Christian Reflection and Prayer

Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at
each side.

With a 5-lb potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your
sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, and
then relax.

Each day you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer.
After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb potato bags.

Then try 50-lb potato bags and then eventually try to get to where you can lift
a 100-lb potato bag in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a
full minute. (I'm at this level.)

After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each bag.

I would never trade my amazing friends,
my  wonderful life, my loving family for
less gray hair or a flatter belly.  As I've
aged, I've become kinder to myself, and
less critical of  myself. I've become my
own friend.. I don't chide myself for eating 
that extra cookie, or for not making my
bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko
that I didn't need, but  looks so avante
garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat,
to be  messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave
this world too soon; before  they understood
the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read
or play on the computer  until 4 AM and
sleep until noon? I will dance with myself
to those wonderful tunes of the 60 &70's,
and if I, at the same time, wish  to weep
over a lost love ... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that
is stretched over a bulging body, and will
dive into the waves with  abandon if I
choose to, despite the pitying glances
from the jet set.

They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful.  But
there again, some of life is just as well
forgotten. And I  eventually remember
the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been
broken. How can your heart not  break
when you lose a loved one, or when a child
suffers, or even when somebody's beloved
pet gets hit by a car? But broken  hearts
are what give us strength and understanding
and compassion. A heart never broken is
pristine and sterile and will  never know the
joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough
to have  my hair turning gray, and to have
my youthful laughs be forever etched into
deep grooves on my face.

So many have never laughed, and so many
have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive.
You care less about  what other people think.
I don't question myself anymore..
I've even earned the right to be wrong.

I like being old. It has set me free. I  like the
person I have become. I am not going to live
forever, but while I am still here, I will not
waste time lamenting what could  have been,
or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat
dessert  every single day(if I feel like it).

AS I HAVE AGED

Ezra had prepared his heart to seek
the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and
to teach statutes and ordinances in
Israel. —Ezra 7:10

Four pastors were discussing the
merits of the various translations of
the Bible. One liked a particular version
best because of its simple, beautiful
English. Another preferred a more
scholarly edition because it was closer
to the original Hebrew and Greek.
Still another liked a contemporary
version because of its up-to-date vocabulary.

The fourth minister was silent for a moment,
then said, "I like my mother's translation best.
" Surprised, the other three men said they
didn't know his mother had translated the Bible.
"Yes," he replied.  "SHE TRANSLATED IT INTO
LIFE, AND IT WAS THE MOST CONVINCING
TRANSLATION I EVER SAW."

Instead of discussing translation preferences,
this pastor reminded them that the most important
focus should be learning God's Word and doing it.
That was the top priority of Ezra's life. As a scribe,
he studied the Law, obeyed it, and taught it to
the Israelites (Ezra 7:10). For example, God
commanded His people not to intermarry with
neighboring nations who served pagan gods (9:1-2).
Ezra confessed the nation's sin to God (9:10-12)
and corrected the people, who then repented (10:10-12).

Let's follow Ezra's example by seeking the Word
of God and translating it into life.   — Anne Cetas

When we take time to read God's Word,
Our heart is filled with pleasure;
So let's relate the truth we've heard-
With others share the treasure.  -Hess

The best commentary on the Bible is a person
who puts it into practice.