Reluctant Retiree

In these times many voices are speaking to us. Crowds jam the streets and marketplaces and with loud voices make demands. News coverage publish their demands and promote their agendas. Because of their loud voices and frequent demands we can fall prey to their thinking and follow the crowds.

The Roman governor, Pilate, did just that. He found no guilt in Jesus and wanted to free Him, but He listened to the crowds. Luke 23:23-24 says, “But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted.” Don’t listen to the voice of the crowds that will make you do what you don’t want to do. Instead, And Joshua said to the people of Israel, “Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God.” Joshua 3:9 We must search out the voice of God and follow His voice. Then we will walk in righteousness and glorify God. Then we will find joy and peace.

I hike most every morning and often get to see the sunrise as I am walking. I find sunrises to be outstanding flashes of God’s glory. In my mind, I can see God painting each sunrise. Each one is different and spectacular. They even vary from place to place and from time to time. God’s imagination is endless and unstoppable. His hand paints with majestic strokes on the canvas of the heavens.

Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” Open your eyes and take time to observe how God is working around you and in your life every day. Simple things like the beauty of a sunrise or the soft mist of an autumn rain declare His glory.

When our children were young we would have several days of Christmas every year. First came Christmas with my family in the weeks leading up to Christmas, as my family never seemed to celebrate special days on the actual day of the event. Then, on Christmas Eve we celebrated Christmas with my wife’s family. And finally, on Christmas morning we celebrated a traditional Christmas with just our little family. At each celebration the kids were lavished with gifts from grandparents and parents. For them it was gifts upon gifts, seemingly without end.

John 1:16 says, “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” Grace is undeserved favor.  God loves you so much that He is constantly drawing from His vast treasure of grace to give you undeserved favor. His gifts of grace are truly never-ending.

Sometimes we go to an event or do a project that turns out to be good for us and for others. Then we expect the same good results the next time we try it. Unfortunately, the second or third time we try to do something that was good doesn’t necessarily have the same good results. Just because it was good once doesn’t mean it will always be good.

Zechariah 9:17 says, “For how great is his goodness, and how great his beauty!” The Lord will always be good to you. Trust in His goodness as it will follow you everywhere. God is always good and He is good to everyone.

Psalm 121:5 says, “The Lord is your keeper.” We don’t often think of using the word “keeper” in relation to people rather than animals. Google defines “keeper” as a person who manages or looks after something or someone. So a bookkeeper looks after the accounting records of a company. A shepherd looks after the sheep, making sure they are safe and fed. So how is God the “keeper” of His children?

The Bible says that He holds us in His hands and no one or nothing can remove us from His hands.

So He keeps on protecting us.

He keeps on loving us.He keeps on providing for us.

He keeps on caring for all our needs.

He keeps on guiding us into truth and in life.

He keeps on showing us mercy.

He keeps on giving us gifts of grace.

And He stays with us always.

There are many other ways that God is our keeper, beyond our imagination.