Am I now considered ‘Elderly?’

People take one look at me and immediately I get ‘The Senior Discount.’

Younger folks hold the door open for me.

Others stand ready to help me get up from my seat.

Sometimes I do feel real OLD…and ELDERLY. And, you know, I really don’t mind getting that SENIOR DISCOUNT.

But Old Age Got Here Too Fast!

For the past several years I have been dealing with numerous health issues, and I know that there are two main reasons why I am still here: 1) A whole lot of people have been praying for me; and 2) God keeps telling me my job here on this planet is not done yet.

I certainly appreciate all those prayers. And I am more than willing to keep doing God’s Will while He gives me the strength and the time to work for Him.

A missionary friend of mine always used to say, “We need to preach the Gospel…and sometimes even use words.”

What my friend, Paul, meant by that is that those of us who profess Christ need to live like we actually know Him; let people see Jesus in our lives.

Christ Jesus taught that people would know us by “Our Fruit;” and another Paul, the Apostle this time, taught that people will know we belong to Jesus Christ by the life that we live before them.

Apostle Paul refers to that as living in the Spirit and walking in the Spirit; and if we are living and walking in the Holy Spirit there will be evidence, or fruit, a visible sign.

The Apostle wrote, “The fruit of the Spirit (the evidence) is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

I find myself praying daily that people will see Christ in me, in my actions, and my daily living, and then of course in my words.

Evidence. Fruit. An example.

The most important words that any of us can speak are those words we speak in prayer; those words that we speak to God; those words that seek His will and not our own.

Probably the most well-known prayer is found in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. We refer to it as “The Lord’s Prayer.”

In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus says, “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass

against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

Growing up in church, my siblings and I learned that prayer from our parents and from the weekly Lutheran Liturgy recited or read on Sunday mornings at United Lutheran Church.

I’ve found myself praying that prayer over and over again throughout the years, not just as a ritual performed in a public service of worship, but as a personal act of worship; in my personal times of devotion to my Heavenly Father.

As a daily cry from my heart, I am always drawn to Jesus’ words, “Thy Will Be Done.”

That’s what I want. God’s Will to be done in my life.

Although I am always so grateful for people’s prayers for my healing and strength, what I desire above all else is that God’s Will be done in my life.

My Lord, on the night that He was betrayed and was taken into captivity, or really, the night He surrendered to the Plan of the Ages, Jesus led His disciples into a garden called Gethsemane, and said to them, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.”

And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”

Jesus went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

Then Jesus came back to the disciples and found them sleeping, and He said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”

Your Will Be Done!

Thy Will Be Done!

Father God, Your Will Be Done!

Christ surrendered to the Will of God, and He Willingly went to the Cross, died, and rose again three days later.

All according to the Will of God…All according to the Plan of God for my salvation, for your salvation, and for the salvation from sin for all those who believe that Christ fulfilled the Will of God.

Thank you for your prayers. And thank you for your well-wishes.

But, please always ask that God’s Will Be done.

I pray that for you as well.

Heavenly Father, Thy Will Be Done for Lynn, and Dawn and Carol and Mary and David and Zoe, and for……..