Retirement?

HEY!

Moses was 80 and Aaron was 83 when they went before Pharaoh! They entered into the greatest adventure ever when they were in their 80’s. That is amazing.

So much for my justification that 55 years old is too old to accomplish much more. Imagine the things that Moses and Aaron participated in and witnessed. They could have missed it all if they decided to break out the rockers and sit on the front porch.

Aaron was told to throw down in front of Pharaoh. For real. He threw down his rod and it became a snake by the power of Yahweh. The magicians came out and tried to duplicate this mighty act of God. They somehow turned their sticks into snakes too. Not looking so impressive for Aaron and Moses about now, BUT… “My Daddy can beat your Daddy!” Aaron’s snake ate all the other ones. He could have missed that whole miraculous scene if he retired at the ripe old age of 79.

Guess, I don’t have an excuse. Fifty five is long enough for me to have gained some faith. Time to go on an adventure.

Dear Lord, Help me to realize my value to You. Help me to keep my focus on You. Help me to see adversity as a door to adventure. Bless all who will read this meditation. Thank You and Amen.

What if?

In one of my morning devotions I read the familiar story of Jesus feeding the 5,000. It is in Matthew 14.

• Jesus, moved with compassion, spent the whole day ministering healing and deliverance to the crowd that followed Him to a deserted place.
• That evening, His disciples came to Him with another need.
• They wanted Jesus to send the people away to find something to eat.
• Jesus said to them, “They don’t have to go away. You give them something to eat.”
• The disciples took honest stock of what they had and it simply was not enough to even make a dent in feeding that crowd.
• Jesus said, “Bring me what you have.”

We know the rest of the story. Jesus took the 5 loaves and 2 fish. He blessed them, broke the food up and gave it to the disciples to hand out. It was more than enough to feed every person who was there.

I look at what I possess to accomplish my BIG DREAM and I realize it simply is not enough. In my mind, a big neon sign flashes, inadequate funds.

The disciples brought what they had to Jesus. What if I just bring what I have to Jesus? What if I don’t wait until I have enough resources, enough talent, enough of a reputation? Just bring Him what I have.

What if I just give it to Him, as is, and let Him bless it? What if I let Him break it? Can I trust that when He gives it back to me, I will have enough to accomplish the BIG DREAM that He has given to me.

I think so. But then, I have to give it away in order to see it multiplied to become enough. I can’t horde it for my own selfish gain. In God’s economy, it is always about giving. He gives to us so we can give to someone else. I have discovered that it is impossible to out-give God.

That’s what has been stirring in me for the past week.