I have always wanted to accomplish a lot each day. I like to do the hardest work first but all my life I have left room for a short nap after lunch. My mom began that practice with us growing up and I carried it on with our kids too. Many retired people where we live have leisurely mornings sleeping in and starting the day with reading the paper and coffee. However, when you work all day at an office, you can’t afford such a luxury; but when you come home at night, it’s time to play ball with the kids etc. but not continue doing work all evening.

 My day starts at 4 a.m. with prayer and devotions and writing devotionals and answering e-mails, then on to baking, cleaning and going places etc. We all have to do what works for us but it should include both work and some time for play and to be with others.  How we spend our time, determines much of our future. When we choose unwisely, we have to live with the consequences. When we choose wisely with God’s leading, it will have a positive impact on our life. Not everything in life is easy or goes how we would like but we also have a choice on how we respond. Like David prayed in Psalm 31:14-15a, “But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hand;”

Let us live our lives for the Lord and ask Him for His plan for us each day that our life will count for His kingdom. We have only one life to live here on earth, so let us live each day as a gift in preparation for what is ahead.

Challenge for today: Live purposefully and wisely and make the most of each day.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

We are all commissioned to share the Good News with others but sometimes we think if we are old that we no longer have a voice even in our church and we wonder how we fit in. I read an interesting article on crosswalk.com by Stacey Monaco who writes about ways to remain vibrant in the church and in our faith even as we age.  First of all, we must live our purpose as we can still be used by the Lord and minister to others no matter how old. Now we may have to adjust or modify how we do things, but we can still serve others, mentor, show hospitality, pray for others and do a host of things. Secondly, we can span the generation gap by being open to those who are younger for their knowledge and friendship, and they can be open to wisdom and experience of those older. Thirdly, we all need to be life-long learners with an openness to grow. Are we willing to learn new things, new ideas, new experiences like mission trips, and also listen to all ages. Fourthly, Stacey says we must adopt a Biblical mindset on aging for the Lord calls us to be useful for His kingdom all the days of our lives and to be vibrant in faith. All ages have concerns, and our churches should be open to provide for the needs of all, including the senior members.

I would like to close with Stacey’s words, “A beautiful dignity results within church settings when each member is rightly valued and is functioning within their gifts and purpose. Interrelationship between generations of all life stages is a natural outcropping of a healthy church environment and confers true significance on each Christ-follower, regardless of demographic. Remaining vibrant and vital in the church and our faith is a daily decision, and the changes that come with age can offer a rich opportunity to give an answer for the hope that is within us. (1 Peter 3:15)”

Happy Labor Day weekend! Hope you have an enjoyable weekend. We plan to see a friend in Assisted Living on the way to the lake and then on to brunch at Taylor’s cabin. Later hope to have some Scrabble games and a wiener roast at the Point with more relatives. We plan to go to church tomorrow to hear Leif preach and then back to Ann’s for lunch. We also look forward to quiet time by the lake and love the view of the lake right from the French doors of our bedroom.

So many promises come alive when we are tested and go to the Word to find a promise that is like balm to our hearts. Maybe today we are facing a circumstance, and we are unsure of the outcome; can we still trust the Lord?  When Moses was 120 years old and getting ready to leave this earth, he told his successor, Joshua to be strong for, “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deut. 31:8)

It’s important we don’t harden our hearts and lose our focus but know God has a plan in those difficult times. He will work out the details and we need to look to Him. We are not strong in ourselves but as it says in Psalm 18:32, “It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect.”  David prayed when God delivered him from his enemy Saul, and he goes on to say that the Lord would give him a wide place to step so that his feet would not slip. He realizes that God has heard him, and his strength comes from the Lord. We don’t have to work up courage but as David said, “Now I’m alert to God’s ways; I don’t take God for granted. Every day I view the ways He works.”  He closes the Psalm with thanksgiving to the Lord.

May we be like David when tested and lean on and rely on the Lord, drawing our strength from Him. No matter what happens, He will see us through!

We need to have patience with ourselves as well as, patience with others for we don’t become spiritually mature overnight. We are in process and spiritual growth takes time. As I looked out my window while writing one morning, I saw tall colorful flowers blooming and so beautiful; but I also remembered when I previously looked out at little piles of black dirt that received the seeds and took so long to grow. During that time, hope was needed, sunshine, lots of water and tending of the weeds to produce this beautiful array of flowers.

Aren’t our hearts like that as seeds are planted in us while we read the Word, listen to sermons, fellowship with others and spend time in prayer?  We don’t all of a sudden become mature and do everything right. It takes time and patience and when we fail again, we don’t give up. We can ask the Holy Spirit to break up any clods of sin in our hearts, spend time in the sunshine of His presence, let the water of His word saturate us and gradually we grow. We may get excited when we see a bud appear as we know the seeds within are growing. Like it says in Isaiah 35:2 may we be “Like the crocus in spring, bursting into blossom, a symphony of song and color.”

That day I read from Ephesians 4 and 5 from the Message translation and the main verses that spoke to me, “Walk, better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel…Mark what you do with humility and discipline…pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love…You were called to travel the same road in the same direction, to stay together, both inwardly and outwardly.” In other, we are to be permeated in oneness and in step with one another and with gentleness and sensitivity. “Don’t waste your time on useless work; mere busywork…make sure you understand what the Master wants. “Learn a life of Love…figure out what will please the Lord and then do it.”

Perhaps these are not just words for me in relation to the Lord and to Al, but for all of us in the Body of Christ. May we understand what the Lord wants from us and how to treat others in the Body and do it.