Well, tomorrow at 8:31 AM, Lord willing, I will enter year four of grace. Such excursions never enter one's mind growing up, and "presto," here I am--74. I always like to reflect on these days of remembrance to mediate on what He has taught this old dog (don't believe the proverb) that's "new," and what truths He has reminded me of in this last year of grace. Never too old to be taught to love Him more deeply; never too old to be re-taught things I've forgotten or let slip into the recesses of my mind. I could, I suppose, write all night on the things He has taught me this year. I will settle for giving you these ten.
1. Age is no excuse for not serving Him faithfully one day at a time. In fact, the days of service become sweeter and sweeter as I stand amazed at His desire to use me still.
2. A deep sense of my inability to even begin to do what He has called me to do is the bedrock of His being able to use me for His glory. He means it when He says, "without Me, you can do nothing," He is my strength, my energy, my insight, my patience--full dependency is the only way to effective service.
3..The restoration of my soul is a daily blessing. He leads me daily. He makes me rest by still waters daily. He guides me to the green pastures daily. He restores me daily. And I have found this last grace year that the restorers He uses to touch my soul are my fellow workers in the kingdom. Their love and encouragement to me daily restores my weary soul and empowers me to take the next step in my journey Home--the step called "today."
4. He has encouraged me to change the focus of my prayers for those I love that are not following Him. I used to pray, "Lord, do whatever it takes to bring them back to You." He has taught me to pray, 'Lord, may Your love never let them go."
5. He has deepened my resolve to imitate my Savior (and Paul): "For me, to live is Christ. And to die is gain." May my fervent desire to see His face be the source of my steadfast desire to touch one life for Him each day--touch them with His love and care. And to remind them that He takes their mistakes and shortcomings to do them everlasting good. In fact, He delights in doing so.
6. In solitude--as I walk The Acres with Him--He speaks to me. I love the conversations--quiet and honest. Yes, skeptics, He talks to me as clearly as any visible person ever has. He speaks to me as my Father, my Savior, my Bridegroom, my friend, my brother. "'This so sweet to talk to Jesus."
7. My sorrows are the fountain of my joys.
8. To follow Him--I must know the world as He knows it, love the world as He loved it, fill my world as He did with grace and truth.
9. As someone has so eloquently affirmed: for the spiritual life, to breathe without ceasing is "to pray without ceasing."
10. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for He is my breath.
2. A deep sense of my inability to even begin to do what He has called me to do is the bedrock of His being able to use me for His glory. He means it when He says, "without Me, you can do nothing," He is my strength, my energy, my insight, my patience--full dependency is the only way to effective service.
3..The restoration of my soul is a daily blessing. He leads me daily. He makes me rest by still waters daily. He guides me to the green pastures daily. He restores me daily. And I have found this last grace year that the restorers He uses to touch my soul are my fellow workers in the kingdom. Their love and encouragement to me daily restores my weary soul and empowers me to take the next step in my journey Home--the step called "today."
4. He has encouraged me to change the focus of my prayers for those I love that are not following Him. I used to pray, "Lord, do whatever it takes to bring them back to You." He has taught me to pray, 'Lord, may Your love never let them go."
5. He has deepened my resolve to imitate my Savior (and Paul): "For me, to live is Christ. And to die is gain." May my fervent desire to see His face be the source of my steadfast desire to touch one life for Him each day--touch them with His love and care. And to remind them that He takes their mistakes and shortcomings to do them everlasting good. In fact, He delights in doing so.
6. In solitude--as I walk The Acres with Him--He speaks to me. I love the conversations--quiet and honest. Yes, skeptics, He talks to me as clearly as any visible person ever has. He speaks to me as my Father, my Savior, my Bridegroom, my friend, my brother. "'This so sweet to talk to Jesus."
7. My sorrows are the fountain of my joys.
8. To follow Him--I must know the world as He knows it, love the world as He loved it, fill my world as He did with grace and truth.
9. As someone has so eloquently affirmed: for the spiritual life, to breathe without ceasing is "to pray without ceasing."
10. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for He is my breath.
"Grace, 'tis a charming sound."
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