Do Not Disturb

Proverbs 16:25a 

 

I guess as much as you think your heart is open to the call of God in your life, sometimes when you hear Him calling, you want to snuggle into a secure corner and resist change.  

It seems right that at my age, a person should be able to settle in, put up a "Do Not Disturb"  sign and not be required to change......just slow down....do what feels good and "chill" as the youngsters say.

 

I haven't done that yet, but there are times I'd really like to. Or I think I would.  But I am an industrious person.  Sitting still and taking long naps is something I don't do much of. I get up expectant to work at living. I enjoy it.  The "older" people I admire are those who keep finding purpose to sow seed. 

Feeling some winds of change in our life, my husband and I have been in much prayer recently.  A witness came to us in the form of the scripture in Ecclesiastes 11:6.  " Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening, let not your hands be idle."  

So I am resisting saying, "I want to be left alone.....I've paid my dues. I've given my time. "  It seems like something I could do and God would let me.... But, I've lived long enough to know I can't hide out. God will be forever calling me, waiting for me to help Him help others. 

And I am grateful. I detest laziness and the feeling of entitlement....I'm not ready to hang out the offensive "Do Not Disturb" sign on a closed door.

I love to walk through Open Doors. He points me to open doors but doesn't push me through them.  My earnestly seeking heart will walk me through to the opportunities on the other side. I'm walking through with my eyes open.....

 
 

 

The Treasures of Darkness

 

 Proverbs 3:5" Trust in the Lord with all thine heart."

Isaiah 45:3 "And I will give thee the treasures of darkness....that thou mayest  know that I, the Lord, ..... am the God of Israel." 

In the Fall, our family has always loved to  build fires, roast hot dogs, and sing around the fire.  We did this just a few days ago. Our daughter called and told us she had the fire going...to come over. We grabbed a couple of camp chairs and the guitar and headed over to let the smoke saturate us, probably get indigestion and make some memories!

It was so refreshing and nostalgic, I was texting videos of our enchanted evening to our children and grandchildren who live away....wanting them to feel it with us. I got a lot of texts back; wishing they could be there!

The night was beautiful, the darkness dispelled by our singing and laughing and talking. A couple of the girls pulled out the telescope and set it up to watch the stars. Only in the dark, can you see the night lights.

I had read a commentary not too many days before this about the Isaiah scripture saying God will give us treasures in darkness.

I was reminded that dark clouds bring the replenishing of rain.  Precious jewels are mined out of dark mines. This awesome universe was created from darkness.  Total darkness encompassed the earth when Jesus died on Golgotha, thus allowing His Resurrection, the most important day of all time!!

Looking back on my life, from my darkest hours, when I thought I was going under, eventually came my biggest blessings.

Through the literal dark nights of inner turmoil or sleepless nights, the daybreak is so much more appreciated.  

Observing the glow of the fire the other evening, my eyes were drawn to it because there was darkness around me. We gravitate to light when we are surrounded by the dark. God knows that. That is why He lets us experience dark times. We will find Him because He is the Source of Light. 

I have found many treasures in darkness.  I value these jewels and wouldn't trade them for anything. 

 

 

Putting on my Crown Again

Proverbs 17:6, "Children's children are the crown of the aged..."

Until you've been a grandparent, you can't understand the feeling that having grandchildren invokes in you.

The word "crown" in noun form means a a mark of honor, outstanding part, the highest point."  The verb meaning is "the most important stage in a process."

My husband and I put our crowns on and headed for Louisiana this past weekend to spend time with some of our jewels.  We feel honored to be a part of the life of these two youngest grandchildren. The older you get, the more you absorb childish innocence and enjoy it.  I think it's because you can let your worries go and just act like and be childlike again.

The innocence of childhood through the eyes of a 2 and 3 year old is exhilarating!! When our daughter started telling us all the expectations and excitement that our Louisuana two were planning, we got excited! 

Life gets so busy and so heavy sometimes, a vacation with children really sounded wonderful!! And it was. Two days of frolicking and following their whims wore us to a frazzle, but we were "happy" tired!! We were constantly readjusting our crowns or picking them back up, but we felt like we were at the height of our glory and travelled home feeling so fulfilled!! 

No value can be placed on childish hugs and kisses or sharing "Icees" from the local grocery while red and orange stains spread across our shirts!! The surprise and glee of bursting water balloons over their little heads will follow us back to the humdrum of daily routine! Tea parties, Lincoln logs,  Fire trucks and dolls are always a part of getting into their world!!  Even their mommy and I had some bonding time while sewing curtains and pillows with themes of "John Deere" and Strawberry Shortcake".  We rode in the back of their daddy's pickup with their little hands clinging to the sides and the wonderment of it reflected in their eyes!  Papa played the guitar in accompaniment to The ABC song. We filled the dining table with color and number games so they could show me how smart they were!!!

One of the highlights of our time with them was the evening devotions. They love to sing and do their memory verses!! Those sweet, tiny voices lifted for Jesus blessed me more than anything else! I thank their parents for making it such an exciting climax to their days.

I feel honored to be a grandparent. I love to wear my crown and thank God that He planned this cycle of life for me. I wear my crown with pleasure and love to glory in all my precious jewels of grandchildren that adorn it!! I'm still breathing in the deep fulfillment of being with just a couple of them for a few days!!! I can't express it.... I only know it is one of the highest forms of joy that can be felt!!!

On our way home, we recollected the weekend with a little meloncholy, but mostly just felt blessed to be grandparents!! 

 

 
 
 

The Legacy of Wisdom

 Proverbs 2:6 "For the Lord giveth wisdom..."

I have lived a few years and experienced a lot of life. I hope I've learned and gained some knowledge from living.

There is so much truth in Socrates' words: "The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." With all my knowledge and experience, I can still lack wisdom. To me, an experienced person who thinks they know it all is someone you avoid conversing with.

Wisdom does not come automatically in the aging process. There is nothing learned or experienced that can insure it makes you wise except if funneled through God's gifting to you. 

We err to think we can be wise within ourselves.  Wisdom is a gift from God. I know and have known many uneducated

people who mirror wisdom. It comes from living life in God's shadow.

Wisdom isn't spouting intellect and advice. It is more the knowing what really matters and what doesn't. It is sensing when to speak and when to listen. It is realizing that you should listen more than talk. It is understanding your limitations when involved with conflict and problems of life.  It is living so much in God that His voice speaks through you. Wisdom is His anointing on your output whenever and whatever.

I have mentors that I love to be with. Just their presence soothes me and I soak up their giving. I often seek them out and bask in their presence. It is like I am sitting in the  presence of the closest 

thing to God that I can experience. I value any words they speak.

I am benefiting from their Legacy of Wisdom.  And I hope I am learning and investing from the profit I have gained. But in reality, as much as I have gained from their input into my life, one fact is plain to  see. If I want to have wisdom, I have to go to the Source. Another scripture in James 1:5 says, "If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God..."

It's my job to ask for this gift in able to give it out.