Reluctant Retiree

Recently, we were in Erie, Pennsylvania, and went to the Presque Isle State Park. From the point on this peninsula, we could see far and wide over Lake Erie. It was a beautiful day and a wonderful view. We basked in the sunlight and enjoyed the peaceful lure of gentle sea waves. We could only imagine what was on the other side of the lake, as the horizon captured our attention.

I Corinthians 2:9 says, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.” God’s ways are far beyond our own and His thoughts are far above ours. So what He has planned for our futures and for eternity, we can only receive small glimpses of His plan.

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, we can know that in your future on earth and in heaven, God has prepared the best for you. Trust Him as your Heavenly Father to provide good things for you. In Jeremiah 29:11 God speaks and says, “For I k now the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

What is the most glorious place that you have ever visited? Name a location that has inspired you and brought you overwhelming peace and joy. For me, it is the ocean. As a kid in Southern California, I often went to the beach to relax, enjoy the waves, and find peace in the ocean views.

Revelation 22:1-2 says, “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city, also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”

As those who trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, this is the scene that awaits us in heaven. The Lord has filled the earth with His glory, but what awaits the true believer, in heaven glory even surpasses what we find on earth. That is because we will dwell in the presence of God Almighty. All pain and suffering will be gone and He will heal us completely. Use the anticipation of this glory to motivate you to follow Jesus closely and to serve others.

In our disaster relief adventures we have seen how water permeates nearly everything. Walls do not stop storm surge water from seeping through them. Many barriers are ineffective from stopping the flow of water from hurricanes and floods. While the water eventually dissipates, the evidence of its past intrusive action is everywhere.

John 4:13-14 says, “Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'” Water soaks in and through everything. Let the living water of Jesus permeate you completely, so that you become just like Him. Let His living water give you eternal life and let it nourish you. May you become an true representation of His image and may your life bring Him glory as this water flows in you and through you onto others.

Matthew 6:8 says, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”

Our God is also our Heavenly Father who perfectly and completely provides for our needs, protects us, loves us, cares for us, draws us close to Himself, helps us, and enjoys our presence. As his children we should follow Him, listen to Him, honor Him, seek HIs presence, and love Him with our whole hearts.

Lately, I have experienced what I would call dead legs while going on my daily hikes. The legs look normal and can do the normal activity, but they feel heavy and tired. I am able to carry out my normal hikes but don’t feel as alive as normal.

Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ, by grace you have been saved.”

The Bible tells us that, though we appear to be alive, before accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we are dead in our sins. In other words, we are not connected to the true life source. Oh we can do the normal life related tasks, but we are not bearing the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, and goodness. In this state, God’s wisdom and righteousness are beyond our reach. But once we place our trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, God gives us real and abundant life. Suddenly we are changed and can experience the love, grace, and mercy of God. He has put eternal life within us by giving us His Holy Spirit. Everything becomes brand new and we want to shout, “I’m alive, I’m alive! Thank God, Almighty! I’m alive!”