The best thing about getting old...

Age. It can be a beautiful thing cant it? The acquired knowledge, both from learned lessons and watching others make mistakes, is really priceless. Standing and looking back at a life full of plans and dreams. Have I accomplished them? Have I fallen short? Does it matter as long as I've fulfilled Gods will? Are my children and grandchildren carrying on in a positive way and have I had an impact on them?
Theres also the advantage of seeing fashion trends come and go and then come again. Seeing things in your closet that were out of style for the last 30 years come back so you never have to shop for clothes. With age you realize that so many of the things that were once important to you really arent that important anymore. The car that you have is fine and with age you've realized that the best part about your car is that its paid for. You have become content with a lot less and the contentment you feel is waaaaay better than anything you felt when you were chasing your tail trying to keep up with everyone else.
Age has its detractions too, dont get me wrong. Having to wake up out of a dead sleep to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night is no fun. At 4 o'clock in the afternoon you start thinking about how nice bedtime will feel. When sleep is the highlight of everyday, thats not good. You still have a land line because you think, "what if theres an emergency? My cell phone wont do me any good." Not realizing that every emergency you will have will likely happen away from home. If you do have an emergency at home, it will probably be a power outage in which case your land line wont work anyway. You form a secret love affair with the local news people and would be ashamed for anyone to know that you think the anchorman (woman) is pretty hot. The news that you watched this morning is the same that you see at noon and again at 6, but you dont care because you honestly think something is new. Why else would they call it news? Your pants are pulled up to your chest and you have to unzip to scratch your belly button. You dont care. People laughing at you only makes you more crabby and it gives you a great excuse to say, "back in my day!" Everything costs too much and if it doesnt cost too much its probably because its made cheaply and wont last till you get it home. Computers are our enemy and a tool of the devil but you sure get a kick out of seeing loved ones on that little camera even though they're hundreds of miles away. You just want to be left alone. Quit bugging me. I wanna rest! Why doesnt anyone come over and see me? I sure am lonely.
Age is a grand thing and part of Gods wonderful design for humanity. Its just sad that it has to happen to us. Technology is fine but you just long for the days when life was simpler. People used to have respect for themselves, each other, and for God. If we could just go back in time to the way it used to be. I hate when kids play their music so loud that your windows shake when they drive by but my father-in-law turns the t.v. up so loud that the neighbors down the street know what we're watching. Isnt it funny. Age drives us crazy but we wouldnt know what to do without the elders among us who help us out in so many ways. Spiritually, financially, and any other "lly" you can think of. Kiss an elderly grandmother or give a great big hug to an elderly grandfather today. It wont be long and you'll be there too. How do you want to be looked at and treated when you get there? Until next time...live the life.
LW

I'm testing this to see if I can blog from my phone. Waiting for the snow to start. 8 to 12 inches expected. This has been a really nice year weatherwise.
LW

Getting back in the swing.

Hey everyone,

I forgot how much is involved with keeping this blog up and going. I'm not complaining, I love it, it just takes a lot of time. I forgot how much there is to all of this blogging. My old "subscribe for e-mail updates" widget pooped out on me. Its taken me a while to get a new one. For those of you who subscribed before, you will have to subscribe again. I'm sorry. For those who havent subscribed for e-mail updates, now is a great time to do so. Its fast and easy and you wont have to take the time to look at my blog to see if I've updated it or not. If you're subscribed you'll get an e-mail telling you that I have updated the blog. Please do so if you already havent. I would love for you to sign up as a follower too. Thanks to all of you and now that I have this running again, I should be able to focus on writing. Until then..
LW

Its me again!!

When I last left you it was July and I was 7 months unemployed. Things didn't look good and I talked about how I just didn't know how to pray anymore. The heavens were like brass and I didn't feel like the Lord was hearing my cry at all. I was treading water. I was living the best I could for the Lord but everyday was a new struggle just to get out of bed. I had not felt like that in a long time. I just didn't have the desire to blog anymore, nor did I have any inspiration. I felt like it was time for me to be quiet and listen to God for a while. Little did I know that my unemployment would last into November. Almost 11 months after being laid off, I found employment. My 31st day had finally arrived. It was the first real job offer that I had and it was the first interview I had that I felt was a realistic opportunity. After the third interview (I was about to stab myself in the eye with a dull knife), I was offered the job. I had prayed long and hard for this job and now the Lord was giving me and my family what we so desperately needed. It was just in time too. My unemployment was going to run out in 4 weeks. God is wonderful. He is so faithful. He was there the whole time making preparation for me to find this job. All I had to do was rest in Him and wait. We are all so thankful to you for your support and prayers. Gods people are one of a kind. I do not discount the encouragement and strength garnered from all of you who supported me, whether in this blog, or in person. I love all of you. My family loves all of you. God loves all of you. Its good to be back. I cant wait to share all that I have learned and I will try to help someone in need. Maybe I'll have the words you need to hear. Until then, God bless and keep you. Keep living the life.

LW

I dont know how to pray anymore.

Friedrich Nietzsche wrote, "That which does not kill us makes us stronger". Now, while I don't agree with much of what Nietzsche said, I will agree with this statement. I've always used this statement when counseling with someone who is going through a rough time, "You'll never be the same by going through this. You'll either be worse or better but you will not be the same." There are more quotes that basically mean the same. Another good one is, "Adversity builds character". I think you get the point. Whenever faced with great adversity and the odds seem stacked against you, its very hard to stay positive or, "keep a stiff upper lip", as it were. While it does seem hard, that's exactly what we need to do when walking with the Lord. When you asked Jesus into your heart you did not sign up for easy times did you? I sure hope not. That's not what Christianity is. The Bible is full of scripture that gives us insight into a walk with Christ. They all say about the same thing: "get ready for the ride of your life. It wont be any easier than before but now you will have Me (Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit) to walk with you." We will all go through hard times in our life. The only difference between a Christian and non-Christian is that we have the Lord to lean on and the Holy Spirit to guide us into the way of truth. It is this fact that gives us our resolve to "run the race with patience" (Hebrews 12:1). Albeit daunting sometimes, we must continue with steadfastness because we are running for a prize far greater than anything we can imagine. If you've ever gone through a long and tiring battle, like the one I'm in, you know exactly what I'm talking about. There are times when I have prayed a million times and it seems like God is not listening. If He is listening, He isn't answering me. Listen, I know that sometimes the Heavens can seem like brass and the prayers you offer up seem to go no higher than the ceiling, but it is then that we must remember that Christ is offering intercessory prayer for us all day, every day. That's what He does. Constantly putting our face and our prayer in front of the Father asking for His will to be done. This is what we must remember. We want the Fathers will to be done, not ours. In this, we will find true peace and joy in this life. Rest in the Lords will and be content to ride out the storm until He tells the wind and rain to subside.

Just in time...

As some you know, and for those of you who don't, I have listened to Christian music since 1983. I listened to secular and Christian music before that, but I decided to listen to Christian music exclusively at the tender young age of 13. I am very glad I made this decision. It has made many of my battles in this world a lot easier. Music is my life and the music of the Lord is like the Bible set in motion. One of my very first cassettes that I ever listened to was Gordon Jensen "Just In Time". There are a lot of great songs on this CD. If you get a chance to purchase it, you really should. Its a hard find since it was first published in 1983 but its well worth the search. The title track talks about how we can feel overwhelmed with the world and what we have to fight day in and day out. The chorus though says this, "Just in time, just in time, once again the water turns to wine. And just about the time I couldn't need it anymore, I get a little glimpse of Heaven just in time." We've been needing rain here. My grass crunches when I walk on it. I woke up this morning thinking, "Lord, it sure would be nice to get some rain today." No sooner did I say it but we were the beneficiaries of a refreshing rain. The Lord knows exactly what we need and when we need it. Don't give up. Don't feel forsaken. Don't think that He's not listening. The Heavens may seem like brass but I assure you, they are not. He's just waiting for the right time...His time. Fight the good fight. Until next time...

LW

Rock 'n' Roll

Where did the term "Rock 'n' Roll" come from? While many of us, if not all of us, have heard and used this phrase numerous times, do we really know what it means? I kind of doubt it. According to many sources the term was first coined by a disc jockey and concert producer named Alan Freed in 1951. He came up with the term after listening to a group called "The Dominoes" who used it in their hit song, "Sixty Minute Man". The suggestive lyrics of the song made an impression on Freed who began to refer to the music as "Rock 'n' Roll" on the air. So good to know that music that is so far from Christ has a name that gets it origins from one of the very things that the music is known for, "SEX, drugs, and Rock 'n' Roll." Now, if you didn't know this, don't beat yourself up over it. A lot of people don't know this. Its not something that is really talked about alot. Either because its just not important to people or because people don't want to know the truth. Sometimes the truth makes you aware of things that you would just as soon not know. We don't want to be convicted of anything in our lives. "What I don't know wont hurt me", we might say. The thing that really irritates me about this whole "Rock 'n' Roll" thing is that, not only is the music filled with lyrics and suggestions and undertones of evil, but now Christians have gotten into the mix. Instead of running in the opposite direction of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22 "Abstain from all appearance of evil), the Christian community has embraced it. We now have "Christian Rock 'n' Roll". I know, this is where I alienate some of you and you stop reading. I'm sorry, but this needs to be said. Why in the world would we want to call ourselves, or take up the name of something so diametrically opposed to Christ? If the very term itself originated from sexual lyrics in a secular song, why would we take up the same mantra and use it in our songs? When Christ was on earth, can you in your wildest imagination think of Himself referring to His ministry as "Christian Witchcraft"? Do you think He would have attached something ungodly or unholy to that which was Holy? Would He have tried to win the masses by snuggling up to what had the people so bound in the first place? I think you know the answer to that. I wont even continue with that thought. Its too obvious. If in fact we believe that Christ would not do that, why then are we so quick to do it ourselves? Hey, I'm not going to tell you what you can and cannot listen to. The Holy Spirit and Christ has done, and continues to do, that work in my life. You should have the same privilege. You and Christ need to hammer this out in your spiritual walk. Some of the music I listen to probably has this label attached to it. I will not use the term. I prefer to call it contemporary or progressive. Even this term has its pitfalls so I must be careful. We must all be very careful. James 3:11 says, "Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?" Can something be Holy and unholy at the same time. ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! In case you didn't hear that, let me repeat it...ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! There is no way that the Lord Jesus Christ can be found in something so unholy as Rock music. Why would we call ourselves Christian Rock musicians? There is no way Christ can be found in something so unholy as Country music. With all of the alcohol, infidelity and rebelliousness that is found in Country music lyrics, how in the world can Christ be in that? Why then would we listen to it? What about the television? What about our places of entertainment? It all goes hand in hand. We need to be very careful in all that we put in our minds. Philppians 4:8 says, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." That doesn't sound like Rock music or Country music to me. It doesn't sound like most of the "Christian Rock" that I have ever heard. I'm not going to judge them or you. That is not my right nor my privilege nor do I want it to be. I am simply trying to get us to think about things. We are in a day and age when evil is called good and good is called evil. We must be diligent to know the difference (Romans 12). Nope, I'm not your judge. You're not mine. We must though, help each other out. If we know something we must share the truth and try to make sure everyone has knowledge of what the devil is trying to do to us. He would love for us to fill our minds with everything unholy. It makes his job much, much easier. If we are not armed with the knowledge of the Word of God then Satan has very little work to do to get us where he wants us. Certainly you can understand that, cant you? Sure you can. Pray for me. I will pray for you. I will pray that Gods Spirit will convict us and show us every truth that we need to walk in. It is the only way we will make it to Heaven. And remember, not everyone who says they are Christians are really Christians (Matthew 7:21). I love you. I'm working on it too. The Lord has already started convicting me so don't think I'm throwing off on you. I think that we are in a world that needs to see THE TRUE CHRIST, not an artificial form. Lets ask God to make us what He NEEDS us to be to a lost and dying world. In love...

LW

Hello? Are you there? Can I be done now?

C.S. Lewis once said, "God, who foresaw your tribulation, has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain."

My mind has been going crazy the last 3 days. I have not been questioning God but rather, inquiring of Him. I don't want to know, "why me", but I have been asking, "how long?" The "why me" is easy. For reasons known only to God, He has allowed me to face this huge mountain in my life. There is something that He wants me to see or needs me to see if I am to accomplish His will in my life. I have never really struggled with that. Plus, He sees a strength in me that I didn't even know I had. A strength that He knew would allow me to handle the weight of this burden. Remember, God will never allow us to go through any temptation, but will with that temptation, make a way for our escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). No, my battle has never been as to why He chose to let me go through this storm in my life. I will have to admit though, that I have been a little curious as to "how long will this storm last"? I mean, come on. Enough already. Have I not proven myself yet? Its easy to have these thoughts. If you never have then bless you, but I have to believe that just about everyone who has ever walked through the valley has had this thought (or one like it) at some time or another. We don't mind going through the valleys. We know that this is where the most growth happens between us and Christ. We cannot survive on the mountain. The air is thin. The vegetation is scarce and the dangers and pitfalls are numerous. The valley is where all of the vegetation is. The water flows freely (from the top of the mountain I might add), and there are places where we can find shelter from the storm and the scorching hot sun. The valley is quite a place. The view from the top of the mountain is gorgeous and breathtaking but it must be short lived. We have to get back down to the valley to get what we need for our body. We must renew our strength in the valley and be prepared for the next storm. We must get prepared for the climb up the next mountain for surely it will come. We cannot, nor will not, get there if we don't prepare for it while we are in the valley. Its just hard sometimes to keep walking in the valley when you want so badly to see the mountain top view. We even find ourselves asking God to move the mountain. "God, if you will but move the mountain from in front of me, then I will know victory." Okay, but what if the mountain that you want God to move is the mountain that He wants you to get to the top of? If in fact, He does move that mountain, you may be in the valley even longer. Maybe not, but its something to think about. We must not get caught up in the thought of God coming to the rescue for us. He already has. He just has a very unique way of letting us see the end result. We will still experience the pain of the battle. We will still experience set backs. We will even find ourselves retreating in some of the battles that we fight but the victory is ours. When we retreat, we retreat into the valley and find ourselves being refreshed. We feed ourselves, rest a little while, then start climbing again, fighting all the way. God has already won the war, we just need to follow His strategy and His plan. We will experience pain but we will not experience defeat...unless we get out of His will. That is the only way we will ever lose anything in this war with Satan. He cannot take what we don't give him. So remember the next time you are in a battle that seems to knock you off of your feet, its only going to last as long as God wants it to. The mountain top is coming. Don't ask God to move the mountain. It may be that very mountain that you will be resting on top of tomorrow. Keep fighting the good fight.

LW