AS WE GROW OLDER

Pastor’s Pen Pulpit

January 8, 2006

AS WE GROW OLDER

Psalm 31:15

“My times are in Thy hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.”

Growing old happens to all of us. To those of us who are already there and counting let us rejoice in the way God has forgiven our past and is now using us for His glory.

To the younger generation reading this pen pulpit, relax, you’re on your way! So please be patient with us. As Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 12:1, Remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say “I have no pleasure in them.”

I was perusing the internet the other day and found this prayer for people who are growing older. I thought it appropriate for this pen pulpit:

A PRAYER FOR GROWING OLD GRACEFULLY

“Lord, thou knowest better than I know myself that I am growing older and will someday be really old. Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking that I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.

Release me from craving to straighten out everybody’s affairs. Make me thoughtful and not moody, helpful but not bossy.

With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all, but I want a few friends in the end. Keep my mind from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point.

Seal my lips on my aches and pains; they are increasing and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by.

I dare not ask for grace enough to enjoy the tales of other’s pains, but help me endure them with patience. I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility, and a lessening cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memory of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably sweet, for a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil. Give me ability to see good things in unexpected places and talent in unexpected people, and give me, O Lord, the grace to tell them so! Amen!

Seven Ages of a Woman

The infant

The little girl

The miss

The young woman

Man’s Life Means

Tender teens

Teachable twenties

Tireless thirties
Firey forties

Forceful fifties

Serious sixties

Sacred seventies

Aching eighties

Shortening breath

Death

Sod

God

On his eighty-fourth birthday, Dr Robert G. Lee, pastor emeritus of the First Baptist Church, Memphis, Tennnessee, said, “A friend asked me, ‘Are you going to keep on preaching?’ I said ‘Why not? I am physically able, mentally sound, spiritually desireous and in love with Jesus. Why not keep on preaching as I have done for sixty two years?”

So to those of you who think that because you are growing older God no longer has a place for you, think about how God used Moses at age 80 to precipitate a wonderful work of God in leading His people out of Egypt. God bless and next week we will resume our studies in Romans.

Love to you all,

p.s. – Eva and I received a wonderful tin of assorted nuts with the label, “To Pastor Charles and Eva from Joyfully in Christ.” Thank you, Joyfully. The nuts are delicious and we are enjoying them very much.