It’s Sunday evening and I am counting down the hours until it’s officially Feb. 19th. For I have thought about this day since I was a little boy. Sixty-five seemed so old at the time and now that I am at the doorstep, I am living life with eager anticipation as to what God has in store for me next. Remember back at the turn of the century, what we referred to as Y2K, when we thought all the computers would stop working and there would be major problems with technology all throughout the world as things came crashing down on us?
Well, virtually none of that happened. Software engineers were busy at work making sure that there was a smooth transition into the 2000’s and we didn’t skip a beat. Admittedly, it was pretty neat to be there at the turn of a century and the birth of a new millenium at the same time! I was about to turn 47 at the time and still remember it vividly.
Well, tonight feels kind of similar. I used to think that 65 was so old and life would magically change at the stroke of midnight. Well, in several hours I hope to find that I was wrong and everything will continue status quo with a few added benefits, kind of like what happened when the calendar rolled around to the year 2000!
I don’t have to work as hard as I used to and Janet and I spend more time together than we ever have. What a joy! I am in pretty good health and still serve several clients that I thoroughly enjoy. I still get a thrill out of ministry and writing this blog, so I don’t see that changing anytime in the near future – and I am starting to think about teaching bible study again later this spring so I am also getting excited about that.
All in all, God has been very good to me. I have had an interesting, productive, loving life. I wish my parents were still around to share life with me, but I’ve been an orphan for quite a while now. Janet has been a part of my life for just about 60 years now and we have thousands of shared memories from the time we were little kids. And speaking of kids, we have three great ones of our own. It is so gratifying to see all of them lead successful lives of their own.
I can’t help but feel that there is a lot of life left in me. I don’t think God has necessarily shown me my next assignment yet, but I have learned to be a little more patient and in His perfect timing, He will let me know what I am supposed to dedicate my effort to next. One thing is for sure. God created me, has a plan for me and already has the path laid out for me.
By the way, it was seven years ago tomorrow, on my birthday, that I started writing my first blog for Transitions by The Book. This post marks the 1319th one that I have written and I still get energized by the experience each time I sit down to contemplate the subject for the evening.
So for tonight, as I have done for the past number of years celebrating my birthday, the verse is one that Grandma Toussaint wrote in the front of a New Testament Bible that she presented to me on my 10th birthday. The writer of Hebrews tells us, in Hebrews 13:20-21, “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
My encouragement tonight is that God has created a good work in each of us who believe in Him. And He will equip us to accomplish the goal that He has set forth for each one of us. We are His workmanship and my prayer is that all that we do and all that we are will be found pleasing to Him – for many, many years to come! Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…