The Sixty Fifth Year Ends

The Sixty Fifth year ended four days ago.  The year flew by in so many ways and as I mentally recount this extraordinary year, my jaw drops for it was above and beyond ordinary.

I did not even begin to recount within the blog the journeys, experiences and thoughts of these last 12 months.  That statement alone reminds of the adventures that were mine.  They were above and beyond the realm of believable for this lady.  

I experienced miracles that still cause me to catch my breath.  I was protected and blessed beyond description.  I was in mud huts and mansions that few will ever see on either spectrum. 

I began my travels in May of 2015 going to Israel.  From there the travels just did not end. Dubai, Zambia, Honduras, Oregon, Washington, Cabo, Mexico, Germany, Switzerland, France, a variety of Caribbean Islands 2x and ending now in Cuba. I traveled by jet, I got to fly first class across the Pond!! I rode or drove in normal every day cars and had a land rover to navigate the deep sand in Zambia. I rode in trucks with very bad shocks.  Eurail took me from Frankfurt Germany to Basil, Switzerland.  A Swiss tram in Basil, a Mercedes ‘cab’ in Germany that was pure luxury and tour busses.   Who does that in 12 month’s time?

The transportation adventures were amazing in their own right. The  countries and islands experiences were  beyond my imagination.  I sat in a meeting with the Vice President of Zambia.  I was summoned with my group to ‘squat’ before a King in Mongu as we discussed the work we do for his people.  We had to remain below his head at all times.   I was 50 miles from Paris when ISIS bombed it.  I had a witch who had joined my women’s retreat and wanted to put a white spell upon me.  A man under my watch on this same retreat fell to his death from the 10^th balcony of a ship.  In between these few sentences were hours of experiences, emotions, fears and delights.   I end my year by being on the first cruise ship to sail from the US to Cuba in over 50 years.  The ship was older, elegant and refurbished beautifully.

I shared this summary of the Sixty Fifth year to say this.  I would not trade what I learned for anything.   There were rough days but each of those rough times were growing times where my help came from the Lord.  I delighted many times with the awareness of God’s protection and provisions.  I met new friends. I had a good friend enter eternity and I feel the loss deeply. I mourn with their families.   I experienced life outside of my Mayberry community and hopefully grew as a human being. 

I will enter this next year that I am calling Route 66. I know that title is not very original but it defines the upcoming year well.  Once again a new path will be forged.  I will do some of the planning but life will interrupt those plans. With a sense of awe and expectation that life should not be ordinary I will embark on each day. 

We each touch the lives of others.  If we stay alert there are grand adventures awaiting us.  There are places to go and people to meet.

Now that is old!

  This old guy Socrates was born in 470 BC!  That is almost 2500 years ago!  2500 years I cannot put my head around this number.  I am dealing with my mortality, my 65th year is closing soon. He too was a living, breathing man.  Life changes, our bodies change and we will soon be gone from this earth. 

The secret of change is to focus all your energy not on fighting the old but building on the new. 

Socrates

As I muddle through this journey called life, I am coming to grips (I hope) with the fact that I am here for a brief moment in time but it is God's time.   I look in the mirror and think who is this person staring back at me.    I am still me!  I become older each day and knowing that God has numbered my days. There is no guarantee of a tomorrow or of a next year.  However, there is this moment and so far this day.  What am I going to do with it?

I am watching my life change.  Is it a comfortable thought? No!  Because I am not the change agent.  However, I want to embrace life and take advantage of each day, I want to remain curious as I was as a child!

I will embrace my next opportunity to engage in the culture.  I will embrace my next opportunity to travel or do missions work or both (they often go together).    Will I be comfortable?  Probably not.

But the alternative to not having a bucket list, not embracing an adventure or engaging with someone who is not of my generation is to die a slow, non productive, selfish death.  God has each of here for a purpose it is not to watch the clock tick until He takes us home.

Mother's Day

I was not going to blog today.  I was enjoying the beautiful weather, the slow pace that the day was offering.  My kids fixed dinner, I decided I really like this.  For I realize life is fragile, short and special moments are not forever moments.  I am savoring my blessings and pondering what another year will bring.

Today is one that so many women hate.  For that I am so very sad.  In my Facebook post today I shared the following for it is a day that we should all take stock of what it represents, life.  

"Mothers Day. What a day of emotions. Some are sad for they are not mothers, their mothers are gone, their mothers never 'showed up', their mothers are .... However, you are reading this because you had a mother and God deemed you worthy to be here. You are an influencer of people mother or not. You are special. So today I celebrate you who have no children but give back to others. I celebrate the knowledge that one Hallmark Day does not determine ones value. I celebrate the awesome mothers who are out there trying to do the best you can to raise little people in this hard world. I celebrate my daughter Christine, who is a great mom, my daughter Becky who is an incredible aunt. My mother who loves her family. My sister who has the capacity to give and to love beyond anyone one I know and to each women who has the capability to change lives regardless of her title.   Celebrate those who are mom's! " 

Today I take this scripture as it sums up the emotions of this day. 

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Romans (Bible) 12:1 

But do not resent,  for that emotion robs you alone.  Life is never fair.  I have learned that the most miserable people around are those who focus on 'what they do not have' and resent that others appear to have that very desired thing.  Look for ways that you can invest in another's life.   A scriptural principle that I yet to find false is below.  Give it a try. 

For if you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give—large or small—will be used to measure what is given back to you.” Luke (Bible) 6:38-40 NLT

God numbers our days!

My hit or miss blog pretty much sums up my 'planned' life.  Mine is anything but routine.  I love to share thoughts in writing. Does anyone read them?  Unknown.  The writing down of my thoughts seals them for me. 

I have 4 blogs to post in my que.  Because?  I set them aside to post later. The timing of the subject mater is just not quite right.  Today's posting is not one I want to post or even share.  My heart is so very heavy.  It is probably one of the hardest to put into words for my emotions, fears, thoughts are running deep and wild. 

I received a message yesterday from a dear Nigerian friend.  He has been in my life for probably 15+ years.  I met him in CA.  We shared the same breakfast table in a hotel restaurant one morning.  He is a scientist and was there for work.  I was in CA for a women's conference.  Because he was bold enough to bow his head to pray over  his meal, I was eager to know if he was a Jesus follower as I am.  Yes :) Our friendship began, and he has taught me many things about faith, hope and life as an African. 

Our countries were so very different. At the time ours was very stable, a place people desired to come to be safe, find a better life and freedom to worship.  His was fraught with corruption, greed, Islamic terrorists, satanic/demonic practices and more.  His desire was/is to  teach young men how to work, to care for their families, women to be educated and wise. His most important message is to seek Jesus as the only true God who gives a promise of heaven. No strings attached!  No virgins, no working it out, no nothing but accepting His payment for our sins.   A clean simple, true message.

He has warned me over and over for US citizens to watch out for ISIS/ISIL, Islamic fanatics.  "Claudia, they are coming to America. One day you too will be where we are."

In my friends message to me yesterday he sent a plea for me to care for his family, when he is killed.  He sent to me their contact info and shared that I would know he was dead via the media.  He has a huge target upon his back.  He is a leader with strong Christian ties and influence.  He has suspected for a time he would be targeted but yesterdays message to me was filled with sad, serious anticipation that soon he would be leaving this earth.

What would you do with a message like this?  I am thousands of miles away.  I am an average citizen here with no clout.  If I had clout to change anything would it matter?   This is news stuff that affects people you never knew, in other parts of the world, that 'someone' else would help if it was needed. Not your friend!  Not someone close and personal! This global crisis has now landed in my small town, in the US.

He knows his enemy and they are ruthless.  He knows because of his relationship with Jesus Christ, that choice will most likely be the end of his earthly life.  Once again he is teaching me how to live.  Of course he is afraid, for who wants to be murdered?  Of course he wants protection for his family, all good men desire this.  He will remain true and faithful the the Lord.

As I close this reflection, I share that my only way to help is to pray.  Will the reader of this blog pray with me? My prayer is that you will pray safety for those who are bold enough to stand up for evil.  My prayer too is that those who read this and do not know Jesus as the only one to give eternal life and forgiveness for our sins is that you seek Him out soon.  Evil is sweeping this world.  You and I will not be exempt from it claws.  Our only hope is in the one who give to us eternal life, Jesus Christ.  Every thing else offers eternal death.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians (Bible) 1:21

For I am not ashamed of the gospel (God's good news to mankind), for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. Romans (Bible) 1:16 

Heaven - There's Robby!

I have a friend who is hours away from leaving this earth.  He is suffering but he is at peace.  He knows where he is going.  I want to share in this blog today an account that I keep close by to share with people who are close to entering eternity. It comforted me when my Kara died.  It delights me each time read it.  God is real! Heaven is real!  Are you ready to meet Him?
 

“There’s Robby!”

 “Mrs. Armisted’s younger son Humphrey, who was twelve at the time of this story grew up to become pastor the Friendship Presbyterian Church between Montreat and Black Mountain, North Carolina.  In Montreat, after his death, his lovely widow, Lucille, told me this story in 1967.  I wrote it down in a notebook.  But to make sure I had it accurately and also to ask permission to include it in this book, (Legacy of a Pack Rat – Ruth Bell Graham) I wrote to Lucille Armisted, who is living in Florida.  Her gracious reply, on her return from celebrating her eighty-ninth birthday with her son, said, “I am so glad to send you the story, and I’m happy that you will use it.”    I checked her account with my twenty-one-year-old notes. The facts were, except for small, unimportant details, identical.”

**********

       The room was quiet and semi-darkened.  The elderly lady lying against the pillows listened as her son, Robert, talked of the family, her friends and other things of interest to her.

         She looked forward to his daily visits.  Madison, where he lived was not too far from Nashville, and Robert spent as much time as he could with his mother, knowing, as ill as she was, each visit might be his last. As he talked, his eyes took in every detail her loved face, every line—and there were more lines than curves now—the white hair, the tired, still loving eyes. When time came to leave, he kissed her gently on her forehead, assuring her he would be back the next day.

         Arriving back at his home in Madison, he found Robin, his seventeen-year-old, was ill with a strange fever.  The next few days his time was completely taken up between his son and his mother. He did not tell his mother of Robin’s illness.  He was her oldest grandson-the pride and joy of her life.

         Then, suddenly, Robin was gone.  His death shocked the whole community as well as his family.  The whole thing had happened so quickly.  And seventeen was too young to die.

         As soon as the funeral was over, Mr. Armistead hurried to his mother’s bedside, praying nothing in his manner would betray the fact he had just buried his firstborn. It would be more than his mother could take in her condition. The doctor was in the room as he entered.  His mother was lying with her eyes closed. “She’s in a coma,” the doctor said gently.  He knew something of the strain this man had been under, his faithful visits to his mother, the death of his son, and the funeral from which he had just come…

          

The doctor put his hand on Mr. Armistead’s shoulder in wordless sympathy. “Just sit beside her,” he said, “she might come to…” And he left them together. Mr. Armistead’s heart was heavy as he sat in the gathering twilight. He lit the lamp on the bedside table, and the shadows receded. Soon she opened her eyes, and smiling in recognition, she put her hand on her son’s knee.

“Bob…” she said his name lovingly-and drifted into a coma again.  Quietly Mr. Armisted sat on, his hand over hers, his eyes never leaving her face.  After awhile there was a slight movement on the pillow.  His mother’s eyes were open and there was a far-off look in them, as if she were seeing beyond the room. A look of wonder passed over her face. 
 

“I see Jesus, she exclaimed, adding, “why there’s father…and there’s mother…” And then, “And there’s Robby! I didn’t know Robby had died…”  Her hand patted her son’s knee gently.   “Poor Bob…,” she said softly and was gone.      

 
“For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. John 3:16-17 (Bible)  

"Did you know?"

 

I wish as I write this I could say that I never gossiped.  Oh, the nasty, nasty delight of being able to tell something so interesting about another seems to be something humans love to do.  How many times have you shared a 'bit' of information that did not have to be shared or even should have been shared?

None of us would own that we are gossips. Or that we delighted in the telling of the 'story'.  Both men and women are equally guilty of this horrible trait.  I have sat in restaurants, coffee shops, air ports and I have discovered that the conversations that take place around me are people talking about other people. Often it is a critique of a job, a marriage, a 'friendship'.   "Did you know....?" seems to be an easy and seeming innocent intro to the path of talking poorly of another.   "I just found out...." is another opening.  "I have been thinking ...." or " I just want you know that...." generally leads to one spewing a negative about another.  Can you relate?  What was your last conversation about?

In this journey of 'aging' I am discovering that opinions that differ from mine are fodder for gossip.  Fear of things not going my way is another base for me to speak poorly of another.  Control probably could be lumped into that last sentence but my need for life to go my way, on my terms, in my time will loosen my tongue and reveal my heart. 

As a Christ follower I wish I could say that I always took my frustrations to Him and ran them over His grid of fairness and grace.  I wish I could say that I was willing to bring my fears of life not going my way to Him instead of trying make situations go in my direction via manipulation or demands.  I wish I could say that I trusted Him to make things right in relational issues.  But I can't.  

What I can say as I end today's reflections is that I am working on this nasty trait.   I so do not want to be known by negative, critical words that are fueled from my heart. 

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

Change of Location

It is Easter a.m.  I should be getting ready for church.  This is always a Sunday that I delight in.  The celebration of all that makes Christianity unique is honored on this day.  Easter separates Christianity from all religions.  The one we follow died but rose again.  The one we follow does not require that I make myself right before He accepts me.  He made everything right on Good Friday.  He paid for my sins.  The best part is that I can do nothing for Him to love me more.  I just accepted His payment gift for my sins and I now seek to love and to serve Him as He has blessed me.

After Good Friday, One Messy Saturday (http://claudssixtyfifthyear.blogspot.com/2016/03/one-messy-saturday.html) yesterdays post, I come to this day.  The day that changed the world and will continue to change the world.

Today many will walk through the doors of our church or a church.  Many who never come any other time but do so for many reasons.  Why?  Tradition perhaps. However, tradition never satisfies the need of a savior.  Religion? Religion is mans attempt to define a god.  Acts of contrition, of kindness or anything does not get one to heaven. Even showing up at a church today does not make a bit of difference. 

My hope and prayer is that on this celebration day the seeker, the questioner, the skeptic will pause and ask why Jesus?  Then begin to figure out the why? To the skeptic I say do your own investigative research.  I will never convince you.

God says: "You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah (Bible) 29:13.

I do not tout a religion.  I do fellowship and worship with other Christ followers.  They are less than perfect as am I.  However, we do life together in a world that is not embracing to us.  We are humbly grateful that the one we worship, is alive, active in our lives and apart from Him we are a doomed, mess.

Check out Jesus!   You will never be the same.