Reluctant Retiree

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!”

I am a person who tries to avoid conflict whenever possible. I am constantly thinking about whether my actions will be positively or negatively received by others. Frankly, this is not a good way to live. Of course, it is always a good idea to try to do good for others. But I will never be able to avoid all conflict. Sometimes I will do something that offends someone. If I am in the wrong, I should seek their forgiveness. But other times the offense comes because we simply disagree. I cannot avoid those times, so I just need to make sure that I am acting with righteous motives.

Joshua 10:8 says, “And the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.” Sometimes the conflicts we face are a struggle between good and evil. Evil forces will mock, heckle, scold, threaten, and argue. But, armed with the promises of God and the power of His Spirit, the believer can rest assured that God will give us the victory and our opponents will not be standing before us. God fights for those who trust in Him. He is opposed to those who proudly rebel against Him.

In Revelation 15:3-4 all of heaven sings, and we will all sing one day: “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

At the end of time, we will all bow down and worship God. Some will do it out of thanksgiving and praise for who He is and what He has done. Others will be forced to do it finally after rejecting Him during their lives, because they will see God as He really is. Make it your number one priority to get to know this God more each day. You will find that His love, grace and mercy are worthy of your praise.