This aging thing....are you prepared for it?

FAITH:
PART 1


1. "Is it a tragedy to get old?"

A. This is the view of the world, and we can see why. The unsaved are walking by sight and not by faith, and from all appearances there is very little left for them. All they can say is, "The evil days have come, and I have no pleasure in them" (compare Eccl. 12:1). And they have no hope for eternity.

B. But old age is not a tragedy to the Christian, for he looks at everything differently, walking by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). Paul did not fear death but realized that to die was to depart and be with the Lord which he knew to be far better than remaining in this life (see Phil. 1:21,23). Especially in view of this, "the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day" (Prov. 4:18).

2. "Does old age have any compensations?"

A. The compensation of honor and respect. Prov. 16:31 says, "The hoary head (white hair) is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.'' Old age is not something to fear unless one is not right with God. Older age brings a certain community-respect because of having dwelt honorably in it for so long. Good people seem to get better with the advancement of age. It is a great honor to be a righteous older person.

On the other hand there is nothing more disgusting than a wicked older person: hard-hearted, foul language, tobacco-chewer, etc. Nobody has respect for such a person, and but few tears are shed when he dies.

B. The compensation of grandchildren and great grandchildren. Prov. 17:6 says, "Children's children (grandchildren) are the crown of old men." Jacob, so aged in Egypt, rejoiced that God had permitted him to live to see Joseph's children (Gen. 48:11) Children dearly love to go to their grandparents, and grandparents are usually as fond of them unless they are too undisciplined, noisy, and destructive,

C. The compensation of recollection. Their memory can reach clear back to childhood, and they enjoy talking of olden times. Younger people need to be more patient with the reminiscing of older people. Youth will do well to listen to the experiences and advice of older people. You will remember that older men gave Rehoboam sound advice that he did not accept, and the kingdom divided immediately (I Kings 12:6-8). by Donald Hunt




FRIENDS:
Father, You know my heart and my heartaches. You have showered me with blessings and carried me all my life even when I wasn't aware of you.You have gotten me through the pain and sadnesses I have experienced. Thank you for all the special people that You have placed in my life. Thank you for those who pray for and encourage me. I even thank you for the hard times and trials I have been through, for they have strengthened my faith. I praise you for giving me a spirit of peace, love, and, rather than allowing me to become angry, bitter, and downcast. I honor you Father and I pray I can be a blessing to you. In Jesus' name, Amen

The Bible Challenge
How did your first day of the Bible reading challenge go? Was it a little slow going or did you find you just zipped right through it? I labored a little because a lot of the words I have read again and again so I just kind of skimmed it and then I caught myself. "Hmmm, this isn't going to help me grow now is it?" So I went back and re-read it. I am using the Bible Gateway provided on the blog and I am using the New Century translation. It is very accurate and it reads very easily. While I was re-reading I went to the bottom of the page and there are a series of little boxes and the one on the far right that looks a little like the box that holds cartoon text, if you click on it you will find a commentary. Now that really helped me to slow down and take in what I was reading. AND I already have some new insights.

I am going to present some good material by Max Lucado that will give an insight into the attitude of each book we are reading. This one is on:

Genesis;
So there you are, a teenager at your grandparent's home. You don't really want to be there, but it's one of those family things and so you're there.

You sit politely and act like you are listening as your folks and grandparents talk. Then your grandmother says something that catches your attention. She refers to your great grandfather and the trip he make to America from the "old country".

"What?" you ask.

Grandma smiles, knowing that at some point we all wonder about our origin and here you are wondering about yours.

She unravels a tale of your family escaping persecution and settling in eastern Virginia. Next she invites you into her room, where she opens a large chest that has sat at the foot of her bed for as long as you can remember. A rush of cedar and mothballs fills the room.i

"Thought you might like to see this," she explains, handing you a black and white photo in a large walnut frame. "It's your great grandpa." The only thing stiffer than his collar is his expression. "Here is his father," she hands you another photo, one of a cowboy wearing a wide-brimmed hat, riding a horse.

Piece by piece, the chest tells its family tales. Soon you find yourself lost in a floor covered with old wedding gowns, photo albums, diplomas and bronzed baby shoes. And before you leave, you find yourself the owner of something precious---a heritage. An ancestry. A beginning. An Origin.

You know that you are part of a family tree. You aren't an isolated pond, but rather a part of a river winding through a great canyon.

You leave a richer person. Knowing where you came from says much about where you are going.

Perhaps that's why the first book of the Bible is a book of beginnings. God wants us to know from where we came. Learning that will teach us much about the place we are going.

January 3
Matthew 2:1-12; Acts 2:1-21; Psalms 3; Genesis 5-8
January 4
Matthew 2:13-23; Acts 2:22-47; Psalms 4; Genesis 9-11


65 THINGS I HAVE LEARNED {part 3-last but not least}
41-If you can, grow your own vegetables as it is definitely worth the work.
42-Older people really are often wiser, but once in a great while you meet a very wise young person.
43-Its good to have one friend that is smarter than you are. It keeps you on your toes.
44-It's easier to stay organized than to deal with the consequences of not being organized.
45- Falling in love is a lot easier than staying in love.
46-Repairs and remodeling almost always costs twice as much as you've planned, and takes twice as long.
47-If you have the money for good quality clothes, buy them as they will last longer. If not, shop second hand.
48-People who make you laugh are important to have around.
49-Kindred hearts are much more important than age when it comes to choosing friends.
50-There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
51-Women were much happier with their looks in the "old days"
52-Having a huge house isn't that great if you have to clean it all by yourself
53-Not having car payments is definitely worth driving an older car.
54-Most kids will behave well if you can figure out the right incentive.
55-Understanding exactly how someone else feels is pretty much impossible.
56-Butter makes almost anything taste better.
57-You should not confuse your career with your life.
58-Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
59-In strange cities when you aren't sure where you are, a taxi is never too expensive.
60-Nothing improves a child's hearing better than calling them by their full name.
61-Even very intelligent people sometimes do things that are really, really stupid.
62-Nobody knows everything, and the longer you live, the more you realize how many things you know nothing about.
63-Learn to long for heaven
64-The more we complain the longer God makes us live.
65- and most important. If someone shares the plan of salvation with you, really listen to what they are saying and take them up on it. You will never regret it.




FOOD:
This recipe has been around for years but it is really good.

BUTTERSCOTCH ROLLS

* 16 to 18 unbaked frozen dinner rolls (like Rhodes)
* 1 (3-ounce) package regular butterscotch pudding mix, (can use vanilla)
* 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
* 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
* 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, melted

Directions

The night before place frozen rolls in well greased Bundt pan.*
Sprinkle dry pudding mix over rolls. Sprinkle brown sugar over pudding
mix. Sprinkle chopped pecans over brown sugar. Pour melted butter over
all. To prevent the dough from forming a hard crust while its rising
overnight, cover with a damp towel or tightly wrap with plastic wrap.
Let rise overnight at room temperature, about 8 to 10 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Bake in oven for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool
for 5 minutes. Turn pan over onto a serving platter to remove. Serve by pulling apart chunks with forks.
*I use a 9 x 13 pan but you really have to watch it closely.


FUN:
When using a public campground, a tuba placed on your picnic table will keep the campsites on either side vacant.

"The trouble with bucket seats is that not everybody has the same size bucket."

"Do you realize that in about 40 years, we'll have millions of old ladies running around with tattoos and pierced things? (Now that's scary!) "

"Money can't buy happiness--but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than a Kia."