My Dad is an interesting guy. He'll be ninety-one this summer "If he lives that long", as he always says.
He's been saying that for over 25 years.
I griped at him one day that he's been trying to die since 2000. Yep. Since his 75th birthday.
He has plans to go to the last reunion of his high school in Farley, NM, this June. In three months.
"If I live that long."
He and I are going to our biannual school reunion in Rolla, KS, in July.
In four months.
"If I live that long."
Dad was a cowboy and a farmer, a Marine in WWII, built a lot of houses, corrals, worked on dangerous farm machinery, drove around in big cities and cross country where the speed limit was 85,
He fell into, onto, under, beside, in front of, behind and through every machine, steer, fence gap, horse, hole and structure imaginable.
He has had carpal tunnel surgery, knees replacement surgery, by-pass surgery (5), melanoma (twice), high blood pressure, cataracts, gall-stones and malaria.
His hips need replaced so he rides around in a motorized wheelchair.
He takes a lot of pills every day.
His memory is a little shaky since he totaled his Mercury last year, but works on his book every day.
If I live that long?
He's on the phone with his cousin Irene. She took care of him and his older sister when Grandma went to get the twins. Irene was a senior in high school and ran the house while Gran was away. Dad was six.
Irene is still at home, too.
Not Irene, but I love the picture!
If I live that long? You couldn't kill these people with a super-villian!
I think about what he says. A lot.
Even though he say "If..." and even though he misses Mom terribly, he is a full of life guy. Makes plans for the future.
Writes and rewrites the new section of his book.
Has about 50 photos laid out to put in the manuscript.
I spend a lot of time helping salvage pictures that are over 70 years old. And research.
No matter what he says; He's going to LIVE until he dies.
And that's what I plan to do, too.
Even if I never start a business.
Even if I never get thinner.
Even if I never write that book.
Those are just things I'd like to do. Not necessarily what I need to do.
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;And in whatever he does, he prospers. Psalms 1:1
One of the promises is that everything will be okay. That all I do will prosper.
It doesn't mean I'm gonna get rich. It means if I'm walking the walk, He's going to bless what my hands touch.
His Glory.
His Kingdom.
His Way.
Tremble, and do not sin;
Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still.
5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
And trust in the Lord. Psalms 4:4-5
Live, until you die.
Shalom!
I feel like I'm losing my fire.
Not like I'm a pile of embers, just waiting to be fanned back to life, but hitting pffhhhhhhht!
After the fire has been stirred, watered, stirred, stomped, stirred... well, you get the point.
When you are all fired up and have a routine that keeps you on the run, it's pretty easy to stay in the zone.
My days were great. Get up, have tea and read some Bible, dust something, and hit the books.
Write some, blog some, and get all wound up in what God was showing me.
I could go kidnap my friend who keeps me straight thinking, and spend a few hours hammering out words.
My husband was right there in the evenings to talk with and add clarity to prophecy.
It was great!
THEN, life happened. Dad got hurt and I moved to his place.
You must understand, I wouldn't do this any other way. He needs me and that is my joy.
But I am a stranger in a strange, albeit familiar, land.
My days are very quiet, and slow. Mostly listening to stories from Dad, and he's got 90 years worth!
When I do get something stirring, I have no one to share with.
I've tried, but with dismal results.
Now, that was my soap-box whine. All about why my little flickering ember is suffocating.
Here's reality.
Joseph led a charmed life. He was Daddy's favorite, I figure he did what he wanted and got what he wanted.
Then, he ends up as a slave, teated like shoe scrapings, and nearly loses his head.
I'll bet his ember was tiny!
Samson was lord of everything he saw. Spoiled rotten by his parents and blessed of God.
When they blinded him in prison, I know his ember was barely smoking.
John, the Baptizer! His folks knew before birth he was extra special!
But in prison, he wondered if he had made a mistake.
He ran around saying everything that God put into his head! Until they took it off.
These three men are not only recognized names to Jews and Christians, but the world population, in general.
I find one really clear connection.
They had a segment of their lives when the fire could have easily gone out.
When the Word could not have been enough.
When there was just not enough hope to fan the flames.
And...they made it.
Made it?!? Are you kidding?
Yeah, Joseph became a great man and saved his family and a kingdom,
but Samson died a slave,
and John was executed!
But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? As for you,you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. Genesis 50:19-20
Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.” Judges 16:28
So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed in his life. Judges 16:30b
I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they acknowledged God’s justice, having been baptized with the baptism of John. Luke 7:28-29
Yet all three were who, and where, they were supposed to be.
And they all stayed the course.
What looked like a dying, struggling, perishing ember was in truth, a roaring flame.
And the light of Israel will become a fire and his Holy One a flame,
And it will burn and devour his thorns and his briars in a single day. Isaiah 10:17
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. 2 Timothy 1:8-12
I will stay the course, no matter how it looks.
Because I KNOW who holds today, and tomorrow.
And I am not alone.
Shalom!
