Saturday, November 27, 2004

Who Are You Performing For?

by Donna L. Watkins
Originally Published in A Healing Moment

I turned 50 this year (2000). I never thought much about my age before, but 50 has always sounded rather old to me. Now those of you who are in your 60's and 70's will just giggle and say, "young whippersnapper."

© 2008 Donna L. Watkins - Montezuma Oropendola
When you have health problems that prevent you from doing what you want to do, you sometimes doubt that you can make a difference in life. People rather expect to slow down and do less when they get "older" but that doesn't mean they are worth less.

I saw a plaque one time that said, "By the time you get to greener pastures, you can't climb the fence." No matter whether we age as we get older, or if we've "aged" rather young due to health problems, we really like to be able to do all that we want to do. Much of our opinion of ourselves might depend on our being able to do so.

Performance is a big deal in our culture and it's hard to escape from it even with the greatest of efforts to simplify your life.

Performance is definitely overrated in our society. Your level of performance has nothing to do with your value as a person. Just because you can't do some things that others may be able to do doesn't mean that you can't do other great things.

Scripture tells us that it's not what you do that counts with God. It's what you ARE. Life is a process of becoming more like Jesus. The God of creation is looking for a personal relationship with you, not a power-packed performance that wins the gold. He wants us to KNOW HIM and the power of His resurrection. He wants to be our very best friend without any expectations.

What a goal to look at ... rather than the list that the world gives us.

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Wednesday, November 17, 2004

Stewards Of Our Children

Excerpts from a devotional by Debra Klingsporn

"She grieves the chill of an estranged relationship with one of her children. Blaming herself, she struggles to let go of the "if onlys" and longs for the warmth of reconciliation. She lives with the dull ache of unspoken anger and the sting of love turned dutiful.

Winter's cold is not always cozy and the Winter years are not always golden. Yet we each, in our own ways, do the best we can for those we love. Our love is always human, always short of perfection.

We, too, will be inadequate stewards of our children's childhoods, incapable of meeting the needs of those we would wish to spare from all of life's hurts and disappointments.

Although I can't offer healing to one who lives in the Winter years or bears a wintry heart, I can offer hope. The God of Spring's new life, of Summer's joy, and of Autumn's fullness is also the God of Winter's chill. Although we never know what lies buried beneath the frozen stillness, we can trust that surely, surely, after Winter comes the Spring."

Psalm 33:18-22 - "But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You.

Hebrews 6:19a - "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure."

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