Ageing Gracefully

God must have a lesson for me today .... Earlier in the day, Mrs. B challenged me in her blog entry about an impromptu lunch and how important it is to be a flexible help-mate with a good attitude to my husband. Of course I knew that, but needed a gentle reminder....

As I visited some blogs this evening, I came upon a reoccurring theme - accepting myself as I am, as I age. I have to admit I have sometimes stood looking into my mirror arguing with God that I just can't be 50+; it CAN'T be; NO, it can't BE! Regardless, it is the truth. Do I feel it? Do I act it? It most likely depends upon the day, but in my mind's eye, I am not 50+!

I visited Nancy and read her post "the gift", then went to see Michelle who has some thoughts on aging at the top of her blog, and then visited Sharon who has a beautiful video/song and reflective thoughts at her site, "The Real Me." I think I am afraid to visit more blogs! LOL! Interesting, I never would have given this topic any thought today until I read what I did today.

Yes,, I did go to check another favorite site - Sunshine on my Shoulders, and there, Diana is giving the opportunity to share what God is doing in my life - "Him in My Life" Mondays. So, here I am. I don't know for sure what God wants of me, but I know I need to be open to His leading and teaching. I know that I need to accept who I am right now as a 50-something! I also know that I have some work to do in the area of accepting myself as He does. I am such an approval seeker when it comes to other people, but the only one I need to truly seek approval from is my LORD. If I do that, I know all else will fall in place.

I'm thankful to the ones He put in my path today.

A Bump in the Road

Winter in Maine brings many bumps in the road, especially with frost heaves. Last Wednesday, along came a bump in our Life's Road. I had a call from my dh at work, after school, which was very odd, since he wouldn't call me unless it were important. I knew he had scheduled a dr. appointment for 2 that afternoon, so figured it must be related. He was being very vague, but to make a long story short he had gone into the ER at 11:30am and a blood test had shown that something was going on with his heart. Little did I know what that meant, and it still wasn't clear when I got to the hospital, but then as a bit of time passed, it came out that he had had a heart attack and was being transported by helicopter to a heart unit at another hospital. WHAT???!!!! I guess I got into a bit of my own adreneline rush then!

He is now fine; it was a mild attack and the blockage was in a spot that did not need to be/could not be stinted without causing more damage. So, now we make some dietary changes, as well as some lifestyle changes. At 51, this was a wake up call (for both of us), and we are praising God that it was not worse and is treatable.

I am so glad that God knew all abut this beforehand; he had mentally prepared my son & I for it, so though it was a shock to have to face it, we discovered as we talked, that we really weren't surprised that it had happened.

Heart attacks happen at any age. Know the signs. My husband didn't have "pain". He had what he called a "sensation", sort of a burning feeling on the surface of his chest and some back pain/achiness that he thought was from shoveling snow, working on a plugged sewer at our rental property, putting logs into the back of the pick-up and then unloading them, etc. So we joke now about his "sensation" and "episode" - such vague terms he was using, but it was very real, and could have been worse had he ignored it longer than he did.

My advice: Be aware, and if you suspect something, get checked out!!

And a child shall lead them....

A few days ago, I was forwarded a YouTube addy to watch and finally did so today. Perhaps it has already made the rounds, but I just had to share it here. The message is so simple, yet the cornerstone for the whole Bible. God loves us so much, He gave His son for us. I hope you will watch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCdZwitrNoY&NR=1

Have a "SON"filled day.

Where do you go on Sundays?

Two Sunday's ago my pastor told us he wanted us to make a resolution to stop going "to church"! Imagine the surprise we felt at hearing that. He then went on to explain while asking the question, "What is the church?" It is apparent that we are the church - not a building. So, rather than go "to church" he'd like us to "go to worship." I've been pondering on that.

Last Sunday, he continued on the theme of worship ... what constitutes worship? Some people may find a very traditional church service the best way to worship, and others may find more contemporary services help them worship. What about the various aspects of the service? More things to ponder as he taught us....

Everything that we do should be a form of worship: our singing, our praying, our giving, our listening, our learning, our reaching out to others, etc. None of these can be worship though if our hearts aren't right. So, we can't say we've been to "worship' just because we took part in the service. So now come my musings .....

We have to look inside. What will we find? A stubborn spirit or a teachable one? A willing heart or a complaining spirit? A heart that is open to changes that will bring glory to God, or a spirit that is holding fast to "the way things have always been done" even if it's apparent that those "traditions" aren't necessarily right? A heart that is content to stay the same or one that yearns to learn and grow?

I pray that I will have a teachable heart, a willing spirit that seeks to glorify God, and a heart that yearns to learn and grow. How about you? Are you going to church or to worship?
Is your heart going with you?

Psalm 51:10
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

A Glorious Day in Maine

It is if you like snow! This is our house this morning after another 10" of fresh snow. Today is blustery and sunny. that makes it a good "Pooh" day ~ huddled inside with a pot of honey (tea/coffee/cocoa!)I do. Hubby had to get up extra early to get the driveway snowblowed out.

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I don't like to see a brown winter which we have had the past few years where we end up getting snow late Feb. - April. By April, I want Spring! So I look at the snow as a blessing. It also reminds me that Jesus has washed me "whiter than snow". Wow! That's WHITE!

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So, I am enjoying a snow day catching up on odds and ends, putting away some Christmas decorations, writing thank you notes, hemming some new comfy, corduroy pants, and yes, playing on the computer. But I did do my bible reading first. OK.... I did some of it. I guess I better be totally honest. I am easily distracted. A very big problem for me..... anyone else?

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I have a Chronological Bible that I like a lot, and I am going to read chronologically again using a guide I found online. For Christmas, I bought a new Nelson's Study Bible for my hubby and me. It looks like it has some awesome study helps which I am anxious to start reading. I still love my John R Rice Reference Bible which has been my guide for the past 25 years and will remain a favorite, but I do like reading others as well.

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If you are interested in joining me and some of my friends in reading through the Bible this year, here is another site with many guides and here is one that you can listen to while you read. I will say that this last one is not KJV if that is what you want.

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Well, I must go accomplish more of my list of things that need to be finished. Have a wonderful day.