Improve What You Can

Today was a special day.  I had not been to the nail salon for 3 months.  I keep my fingernails short because I work at the computer every day, wash dishes, and dig in the dirt when possible.  As I watched the girl work on my nails I made an observation.  Every lady in the salon was over 50 years of age and probably over 60…I’m not a good judge of age.  Most of us had wrinkles, colored hair and comfortable clothes and shoes.  This caused me to question, ‘why is so important what my fingernails look like?’  My conclusion may not merit an article in a psychology magazine but here are my thoughts. The aging process affects each of us differently, most of the results are genetically inspired. Having brightly colored nails that stay beautiful for a couple of weeks without attention gives me a sense of confidence in my appearance and I somehow look past the brown age spots and wrinkles and focus on the shine and color of many manicured nails.

 So I ask myself, what am I doing to spiffy up my spiritual life?  I want to shine for Jesus.  I want people to know how much I love my Savior and what joy He can bring to any life.  I think I’ll add something new to my daily encounter with Jesus and attempt to shine a little more brightly. Join me in this personal improvement process and let’s show the world what it looks like to glow in the dark. 

 

Psalms 25:4-7

 

4 Show me the right path, O Lord;

point out the road for me to follow.

5 Lead me by your truth and teach me,

for you are the God who saves me.

All day long I put my hope in you.

6 Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love,

which you have shown from long ages past.

7 Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.

Remember me in the light of your unfailing love,

for you are merciful, O Lord.   NLT

 Well, as you can tell I'm not doing well at keeping up with a weekly post.  I will try to be more consistent.  Yesterday was a difficult day since it was my first Father's Day with Steve in heaven and also the day my Mama went to heaven twelve years ago.  I have learned  the true meaning of God's mercies being new every morning.  As I embrace each day of my 'new reality' I ask God for strength and grace to live in a way worthy of my calling.  Did you know you are called?  For some reason most believe that being 'called' is only for those in full time ministry or missionaries.  Every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is called to walk worthy of her calling.

Ephesian 4:1-4

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. NLT

That's it girls, we must walk WORTHY of our calling and the only way I know to do that is to daily allow the Holy Spirit to guide and guard our every thought and action.  Our mature age does not give us the right to be passive in our faith. Please join with me as we aggressively pursue to actively engage in anything God brings across our path as we wait for that 'glorious hope for the future'!

I'd love to hear from you if you have thoughts to share. I received this quote from a friend and wanted to share it.

Grief never ends...but it changes.  It's a passage, not a place to stay.  Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith.  It is the price of LOVE!

 Secure Yet Searching

Finding security in our world today is a challenge.  We read or hear information stated as factual only to find out  tomorrow it was proven to be untrue.  Girls, as we age it is normal to feel less secure.  I remind myself when walking down the sidewalk with my dog to watch my steps carefully or when driving my car I’m more cautious than I used to be.  Security is a basic human need and I am learning that in this temporal world security can be quite elusive.

I’m  so grateful that in my spiritual life I can find security and confidence to live peacefully. 

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:38&39   NLT

Spiritual maturity is a lifelong journey and even though I feel totally confident in my salvation, I continue to search out the deeper truth in God’s Word.

"And don't be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don't worry about such things.  These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need. “ Luke 12:29-31   NLT

Now to be practical, how do we continue on this lifelong journey of spiritual maturity.  Maybe it’s time to develop some spiritual discipline that has been neglected.  Try talking to God multiple times throughout your day as you go about routine activities.  Remember, talking to Him is important but listening to Him is the key to spiritual growth.

 So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

2 Corinthians 4:18   NLT

 

My New Reality

It’s May of 2021 and the date on my one and only blog is February 2017.  I don’t know what that says about my ability to follow through but thanks to the loyal friendship of Nancy Moser I am ready to move forward and attempt to blog on a consistent basis.  I’m really writing more for me than you.  I know that sounds selfish but let me explain.

I have spent most of my adult life in Christian Publishing as a background person.  I have enjoyed every moment of the journey and have been blessed to work with amazing people, called by God to communicate His Word.  Sometimes my role has been very minor and on rare occasions I’ve invested all my creative energy in a major way.

On February 10, 2019 my world was turned upside down.  I stood beside the hospital bed of my husband of 53 years as we were told he had a mass in his abdomen.  Extensive testing concluded that he had Peripheral T Cell Lymphoma.   We moved rapidly into a course of treatment that proved to be agonizing for him and we were truly sustained by God’s power and the love and prayers of family and friends.  My husband was the most courageous person I know and through 19 months of chemotherapy he never complained.  We held tightly to the hope of divine healing for him and daily expressed our gratitude to God for one more day of life.  On September 17, 2020 surrounded by his family, Steve graduated to his heavenly reward.  My journey of grief was just beginning.  I read numerous books and spoke with other widows. I had walked along side Vonette Bright when her husband Bill graduated to heaven and watched the grace and courage she displayed as she drew strength from her deep faith and assurance of Bill’s joy of being in the presence of the Lord.  I was relieved that Steve was no longer in pain and I knew he was in heaven, but the natural woman and spiritual woman had to reconcile how to live in victory in my new reality.  I confess, some days are better than others.  God’s Word has been more precious to me than ever before and sometimes I find myself sitting with my Bible open on my lap, both hands on the pages just praying to somehow absorb the truth into my innermost being.  The Living Word of God has proven to be my greatest source of strength.  We don’t grieve as those who have no hope. (1 Thes 4:13) Grief is real and unique to each individual.  Friends encouraged me to find a new ‘normal’, and I struggled with the concept of ‘normal.’  At the age of 74 and 53 years of marriage my life would never be ‘normal’ again.  I decided to seek God for his guidance in my new ‘reality.’  The faithfulness of God never changes and I awake each morning grasping for His presence and leading.

 I have lots of thoughts I want to share with you so I will definitely not wait 4 years to write again. As always, my thoughts will be in ‘bits'...that's just me.

 I look forward to sharing the realities of life with you.  I pray my words may encourage you to cling a little more closely to our wonderful Savior.

 

Just FYI – my life verse is Galatians 2:20

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. NLT

 

Hello!

Well, here we are, I just celebrated a milestone birthday and my dear friend Nancy Moser has pushed me into writing a blog.  She is convinced I have something to say and it will always be 'Bits and Pieces' because that is how I live.  Nancy and I have worked together for many years even though we are eight years different in age and 1500 miles apart in geography.  Female friendships are strange like that.  We have that 'ah ha' moment of "I think I like you" and then off we go to form a lasting bond.  I've watched Nancy grow as a fiction writer, getting kids through college, and blossom into a grandmother of seven.

She has encouraged me as I have faced writing deadlines, a son getting married and grandchildren being born and growing up.  Friendships forged in the process of living are precious and to be treasured.  Life is in the details.  We somehow find the courage and strength to grapple with the big things in life but its the 'bits and pieces' where we need our girlfriends to hang in there with us.

Nancy and I believe and have taught women that friendships forged in faith are the ones that nurture our souls and make us better.

I am going to share my heart with you in this blog and I'll say it up front...I'll be talking to women who have scaled the heights and gone 'over the hill.'  This stage of life is liberating...I'm not afraid to speak my mind and admit what I don't know.  This is a savy circle of sisters - come along with us and let's talk.