Christian, licensed minister, author, wife, mother, teacher, and drama team pastor who loves landscape photography and writing.
Copyright 2012. All Rights Reserved. Photos and Text.
Do you wonder why you have to, Feel the things that hurt you, If there’s a God who loves you, Where is He now?
Maybe, there are things you can’t see And all those things are happening To bring a better ending Some day, some how, you’ll see, you’ll see
Would dare you, would you dare, to believe, That you still have a reason to sing, ’cause the pain you’ve been feeling, Can’t compare to the joy that’s coming
So hold on, you got to wait for the light Press on, just fight the good fight Because the pain you’ve been feeling, It’s just the dark before the morning
My friend, you know how this all ends And you know where you’re going, You just don’t know how you get there So just say a prayer.
And hold on, cause there’s good for those who love God, Life is not a snapshot, it might take a little time, But you’ll see the bigger picture
Once you feel the way of glory, All your pain will fade to memory
So often what follows those simple phrases are fill-in-the-blanks that have potential to wound. I’ve been thinking a lot about hearsay and as I turned that word over and over in my mind I realized it sounded a lot like another one: heresy.
Heresy is spreading what doesn’t line up with what God says is true.
Hearsay is spreading what doesn’t line up with what God says is true about another person.
They’re close cousins. One is about doctrine. The other is about God’s daughters. I think both break His heart.
Gossip, rumor, criticism, judgment. It’s so easy to get pulled into all of those. Before we even realize it our tongues have become swords and we slash our sisters then wonder why we feel unsafe in relationships.
Can we please stop, friends?
Actually, we can’t. “No one can tame the tongue,” said James {3:8}.
But here’s the good news: We don’t have to do it on our own. Jesus, the Word made flesh, lives within us and he can help us speak differently.
To encourage instead of criticize.
To cheer on instead of tear down.
To step forward with support instead of standing back in judgement.
My friend and fellow writer, Annie Downs, recently wrote a book called Speak Love. The foreword includes these wise words, “What we say isn’t just random words flying out of our mouths but the chance to either build someone up or completely tear someone down.” That sentence sounds a lot like this one: from Paul: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Eph. 4:29).
Before we speak we can ask…
* Is this going to build someone up or tear someone down?
* Does this help meet the needs of the person I’m talking to or about?
* Does it benefit those who are listening?
Most of all, we can ask Jesus to guide our words so that they are a source of life, healing and encouragement. We all struggle with this, ladies. It’s part of being human. And I think women are especially vulnerable–often with good intentions. So let’s help each other out too. Let’s commit not to speak or listen to what can wound each other. We can do so with grace, understanding and gentleness. But we must do it.
Hearsay
Heresy
Let’s come up with a new word: Hersay.
It can be a synonym for encouragement–for words spoken from the heart that make our sisters feel safe, whether we are together or apart.
We need a new button, t-shirt, bumper sticker, or cap that reads…NFY!
It stands for “Not Finished Yet!”
Regardless of the label people put on you (senior, baby-boomer, retired person), regardless of the number of birthdays you’ve celebrated, you are still here. And as long as you are here, you are not there, and as long as you are not there, it means God still has a purpose for you here.
When Jesus was on the cross, the last thing He said was, “It is finished.” After He made that statement He died. When is God’s purpose for you on this earth finished? It is finished when you die…until then, you are “not finished yet!” (NFY!)
The way in which He uses you may change, but He will never consider you useless, no matter what your age.
A few years ago, I remember someone telling me that my writing days were behind me and my creative work was a thing of the past. Those words did not discourage me, because a few weeks before those comments were made, I heard God saying the very opposite to my spirit. The Scripture God used to assure me things were “not finished yet” was from Psalm 92…
I have been anointed with fresh oil…The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the LORD Shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing, To declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. Psalm 92:10, 12-15
This passage helped me realize that my ability to flourish in life, to be fruitful in ministry, and to be fresh in creativity, had nothing to do with my age, but with the anointing oil of the Holy Spirit upon my life.
Many define “the retirement years” as the time when our work is done and we settle into an easy chair as a reward for our productive years. For the child of God, our best years do not have to be a thing of the past. God called Abraham to leave Haran and go to the Promised Land when he was seventy-five years old; God commissioned Moses to deliver Israel from Egypt when he was eighty; God gave Zachariah and Elizabeth a child when they were “well advanced in years;” Paul was still ministering to the body of Christ from prison when he called himself the “aged one;” the 2nd and 3rd books of John are written by the “elder” John; Caleb, at the age of eighty-five was still a mighty warrior and received Hebron as an inheritance; Anna, a prophetess who was well past 80, continued to maintain a powerful prayer ministry, and was one of the earliest believers to see the Lord with her own eyes.
Does the thought of getting older discourage you or make you fearful? Consider these words the Lord spoke to Isaiah…
I will be your God throughout your lifetime– until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. Isaiah 46:4
NFY!
*Oh, thank you, Lord…I’m gettin” older…and I love this reminder of Your Plan for my life!! Amen!
Great post!! My Mom passed away two years ago, and one month later, I heard her call my name one morning…in a young beautiful voice, not her 90 year-old voice, so I knew she was well, and with Jesus!!
My family’s all saved, so I don’t question where they’re going…that gives me such peace…and it’s so encouraging to talk to them while they’re here on earth, and receive their spiritual guidance!!
Whenever we go through stuff…God finds a way to use it to help others in His Kingdom…You just did that…for many people!! Thank you! God Bless!
I have one son…I’ve told him right off…when I get sick…first of all, there’s always hope…call every prayer warrior you know to my bedside…and PRAY!!! If God answers by healing me…Yipee!! Enjoy my company now!!
If not, and I’m going Home…plan a Home-Going celebration with music and laughter, and all those of all ages who loved me!! I’ll be watching in the Arms of Jesus!! I saw a celebration like that for one of our choir members several years ago…that’s how I want to go to Heaven!!
And I want to leave a legacy for God’s Kingdom, so carry on, son!! Amen!!
My dad (father-in-law) died yesterday. You ought to congratulate me. He’s in Heaven.
Do people cry for a touchdown? For a grand slam? For the World Cup winning goal? Do they cry at graduations? Well, maybe they cry tears of joy.
Yet graduation to Heaven exceeds each of these earthly joys. Finally, my much-loved dad shed his decrepit body and put on his glorified form. Heaven’s for Real suggests that people get the best, youthful version of themselves in Heaven. Is Dad bowling already?
Call me weird. But I just can’t cry. Sure, I’m going to miss him, but I have no misgivings about eternity. It seems to me that people cry only because of their doubts. I mean, if the evolutionists have it right that we are just bio mass with self consciousness until we cease to exist and get eaten by worms, then yeah, wail and howl…
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