One Thing

 One thing never changes. Whether living in the energy and exuberance of youth or living in the exhaustion and weariness of old age, I am a child of the King. By His incarnation, sinless life, atoning death, and death-destroying resurrection, He took away my sins and replaced them with His righteousness. My life is hid in His. When God looks at me, He sees His Son--accepted in the Beloved. And my Advocate. I have been redeemed. With His own blood He bought me. He nailed the debt for all my sins to His cross, and the Father stamped the bill, paid in full. Every moment of every day, He immerses me in His grace and mercy. "There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." I am regenerated. Dead in trespasses and sins, I am alive in Christ--forever. I have been reconciled. The Spirit has removed me from the kingdom of darkness, and placed me in the Kingdom of the Son of Love--daily transforming me into the image of the Son. No matter what happens on the journey, I am His and He is mine.

I'm a child of the King; I am kept by His love.

Love That Will not Let Me Go

 Here I am one month from 75. You would think the Lord would be saying, "well, that's all I need from you old man" Or "I've got other people to bless now, thanks for the service." But no, in the last three weeks, He has given me two of the richest spiritual times in my life: an afternoon to share my love for Him with my seniors and now, an afternoon with dear friends decorating The Acres, scavenging for books, laughter, tears, uplifting hymn singing, and a blessed time of Holy Sweet Communion and prayer. The two best days in my 74-year-old journey. "Oh Love that will not let me go."

Reaffirmation

 Truths God continues to reaffirm for e these last 6 weeks:

He cares.

His grace and the strength it provides are sufficient.

The wonders of God's Creation are a balm for the soul and spirit.

The providence of God is breath-taking.

You can't say "thank you" enough though you should try.

No matter how weak, isolated, or powerless you find yourself, God can still provide a way for you to encourage the faith of others.

One of the most powerful ways to encourage the faith of others is to embrace with a grateful heart the beautiful things they do for you.

The Battle Rages

 As I tread the last steps of my journey, the battle as expected rages. The physical strength all but disappears. The emotions stir up and try to undermine the soul's peace. The mind muddles the thoughts with all the wrong questions: why? where? how? But the child of God rests in the promise that as the body weakens and fails the Spirit daily renews His son's and daughter's.souls. The power of the flesh is no threat to the power of the Spirit. As the emotions stir, the Lord promises that if we fall on our knees, He will overwhelm us with the peace that guards our hearts and minds that we might love right and think right. Greater is He who is in you than He who is in the world. As the mind struggles, the Spirit will remind you that the one question that matters is Who. Who is orchestrating your life today? Your merciful, empathetic, omniscient, loving Father. Is the battle going away? No. We must rejoice each day in the Spirit's renewing of the soul. We must prayerfully rest each day in the power of His peace. We must sacrifice each day our bodies to the renewing of our minds. Surrender each day to the Captain of the Lord's armies. As your day, so shall your strength be.

Providence of God

 The chair lift is in! I can't begin to tell you what a tremendous difference it makes. WOW! And its impact should only increase. No more climbing Mt. Everest. And the man who installed it--another WOW. Dedicated to getting in put in as soon as possible and dedicated to excellence. Yes, he does this for a living, but he was as joyous and excited about the great benefit it was going to be to me as I was. This was not a job to him, but a calling. He is thrilled at being able to help those in need! A smile as huge as mine. A joyous sparkle in his eyes. Feet ready to dance. His response caused mine to soar. If you ever decide to put in a lift, he's your man! Donald Nickles Mobility. 1-440-225-0004.

And as I draw nearer and nearer Home, I rejoice that God isn't finished with me yet. There are things and practices I said as a young man I would never do. You wouldn't find me doing those things. Ta-Da! He continues to teach me humility, to accept the generosity of others with joy, to be conformed to His image, to be more like Him even on this "last lap" of my earthly journey. Oh, the inescapable, consistent, love of God. And patience!!!!! Beyond words!

With Confidence

 I was reminded of a marvelous aspect of our Christian walk that we often overlook. It has to do with waiting our favorite thing to do. The truth is that God's child always can wait with confidence. Think. Our Father only gives good gifts. Only. Paul reminds us that all things work together for the good of those He loves, all of His called ones. The prophet tells us that times of adversity do not sap our strength but give us the power to soar higher on the winds of the strongest storms. The psalmist tells us that "goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives" and as life enriching as that is. It gets majestic. "And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Believer we do not just wait. We wait in confidence that the good is coming. Wait I say on the Lord.

Blessing Perspective

 I was reflecting this evening on the friends who have impacted my life in the last couple of months. It's really astounding! I hope I don't leave anyone out. It would be impossible to count the number of times I have been taken into God's throne room to ask for His grace and mercy on my behalf. Yes, my name is daily, hourly brought to the Father who loves and cares for me. And the cards, letters, texts, messages, emails, fb entries, phone calls sent to uplift my faith and strengthen my walk! And gifts of such beauty they took my breath way. Teachers who have given up time with their families to briefly drop by to visit or to eat a lunch with me--even though I can't eat! My sons and Mindy May who have been dropping by to check on me and encourage me in a multitude of ways. One last duck!! My oldest sister, Chloe with help from Janice, put together a small, limited edition of some of my devotionals to give to family members and teachers and friends who may want one. Another friend is working with a graphic designer in New York City to do the same thing. An old friend for decades who has brought me things I needed that I didn't know I needed--but I did, worked behind the scenes to arrange for necessary work to be done at The Acres, and even used some of his own resources to make it happen. And Buzz!!! He has been my pillar, my soul-friend, my exhorter all along the way, with me every step of the way on this journey. And Tom Hayer, my Good Samaritan who has come numerous hours and tackled the impossible to keep my head above water--actually. He even does my dishes when he comes!!! He has been a faithful friend over and over again--I would not have survived without him. The cherry on top? The Chaplain from Hospice came by today and vacuumed my floors. Yes, the Chaplain. Whose heart does he have? So when in my self-pity and struggles I wonder where my Savior has been, He replies gently. Were all your needs met today? Yes, Lord. Did you receive comfort today? Yes, Lord. Did you feel my care for you experientially? Yes, Lord. Did you feel the power of prayer today in your life? Yes, Lord. Did you sense my inescapable love today? Yes, Lord.

Oh, Lord, Please help me when i try to put myself on the throne, to have eyes to see my beautiful God and Savior already enthroned there working ever so lovingly on my behalf. Moment-by-moment I'm kept in your hands And bless those of your children who willingly were Your hands and feet today in my journey Home. There are so many, Lord, who have been working and acting on my behalf that I don't even know about and never will. But you know them! Shower them with Your blessings. I do love You Lord--grumblings and all; but You know that.

Praise Him! Praise Him!

Prayers for 2021

 As many of you know, I start each year with prayer requests instead of resolutions. Here are my requests for 2021.

Opportunities to encourage the faith of others

Endurance

A daily sense of His presence

God's protection over WC physically, emotionally, financially, spiritually

Our nation and its leaders

To reflect His glory to the very end--to be Christ-in-the-room

The leadership at WC

The church will step up in the battle against racism and oppression

Spiritual growth for those students at WC who are living lives of spiritual indifference

Praises:

Those friends who have touched my life through encouragement, prayers, presence, labors of love, tangible acts of sacrifice.

The great young leadership at WC

Deepening of friendships

A white Christmas

The beauty of The Acres all year round

Peace and contentment

Spiritual Exercise

 I am finding that as my physical strength leaves me, it is immensely important that I focus on those "exercises" that keep me resting in His spiritual promises. He who knows that I am but dust is eager to sustain me with His care. I must continue in prayer--intercessory and personal. I must continue in His Word through study and meditation. I must continue to look for opportunities to encourage others in their walk of faith. My physical struggles are one of the ways God uses to draw me to reliance on His all-sufficient grace. My heart's desire must be to radiate His goodness and grace and mercy. Until my last breath, I would be like Jesus.

Christmas 2020

 Christmas at The Acres 2020. It is cold, but the Artist has covered the Creation with a gorgeous white blanket. And such a calm, quiet, world. Slept late so I will have to get busy feeding my feathered friends and their number one fan. As I sit at the doorwindow and rejoice at the beauty, I am reminded that on the coldest day God covers me with the blanket of His beautiful presence. Sends the quiet so I can hear His voice. Calms my spirit with His promise that all will be well--His love always radiates His goodness. Each day is filled with His loveliness. Each day I am secure in the arms of the One who came to this earth to seek sinners and make them His children--even this old stubborn one. And to see the Creation through the loving eyes of my Eternal Father is majestic. "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the worst. If He can save me, He can save anyone." And I rejoice and rest in His beautiful gift of grace to me. And I rejoice that like the snow that falls from heaven, His Word will accomplish His perfect will in all things. What a beautiful God we serve! Merry Christmas my friends. Love you all!

A Good-Bad Day

 Thank you for the encouragement of your prayers. Hospice stopped by, and they have no major concerns yet. A package came that I have been eagerly waiting for. A good friend for years stopped by for a through the doorwindow conversation. And then, a friend that I haven't seen for awhile who lives out of state dropped by for words of encouragement. Has it been a difficult day--yes--keep praying please. Has it been a good day? Absolutely! As the hymn writer says, the Lord's "many forms of love He wears" were on full display today. Never let the struggles of the day keep you from seeing and rejoicing in the acts of love He has poured into your life this day--struggles and all. He is your Faithful Father always. And never let the good things of the day keep you from being a man or woman of intercessory prayer. "Pray without ceasing."

Through not From

 Through not from

So you can testify to others of His faithfulness

So you can know Him more deeply

So you can share in the fellowship of His suffering

So you can weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice.

So you can be one of His comforters

So truths you have known in your head can fill your heart

So your natural tendency to trust in your own strength can be shattered

So you will become sensitive to those around you in need of His love.

So your prayer life will be 24-7

So you will embrace your weaknesses

So you will live all day with a deep sense of His presence

So He can take your hand in His as you walk into His eternal presence and He presents you to the Father clothed in His righteousness..

Walk On

 Step by step

Hand in hand

Never forsaken

Guided by His Word

In the light as He is in the light

Pressing on to the upward calling

Resting in the intercessor prayers of so many

Under His wings yet soaring on the winds of adversity

Being made conformable to His death

No turning back

Closer Home with every step.

Walk on

Finishing Strong

 We often hear the admonition, "Finish strong!" What does that mean? As you near the end of life think of something spectacular to do for Christ? No! What it means is to keep on being faithful in your everyday walk with Him. My mom lived to be 99, and she finished strong. How? She spent time every day in the Word. She spent time every day praying for those she loved. She spent time every day sharing her love for her Savior and His love for her. She spent time every day enjoying the beauty that surrounded her. She lived a life of praise and joy. She finished strong.

Meditate on those things for a moment. What could be more spectacular than spending time each day reading the love letter sent to you by the Father? And having the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and heart to its beauty and truth--to be your personal Bible teacher every day? What could be more spectacular than entering the very throne room of God to ask for grace and mercy in your life and in the lives of those you love? Knowing He has promised to give both of those to His children! What could be more spectacular than talking to others each day about your greatest Lover and all He's done and is doing for you? What could be more spectacular than enjoying with a thankful heart all the beauty He has surrounded you with? What could be more spectacular than the Spirit using you to praise Him with your life--to reflect who He is to those placed in your sphere of influence?

Do you want to finish strong? Just keep being faithful to the simplicity that is found in Christ Jesus your Lord. What an exquisite simplicity it is.

Numbered

 God tells us that He has numbered our days. Jesus on The Sermon on the Mount asks, who can add one step to his life? The obvious answer being no one. And Moses asks God to "teach us to number our days that we may present to God a heart of wisdom."

The wise man embraces the amazing gift of a new day, one more day to use the opportunities God gives him to fulfill his calling, to "fight the good fight," "to finish the course," to live a life of praise to His Savior and King. He can shake his head in humble amazement that the God of Eternity chose to use him in the present tense of each numbered day to make the invisible God visible. How incredible to know that God created him for this particular time, in this particular place, to fulfill His eternal plan. May we begin each day, each incalculable treasure that He gives us, with the simple prayer, "Lord, thank you for the opportunity to use this day you've graciously given to me, and thank you for the promise of enough strength to make this day count for your glory"

Lessons

 Lessons Learned and Relearned

Yesterday began with an overwhelming sense of strengthlessness--physically, spiritually, mentally, emotionally.

Yesterday ended with an overwhelming sense of His presence, His enabling, His peace, and His comforting care.

How? Intercessory prayer. All day long my name was taken into the throne room of the God who promises mercy and grace to those who come into His presence to ask for both in time of need. And He supplies both just as He promises. Thank you for taking my name and my need into our Father's presence.

How? His People. He sent my Good Samaritan out to the house, And he went beyond all that I could ask or think to lift my spirit with His help and encouragement. Thanks again Tom.

By early afternoon He even gave me the strength to spend time with a dear friend who lifted and encouraged my spirit as well.

Never forget that the Christian walk is a group project. We are a community of believers.

How? Renewing of the mind. All my supposed spiritual strength, manufactured by own spiritual pride was useless. I needed to rely on the Spirit that lives within me for the strength needed for the struggles of each day. Without Him I can do nothing.

Why do I wait to ask for prayer? I need to humble myself, surrender to His will, admit my weakness and total dependence on Him.

Prayer. Community. A mind open to the Spirit's teaching--re-teaching. These gifts from Him turned a day mired in despondency to a day of immeasurable joy. And if He had not allowed my spiritual pride to lead me to despondency, I would never have been reminded of and refreshed by the power of the love of others and the power of the Spirit's patience in leading me into a deep awareness of His presence and His joy.

"Day by day, and with each passing moment, strength I find to meet my trials here; trusting in my Father's wise bestowment, I've no cause for worry or for fear, He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure, gives unto each day what He deems best, lovingly its part of pain and pleasure, mingling toil with peace and rest.

"Help me then, in every tribulation, so to trust The promises, O Lord, that I lose not faith's sweet consolation, offered me within Thy holy word. Help me Lord, when toil and tribulation meeting, e'er to take as from a father's hand, one by one, the days, the moments fleeting, till I reach the promised land."

The Way of the Cross

 There is only one road for the follower of Christ--"the way of the cross leads Home." "If anyone would be my disciple, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me."

It is at the foot of that cross where my journey began. When I saw that all my human effort could never atone for my sins, that faith in my Savior and His atoning work for me on the cross was the only way to forgiveness, redemption, justification, and eternal life, I began the work of following Him Home.

And so I must begin each day along the journey by kneeling in humility, helplessness, and gratitude at the foot of the old rugged cross. I need His grace today to deny myself, to put to death my desire to live my life my way, to put to death my desire to be in control of my life. I need His grace to walk with Him whatever this day brings into my path. I need His grace to face my Garden of Gethsemane and pray, "nevertheless not my will, but Thine be done."

And I need to remind myself daily where the way of the cross leads: Home. At the end of the journey, He will meet me at the "door" with open arms, "welcome, I've prepared a place for you. Welcome, I will wipe away your tears and sorrows forever. Welcome, I have some of My other children who have been waiting to greet you. Welcome to My Father's Home to live forever in His joy, surrounded by His beauty. Welcome, there's no place like Home." Such a mindset empowers me, motivates me to embrace the Spirit's leading, to desire with all my heart that I might today on the way Home be transformed more and more into His likeness. "He who has this hope in Him purifies Himself, even as He is pure."

The way of the cross leads Home. Embracing the saving grace of His death for me put me on the only way Home. Embracing His daily all-sufficient grace enables me to live for Him each day strengthened by the Spirit to follow Him through my Gardens no matter what. Embracing the sure hope of Home--"I shall see Him face-to-face--"focuses my heart on the meaning and significance of each day along the journey "Oh, to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer; Oh, to be like Thee pure as Thou Art. Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness, stamp Thine own image deep on my heart."

"It is sweet to know as I onward go, the way of the cross leads Home!"

Mysteries

 The "mysteries" of discipleship:

1. In order to live a full life you must pour yourself out for others. He emptied Himself.

2. In order to live at all you must die daily. "I die daily. Nevertheless I live; not yet I but Christ lives in me. And the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me."

3. God's grading system is not based on IQ. God's A students are the diligent who use whatever brain He gave them "with all their might," "to the glory of God."

4. My struggles to serve Him are not proof of backsliding; they are proof that He is molding you into His image--proof that your "no-matter-what" faithful obedience pleases Him.

Christian maturity is growing up to be a child. "For of such is the Kingdom of God."

5. God uses suffering to turn you into His gold--His treasure--so that He might spend you for His purposes and glory. When He takes us Home, may there be no lose change lying around.

6. God does not want to be your Master--He is your Master. The question is what kind of servant am I. "You call me Lord, Lord, and yet you don't do what I command you to do."

7. The truth of the two Great Commandments is that I do not love God any more deeply I love my neighbor. Neighbor: anyone--everyone--who has a need.

8. The weapons of the Christian warrior are reflections of His love. The sword I wield the Spirit's not mine. The empowerment prayer to the Spirit not self-reliance.

9. The sin that destroys is the desire for autonomy--for control of my life. "You are not your own; you have been bought with a price; the precious blood of your Lamb."

10. I become free when I repent of my sins, trust in Him as the only Savior--the "one Mediator between God and man." And then with a heart full of gratitude I surrender myself to be His bond-slave.

Suggestions

 suggestions for a good day:

Teachers: stand outside your door between classes so you can love on your students as they enter your room and love on everyone else's students as they pass by.

Be sure that one student who is on the "fringe" knows that you care for him or her. Even if it's just by asking the mundane question of how are you and listening to the answer.

Everybody: embrace whatever God brings into your life today as a "tool" He wants to use to mold you more fully into His image. That's why you're here!

Be diligent. No matter how many gifts and talents He has given you, if you are not using them as fully as He enables you, you are wasting your day.

Students: Go out of your way to tell your teachers and the administration thank you for all they have done and sacrificed for you this chaotic mess called 2020. It's a block day so you'll have to put on your travelling shoes to find and encourage some of them. Do it!

Touched a life yet for Him today?

Unseen Hands at Work Molding

 I suppose my high school years were typical of most teens. Though I had grown up in Wellston, I did have to make adjustments. I knew the kids that lived close to me, my sister Janice was a senior, my cousins attended, Martha and Nora, but many of them--because I went to that little Christian school--were new to me and I to them. I was openly accepted by the students--friendships easily formed. I have been blessed to reconnect with some of them on facebook. Good memories shared. My only real aberration between myself and most teens is that I didn't get a driver's license until I was a senior in college--a fifth year senior. Horrors, I know! How did I survive?

As far as athletics were involved, I played baseball. My senior year we were pretty good (okay not pretty), mainly because we had a good pitcher. If I remember right, his name was Robert Taylor. And if I remember correctly, we lost in the playoffs to the team that eventually won it all. That may just be wishful imagination. I also played basketball my first two years, but then the adult leader of a Young Life group in St. Louis County asked me to be the student leader of the group. Since Young Life met on Friday, and games were played on Friday, I couldn't do both and chose Young Life.

Life at school was "normal." Classes, study at times, crushes, student council, attending football games, hitting the fast food places (Steak n' Shake and Chuck-a-Burger were the big two), plays, just hanging out. Typical. Since we were a very small school, we didn't always attract the best teachers--if you couldn't find a position anywhere else, there was always Wellston. Some of our teachers were excellent though--the best being my math teacher senior year. I actually went to college intending to teach math. Thankfully, I saw the light in time and switched to English and history. Whew! Close call.

Outside of school, Young Life was good, church on Wednesday and Sundays, work, basketball on outdoor courts all summer long, fast-pitch softball on the church team. Life was full of activity.

As I write this, I wonder what did God using during these days to mold me into who I became? I had some resistance to my faith by my Spanish teacher, but nothing major. There are always good traits to be learned from sports--some things revealed in my character some new traits developed. My love for literature continued to grow. The necessity of good friendships to a full life, insights into what good teaching and bad teaching looked like, the necessity of choosing between two things that you love. And the greatest gift of the past--memories. I have so many memories from those four years. God's gift to me of four years--good times and bad--but overwhelmingly good. God was molding my life, and I didn't ever notice it--will probably never know the things He taught me in preparation for the years to come. They were good years. And though I can't go back and enjoy them again, I have the memories. He has instilled the past in my memories. They are with me all the time to my delight. Thank You, Lord, for that past, and thank You, Lord, for implanting the memories of that past in my memories today. They are a delight. And may very well be still molding me today.