What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Today is a Special Day

Today is a special day.  I would like to write something significant, since it is my birthday. Lately I haven’t had much to say. Not sure why. One reason is since blogger changed the format of our dashboard, my computer is having issues with writing on the new page.  It really bogs down. (Has anyone else had this issue?) I’m sure it is my old computer that needs to be cleaned out, updated, or thrown out. I’m leaning towards the latter option, as soon as I can find a suitable replacement at an affordable price.  
Sometimes I feel like my old computer.  I need to be cleaned out, updated, or thrown out! Hold your comments on these options, please.   I do believe that birthdays are a good time to reassess and evaluate what our goals, plans, and purpose may be…and where do we stand in the process?  At my grand age of 62, I am sorry to say that I have not achieved everything I had hoped to accomplish by this stage in life.  Retirement is still an elusive dream that I long to latch hold of and run into the golden sunset with my hubby, enjoying what few years of active life we still have left.  He is already there, although not by choice.  Job cuts forced him to take an early retirement last summer, and although he has been actively searching and pursuing all possibilities for employment ever since, there has not been one “open window, and many “closed doors”.  He has had a few glimmers of hope, but thus far they have not materialized into reality. Maybe that is God’s plan.  We are trying to accept that.
So back to my search for significance and purpose.  I know God is working in my life. This blog is a testimony to that fact.  You may not think much of it…you may even wish I’d just get to the point and stop babbling so much about stuff.  I understand. I tell myself that quite often. But there has been a metamorphosis taking place in my life over the past two and a half years since I started writing here and opening up my whole heart and soul to total strangers around the world. I’ve actually had to think before speaking. (So glad for the editing features of my computer).  Delete and backspace are two of my favorite keys.  For those of you who don’t know me personally, you may be surprised to learn that I have often had a tendency (understatement) to open my mouth and insert my foot.  For a rather tall person with big feet, that “feat” has been a bit uncomfortable from time to time.
What am I trying to say?  (I wish someone would tell me!)  Perhaps it is this: I believe that God is allowing me this privilege of writing to share a message of hope with the world.  Sometimes I veer off course and dabble in nonsensical stuff and materialistic dreams and activities…but even those have a purpose.  (Usually).  Here is what I hope to do with what I write:
“No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed,
but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. “
Luke 8:16
I want my light to shine before men and women…
“You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden….
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.” 
Matthew 5:14 and 16
This is risky business.  My “good works” don’t always show up.  Sometimes there aren’t too many.  I know that. I am working on that.  But I pray that God will use what talents and gifts and “good works” I do have to encourage others…plant some seeds of hope, love, and trust in the Lord.  To lift some spirits who may be dragging bottom and ready to give up.  If God will allow me to do that, I will have accomplished my goals, realized my purpose, and fulfilled my dreams.   I may even live (or die?) to see the day that I hear these marvelous words:
“Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your Lord.”  Matthew 25:21
That will be glory! Not that I care about being a ruler over anything…no thank you. I don’t even enjoy being a supervisor over a few people…not my cup of tea at all.  But to “enter into the joy of your Lord”, yes, that will be Glory!!!
Yes, Today IS a Special Day!
Amen.
 

10 comments:

  1. As you know, I do understand where you are on your journey because I am there also in some ways. Writing really is a double-edged blessing I believe. We get blessed in the process of writing and others are blessed by the words that come our of our public wonderings. Win-win!
    And Happy Birthday pretty lady!

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    1. I so love that we are on this journey together! You have been both an inspiration and a teacher for me in this process...in more ways than just writing. We share so many things in common...it is wonderful to know that you understand where I am coming from and what it feels like to be in "this skin" of a "former" pastor's wife. So thankful that we are not alone on our journey...God is right there beside us and behind us, helping us to stretch our wings and fly!

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  2. Amen. And Amen to what you say and what Susie says. It is risky business, a double-edged sword of being personally blessed and blessing others. But sometimes, when we press that 'publish' key there's a deep prayer behind it because God alone knows what those words actually mean--or whether what we THOUGHT they meant He'll use them to mean. But we do it...and none of us would--could!--do anything else. It's like breathing, this compulsion to write. Glad we're in this together.
    62 years--Happy Birthday, Pam!

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    1. Yes, I know you DO understand what I am feeling also...we do have this "compulsion to write", and yet we want to be sure that what we say is bathed in the Light of Christ, and that no shadows of darkness will cloud the message He wants to give. We pray for each other as we allow the world to peek inside of us...it is a scary place, and yet a very warm and beautiful place to be---we are never alone. Thank you, "jeskmom".

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  3. Pam, so many times when I am at a low point in my life, I open up your blog and you are there for me. I am always uplifted by your encouraging wisdom, and the verses you include are just in time for my needs. Believe me when I say "your light shines". God sees your good works even if others don't and after all He is the one that matters most. As far the golden years I am there, and there is always battles at this stage of life also, but Praise be to God, He is there too! His promise to always be with me has taken me forward many times on this journey.
    I pray your birthday is a special as you are!
    Hugs,Sylvia

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    1. Dear Sylvia, You have been such a sweet encouragement to me ever since you popped into my world as a fellow traveler in "blogland". Thank you for these thoughts today. It's people (friends) like you who make it all the more wonderful being on this journey. Someday we will all have a grand reunion in "gloryland". What a day that will be!!

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  4. Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you!
    Happy Birthday dear Pamela! Happy Birthday to you!

    Hugs,

    Mary

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    1. I can hear you singing! Thank you for joining my birthday party! It has been a wonderful celebration! I feel so blessed to have such wonderful new friends!!

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  5. HAPPY Birthday, to you. Happy BIRTHDAY, to you. Happy Birthday to YOU.( Please read this in a sing songy voice.) Seriously, I hope you had a very happy birthday.

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    1. I DID have a wonderful birthday...and thank you so much for "chiming in". It's never too late to celebrate life! Thank you and yes, I could hear you singing!

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