DEVOTION: The Myth of Old Age ~ by Kathi Macias

And Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three years old when they spoke to Pharaoh (Exodus 7:7, NKJV).

We live in a youth-oriented culture, where anyone over the age of 65 is supposed to hang up their work ethic and spend whatever years they have left chasing a little white ball around a golf course. Nothing wrong with playing golf, mind you, but when it becomes our sole purpose for getting out of bed in the morning, we’ve lost our direction.

God did not create us to serve ourselves. We are made in the image of the Creator, and God has called us to partner in that pursuit, to one degree or another; that partnership doesn’t end when our hair turns gray or our step slows a bit due to arthritis.

I love reading about Moses and Aaron, don’t you? They were in their eighties when God sent them to confront the most powerful man on earth. God didn’t send young men in their prime of life so they could flex their muscles and pound their chest and intimidate Pharaoh. He didn’t send rich rulers from other countries who could threaten him with their armies or bribe him with their riches. He sent two brothers who, between them, had lived more than 160 years on this earth. Neither had experienced an easy life, since Aaron was raised as a Hebrew slave, and Moses, after growing up in a palace, had to flee for his life into the desert. And though Moses initially resisted God’s call to go to Pharaoh, he finally accepted, with his older brother at his side.

We can learn a lot through the story of Moses and Aaron and their ultimate success in leading the Israelites out of the bondage of Egypt. First, as long as we live on this earth, we are never too old to be useful to God. Second, if we continue to partner with God in whatever He has purposed for us, we can experience tremendous victories at any stage of life. And finally, though we may consider ourselves inconsequential in the scheme of things, God can use us to effect powerful changes in the lives of others.

So wherever you are today and whatever is going on in your life, listen for God’s voice. He just may call out to you from the burning bush and send you forth on the greatest mission ever.

Kathi Macias is a multi-award winning writer who has authored nearly 40 books and ghostwritten several others. A former newspaper columnist and string reporter, Kathi has taught creative and business writing in various venues and has been a guest on many radio and television programs. 

Kathi is a popular speaker at churches, women’s clubs and retreats, and writers’ conferences. She won the 2008 Member of the Year award from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) and was the 2011 Author of the Year from BooksandAuthors.net. Kathi “Easy Writer” Macias lives in Homeland, CA, with her husband.

DEVOTION: When God Shines On Us ~ by Ray Hawkins

The Lord gave a beautiful blessing through Aaron to Israel recorded in Numbers 6:24. The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

How would they know that the Lord God Almighty was pleased with them? They could be kept even when faced with great opposition. There would be the awareness of God’s covenantal grace. They would know Yahweh’s indwelling peace. When the nation walked contrary to their covenant the result seemed as though God had looked away. The nation was vulnerable, grace seemed in short supply and there certainly wasn’t any inner or outward peace.

There are some quotes in the Psalms dealing with the ‘shine’ from the face of God. Asaph wrote Psalm 80 and it highlights the nation’s longing through their disgrace and defeat. Three times Asaph appeals to God to shine on them so that they might be saved. (Psalm 80:3,7,19). David in Psalm 31:16:’Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.’ In Psalm 119:135 the writer equates the experience of knowing God’s smile through knowing and keeping God’s word.

It interests me that various writers hark back to the blessing by Aaron. They sought His face, acknowledged their errors and as it were, claimed His promise.

Is there something similar we as Christians can cling too? Is there a blessing for us from the triune God? 2 Corinthians 13:13; ‘The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.’ How awesome is that? Grace for us through life’s turbulence. Love for us even though He knows us. Communion with the Holy Spirit so that we can share with God our everyday events, hopes and fears. What is the place where this takes place? Where His breath is felt! 2 Timothy 3:16 (the word for ‘inspired’ is ‘God breathed.’)

The wonder of that relationship is expressed in 2 Corinthians 3:18 ‘All of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.’

___________________________

Ray Hawkins. Devotional author of ‘Children: God’s Special Interest.’ ‘From Eden with Love’ (Re. Marriage) 'Bethlehem’s Warrior Baby.' 'Captured by Calvary.' 'Dynamic Ageing.' 'Signposts to Happiness (31 insights from Scripture on the term Beatitudes)'


http://rayhawkinsauthor.blogspot.com.au

DEVOTION: A Burning Bush ~ by Kathi Macias

And Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three years old when they spoke to Pharaoh (Exodus 7:7, NKJV).


We live in a youth-oriented culture, where anyone over the age of 65 is supposed to hang up their work ethic and spend whatever years they have left chasing a little white ball around a golf course. Nothing wrong with playing golf, mind you, but when it becomes our sole purpose for getting out of bed in the morning, we’ve lost our direction.

God did not create us to serve ourselves. We are made in the image of the Creator, and God has called us to partner in that pursuit, to one degree or another; that partnership doesn’t end when our hair turns gray or our step slows a bit due to arthritis.

I love reading about Moses and Aaron, don’t you? They were in their eighties when God sent them to confront the most powerful man on earth. God didn’t send young men in their prime of life so they could flex their muscles and pound their chest and intimidate Pharaoh. He didn’t send rich rulers from other countries who could threaten him with their armies or bribe him with their riches. He sent two brothers who, between them, had lived more than 160 years on this earth. Neither had experienced an easy life, since Aaron was raised as a Hebrew slave, and Moses, after growing up in a palace, had to flee for his life into the desert. And though Moses initially resisted God’s call to go to Pharaoh, he finally accepted, with his older brother at his side.

We can learn a lot through the story of Moses and Aaron and their ultimate success in leading the Israelites out of the bondage of Egypt. First, as long as we live on this earth, we are never too old to be useful to God. Second, if we continue to partner with God in whatever He has purposed for us, we can experience tremendous victories at any stage of life. And finally, though we may consider ourselves inconsequential in the scheme of things, God can use us to effect powerful changes in the lives of others.

So wherever you are today and whatever is going on in your life, listen for God’s voice. He just may call out to you from the burning bush and send you forth on the greatest mission ever.

Kathi Macias is a multi-award winning writer who has authored nearly 40 books and ghostwritten several others. A former newspaper columnist and string reporter, Kathi has taught creative and business writing in various venues and has been a guest on many radio and television programs. 

Kathi is a popular speaker at churches, women’s clubs and retreats, and writers’ conferences. She won the 2008 Member of the Year award from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) and was the 2011 Author of the Year from BooksandAuthors.net. Kathi “Easy Writer” Macias lives in Homeland, CA, with her husband.