Everyone enjoys watching a game until the very end. Games are won usually in the 4th quarter. I recently attended a seminar at my Church on how to finish out this last chapter of our lives.
MAY WE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO FINISH LIFE WELL.
What this means is that if you think you are a retired Christian, you are not. Why? Because games are won in the fourth quarter. If you happen to be in the over 50 crowd, this means you. We are not to just sit in a chair and grow old because we think we have done all we can.
GOD STILL WANTS TO USE YOU MORE THAN YOU KNOW.
And in this seminar 3 interesting points were made: (1) you’re not retired, (2) you’re not done and (3) you’re not dead. What a reminder and what a way to view the last quarter of our lives differently.
TO FINISH WELL WE HAVE TO FORM OUR DECISIONS DIFFERENTLY AND APPROACH OUR TIME DILIGENTLY.
GOD does tell us that we can and will flourish into old age well, if we abide in HIM.
PSALM 92: 12-14 “THE GODLY WILL FLOURISH LIKE PALM TREES AND GROW STRONG LIKE THE CEDARS OF LEBANON. FOR THEY ARE TRANSPLANTED TO THE LORD’S OWN HOUSE. THEY FLOURISH IN THE COURTS OF OUR GOD EVEN IN OLD AGE THEY WILL STILL PRODUCE FRUIT; THEY WILL REMAIN VITAL AND GREEN.”
Do we desire to flourish for GOD? Or do we desire the comforts here on earth that say we deserve to just languish in the pleasures offered to us.
Because we have walked for a time on this earth, let’s expand HIS kingdom and continue to change lives around us. Don’t let your world get smaller, increase it. Don’t stop learning, decide to learn something new. Did you know one of the best things you can do for your brain is to learn another language?
So take time today to rethink. Rethink your life, retirement, work, and pleasure. How can all these things honor GOD in a new way? Is your influence needed the most with the next generation? Grow your world and expand your interests. Don’t grow old in a chair!
Commit to something new today and watch GOD work through you. Because HE will, because HE wants you to finish this life well, because HE is waiting to say to you: WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT!
DEUTERONOMY 4: 9 “ONLY TAKE CARE AND KEEP YOUR SOUL DILIGENTLY……LEST YOU FORGET THE THINGS THAT YOUR EYES HAVE SEEN, AND LEST THEY DEPART FROM YOUR HEART ALL THE DAYS OF YOUR LIFE.”
Finish well dear friends. Mentor, disciple and give of your time. Don’t disdain those coming along after you. Encourage them! Love them with all the grace GOD has given you over your lifetime. Build connections with others around you and don’t take this precious time for granted. LOVE WELL AND FINISH WELL! Because we all are living our lives to reach one final goal……to be with CHRIST.
ISAIAH 46: 4 “EVEN TO YOUR OLD AGE I WILL BE THE SAME. AND EVEN TO YOUR GRAYING YEARS I WILL CARRY YOU! I HAVE DONE IT, AND I WILL BEAR YOU; AND I WILL CARRY YOU AND I WILL SAVE YOU.”
HEAVENSREEF 
This message really resonates with me. I was me mentored, encouraged and taught by the older when I was younger. God’s Word tells the older women to mentor the younger women. It is such a privilege to be older and be able to serve in God’s Kingdom.
Thank you for the reminder my friend.
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Yes Vicki! I do know you are very good at all of this. I still remember the 1st time you took me to lunch……just because! You warmed my heart and were so very encouraging to me. I am blessed by you friend!
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Maxine, as you may have seen in my recent posts, I have just turned 70, and I am not at all ready to “retire”!
I recently read that C.S. Lweis’s last words were (allegedly) that he had done everything he wanted to do and was ready … something like that. I am nowhere NEAR that point! A few years ago, one of my fears about growing older was that I would run out of dreams, but thankfully that hasn’t happened. Opportunities keep cropping up. I am excited to serve the Lord and want to until my last breath. I have even had a couple of young women (20’s) say they want to “get to know me,” one of them asking outright if I would disciple her. ❤
Guess I'm not finished yet. 😉
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How wonderful and exciting! You are an encouragement to those around you then. Yes this seminar spoke much on how we can engage with younger people. Problem for me is that I don’t feel that old in the first place! I do know it is like my Dad used to say: if you hang around young people, it will keep you young. Good wisdom. Congrats on your 70th! And remember, you still have much work to do for the Kingdom!
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Hallelujah, yes! Our pastor mentioned 2 Timothy in his sermon this morning:
6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Paul was such an example to us. He obeyed God in his work, served Him through serving others, and remained faithful. We must look ahead to how we want to finish the race, and plan now, accordingly.
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Let us continually ask the LORD what HE would have us do in this chapter of our lives. I sure do love serving at Church. That always seems to be needed. But I still wonder what GOD has in store for me in the future. Let’s remain faithful as HE is a wonderful faithful GOD!
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Maxine, I love this post! I love how it follows along with our recent messages from Christ Church! So true…
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I sure enjoyed attending this with you Jayne. We sure have much info to “rethink” this 4th quarter of our lives. May we finish well. Hugs!
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