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No matter how old we may sometimes feel the Lord has us alive in this day
for a reason and a purpose. Never believe the lie that your best days are
behind you because you have this day and the days ahead to impact your
family, neighborhood, state and world for the better. The Bible says that
we are more than conquerors through Christ and no weapon formed against us
will prosper. We have the ability within us to go out and make great
changes where both our life and the lives of those around us will be made
better because of our choice to move forward and live as God has intended.
Be encouraged to renew your mind and allow your spirit to be revitalized
and see yourself enjoying life, helping others, creating beautiful memories
and simply making God proud by opening yourself to be used of Him. The
Lord is searching for vessels. Make yourself available to Him today.
(Acts 26:16) (Psalm 37:23-27) (Romans 8:37) (Isaiah 54:17) (Isaiah 6:8)
I hope this message both inspires and challenges your heart to continue
living your life no matter how young or old you may be. The Lord has you
on this earth for a purpose and it is your duty to seek Him and search Him
for that purpose to be made clear. (Jeremiah 29:12-13)
MIDLIFE CRISIS
A glance in the mirror. Simple. Yet altering somehow.
I am not the child I once was - yet I can still see him there - bright -
happy - outgoing.
But wait, I pause to truly see the me I am today - lines and crevices mar
the unspoiled face of childhood mirroring the many paths I could have chosen.
I am not sixteen, I am not twenty, and I am no longer thirty-five. Time has
marched across my features and I can scarcely remember the Never Neverland
of childish imaginings.
Yet as I continue to gaze in the reflection I see the features of family
older and wiser in the shape and contour of my face. These family members
gaze at me knowingly and understand the path I tread. A few of these family
members remain while others reside in my memory only.
One day these gathered in my mind will be the stuff of legend with a bit
of fable thrown in. Family stories will be passed along to those who never
knew the flesh and blood reality. Given enough time most will be forgotten.
This chance encounter with the me in the mirror brings about a mid-life
crisis of sorts. And I find myself needing to make a choice.
I can attempt to mimic the me I recall in faulty memory or I can attempt
to honor the memory of those I have known by being more like them. Yet
neither choice seems entirely agreeable.
Perhaps there is another choice.
The good old days are often the best of memories sifted often and
embellished with time. The future holds much - promise, dreams, adventure,
danger, new generations who do not see eye to eye with the past, declining
health, perhaps loss of job, loss of memory and loss of my spouse.
My life is neither at the beginning and it may not be at the end. God
delights in the heart of a child, so I choose that heart - God delights in
maturity, so I chose this path.
God gave Moses his greatest assignment at the age of 80, Abraham became a
parent at 100, Paul and John wrote significant words later in life.
Through aches and pains - flesh thorns and heartache God used these men.
I will not cower at the thought of the coming years. I want to run eagerly
to my Savior's side and take His assignments gladly. I want to do so willingly.
Rather than looking back at the way things were, I want to look ahead to
the way things could be. I want the heart of a child and the maturity of a
wise man. I want to greet each day with a willingness to pursue the
adventure called life. I won't do it by acting like someone half my age -
I will do it with the help of an ageless God who loves me and understands
that I am created from dust.
I will associate with younger people - I will need to know what they think
and how they see their world. I will surround myself with older people - I
will need the wisdom they can offer. And I will not contribute one dime to
the widening of the generation gap.
The me in the mirror is not what I once was. The me in the mirror is not
the final word on who I will become. The me in the mirror is simply a
reflection of today - a day that the Lord has made for my enjoyment and,
more importantly, His purpose.
I walk away from the mirror with a smile on my face. I have things to do -
crisis averted!
By Glenn A. Hascall
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Psalm 103:1-5 “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless
His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who
redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness
and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy
youth is renewed like the eagle's.”
Psalm 37:4-7 “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and He shall give thee the
desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him;
and He shall bring it to pass. And He shall bring forth thy righteousness
as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait
patiently for Him...”
Psalm 28:6-8 “Blessed be the LORD, because He hath heard the voice of my
supplications. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in
Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my
song will I praise Him. The LORD is their strength, and He is the saving
strength of His anointed.”
Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath
begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: MY DECISION
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem12.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: AN ANGEL BY MY SIDE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony194.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
