Beauty in the Aged

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Of tomatoes and candies… what an opener, but it would be so true. For that is where this article begins. Simple encounters with passing conversations that started over tomatoes and candies with women who were strangers, but sparked intergenerational wisdom and respect into my life.

My friends, there are many things people will tell you get better with age: wine (although I don’t partake), cheese (I have never tried making my own yet, but I want to), a properly seasoned piece of cast iron (I am currently working on mine to get it there), and so much more, including life skills.

It is the latter of these that I want to bring to our attention. The experiences people gain over their years of living make them somewhat of a repository of information for others to glean and learn from. Something, I believe, that should not be quickly ignored or tossed to the side. And as useful as a good seasoned cast iron pan is, I would truly have to say that one of the greatest things that gets better with age is people.

Over this past weekend, I had the pleasure of holding extended conversations in the middle of stores with women who were my seniors (and yes, these conversations started with tomatoes and candy – smile). Two different accounts, from two different women, in two different stores. And can I tell you, I am the one who walked away richer for those experiences. These women put a smile on my face, as strangers to strangers, just sharing stories, tidbits of life, family tales, and more. Little did they know, in their own little way, they inspired me. Not in one particular thing, but rather just through the experience of getting a chance to chat with them and hear their stories, share adventures, and take in that golden inspiration they offer.

These encounters stuck with me even more when I heard a message following those encounters reiterating the need to take care and listen to the wisdom of those who have tested the waters before us. Those who have had experiences, trials, and life stories to share, that if we listen to, we can learn from by being inspired to try new things, look at situations differently, or even avoid some of their mistakes.

Proverbs 20:29 says, “The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.” That “grey head” carries the marks of a life lived. In that living are tales and accounts they could tell you of ups and downs, of things we may never see or experience, of histories that have gone before, of how to deal with and get through certain aspects of life, even the unpleasant parts.

Picking up books and searching the internet for articles are great, but we have these treasures in the senior members of our communities, families, and churches who may hold a wealth of knowledge and answers for the things we are concerned about or the information we need.

Some use the expression “age before beauty,” and rightly so, but I say there is beauty in the aged. Don’t take it for granted. Dig deeper, ask questions, hold those conversations, and you may have some of that senior wisdom imparted into your own life while putting a smile on their face.

Who in your life carries stories and wisdom you can glean from?

MORE INSPIRATION:

Encouragement While Enduring

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“… when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.” Micah 7:8

Encouragement comes in many ways, although sometimes it may be harder to see than at other times. Some days it may seem you are easily floating, while others, you are barely treading, fighting to keep your head above the waters. So, what do you do when life doesn’t seem to want to play fair, when you’re having a rough go at it, gasping for breath, and the days just seem off and hard to deal with?

Unfortunately, we were never promised an easy road to victory. Oh, my friends, how I wish it were so. Instead, much of the walking we do in this life is on the pavers of difficult days and decisions.

The truth of the matter is that this life we are living can and will be rough and difficult to navigate, even dark at times, but getting through it, we must, and we will. But how we get through it (trudging grudgingly or with a joy that refuses to be extinguished) will depend on where we focus and what we choose to fill our minds and hearts with (Philippians 4:8).

And that is where we start. It’s never about where we are now. It’s never about the circumstances that surround us; it is about who or what has our attention in the middle of those circumstances, for that will help us to keep the proper focus. Micah kept his focus on God, knowing and proclaiming, “… when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.” Micah 7:8

Yes, their situation was not ideal. Yes, it was difficult, and enemies were a real thing. The thing he knew, and what we must constantly remind ourselves of, is that the God of our faith is greater than all. And no matter how dark the days may seem, He is the Light that will never stop shining: “The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1).

To help you stay encouraged in your times of enduring, I have compiled a list of several articles that will encourage your faith and prayerfully fuel you with strength as you are holding on through whatever season you may currently be in. Because, even in the face of trials and the things we just don’t understand, when God is our focus, we can always remain hopeful. He is our everlasting, sure Light.

Where do you need an extra dose of encouragement today? Spend time meditating and clinging to Micah and David’s faith-instilled truth about the Lord being our light in the dark days. May their declarations of faith help to anchor your hope and be your declaration of faith today.

Father God, we may not always understand everything we are facing. We are asking You to help us keep our walk, our faith, and our hearts steadfastly upon You and Your plan for our lives, no matter what our days are like. Thank You for so lovingly being our Light. Amen.

Encouragement While Enduring Articles:

“Before there was Egypt, there was a promise!”

While troubling times can be discouraging, don’t give up. Before there were ever hard times to deal with, God already had a plan of blessing in place. Before there was even an Egypt experience, God had a promise in the works.

“Focus Shift!”

Perspective changes one’s outlook on a lot of things in life. It’s all in how you look at it.

“Hold on to your hope…”

Believe that God loves you more than you could ever know and what He has in store for you . . . one can only imagine. Don’t focus on what you see today because it is only temporary but there is a glorious, eternal future as we move onward and upward toward our heavenly home (2 Corinthians 4:18).

“God is Forever Faithful!”

Don’t measure God’s faithfulness by your present circumstances. God never promised the absence of hardship or adversity in our Christian walk. But what He did promise, in His faithfulness, to be in it all the way with you (Matthew 28:20). Therefore, “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised),” Hebrews 10:23.

“Never Too Strong for God!”

There is no weight too heavy that God can’t lift it! There is no enemy too strong that God can’t overcome them! There is no miracle too miraculous that God can’t cause it to come to pass! There is nothing too hard for God in any situation, problem, or adversity we may face!

“Navigating Thorny Places”

We all deal with thorny or hurtful places in our lives. Learn how Paul and Jesus dealt with their thorny places so that God can continue to work His strength through you.

“Only One Option”

Life gives us two options: stop where we are now and walk away, or keep moving forward until our destination is reached. Giving up is not an option. The steadfastness and commitment of our Christian journey are more than obtaining worldly goals. It is a continual pressing onward and upward toward the kingdom of God, and in that, we want to take others along for this wonderful spiritual pilgrimage.

“Take it to the Cross”

Every worry and every fear, take it and leave it at the foot of that blood-stained banner that was raised for our freedom, and find all that you need at the cross.

What the Enemy Meant for Evil…

The disciples of Jesus were to know the tragedies of tragedies soon, for it is taught that it was on the Wednesday of Holy Week when our Lord was officially betrayed by one of His own. A disciple, Judas Iscariot, called to walk alongside Him for the past three years, turned on Jesus and sold Him for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16).

What the enemy meant for evil, God will turn it for good. We’ve all heard it quoted before, and may have even made it our declaration at times.  It comes from the book of Genesis, where Joseph declares the same thing due to the previous actions of his brothers after they feared retaliation for selling him into slavery for twenty pieces of silver (Genesis 37:28; 50:20).

Little did Joseph’s brothers or Judas know that the pain they would cause would eventually lead to a glorious future. While silver was exchanged from hand to hand, the setup to have a life exchanged for life was underway (compare John 11:50). Joseph was set up to save a people from famine and preserve a posterity for God’s people in this world. Jesus was set up for the saving of souls for all eternity, preserving a people for God’s Kingdom to come.

Rest assured, no matter what the tragedy may be, God always has the final say. In that, it is His plan that will prosper and win. The enemy may come at people in a myriad of ways, but everything must be filtered through the hands and plan of God. Just ask Job (see Job 1-2). In the end, we see God always has the last word in the matter (see Job 42:1-10).

Friend, not many of us are called to carry the burden of Joseph or Job. And none of us will ever know what it is to bear the burden of Jesus. But one thing we can be assured of is that if God had a plan for the pain they experienced, whatever tragedy one may face, God can make the painful produce something advantageous for us as well.

Take time through this Easter Week to remember all the Lord has done to secure your salvation. We are blessed because He was betrayed. We receive new life because His was taken away. And one day, we will rise because HE IS RISEN.

Nobody can flip the script like God can! What the enemy meant for evil, God can work it for our good. Because of what Christ has done for us, our hope for a better future will never be lost.

“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” Genesis 50:20

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

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Temples Won: Flipping Tables for Hearts

Victories look different depending on the battles or contentions fought and won. The victory our Lord Jesus Christ gained on Calvary was nothing short of a miracle that could never be replicated again. But the fight to win the world, the battle to cleanse temples and hearts, didn’t start on the day the nails were driven into His hands. Holy Week is remembering the significance of each day that led to the cross and the sacrifice of our Lord.

Therefore, being Monday, we look back to the cleansing of the temple. Jesus could not bear the unholy manner in which the Father’s house was being treated. All respect, all honor for the sacredness of His place had been replaced by merchandising and swindling of those who sought to truly honor and worship before our Heavenly Father. Jesus, coming into the Temple, was appalled by what He witnessed.

In Jesus’ day, the temple of God, specifically the outer courts where the Gentiles worshiped (supposedly), was turned into a kind of marketplace. A meeting place of money and merchandise rather than humble hearts looking for a graceful God.

Can we imagine trying to worship and pray to God, sincerely lifting hearts up to Him, listening to the ding of a cash register going off and people asking for price checks while others barter over cost and quality of product? Well, there may not have been the ding of a cash register in Jesus’ day, but this disturbance in the meeting place of God was just as real. People who were seeking the Lord, in the place where they are told He may be found, were not able to connect with God as they should have been able to because of all the business going on.

Surely, this was not His first time there and witnessing the unashamed way people were being hustled, but as He was marching toward Calvary, He would make another attempt to redirect the hearts of those around. For Jesus, this event was about what was going on in the temple of people’s hearts, as well as the brick and mortar building of worship. Previously, I wrote:

“Unashamedly and without regard for roving eyes and the tsk tsk tsk of the people’s lips, He flips tables over and starts throwing people out to get His Father’s house back in order.  With holy force, He sought to reclaim what was rightfully God’s.

But can I tell you, His fight didn’t stop there.  He wanted more than a building to reclaim for God, He wanted people that rightfully belonged to Him.  He wouldn’t gain that by flipping over tables, rather He flipped over the gates of hell.  He wouldn’t get there by driving people with wrong intentions away, but with force, He drove the enemy of our soul away and crushed him under His feet. He wanted to win the temple of people’s hearts for His Father and this fight could only be won on the cross.” (©When Jesus Cleansed Our Temple/WordforLifeSays.com)

God has always intended His house to be a special, holy place where He and man can meet. And, from the time of Genesis, God has always had it in His mind that all men, from all over the globe, would be invited to come to Him and to worship: “Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people (Isaiah 56:7; emphasis added).

You and I, coming to the Father through Jesus Christ, were worth fighting for. Every leg of His battle, every scar, wound, and contention had Him focusing on a better future for us: “… who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). Friend, your heart is the temple Jesus fought most to win. “Your heart wants God.  Your heart will never be happy with anything or anyone else. You may not completely understand how it all works, what it all means, or what this is all supposed to look like, but your heart wants God.”Your Heart Wants God/WordforLifeSays.com)

With that, the beginning of this week can be the start of a brand new life or a recommittment to Jesus Christ. Today, all the noise of this world can be silenced by the call to salvation: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16, and “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6).

Many battles have been fought through the years, but the greatest battle fought and won is the battle for the hearts of people everywhere. Will you let Jesus in your heart today? Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20). 

Father God, thank You for every leg of this Christian journey Jesus fought for and accomplished in our lives. Thank You for being so mindful of us that You didn’t mind flipping over tables and hell to win our hearts. Thank You for the holy determination that drove the Savior’s love for us to do the impossible, eventually laying His holy life down on Calvary’s cross to free us from our unholy life. Today, we don’t take for granted this remarkable love shown. You have done the impossible in our lives. May our hearts ever reflect on the sacrifice and love commended toward us during this Holy Week of remembrance.

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HOSANNA! BLESSED IS HE THAT COMETH IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!

𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝟏𝟏:𝟖-𝟏𝟎 “𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲: 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐜𝐮𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝, 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝, 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚; 𝐁𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝. 𝐁𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐝, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝: 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭.”

That day, the people honored Him with their “Hosanna” shout. They rallied and proclaimed the praises of Him who would save them, for that’s the meaning behind the word “Hosanna;” to “save now.”

“Hosanna” was the shout of triumph. In Him, they saw a victorious King. In Him, they had an expectancy of deliverance. In Him they rejoiced, proclaiming that He is the one who would fulfill the promise of “the kingdom of our father David,” (see 2 Samuel 7:12-14).

So, they rejoiced and shouted that He was, “Blessed.” His “kingdom” is “blessed.” He is the one that “cometh in the name of the Lord!” They were getting their praise on as we say it today! The King has arrived! The King has come! “Blessed is he!”

Jesus is He that was to come; the King to reign for all eternity. Let us shout his praises: “Hosanna in the highest!” There’s no need to look for another. He’s the One!

Friend, because of His triumph, we are no longer defined by the past; rather, we are now defined by what Christ has already done for us. New life awaits those who trust in Him. Today, you can rest in the finished work of Christ on the cross for yourself! That’s what Passion Week is all about. It’s about remembering and celebrating what He already accomplished for us on that sacred tree! In that, we honor our Lord Jesus Christ! “𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚! 𝐁𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝.”

~Word for Life Says

“You Are Golden!”

I want you to inhale these words into your being today: You Are Golden. You are good. And, you are going to be alright. You are up. You are alive. And you have been blessed with a new day!

Even if everything is not lined up according to your desires, you can still say that the Christ who dwells in me lets me know that I am going to be okay because, “Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

Without God on our side, we may have somethinng to worry about. But since He is for us (Romans 8:31; Psalm 56:9), we have nothing to fear. “Let not your heart be troubled,” Jesus said. “Ye believe in God, believe also in me” (John 14:1).

Troubles may upset the worlds of those who are not securely enclosed in that Rock of righteousness. But the Bible says, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord” (Isaiah 54:17).

You are golden. Regardless of what has happened or what will happen, you are blessed and a highly favored one: “For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).

You are golden because your trust in not in yourself today. Rather, you stand and say with the saints of old, “O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee” (Psalm 84:12), and that’s where you have anchored your hope.

You know who goes before into this day. You know God has extraordinary plans for your life (Jeremiah 29:11). So, don’t hold back and don’t give in. You are golden. Remain unbothered by what you may see and remain faithful in the things that God has for you, even when you don’t understand and can’t see it, because, “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28) because you are golden.

The Love of a Father

Friend, there is nothing like the insulating protectiveness and love of a true father. These men have a just cause to be on guard and protect those in their home. They are his. They belong to him; he will let no foul beast or person come against them unchallenged. He will provide for their care and run to the aid of the little one that cries out to him. Our Heavenly Father is no different. He set the course for all other fathers to follow, and His love for us is true, right, undying, pure, and protective. When the battles of life rage against us, God’s got you covered. There may be times when we may feel the enemy’s strike against us but the final victory will always belong to our Heavenly Father who surrounds and defends His people: “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore” (Psalm 125:2, ESV).

~ Word for Life Says

The Promise of New

Friend, is your heart leaping in anticipation? Do you get butterflies tingling in your tummy with the heartbeat racing at the idea of something new? New is exciting. New comes with expectation. Some days, when our eyes open in the morning, it is easy to see the freshness and beauty. But other days may not seem so glorious as bad news spreads, world upsets are made prominent, and the disease of sin runs rampant. On days like this, one can almost hear the unpleasant groaning of creation (Rom. 8:22), and you can almost hear the cry for restored order and healing. And it will come. Any ugliness and dreariness of sin and decay today will all give way to the promise of the new that is to come. We are encouraged that things will not remain as they are now, with the Word encouraging us, saying, “And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'” (Revelation 21:5, ESV). We will, without a doubt, see the promise of the new.

~ Word for Life Says

Living Beautifully

“He hath made every thing beautiful in his time…” Ecclesiastes 3:11

There is a time, a place, and a season for all things, Ecclesiastes 3 tells us. The scope of one’s life and days travels down many pathways. Although some paths may be littered with the less-than-beautiful side of life, it is on this walk where our living is carried out.

How appropriate in times of loss to find tears? And for times of gladness are we met with rejoicing? It is all a part of this wonderful life we live.

Every part may not bring fond memories or the fulfillment of future dreams, but living life beautifully says I trust God even when I do not understand all the paths upon which my feet stand. Whether the heart is in sadness and sorrow, or lifted in jubilation and joy – wherever and whatever part of life I am living, Lord, help me to know that this is just a little piece of the bigger picture You have in store for me and it is all beautiful in its time.

The varied seasons of life will come and go, but God’s sovereign plan and hand are steady and faithful through them all. He is the one who takes the not-so-beautiful and the beautiful and makes all of them work together for good (Romans 8:28).

Blessings~

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