i’ve been studying this verse lately {source: this amazing book: Pursuing an Intentional Life by Jean Fleming} and i hope you will read on, and contemplate with me!
“… so teach us to number our days so we may get a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 ESV
she writes: {i’ve paraphrased slightly} i’ve often heard the word “stewardship” ~ used in regard to money, talents, and time. but how much of a good steward can i be when it comes to the insights God gives as well? these revelations are graces from God not to be received lightly. i {and we} catch glimmers of how the Lord is asking us to correct, enlarge, and refine them ~ hopefully listening closer, as He teaches us His wisdom, so we can number our days in order to make them count. i want to be purposeful in the choices i make, and pray those choices reflect back to Him for His glory, always!”
i admit… i have “counted the days” when i am anxiously waiting for something to happen… like, as in: counting the days to retire? yup, that is me. counting the days until… {you fill in the blank}.
and i want to share a prayer with you, too, on this day:
“heavenly Father, sometimes we are so busy looking ahead and anticipating the future, or looking behind, and recalling the past, that we miss today’s opportunities you’ve set before us. Help us to remember that today is the future we’ve waited for, and the past we will look back upon; you have brought it to us right now for this day of life. as we make decisions on how to spend this day, let us feel your power and love, and the significance of this ‘here-and-now’ gift of life.” in your Son’s name, amen.
and… in studying this verse, i said “yes” to an early retirement offer last week, and i’m very, very excited about it!! july 25th, 2014 marks the last day of my 28 year career in the federal court!
i am excited about new possibilities, the new things that God has planned for me. now, when people around me hear i am retiring, they respond: “what will you do now?” well, the short answer: “anything i want?!” how about my love and passion? art! teaching! quilting, and more. i look forward to studying God’s word more, deeper and wider; to look to Him as to how to make my days count! i have always loved teaching, {it’s what i went to college for back in the good ol 70’s} and overall… it will be a joy to become more fully engaged in being a homemaker — also something i wanted as a young girl {but it wasn’t really “supported’ or encouraged to a young girl in the 70’s one little bit}… so… in a nutshell? doing more of what i love, and loving more of what i do, and making each day count… {better}.
have a “marveles” weekend ~ and for you folks who live in america, may we know the freedom our country obtained came at great cost and sacrifice; that God Himself was the one who orchestrated it all. may we learn {more} about repentance, and ask Him to restore our glorious america… to serve one another in love, and for all generations to come, that we will seek the Lord’s wisdom to make all the days we have count… for Him.
soli deo gloria!
Comments 9
What wonderful words to read…I am happy for your new adventure Leslie. I will hopefully get to come to one of your classes soon…miss learning from you! Blessings!!!
That is so exciting and you don't have very long to count either. Oh the possibilities, eh! So happy for you.
So happy for you and yes, each moment is a gift and we should make of it as much as we can. Congrats on early retirement. I can hear you shouting about how great that feels. xox
Congratulations on your retirement, Leslie! How exciting! It will definitely lead to lots of new things and experiences.
This is the day that the Lord has made, Let us rejoice and be glad in it!!! Congratulations!! You'll never experience a dull moment again, retirement is a gift!!
"Today is the future we've waited for"…how wonderful!!! And congrats on the upcoming retirement!!! Thanks for a wonderful! post!!! Great 'food for thought' for sure!!!
Ah, a confirmation to not wait as I myself play catch up! Bless you! Yes, to do what we luv and it is often because God himself put that desire in us as well as the abilities to fulfill it! Go Girl! God, himself, is known to do 'new' things!!! :^)
I forgot to mention the Bible verse I learned in Bethel Bible Study: "God can use evil for good." I don't remember the numbers, but the verse has proven true soooo many times that it's easy to remember the verse. I'd say the pain (just a cyst scraping on a nerve) is a wake up call from our Deity to smell the roses while yea may, and appreciate the painless times.
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Everything you touch turns out so creative! I love popping in here to see what you are offering.
I've recently been in lots of pain, so have been counting hours – until the next good pill… I do appreciate when that pill starts to work, and I can then work also. Just walking without pain is a blessing. Maybe that's why the pain… I'm supposed to learn to appreciate the little things in life.
Thanks for the thoughts. Love your blog.
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