week. There are times when the Lord just connects folks as only He can do it. Mrs. W. had the flowers sent today, not yesterday or tomorrow but today. She's a loving Godly lady who probably is more in tune with God's prompting than she even realizes.

We all may experience what the world would consider to be coincidental events. The longer I live and see how God works in so many ways, I'm not sure I believe in such anymore. I'm thinking of times some folks have come to mind and I don't know why. It's a strong enough prompting that at times, I've phoned such a person. It hasn't been unusual to hear on the other end of the line, “How did you know I needed to hear from you?” So rarely has dawned on me that it was a prompt from the Lord. It's been the same with sending notes or whatever else. So how did I know to make that contact and in a timely way. As God's child, He can use me or you as He sees fit.

So what points are sticking in my mind with all of this?
*Appreciate the delightful moments God brings my way.
*Appreciate those dear ones in my life who are in tune with the Spirit when He speaks.
*Be more in tune to the Holy Spirit's leading me in being good in another person's life.
*Although we want to be servants and like when others appreciate our efforts, the fact
remains that God does all things well.

I love the servant attitude and actions of my friends and I love them for it. In it all, it encourages me to love my Heavenly Father even more knowing He's always looking out for me. He will use His choicest servants who will act on His bidding. They can feel a delight in knowing they carried out God's biding.

Looking at the day, I see God's working, friend acting and delight sparkling all over the place!

Dear Father, what a privilege to be a part of Your great family and to feel so much love despite all the disease, cares and cultural distress all around us. Thank You for my friends and for You blessing me through them. You are such a delight in my life...in Jesus' precious name...Amen 

MARCHING ORDERS

The Lord is the one who goes ahead
of you; He will be with you.
He will not fail you or forsake you.
Do not fear or be dismayed.
Deuteronomy 31:8

Joshua is a favorite person of mine in Scripture. He always appeared to be a fairly common guy, brother of Moses and thus became the right hand man of Moses. Who could foresee the role he would eventually play in the wilderness wandering scenerio. As the group of Israelites neared the Promised Land, God let it be known because of Moses' disobedience at one point, that he would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land.

God let it be known that Joshua would lead his people across the Red Sea into the land God had promised the people. It wasn't going to be a Sunday school picnic. Somehow, we always thought God's people were going to walk right into the land their ancestors had left many years prior. It wasn't going to be that easy.

Joshua not only was going to lead a people, many very disgruntled, but they would have to do battle. They weren't a warring people...they weren't soldiers armed to the nth degree. Joshua wasn't a military guy, but he was going to be one.

I love the latter part of Deuteronomy where God and Moses spoke very clearly to Joshua. I see no back talk from Joshua. He certainly had witnessed God in action for the past forty years and knew God's power first hand. I love what Moses said in the above verse to assure Joshua that all would be well. God would do His part...Joshua would have to do his. Joshua had his marching orders given from God who would secure Joshua's victory.

Guess what? The God who instructed and led Joshua those hundreds of years ago is the same God we love and serve in our day. I wish we could learn that God has purpose wherever He chooses to lead us. We all are at different places...some are in financial straits while others may be facing serious health issues. Some folks have struggled with errant children and we all feel deeply with a country we love that is flaying it's arms in the battle for survival.

We cannot concentrate on all the negatives we see around us. I'm sure Joshua viewed his own circumstances as being pretty impossible to cope with. The thing I see about Joshua is that he didn't go looking at the problems of others. He was a concerned leader but when God spoke, Joshua's job was to keep His eye on Him and do in it all to stay focused on God and His plan. We tend to take on the problems of the world knowing full well we're doing quite well to just handle what God expects of us. For some, just reading their Bible and praying daily seems an impossible thing to accomplish. You and I are called up to do what God has called us to do in our own arena of life.

Let me suggest a reading of the first chapter of Joshua. Absorb all of those promises given by God to Joshua. Whatever the personal call, on our lives, the call is personal. I won't be held accountable for your call. In His Word, God makes clear his expectations for each of us. May we obey Him much like an Army private would toward his commanding officer.

Thank You Father for Your personal care of me. Help me to stay on track spiritually and to know Your love for me is precious and personal. Help me to be faithful in these days...faithful to the basic things of my spiritual walk with You. I love You and all You are in my life. In Jesus precious name....Amen