The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the works of your hands.Psalm 138:8 ESV.

I turned 76 a few days ago. It is a big number to many, but having two siblings in their 90s, I’m still trying to “grow up”! My body reminds me that I am not as young as my spirit and soul think I am. But this year I spent the morning of my birthday evaluating things in my life.

It is good to remember God knows my age! He scheduled my birth (ours in my case, I’m a triplet!) You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. Psalm 139:16. NLT.

He wants to use the 7 decades I have been alive for His glory. He knows what life lessons I have learned (both the easy and the hard way!). All the historical changes that have happened in my life time have impacted me. I remember as a young child hearing about cancer and the fear it brought. No stores were open on Sunday due to the “blue” laws and it was really a day of rest. I remember the night, as a 9 year old, laying in bed asking Jesus to come into my life and be my Savior.

The 60s brought more cultural changes, including the Vietnam War with so many of our high school classmates having to sign up for the draft. My next step included the University of Washington. I lived through campus protests with armed police arresting students who barricaded themselves in a building. I remember the Civil Rights debates, and feeling puzzled at first why Rosa Parks couldn’t sit where she wanted to on the bus. Growing up in Washington state, I learned how ignorant I was. But through it all, God’s faithfulness was evident.

I followed Him as best I could in high school via youth group and my own attempt at having a “quiet time”. My father always had “Voice” magazines in his car–which had testimonies of God’s power in everyday people’s life. I grew hungry for that type of experience. My sophomore year at the UW I met some spirit filled believers. I had an encounter with the Holy Spirit, and I was changed. This was during the Jesus People Era, and change happened in so many ways. Hymnals gave ways to overhead projectors and new songs! Many of the new songs were straight from the scriptures–so we learned a lot. Pianos and organs were replaced with guitars and “worship bands” were created. It took place with much controversy.

Church attire also began to change. I remember wearing jeans to a Friday night service and feeling so free! This was also very controversial. So many changes, but God was moving in some marvelous ways. Hunger for the Word, fellowship and ministry was growing in many many denominations. The walls of separation between churches began to lower and cross fellowship began to take place. Believers began to understand the importance of both praise and worship. The person hood of Jesus began to be emphasized, then the Holy Spirit. Later on, an emphasis on the importance of faith, healing and the power of God began to be taught as well.

As I remember these changes, I am reminded He is not done. All these changes brought challenges. New things are coming, I am sure. I pray I will be open to any new move He wants to bring. In the meantime, I will continue to trust Him. My grandchildren will have their own stories to tell. Some of them were changed and challenged with the Covid pandemic. They don’t remember life without computers or handheld phones. They don’t hide under their desks as we were taught to do in case of a nuclear attack. Instead, they have lockdown practice in case of school shootings. Mental health issues, gender identity, and addictions are things they must navigate. But God has a way and they were born for such a time as this.

As long as I am here, I want to fulfill my gifts and callings. I want to demonstrate to them God’s ability to answer prayer and bring them through their own struggles. It is my prayer that Job 12:12 comes true for me. Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding? NIV. My pantry of life lessons are filled with God’s grace, mercy and God stories that I pray will touch others, how about you? Unless we share them, they will stay hidden.

Father, help me remember all the changes that have taken place in my lifetime. I am so grateful for my season of life, and the hope it gives me that you will help my children and grandchildren navigate their season as well. You are so very faithful, and we can trust you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. Hebrews 10:35-36. NLT.

My friends, have you or are you currently facing the undermining of your confidence in our God? It can happen with a direct attack. It can also be like a quiet erosion of your faith through weariness, constant battles, or distractions. When we walk in confidence (the state of feeling the truth of something) we stand taller, walk more firmly and lift our head high. Confidence changes the way we face both the difficult challenges of life and our expectations of how they will turn out.

The recipients of this book must have faced serious persecution. They were steadfast in their faith. Biblical scholars are not clear on the author of Hebrews. It might have been Apollos or Barnabas. However, it is clear he knew them. I love his encouragement to them. But remember the earlier days, when, after being [spiritually] enlightened, you [patiently] endured a great conflict of sufferings, sometimes by being made a spectacle, publicly exposed to insults and distress, and sometimes by becoming companions with those who were so treated. For you showed sympathy and deep concern for those who were imprisoned, and you joyfully accepted the[unjust] seizure of your belongings and the confiscations of your property, conscious of the fact you have a better possession and a lasting one [prepared for you in heaven]. Hebrews 10:32-34. AMP. These believers suffered a lot. I am sure they were wondering, is it worth it? Should I give up? Should we throw away our confidence in the Lord?

Have you ever been tempted to throw away your confidence? Or as the Amplified says: do not fling away your fearless confidence, for it has a glorious and great reward. My friends, many of you are facing some serious trials of life. Financial struggles, health struggles, along with relational struggles. Please, do not throw away your confidence in the Lord. For you have need of patient endurance [to bear up under difficult circumstances without compromising], so that when you have carried out the will of God, you may receive and enjoy to the full what is promised. Hebrews 10:36. AMP. Look up my friends, into the face of your Savior. Maybe you need to take communion and focus on what He endured for you. He felt it was worth it, even when we stumble, doubt and continue in our unbelief and sin. I feel someone needs to hear, “buck up, buttercup” you can do this. You can do the hard thing, because you are not suffering unto death. I am not saying it’s easy, but you can do hard things with Him, and isn’t that all that matters?

Father, please help your people as they struggle against Satan’s lies that they won’t make it. Give them the confidence to stand strong in you. You are able to keep them from stumbling and falling away so you can present us with great joy into your presence (Jude 1:24). In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser, teach the righteous, and they will learn even more. Proverbs 9:9 NLT.

I wonder how you and I would rank on a “teachableness” scale? Would you consider yourself very teachable? Somewhat teachable? Or lousy at it? Jesus taught with parables. Some understood them, some didn’t have a clue what he was talking about, even His own disciples! They are excellent role models for us. Because they didn’t just go on with their day, nodding, “oh yes, wise sayings”. In Luke 8, Jesus told the parable of the farmer scattering seed. They did not understand, so “his disciples asked him what his parable meant”. Luke 8:9. My friends, we need to ask about things we don’t understand. 

But we must first acknowledge what we don’t know. There are some things in my life I don’t know how to do. Sometimes, I just don’t want to bother with them. Last week, after our Life Group was over, someone noticed a leg on my chair was loose. She picked it up, did something, and tightened it. I didn’t want to admit; I didn’t know how to do it. Usually, I wait till my son comes over, discovers the wobble and fixes it. I never watched him do it or ask how to do it. I just lived with it. However, this week I told myself, it can’t be that hard. I found an Allen wrench, experimented and finally got it to work! Are there areas in your knowledge about God that you have never asked Him to teach you about?

God gave us the Holy Spirit to be our teacher. He wants to instruct us and teach us in God’s ways. Come unto me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light. Matthew 11:28-30.  I wonder if the reason so many of us grow weary is that we don’t know Him well enough. We are walking in our own strength and wisdom, and doing things harder than need be. We focus on the problem more than on God and His ability to solve it. He wants to teach us better ways to do things, if we only ask.

If we want to be teachable, we must quiet our own thoughts and ideas. Then we must put on our listening ears. Many of us find this hard to do amid our noisy world. I’m trying to remember to pray before I open my Bible every day. “Father, teach me. Help me understand what I am reading”. I don’t want to read simply for information, I want to read for application. Sometimes this is hard, because it means I have to change. Being teachable means you will change your approach, your thoughts, your attitudes, or your actions. But we don’t have to make these changes by sheer willpower. We have the Holy Spirit’s help!

Praying with King David, in Psalm 25: make me t know your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Psalm 25: 4-5. ESV. The more we seek Him and His ways, the more comfortable we are with His paths. A person with a teachable spirit is correctable. They do not need to be defensive. They are soft and tenderhearted toward the things of the Lord. They will admit they are wrong. 

Years ago I was talking with a friend about the scripture about putting new wine in old wineskins. I was sharing my “wisdom” as a young pastor. My friend offered a very insightful comment, and, to be honest, I was embarrassed by my lack of insight. I was dishonest, and said, “Oh, yes I knew that’. Unfortunately, that lie lost me the insight and wisdom she shared. I had to repent and admit my pride stood in the way of my learning something. I ranked very low on the teachable scale that day. Don’t let that happen to you. Let’s be learners, no matter who the teacher might be.

Father, please forgive our pride. Help us humble ourselves and seek to learn from you. Thank you for your willingness to teach us, even if we resist it. Your ways are higher than our ways, once we learn that it is so much easier to do things your ways. In Jesus’ Name, amen/