Dreams Are Renewable

Several years ago, Jim Gorringe, 99, and Dinah Leach, 84, wedded at the St. James Rest Home in Christchurch, New Zealand. Both had been previously married and great, great grandchildren attended the ceremony. Just before the wedding, the groom quipped, "We won't be having children."

I wonder if this is the same older couple who stopped by a pharmacy a couple months before their wedding. They told the pharmacist they wanted to get married. "Do you sell heart medication?" they asked. He said that of course they do. "Then how about medicine for circulation?" The druggist replied, "All kinds." "Do you have drugs for rheumatism, arthritis, memory problems and scoliosis?" The pharmacist assured them that they had a wide array of medicines for all of those problems and more. "And you sell wheelchairs, walkers and canes?" "Absolutely," said the druggist. "Whatever you need." They looked at each other and smiled. "Great!" the bride-to-be said. "We'd like to register here for our wedding gifts."

You have to admire their enthusiasm. They may have old memories - that is a gift of age. But they also have young hopes.

Author and television personality Hugh Downs once reported some good news for seniors. He said that when older adults are properly motivated, their intelligence does not wane. In fact, the ability to organize thinking may actually increase as folk’s age. Many people in their 50's, 60's and even 70's can go through college with greater efficiency than at 18.

Adults over 70 years of age have contributed richly and in varied ways.
- Emmanuel Kant wrote his finest philosophical works at age 74.

 - Verdi at 80 produced "Falstaff" and at 85, "Ave Maria."

 - Goethe was 80 when he completed "Faust."

- Tennyson was 80 when he wrote "Crossing the Bar."

 - Michelangelo completed what may have been his greatest work at age 87.

- At age 90, Justice Holmes was still writing brilliant American Supreme Court opinions.

And then there's George Dawson. George learned to read at age 98. (He was forced to quit school when he was a small child in order to help support his family.) "I got tired of writing my name with an 'X,'" he said. Four years later, at age 102, he co-authored his autobiography, LIFE IS SO GOOD, published by Random House.

Dreams are renewable. They need not expire like an over-due library book. No matter our age, we can breathe new life into old dreams. In fact, we have to renew our dreams, or else they will wither away altogether. I don't want to spend my life so busy looking back that I lose interest in what lies ahead. As I age, I will have old memories. But I also want a few young hopes. After all, dreams are renewable.

Having Confidence in God

Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

1 Thessalonians 5:24 "He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it."

A person who lives without confidence will always fall short of their potential. When we do not believe that something is possible for us, we will not take the steps required to succeed. You might wish to be a great guitarist, but if you don't believe it is possible, you will never take guitar lessons or practice sufficiently to get good at guitar. A person may desire to succeed in business, but if they don't believe they can, they will never take the steps required for success. They will be half-hearted, discouraged, perhaps cynical and definitely unmotivated. This thinking will affect the way they do their work, their attitude, and will work to create the mediocrity that they are expecting. The only time we rise above our actual level of confidence is when someone else helps and encourages us, even prods and pushes us, ultimately showing us the way past our fears into success. Not everyone will get this kind of help though in the things that matter most in life. You are blessed indeed if you have a pastor who cares enough for you to take an active interest in your personal development. Most pastors cannot do this except with a small number of people, and they usually select only the ones who are already showing the greatest leadership potential. So it’s better, if you want to grow in God and be fruitful as a Christian, to learn how to draw on Christ for life and strength directly.

You may wish to live a holy life, but if you don't believe it’s possible, if you have no confidence, you won't seriously aim for the target. Your condition is limited by the belief that what God says is impossible when you think that way.

God wants us to have faith in Him and confidence is an important element of faith. When we have strong faith in God, we have a confidence to move out because we have come to know God, to know what He wants, and to know that He is with us to help us and work with us, especially when we have been obedient to His commands.

We Are Children Of God

1 John. 3:1 "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!"

We are children of God.  We are related to the creator of the World.  Wow!  If anyone ever tells you that you are not worth much, don't believe it.  Tell them that you are a child of God; you belong to a royal family.  

We have a Father who loves and cherishes us even though at times we sin against Him.  

In an old Reader's Digest, a contributor told of an Aunt Ruby and Uncle Arnie who had adopted a baby boy after five years of trying unsuccessfully to conceive.  To their surprise, a short time after the adoption, Aunt Ruby discovered she was pregnant, and she later gave birth to a boy. One day when the two boys were eight and nine years old, the teller of the story was visiting Aunt Ruby, and a woman in the neighborhood came to visit.  Observing the children at play, the woman asked, "Which boy is yours, Ruby?"  "Both of them," Aunt Ruby replied. The visitor persisted.  "But I mean, which one is adopted?"  Aunt Ruby did not hesitate.  In her finest hour, she looked straight at her guest and replied, "I've forgotten."

 When we are adopted as God's children, we quickly come to cherish our heavenly Father's love and forgetfulness.  How you may ask? Because He chooses to forget our sins, to forget our wayward past, and to give us the full rights of sons or daughters.  We have royal blood flowing through our veins.  We must always remember that we are God's children.

 

We Are Fee From Condemnation

Romans 8:1-2 "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."

 The Bible tells us that prior to becoming Christians, not only were we dead in our transgressions and sins, but we were under a curse.

Galatians 3:10 “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them."

That curse (condemnation) was removed the moment the blood of Christ cleansed us from all of our sins.  The moment we were baptized and "in Christ" was the same moment we were placed "out of condemnation."

In the frontier days, a bank robber and killer was caught, tried, and sentenced to hang.  One week before the execution was to take place, his older brother showed up at the sheriff's office with an unusual request.  Since his brother was so young, he asked if he could hang in his place. Though at first resistant, the sheriff finally granted the request.  The older brother died on the gallows in the place of his brother. That young man's condemnation was removed, and he was set free.  This is exactly what Christ did for us.  He stepped in, took our place, and died on the cross.  His death freed us from the curse and condemnation that hung over us.

Since we are free from condemnation, the guilt of our sin is gone.  God has restored us to the innocence of the Garden of Eden.  We have once again become pure in the eyes of God."

The next time you start beating yourself up with guilt because of your past mistakes; remember this: If you are a Christian and asked for forgiveness, God has forgiven you.  He has taken away your sins.  You are free from condemnation.  That means we live in daily forgiveness, as the blood of Jesus constantly cleanses us from all sin.

1 John. 1:7 “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

When Satan accuses us and reminds us that we fall short, that we've sinned, that we're not worthy, we must not buy into his lies.  Every day we must embrace the fact that we are free from condemnation.  God looks down upon us and sees no sin.  We are pure and righteous in His eyes even though sometimes we may not feel that way. His love has made us one with Him. 

 

Living the Good Life

The last few years have taken a toll on many an individual both physically and mentally. It's hard to live the good life when things seem so hard. Yet the good Lord wants you and I to do our best to try and live the good life. Not the television version with its giant mansions, fancy cars, and fat bank accounts. I mean the "good" life. The "good" life according to God's Word is remembering the blessings of the Lord and learning how to praise Him in all things.

If a kind word comes to your lips then speak it. If a kind thought comes to your mind think it. If a kind deed comes to your heart do it. Always listen to that sweet, gentle voice inside of you telling you to do something nice to help another. That is God guiding you. Listen before you speak, forgive before you hate, and help before you hurt. Give this world all of your talents, your laughter, your energy, your joy, and your light. Be an obedient child, a caring spouse, a devoted parent, a doting grandparent, a cherished friend, a giving neighbor, and a good Samaritan every chance you get.

Most of all, though, always remember that it is Love that makes a good life "good". In the book "In search of the Beyond," Carlo Correto gave us these words of wisdom. "Let us keep this truth before us. You say you have no faith? Love and faith will come. You say you are sad? Love and joy will come. You say you are alone? Love and you will break out of your solitude. You say you are in Hell? Love and you will find yourself in Heaven. Heaven is love." May you always live the "good" life full of Heavenly love and oneness with God.

I Am A Soldier

I am a soldier in the army of my God. The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer. The Holy Bible is my code of conduct. Faith, Prayer, and the Word are my weapons of Warfare. I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity, and tested by fire.

I am a volunteer in this army, and I am enlisted for eternity. I will either retire in this Army or die in this Army; But, I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed out. I am faithful, reliable, capable, and dependable. If my God needs, me, I am there.

I am a soldier. I am not a baby. I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up, pumped up, picked up, or pepped up. I am a soldier. No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me, or lure me. I am a soldier. I am not a wimp. I am in place, saluting my King,

Obeying His orders, praising His name, and building His Kingdom! No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy, or give me handouts. I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to. I am committed. I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around. I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside. I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.

When Jesus called me into this Army, I had nothing. If I end up with nothing, I will still come out even. I will win. My God will supply all my needs. I am more than a conqueror. I will always triumph. I can do all things through Christ.

Devils cannot defeat me. People cannot disillusion me. Weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot stop me. Battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me. Governments cannot silence me, and hell cannot handle me! I am a soldier. Even death cannot destroy me.

For when my Commander calls me from this battlefield, He will promote me to a captain. I am a soldier, in the Army, I'm marching, claiming victory.

I will not give up. I will not turn around. I am a soldier, marching Heaven bound. Here I stand! Will you stand with me?

Good People

 

A doctor said to his patient, "You have a slight heart condition, but I wouldn't worry about it." "Really, Doc?" the patient replied. "Well, if you had a slight heart condition, I wouldn't worry about it either."

We can sometimes get the impression that most of the world is more or less out for themselves and that people care little about the plight of others. But I choose to believe differently. I believe that a lot of people are basically concerned about others, even if they don't always know how to express it. That is perhaps why a certain story has remained one of my favorites to this day.

A trucker relates that he was traveling through rural North Carolina on I-95 when a brown sedan merged onto the highway. It weaved back and forth between lanes, causing the driver of the truck to shift into a lower gear. At first he thought the driver was drunk, but when he came closer, the trucker saw an old man shaking uncontrollably behind the wheel. He noticed a Citizen's Band aerial whipping to and fro as the car jerked between lanes, so he called on the radio: "You in the brown Chevy, if you can hear me, pull over. Pull off the road!"

Amazingly, he did! The trucker pulled up behind the car and climbed from his cab. The elderly man staggered from his auto and fell into the trucker's arms. He poured out a story of months of fear and pain that accompanied the illness of his only daughter. Now he was returning from the hospital where it was decided that she would cease any further treatment. In the hospital he remained "strong" and stoic for his daughter, but out on the road he fell apart.

The two men talked for the good part of an hour. The father eventually decided to share his pain with his daughter and said he felt good enough to drive home. The men embraced and the trucker followed him for 50 miles. As they drove along, the two talked together on the radio.

The older man finally acknowledged that his exit was ahead and thanked his new friend again for the help. The trucker asked if he could make it home all right and, suddenly, a third voice broke in on the conversation: "Breaker 19, don't worry, good buddy. Go your way. I'll see him home!" Glancing in his mirror, he saw a livestock truck move into the exit lane behind the brown sedan.

I think there are good people the world over. People who will gladly give that caring touch, a needed warm embrace or a patient and listening ear. They are like angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.

Look around. You're sure to see one. And look in the mirror. You might spot one there, too.