Opa's News

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Reflections on this MileStone Day

The "Ides of March" a disastrous day for Julius Caesar, but a joyous day for my great nephew Tyler Tuin, my good friends Mike Jensen and Linda Link, and myself all born this 15th of March. This is supposed to be the "big one" for me on this 60th year, but Mike is having a "big one" as well (50 Years), and so far I feel no different or any big revelation or anything of that sort. I do think back on the many blessings God has granted over these 60 years. I don't remember for sure whether it was just before I was married to my wonderful wife, or soon after we were married, but I was impressed that the scripture in Genesis 22:14 applied to me and my situation and that God indeed would provide. Though the method and timing of God's provision remains a mystery most of the time I can still rejoice in His 60 years of provision for me and continue to believe Him for provision for my extended family. The faith in that verse has been and continues to be tested as circumstances in life come upon me and I begin to wonder how in the universe is God going to work this one out? But He is patient with my impatience and keeps me through the storms and eventually brings me to the place where I see He is still working things out for His good. I don't claim to understand how He did it or how he will continue to do it, but I have to trust He will continue to do it because He has faithfully done it in the past. I have also been often reminded of Matthew 6 where Jesus tells me to pray for God's kingdom to come and His will be done and that I need to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things (daily provisions for life) will be given to me. When I am tempted to believe that evil will triumph the Lord reminds me of His promise in 1 John 4:4 "Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world," and as I let the Holy Spirit be in control I don't have to fear the evil but I can overcome that evil with good. Another really big lesson I learned as an early teen was when I was challenged to memorize 1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" As a impressionable teen ager I believed that and decided I would just trust God and His word. Did I screw up and not rely on the provision God had for me in that verse? Yes! Too many times to count, but I can also truthfully state that I have been kept from many of sins devastating consequences by trusting God to help me. Is God finished with me yet? By no means. In fact I have found it is true that the older one gets the more he realizes the less he knows. I have been through some serious learning times lately and am still reeling from the lessons I've encountered recently. Yet I know He is in control and has my best interest in mind. I just have to continue to trust in Him and be obedient to Him and His word. Deuteronomy 32:46 reminds me to "obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you-they are your life." May my life be lived out to Glorify God. "Soli Deo Gloria"