Reluctant Retiree

My wife and I have started to explore walking trails in our area. We’ve enjoyed the exercise but are even more attracted to the beauty we behold. Some trails go through quiet forests. Others go along streams, rivers or ponds. The quiet beauty of these trails seems to bring peace and restoration to our souls.

This is the peace and restoration that King David wrote about in Psalm 23. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for hus name’s sake.” I don’t know about you, but that sounds good to me. In the stresses of elections and a pandemic, having God lead me to still waters is a welcome and soothing tonic.

I walked along the beach today. As I walked back toward our chairs I noticed something. There were places where my footprints were deeper than other places. I weighed the same in both sets of prints and I presume that I placed the same pressure on the sand in all my steps. So what was different in the deeper prints?

Obviously, the sand was softer where my prints went deeper. Where the sand was hard, my prints were shallower.

Sometimes we can hear God speaking very clearly to us. Whether it be through His Word, our trusted friends, prayer, or His Spirit, God’s voice is definite and powerful. At other times, though, we cannot hear his voice so clearly. We pray and read His Word, but don’t hear him speaking. What’s causes this difference?

While there may be many causes for our perception that God is not speaking to us, let me suggest one. Perhaps our hearts are not softened to his voice at those times. Maybe sin is getting in the way and we have to repent in order to be ready to hear him. It could be that he has been asking us to do something and we haven’t obeyed, thereby shutting off the communication channel.

We should examine ourselves when God seems to be silent. Then we can determine if we are blocking the reception of God’s voice. By His Word He created all things, but He may be speaking to us in a still small voice. Enjoy the times when he speaks to you with a great voice, but as the book of James says, ” be quick to listen” when the voice is small. Job 37:5 says, “God thunders wonderously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend.”

Today, we make our choices for city, county, state and federal governments. I find it hard to make these choices this year, more than most. The candidates voices are loud, but are they true? Their appearances are sharp, but are they distorted?

I used to vote based upon character, rather than party or policies. I want the men and women representing me to be people of integrity. It is hard to vote that way anymore because integrity is such a rare quality.

There is one voice that we must listen to. God always speaks the truth and he can be counted on to be righteous in all his ways. So today choose to listen to God’s voice and put yourself in his righteous hands. Hebrews 4:7 says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”

The first snow of the season is falling. In addition, the temperature is steadily declining. The sky is dark and dreary.

It is definitely not a good day to be outside. Can we rejoice on a day like today? It depends on your attitude and focus. If joy depends on circumstances, you will not be able to find joy on days like this.

If, however, you find joy in your purpose and in your inward state, joy will easily rise within you, even on days like today. Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Committing your life to Jesus and staying on the path of righteousness, will bring you fullness of joy.

I am watching the currently top ranked college football team play. Their highly regarded quarterback is out due to testing positive with Covid 19. Therefore they have struggled today and were behind for three quarters.

I have noticed that I can struggle when something is missing for me. It may be that I didn’t plan sufficiently. Or it could be that I let my emotions get in the way and I lose focus. My pride can keep me from taking into account important information from others. In all these instances and more, something is missing and I am not as effective as I want to be.

How can I be sure that nothing is missing so that I can be at my best? Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” If I put God first, everything will fall into place. That doesn’t mean that it will be easy, but God will provide the way for me.

Have you ever received praise for something you didn’t do? If you are like me, I am more likely to receive unjust criticism. But there are times when I have been praised for something I didn’t do. One time I was speaking in a church and the public notice called me “the most Reverand Doctor” I can assure you that I am none of those things.

What do you do in those cases? In the case that I just mentioned, I could do nothing about it. The notice had been published and to say something would only embarrass my hosts. So sometimes it is appropriate to say and do nothing. Are there times that we should insist on a correction? Probably? Out of integrity of heart we should not continue to receive praise that is not due to us.

Grace means undeserved favor. God has heaped all sorts of undeserved favor upon those who give him their lives and call upon him as Lord and Savior. He calls us his children, his delight, his beloved, and royal priests. In addition, Psalm 8:4-5 says, “what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.” God crowning me with glory and honor is definitely praise that I do not deserve. The best that I can do is to offer my love, thanks, and life back to him.

We face many giants in our lives. They include fear, discouragement, disallusionment, anger, faded hopes, rejection, and hurt. They interrupt our lives. The interrupt our thoughts making it difficult to think about anything else. They come from inside and from outside.

King David faced a giant by the name of Goliath. David was just a young man and Goliath was an experienced and deadly warrior. David was weak and only had a few small stones at his disposal. Goliath was armed to the max. Yet David prevailed and killed the giant and the army of Israel had a great victory that day.

What made the difference for David? The same thing that gives us victory today when we face our giants. I Samuel 17:45 gives us the answer as it records David as saying, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the god of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand.” The giants that we face have all sorts of weapons. However our God will stand and fight for us, and He will prevail.” Turn your giants to the mighty hand of God.

Last night, the Dodgers won the World Series. That may not mean much to you, and that’s OK. However, I have been a Dodger fan for over 60 years and it is a big deal to me. In my lifetime I have seen them win the World Series several times but it has been 32 years since the last time they did it.

Even with the accolades of this accomplishment, the thrill doesn’t last all that long. The memories remain but the glory fades. Moses experienced glory in a different way. God appeared to him on the mountain. As a result of this encounter, Moses’ face shone. But the shine faded over time.

Anyone who has a direct encounter with the holy God is dramatically impacted. The first reaction is always to fall flat on the ground, worshipping God, but also in fear for our life due to God’s holiness and our sinfulness. However there is a way to remain in the presence of God and live for him. The apostle Paul said it like this in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Surrendering ourselves to God allows Him to not only be with us, but to live through us.

Our last move brought us 1700 miles east. We packed everything in PODs and let someone else move those things east, while we drove for three days. Oddly enough when we moved to and from Asia it took us less time and cost us less money. Anyway you look at it, moving is a long arduous process. Recent studies indicate that most people consider moving more stressful than divorce or having kids.

Stress is the result of our reactions to circumstances rather than the circumstances themselves. When we feel out of control, our stress level goes up. God offers the perfect solution to stress in all circumstances. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Give it to God. He can handle it and will take care of it.

Several years ago we returned to the US after living in Asia for four years. Shortly thereafter we went into a Walmart. After less than 10 minutes we had to leave the store. We were completely overwhelmed with the number of options available to us. For instance, we were presented with a whole row of cereal choices. We could only get one or two varieties in Asia where we lived. In four short years we had lost the ability to make choices amidst all these options. We gave up and left.

This time of year is the annual open enrollment period for Medicare plans. The options are many, but are far more complicated than cereal choices. You have to wade through complicated language, requirements, and coverage. Medicare plan options are the epitome of overwhelming.

I am so glad that God made the plan of salvation so simple. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me.” I realize that many people resent the exclusivity of this claim, saying they can find their own way to God. However, I am very happy to acknowledge the sovereignty and authority of God to decide how people come to Him.

Speaking of Jesus, Philippians 2:9-11 says, “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”