Prime Time!

After we returned home from Tennessee I decided I wanted to get a few more of my mother-in-law's books.  Many are available on Amazon (you can check them out here) but the ones I wanted were only available for Kindle.  I then headed over to Pentecostal Publishing House and found what I was looking for (you can check those out here.)

 

 

"Faith Fills An Empty Basket" is a follow-up book to "Faith Brings An Empty Basket."  Both are based on stories of the Faith Promise program and how God will take our commitment and multiply it.  Bro. Jack Leaman is known far and wide for his many years of Faith Promise services but he was also Dolly's classmate at ABI (Apostolic Bible Institute.)  This book was published in 2017 when Dolly was 80 years old.

She adapted stories from her two books about the DeMerchants (Flying Full Throttle and Still Flying Full Throttle) for children in "Pilot Bennie’s Amazing Amazon Adventures" and "More Amazon Adventures with Pilot Bennie."

This second book was published in 2020 - Dolly was 82 or 83 at the time!

This post may seem like an advertisement to buy Dolly's books, but it's not!  You won't be disappointed if you do buy them, but I just wanted to encourage all of us who over getting a little "older" to keep  living our lives with purpose.  We are not past our prime.  There is still so much to do.  Lessons to teach, songs to sing, souls to reach.

The Bible is full of examples of those made an impact when they were "well sticken in years" as Elisabeth and Zacharias, the parents of John the Baptist.  Anna the Prophetess was at least 84 when the baby Jesus was presented in the temple.  She "departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day."  Job lived 140 years after his trial and saw four generations of his family.  Abraham and Sarah were 100 and 90 when Isaac was born.  Caleb was 85 when he said, "Give me this mountain."

On and on the list goes.  Men and women who continued on even when others considered them past their prime.  Psalm 92:13-14 says, "Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.  They shall still bring forth fruit in old age."  Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible says, "They shall continue to grow in grace, and be fruitful to the end of their lives. It is a rare case to find a man in old age full of faith, love, and spiritual activity." John Gill's Exposition of the Bible says, "Being thus planted and watered, they shall not only bring forth the fruits of righteousness, but shall continue, and go on to do so, and even when they are grown old; contrary to all other trees, which, when old, cease bearing fruit; but so do not the righteous; grace is often in the greatest vigour when nature is decayed." John Wesley's Notes on the Bible says about this verse:  "Their last days shall be their best days, wherein they shall grow in grace, and increase in blessedness."

 

Our best days are still ahead of us!

The Whole Duty of Man

I finished reading the book of Ecclesiastes this morning.  Chapter 12 verse 13 says, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."  It's so simple.  Fear God and keep His commandments.  We can make it so difficult.  Fear God and keep His commandments.

Matthew Henry put it this way: 

The root of religion is fear of God reigning in the heart, and a reverence of his majesty, a deference to his authority, and a dread of his wrath. Fear God, that is, worship God, give him the honour due to his name, in all the instances of true devotion, inward and outward. The rule of religion is the law of God revealed in the scriptures. Our fear towards God must be taught by his commandments, and those we must keep and carefully observe. Wherever the fear of God is uppermost in the heart, there will be a respect to all his commandments and care to keep them. In vain do we pretend to fear God if we do not make conscience of our duty to him.

USA Today had a story this morning about six women who were born in the 19th century and are still living today (here.)  The oldest was born on March 5, 1898.  Each had tips for living long lives.  Gertrude Weaver is the oldest American.  Here's what she had to say:

So how has she lived so long? "Kindness," she told Time. "Treat people right and be nice to other people the way you want them to be nice to you."
And strong religious beliefs. "You have to follow God. Don't follow anyone else," she told the local Camden News. "Be obedient and follow the laws and don't worry about anything. I've followed him for many, many years and I ain't tired."

So there it is, from 116 year old Gertrude Weaver, "Follow God, be obedient and follow the laws."  Sounds a lot like "Fear God and keep His commandments"  doesn't it?

What is Old Age?

In spite of illness, in spite even of the archenemy sorrow, one can remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable in intellectual curiosity, interested in big things, and happy in small ways. 
~Edith Wharton

I'd have a few thoughts about old age floating around in my head  lately.  It all started when we got an invitation to a Christmas party.  It was the "Oldies Party ~ Over 40."  Over 40?  Les and I both laughed at being called old while in our 40s!

Old age is 15 years older than I am. 
~Oliver Wendell Holmes 

I certainly don't feel old.  I find so much enjoyment in my life!  No, I don't do the things I did when I was in my 20s, but I've found that I enjoy getting up with the chickens, hopping on my bike and seeing how fast I can ride.

I'd like to stay healthy enough so that I'll be one of those old ladies who is still out there running. 
~Jennifer Dall

But then I read an ad in the magazine from the League of American Bicyclists.  It was for Senior Cycling - 50+.  Oooo... that's only a little over two years away for me!  I was okay with the "Senior" label, until I read "Old Folks on Spokes."  There was that "old" label again!

It is a mistake to regard age as a downhill grade toward dissolution. The reverse is true. As one grows older, one climbs with surprising strides.
~George Sand

It's interesting that we seem to label folks either young or old.  I started wondering, why do we avoid the middle age label?

The long, dull, monotonous years of middle-aged prosperity or middle-aged adversity are excellent campaigning weather for the devil.
~ C. S. Lewis

I remember when I turned 38.  I thought "I am now middle aged."  That's all there was to it.  I didn't consider myself old, but I also knew my teenage years were far behind me!

At middle age the soul should be opening up like a rose, not closing up like a cabbage
~John Andrew Holmes

A decade later, I don't feel any older.  In fact, I feel younger.  That has a lot to do with how I've taken care of myself.  I am definitely healthier ~ I eat better (most of the time) and exercise regularly.  I also know I can't please everyone.  If God is pleased with me, then I know I've done the best I can in whatever life has thrown my way.  Learning that lesson has made life a lot less stressful.

Patience makes a women beautiful in middle age 
~Elliot Paul 

If I live 90 years, then I am definitely in my middle years.  I'll let you in on a little secret ~ the idea of turning 50 in 2014 sounds fun to me! (I am not planning a party ~ especially not an "Over the Hill" type.)  As long as I continue taking care of my health, both spiritual and physical, I think 50 will be a great age.  When can I start wearing a red hat with my purple??

The only time you really live fully is from thirty to sixty. The young are slaves to dreams; the old servants of regrets. Only the middle-aged have all their five senses in the keeping of their wits.
~ Theodore Roosevelt

What do you think?  If you're no longer under 30, what do you think of the middle aged label?  What do you want to be called?  Have you reached an age that you consider yourself old?

Monday Morning Mail Call

I love getting things in the mail. A card or letter really brightens my day. I enjoy going through catalogs, especially this time of the year. I'm not too thrilled when bills come, but I'm thankful we have the funds to pay them. You may remember earlier this year I received this:


I've laughed about it many times as I creep slowly towards 50 and my hair becomes more silver (that sounds better than gray, right?) So I was a little, okay a LOT, surprised when I received this:


"Dear New Parent" ??? What??? Whoever is selling my name to companies is very confused. From retirement age to new parent all in the same year.

I went online to the take the survey and was quickly bumped out of it when I answered "None of the above" to this question:

Within the past 5 months, have you yourself...

Given birth to one baby?
Given birth to multiple babies (twins, triplets,etc.)?
Adopted a baby?
None of the above


FYI ~ if you're going to send me crazy things in the mail, you will probably become blog fodder.

Are You Kidding Me?!?

I received this in the mail this week:



People I am 46!! That is NOT retirement age! Should I start eating dinner at 4:00 so I can get the senior discount?

Lifetime Commitment

Today brought another great quote from Runner's World:

My running ambition is to keep doing it until I'm way past the point where I have any business running. Just to keep doing it throughout my whole life—to stay fit and feel good.
~ Leroy Chiao, astronaut and runner

I don't know how old Leroy Chiao is and it doesn't matter! Age is just a state of mind. I've read quite a bit lately about "older" athletes, some even over the age of 40! Ha!


It's funny how we view age and aging. First, we're too young. Then somewhere around 20-25 we're finally old enough. Then come 40, it's over the hill! Who decided that, anyway??

There are so many Biblical examples of people doing great things at all ages. Young men like Joseph, David, and King Josiah who was 8! Older folks like Abraham and Sarah, Anna the prophetess, Caleb who 85! And people every age in between.

What matters is a lifetime commitment to staying strong in the Lord and the power of His might.

How Old Are You?

“Let’s consider your age to begin with—how old are you?” asked the White Queen.

“I’m seven and a half exactly,” said Alice.

“You needn’t say ‘exactly’,” the Queen remarked: “I can believe it without that. Now I’ll give you something to believe. I’m just one hundred and one, five months and a day.”

“I can’t believe that!” said Alice.

Last Saturday Les rode the Ojai Valley Century. He actually rode the Double Metric Century, advertised as 124 miles that ended up being 128 miles. Yes, in one day! I know he's amazing! The amazing thing is he rode with a friend named Karl. Who is 78!! Karl never slowed down, in fact he dropped Les as one point!

It's interesting how we perceive age and aging. Botox, hair coloring and five layers of makeup really can't hide a hard life. Just as high heels, sexy clothing and five layers of makeup do not make a 12 year old look 25! The real question is not how we look, but what are we doing with the time we've been given?

James 4:14 says "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."