Never Too Old

Adam lived to be 930 years old.  Methuselah lived to be 969 years old.  Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born.  Noah was 600 years old when the flood came, and Moses went before Pharoah when he was 80 years old.  I say all this because I was gently reminded by a seven-year-old little boy yesterday at church, that I was old.

Between church Services, this young man was showing me one of his rocket toys.  As he played and showed me the goal of this game, the game became more familiar to me.  I told this little boy that I thought that my boys had a similar game when they were little boys.  Interest peaked; this little boy asked me what shape their toy had been?  "A shark?  A ship? What was it?" he asked.  As I tried to remember exactly what toy my boys had had all those years ago, I finally told this little boy, "I don't remember."  That's when he turned to me and said, "That's ok, sometimes old people forget things."

Out of the mouth of babes.  Since I believe 60 is the new 30, I laughed when he had drawn such a conclusion, and yet the more I laughed the more I realized that, yes, I am old in the eyes of this little boy.

And yet in the eyes of my Heavenly Father, I am still a child, and still useful to Him.

"They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;" Psalm 92:14

I remember my mom telling me, "You are only as old as you feel."  And coming from my mom, I knew that to be true.  She was always going about doing things for her family, friends and neighbors.  I believe the older she grew in age, the younger in heart she became.

There is a grace required for growing old...

    It's maintained by our continued Service for others, and...

        For the honor and glory of our Lord...

            But that's just me!

"And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you."  Isaiah 46:4

"I have the problems of, I must confess, old age."  Billy Graham

Godly Counsel

"Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:16

Have you ever had a problem constantly plague your thoughts to the point where it repeatedly plays over and over in your mind; A conversation you had with another person that didn't turn out the way you expected it to? You tried to rectify, resolve and restore a relationship only to walk away more perplexed?

I have; and after two weeks of not redeeming my time wisely in my thoughts, I decided it was time to seek godly counsel.

"Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in the latter end.  There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand." Proverbs 19:20-21

Once the decision was made to seek godly counsel, I made an appointment to speak with my Pastor.  After talking things through and voicing my concerns, he pointed me to Philippians 4:8.  A very familiar verse to me. A verse I often sing.  As my Pastor put this verse back into perspective for me, I realized that I had become so familiar with the 'tune' of this verse, I had missed the 'truth' of this verse.

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

We are told in God's Word to think on things that are true, so what are true things to think on?

We are told to think on things that are honest, so what are honest things to think on?

What just things can we meditate on? How about things that are pure, lovely and of good report?  Then we are told to think on things of virtue and praise! 

The more my Pastor expounded on this verse the Better Thoughts I had to think on!  I began to realize that the more thought I put on things that are true, honorable, righteous, clean, friendly, acceptable, well-spoken of, excellent and commendable, there would no longer be room to think on my problem.

I was reminded to take inventory of my thoughts; to esteem, reason and suppose everything I meditate on.

I also realized that each thought listed in this verse...

    Is a description of the character of my Lord...

        And He is worthy to meditate on and Praise...

            But that's just me!

*Sometimes we can turn to the wrong person for godly counsel, and the guidance we seek can turn into gossip spoken.  Friend, make sure you seek a person who can help you with your problem and not hurt you; a person who is sound in God's Word and will speak the Truth in Love.

I'm thankful for my Pastor and Praise God for the wisdom he has to discern God's Word.

Un-Forgiveness

"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:31-32

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Words of Jesus. Matthew 6:14-15. 

I thought things were OK.  I thought the issue had been resolved and the relationship restored.

I was wrong.

Over time, the schism had grown into a chasm.  After months of silence, I chose to do the right thing and face my greatest fear and approach my friend.  After asking my friend if I had done something or said something to offend them, it was their turn to speak.

I was not prepared for what I heard.

My friend has chosen to hold a grudge and not forgive.

As I walked away with a broken heart, I realized I was not hurting for myself; I was hurting for my friend.

I also realized that although you may speak the truth in love, truth is the hardest to hear when you are not walking in it.

Un-forgiveness does not bind the unforgiven, it shackles the person who has chosen not to forgive.

Un-forgiveness severs friendships...

     cripples your walk with the Lord...

             and it will hinder your prayers...

                    But that's just me!

"To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you." Lewis B. Smedes

"To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you"

C.S. Lewis