It's a beautiful Sunday Morning Here in the Ozarks ... It's been a busy week choc full of work and next week looks to be the same. I feel so blessed to have a job I do dearly love ..
I read this beautiful devotion this week from Mary Southerland of Girlfriends in God .. and wanted to share it with you all ..
It's so very true and full of much wisdom...
Today’s Truth
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10, NIV).
Friend to Friend
In April, I celebrated my 69
th birthday! Honestly, I didn’t
think I would live this long. Seriously! Where have the years gone? It
seems every day of life has been jam-packed full of both wonderful and
horrible things I wondered if I would survive and yet, here I am, going
strong and wondering why there always seems to be some kind of
helicopter still landing in my life.
I have some advice for you, girlfriend. If you are a young woman, it
really is true that you should cherish every day and every moment with
your friends and family because the older you get, the quicker the days
fly by. I look at my children who are married and having children of
their own and wonder where all of those years went. How did this happen?
If you are an older woman, take a deep breath and celebrate the fact
that you are breathing. If you are alive, I believe God has a purpose
and plan for your life. Give yourself a pat on the back for your
survival skills. Take a few moments to reflect on your life and don’t
get hung up on what might have been. Celebrate what is and what will be.
I have discovered some wonderful advantages to growing older and have
learned some valuable lessons along the way. Each chapter of life seems
to grow more exciting and I keep wondering when that “slow down” thing
is going to kick in. I am no longer overly concerned with a lot of
things that once kept me awake at night. There is great freedom in
having paid a lot of “life dues” because I have already been there, done
that and don’t really care about getting the T-shirt.
I can say with authority that you probably will live through that
crisis you think will be the death of you. What defines you today may
very well seem ridiculous in ten years or even ten days. Stupidity will
give way to wisdom learned the hard way. I now give myself permission to
do or not do things I once would have felt compelled to do simply
because it was someone’s ridiculous expectation … not God’s plan. My
audience has certainly changed over the years from the people who love
to leer at me through the glass bowl in which I live to running the race
of life for an audience of One.
Yes, there are moments when I have made a frenzied and desperate
attempt to stay young. But then, why would I want to do that? There are
many years of my life I really do not want to revisit and there is so
much of my life now that I love. During one of those youth seeking
moments, I came across the following list of ways to stay young and
found it quite interesting.
How to Stay Young
1. Throw out non-essential numbers such as your age, weight and height.
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. If you
really need a grouch, there are probably family members to fill that
need.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Just never let the brain idle.
4. Enjoy the simple things. When the children are young, that is all
you can afford. When they are in college that is all you can afford.
When they are grown, and you are on retirement, that is all you can
afford.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. Laugh
so much that you can be tracked in the store by your distinctive
laughter.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person that is with us our entire life is ourselves.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it is family, pets,
keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies or whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health. If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable,
improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Go to the mall, the next county, a foreign country - but not guilt.
10. Tell the people you love how much you love them every chance you get. Never assume they know.
11. Don't worry about things you cannot change or do anything about. Accept them and move on.
12. Read more and dust less.
13. Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experiences to
savor, not to endure. Recognize these moments now and cherish them.
14. Do not "save" anything. Use your good china and crystal for every
special event such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, or the
next blossom of flowers you see.
16. Wear your best outfit and perfume to the market.
17. "Someday" and "one of these days" should vanish from your
vocabulary. If it is worth seeing or hearing or doing, go and see or
hear or do it now.
What about you? Are you living each day to the fullest? Jesus is all about living an
abundant life
in the here and now … whatever stage of life that may be for you. Jesus
came so that we can live abundantly and eternally. Eternity began the
moment you accepted Him as your Lord and Savior. Life is not measured by
the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath
away.
Let’s Pray
Father, I want to live life to the fullest. I want everything You have
for me and don’t want to miss a single blessing or trial that is for my
good. Please help me keep my eyes on You and celebrate every day and all
that it holds. I trust You, Lord, to work all things together for my
good and Your glory.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
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Have a Beautiful week Y'all
Sweet Blessings ..
Sara
