Issue 1557 – Autumn – September 23, 2024

Less than 24 hours ago, the seasonal clock turned over a  notch, and autumn began. It’s an annual event, followed in three months by winter and another in three by spring.

The leaves are turning, and the temperatures have dropped. The days are ever so much shorter. It’s a natural part of the created order. Time passes, and the seasons come and go.

In less than two months, I will be turning 68. That’s older than I could have comprehended when I was a child. At five or ten, twenty or even thirty years of age, 68 is multiple times the entirety of your life span.

At 67, I’m not going to double my age. No one knows the number of days God has ordained for us except God himself. Still, it’s a safe bet that I’ve passed my halfway mark and am approaching my best-before date.

I’m okay with that. Someone recently asked if I would like to be 18 again. I didn’t even have to think about it before answering no. I would be OK with having the energy I had at 18 or not having as many body parts past their warranty, but I wouldn’t want to do it again.

When I told my friends that, they said, “But you could avoid all the mistakes you made. Just think of that.”

For a moment, that was tempting because, like anyone else, I have made my share (or more) of dumb mistakes and bad decisions. Some were painful for me and my loved ones, and I regret them.

Still, going back would only leave room for me to make different mistakes, so no thanks. Through it all, God has protected me and blessed me despite my tendency to be impetuous and rebellious.

In the words of Frank Sinatra, “Regrets, I’ve had a few, but then again, too few to mention.” One of my biggest was doing things my way, not God’s way, but He has been patient and merciful.

It still astounds me that Jesus knew of all my stumbles, mistakes, and outright rebellion and still chose to come to redeem me.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:6-11

That’s love on a level that I cannot fully comprehend. It’s a love I hope to extend to others, at least to a degree (and often fail at).

As flawed as I still am, I am thankful that the LORD remains at work in me. I am grateful that the Father sees me as I will one day be.

Time marches on, just as it should. There are many things I cannot do or do more slowly than I once did. God almighty, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, planned for the time of my birth and my circumstances. Who could ask for anything more?

Thank you, Lord, for everything you have done, are doing, and will do in my life.

Be blessed

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word

Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)

Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.

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