Being Reminded of Who Hears Our Prayers

Posted on February 27, 2013 by jroesler728

As I am journeying through a Lenten devotional based on the Book of Common Prayer I am finding each morning that the written prayer begins and ends with these words:

O,God ______________________________,
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

I wonder what you, personally, need to write on that line today. It may be a confession or an acknowledgement that you have come to the end of your resources. It may be a plea of intercession for someone for whom your heart is breaking. It may be a desire to thank God for who he is and express gratitude for what he has done.

All of this is content for prayer this week.

What a comfort to know that each of our prayers can begin with O God and end with the assurance that we are praying through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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Why Can’t I Throw It Out?

Posted on February 25, 2013 by jroesler728

On the small stand next to the chair that I sit in for my morning devotions there are two opened packets of Beta food. They have been there for a long time. The little fish died months ago and I have long since disposed of the tall vase that had river stones at the bottom supporting stalks of bamboo.

Every time I think of throwing the little packets of food I wonder if I will get another fish and then I would need the food. When I talk myself out of that I wonder if somebody else has a beta fish and would like the food.

But if I get real honest, I think the reason I don’t throw out these little packets is because my dad would not have done it. For him, growing up in the depression everything needed to be saved and another use found for it.

I remember the day I drove home and found Dad lying under an old car trying to wrap some tin around a worn out muffler. I watched for a while. Dad and I had a deep understanding but we seldom used words. Finally, I asked, “How much would a new muffler cost?”

He answered $35.

I sat quiet.

Then, after quite a long time, he said, “It’s because it is more than the car is worth.”

I threw out the Beta food this morning. The two packets together were probably worth $3.

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Posted on February 22, 2013 by jroesler728

I go back, from time to time, to my old Amplified Bible. Many of the verses have dates written in the margin. I also enjoy the amplifications of words, giving various possible meanings. (This can get cumbersome and repetitive if used as a primary translation so if you just want the story, use another translation but, if you want to meditate, the old amplified becomes a good friend.) I noticed something new this week. Note the reference to age:

“Who satisfies your mouth (your necessity and desire at your personal age) with good; so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle’s (strong, overcoming, soaring)! Psalm 103:5 Amplified.

Does God satisfy us differently when we are old than He did when we were young? Does He add more spice because our taste buds are tired? Does He serve smaller portions? Does He give us more time to chew?

I wondered if any other translation picked up the idea of aging. I found this from Darby. (I had never heard of Darby but have been introduced to him by references of Amy Carmichael.) Here we find a version that is even more specific:

“Who satisfieth thine old age with good [things]; thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103:5 Darby translation.

Darby published his first translation in the 1860’s. He makes this comment on his latest work published in 1890:

“In the issue of this translation, the purpose is not to offer to the man of letters a learned work, but rather to provide the simple and unlearned reader with as exact a translation as possible.”

Let’s take joy in this today as we celebrate “faith through aging eyes.” God has a designated menu for seniors. He is giving us what we need, which is the same as what we want (really) and as we allow him to feed us we are becoming strong, overcoming and soaring.

He is a promise keeping God!!!

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Feeding Faith and Starving Fear

Posted on February 20, 2013 by jroesler728

As I searched for something that would give me some fresh content for Lenten devotions, I ran across a web site based on the Book of Common Prayer (St David’s Church). It had an introduction calling for readers to use the season of lent to feed faith and starve fear. (Rev. W. Frank Allen). This is of special interest to me today because as I type this I can visualize fear as a crouching tiger and faith as an anemic skinny boy of about seven.

How can I practically give the tiger an empty bowl and feed the anemic child a nutritious lunch? (I am remembering that I shopped today at an organic grocery store.) Have I also made preparations for starving this fear and feeding this faith? Since my trip to the grocery store was intentional, my plan for these two spiritually hungry guests must be thoughtful, as well.

Regarding the tiger of fear, I can remind myself that God has not given us a spirit of fear. Therefore, I don’t want to give fear a chair at my table, a place mat, or a name card. When he asks (the same old question), “Has God really said?” I will reply, “It is written.” Then I will take him to Jeremiah 29:10-14 and let him read it himself. I don’t want to spend any more time with him.

Regarding the fragile guest of faith, I am reminded that it isn’t the size of faith that matters but the object of the faith. Encouraged by this, I prop the little skeleton of faith on my dining room chair and support him with pillows. I ask if I can pray before the meal and, as I do, I declare my belief in who God is and what he can do. I mentioned that I knew he can move mountains.

When I raise my head from praying I see that my little faith friend has become a crowd. Several others have sent their faith as an encouragement. (Romans 1:12) I also caught the faith team poking each other and laughing together at my comment about moving mountains. One winked at me and said that if I had faith the size of a mustard seed I could tell a mountain to move and it would. Nothing would be impossible. (Matthew 17:21)

I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised at the way these faith friends devoured everything I brought from the organic food store. They emptied all three bags of everything in them. When I started to show some signs of fear that I was running out of supplies they laughed again. They knew that I would need to be empty handed to benefit from their presence. They invited me to rest.

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The Best and the Worst of Aging

Posted on February 18, 2013 by jroesler728

We had a 27-year-old guest at our senior adult prayer meeting today and the question was asked, “ What is the best part of growing older and what is the worst?” 

Among the answers for the best were, “freedom to say what you think,” “not worrying about what people think,” “being able to stay home in bad weather,” “having a track record of God’s faithfulness in our lives.,” and “knowing we are already living in eternity.” 

Among the answers for the worst were, “having our bodies betray us,” “losing our balance,” “hurting in places we didn’t know we had,” “having less energy,” and “taking longer to do things.” 

An answer that could fit in either category was “not being able to remember.” 

What have you found to be the best and the worst part of growing older?

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Pages or Chapters to Follow

Posted on February 15, 2013 by jroesler728

(Written 02/12/2013)

I write this morning in a reflective mood, as this is my 70th birthday. I have never before paid much attention to my age but this year I am strangely aware that this is the number of years we can “expect” and any more are an “additional gift.” My goal, which feels like quite a stretch, is that I will live these next pages or chapters of my story with gratitude and surrender. I want to strive less for how I want things to be and rest more in what God ordains.

I am hoping to have coffee this morning with a new friend. His birthday is today, also. He is now 27 years old. I have grown to love him and want to be a grandmother to his new baby. Yesterday I announced we were twins. This prompted, “You don’t look alike.” I said we are not identical!! This is quite obvious in that I am 43 years older and my skin is a different color. Yet, I feel a kinship and I want to proclaim God’s power to this young man.

This is the verse I want to claim and express in this next season of life:

“Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.” (From Psalm 71)

Has God brought someone into your life to whom you can declare his power? Is there someone in your story that has declared God’s power to you?

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Finding a Treasure

Posted on February 13, 2013 by jroesler728

Remember the autograph books we passed around in grade school (now called elementary). One would expect to see little rhymes and affirmations of friendship.

This book, discovered by a friend of mine, was special in itself being dated 1884.

1 Ellis Dart's Autograph Book-Front Cover 2 Ellis Dart's Autograph Book-Title Page

 

The entry that brought deep joy to this friend was one written by a mother to the twelve year old, Ellis, who was her son.

This mother wrote:

Feb the 12, 1884

Ellis when all friends prove not true

Do not forget your mother loves you

When you turn to this page remember

You are twelve years of age

And as the time doth fly away

Your mother will pass forever away

But if you live and believe in grase

You can in heaven your mother embrace

                                      Helen

18 Ellis Dart's Autograph Book-Helen F Dart Page 16

This would be precious for anyone to read and reflect upon but imagine knowing that the author of this is your great grandmother!

Imagine the joy of discovering that the grace you now embrace as your hope was also her hope!! We are encouraged to pass our faith along to the next generation. What comfort to learn that this faith has in some mysterious way been passed along to us.

We may think that we find grace but grace really finds us. And sometimes it can be traced through a ragged autograph book in the words of a mother.

I’m glad my friend shared this page with me.

What treasures are you discovering in boxes from your family’s attic?

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Just a Small Cataract

Posted on February 11, 2013 by jroesler728

My eye doctor said I have a very small cataract. “Nothing to worry about now.”

I responded by saying, “No, I don’t.”

He looked at me with interest. I knew he was wondering why I was questioning his diagnosis. I said, “It’s because there is nothing the matter with me.”

The doctor didn’t challenge my denial. He simply said he would check it again in a year.

I didn’t dismiss my response so graciously. I asked myself how I could teach that our bodies are only designed for temporary use and rebel when my own evidenced a symptom of aging.

How have you responded when reality confronts the denial of aging?

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What God Wants for Me

Posted on February 6, 2013 by jroesler728

This morning a friend prayed that I would embrace what God wants for me as well as what he wants from me. It dove tailed with my reflections on my recent visit from my six-year-old grandchild. This visit was a new experience as it was the first time she “took charge” of what our activities would be. She had a myriad of ideas, an authoritative attitude, and an attention span that left us with every venture unfinished.

I spoke to her Mom and said I would need to learn what she and Dad were doing for discipline so I could be consistent with it. Her Mom responded, “She can do anything she wants at your house.”

This is not the answer I expected, but after thinking more about it I emailed this mother and said I thought her counsel was wise. My grandchild needs a place to just BE and I need someone to just BE WITH.

Here is the Mom’s response. “Yes, she needs to have a fun, safe and happy relationship with you. At home there are enough rules and regulations. At your house, relationship, safety, trust and friendship are the most important. Teaching her about Jesus—vital. And filling her with love, acceptance and praise is what she needs.

I wrote back, “This assignment fills me with joy. Thank you!”

I basked in the love extended to my by these parents. They are carrying the heavy load of providing a structure at home where their children develop habits of responsibility and respect.  At my house, while not negating these goals, we can focus on enjoying our relationship.

How different is this from what God wants for me. Jesus paid the price that grants me relational access to the Father. Today, I believe he wants me to embrace that relationship with joy and trust.

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I’m Going to Have a Childhood!

Posted on February 4, 2013 by jroesler728

These words came from a retirement-aged lady whose life has been traumatized by a childhood that was abducted by neglect and abuse.

The full quote is “I’m going to have a childhood in spite of my mother.” She said, in reflection, “I have put in my adult life. Now I am going to have the childhood I never had.”

As I listened to her plans I heard her excitedly describing the swings she had ordered to hang from her upper deck. Her pets are dressed in doll clothes. They have toys that maximize their development.

At this point in the transition she isn’t interested in a birthday party for herself but she loves to give them for her friends. Her gifts stretch our expected definition of extravagance. Her planning for a vacation was interrupted by the realization that she had integrated everything, defined as fun, into her own home.

Is it too late for anyone of us to have a childhood?

Can we release some of the weight of responsibility and take delight in the freedom of God’s creation.

When Jesus said, “Come to me as a child.” what did he mean?

A parented child can be a child. As a child in the family of God we have a parent that loves us. We have a parent that never sleeps. We have a parent that wants our life to be filled with surprises.

Does faith through aging eyes teach us that the last chapters of our lives are meant to be lived with the freedom and trust of a child?

Can you say, “I’m going to have a childhood!”?

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