50 THINGS I HAVE LEARNED AND LOVED IN 50 YEARS OF LIFE

I turn 50 on Friday! I am trying to embrace this next half of my life with exuberance. If I live as long as my Memere - I still have another 52 years to go! SO...thought I'd share a few things I've learned and loved about the first 1/2 century of my life...

1. I love the fact that I was born in Japan...at an Airforce Base...that no longer exists.
2. I loved growing up in Aurora, Colorado during the 70's and 80's.
3. I absolutely loved playing "Little House on the Prairie" with Helen Lawler. (I was short, had buck teeth so I was always half-pint.)
4. I learned that I could ride my bike for a bit of a distance - like to the Aurora Mall (8 miles round trip) or to church (18 miles round trip) - however I can't do it anymore...remember, Ohio, bike trip fail - too late at night, bike path was dark and barely made it to the ice cream shop - but enjoyed that ice cream and a CAR ride home from friends.
5. I love that my Catholic education afforded me amazing grammar teachers who beat those rules into my head so soundly that I still know them today. (Thanks Mrs. Blair)
6. I've learned that I am somewhat naive and gullible...still.
7. I learned that being a single parent is HARD WORK (even though my tour was brief.)
8. I learned that WORDS become ingrained in a soul and cause you to do things that don't make sense. It's hard to get them out once they're in. 
9. I've learned that GOD IS GOOD.
10. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE living in small towns.
11. I love nature walks. (not hikes...just walks...)
12. I love sunrises and sunsets - the beauty, the colors, love it all!
13. I learned that prayers of righteous people prevail (and help bring you to a saving knowledge of Jesus. Thanks Glenella!)
14. I learned GOD IS PERSISTENT.
15. I learned that once you drink of the Living Water you have an insatiable desire for more...not thirsty, but longing! 
16. I have learned that we are going to make mistakes in life - lots of them - always ask for forgiveness and take responsibility for them. 
17. I learned that staying HUMBLE is hard work! 
18. I love God's beauty displayed in nature. 
19. I learned to always rise to challenges presented and give God the glory.
20. I learned that I NEED JESUS!
21. I've learned if you think you can't you're probably right, however, HE can! 
22. I love that when I'm living for Him my life is NEVER boring!
23. I love young people and their energy and exuberance are contagious. 
24. I love photography...of abstract items and candids of people.
25. I learned that 25 years of marriage is a huge milestone that should be celebrated. :)
26. I love having four daughters - it's a blessing and I am sad for the people who feel sorry for us. (If only they could have seen our amazing family!)
27. I learned that when moving across country you must PURGE (done it twice - SO FREEING!)
28. I've learned that SIMPLICITY is also freeing. 
29. I love adventures on random backroads through ghost towns. yep! 
30. I've learned GOD IS FAITHFUL.
31. I learned HOSPITALITY is the HEARTBEAT of our home.
32. I love having an autoimmune disease because it is a constant reminder that I live in HIS strength alone! 
33. I love speaking to groups of women and sharing the LOVE of JESUS with them.
34. I learned relationships take work and time and love...lots of love!
35. I learned that losing your health can be devastating and fortifying all at the same time.
36. I've learned GOD CONVICTS in the best possible ways.
37. I've learned FAMILY is IMPORTANT! 
38. I've learned unconditional love is as much a blessing to give as it is to receive.
39. I've learned you can put a city girl on a farm and she will LOVE it!
40. I love DOGS - been unreasonably fearful of them since I was five and had a german shepherd come after me - but since we took on service dog training - through Lilith, I have come to love animals and LOVE our two sweet dogs, Sadie and Ryder you are AMAZING! 
41. I learned some things never change...I STILL LOVE CHOCOLATE!
42. I love my silver gray hair! 
43. I learned about SHEMA - the great commandment - to Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and to Love your neighbor as yourself. And with SHEMA you remind yourself of this commandment three times a day - a great practice (you should try it sometime! :)
44. I've learned I love to write and that I am afraid to write a book because I fear rejection and I need to get over myself.
45. I've learned healing takes time.
46. I've learned to love fiercely because our days are numbered.
47. I've learned that you lose a bit of inhibition as you age and say things you never thought you would...ever.
48. I love taking my family with me wherever I go whenever possible. (Loved doing that when they were young. Love it still!)
49. I've learned a good marriage takes intentionality and perseverance and is SO WORTH IT!
50. I've learned people still love you even if you're OLD. hehe! 

PONDERING THE PROMISE (When God Makes a Promise...He Keeps It!)

Today is Day 12 of the 40 Days of Praise Challenge. It's been an interesting ride so far! I've learned so much about God through the depth of the Scriptures that I had not forged before and through the encouragement of the women that are traveling this road with me!

Rather than being vague - I will be completely transparent. There have been many challenges in my life that would present opportunity for the Lord to be my comforter. Those include several moves where I found myself engulfed in loneliness and steeped in depression. They include turning over my children to the Lord at various times in their lives during some trying and yes even some rebellious moments. Moments where they were injured, car accidents, and even a time where one ran away and left my heart broken and in unimaginable pain. Grieving over choices made and painful consequences. It was God's comfort and grace that saw me through those moments but the most challenging time in my life is the health issues I have been dealing with for more than five years now. Debilitating illness that left me nearly bedridden for several months and in so much pain throughout my entire body that I threw myself at His feet for comfort and relief. 

While reading Psalm 119:48-52, I zeroed in on the word "PROMISE". I don't know why but the pull to communicate a little more clearly what the Psalmist is talking about here was strong. We all know that God made promises to his people and I have professed my faith in Him in the keeping of those promises, but have never felt so driven to be able to articulate this more clearly than now. Our hope and our comfort are found here...the promise, that we would be reconciled to God. 

Hebrews 9 declares the first covenant between God and Israel had regulations for worship that were very specific - including the measurements and technical elements involved with the building of the tabernacle to the particular sacrifices to be made for the atonement of the sins of men. There were two rooms - one was called the Holy Place, the other the Most Holy Place. (Read Hebrews 9:1-5) The priests were required to regularly enter and perform religious duties. But only the high priest ever entered the Most Holy Place, and only once a year. There he made blood offerings for his own sins and the sins of the people. "The Most Holy Place was not freely open...the gifts and sacrifices that the priests offer are not able to cleanse the consciences of the people who bring them." (He. 9:8-9) These physical regulations were in effect only until a "better system" could be established. "So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With his own blood, not the blood of goats and calves - he entered the Most Holy place once for all time and secured our redemption forever! For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf...once and for all he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice. Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him." (Heb. 9:11-28)

"And so dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise." Hebrews 10:19-24 NLT 

Could not have said this better myself. Seriously, the Word of God has all this and more and I think I get so busy with life I don't focus in on the important, life-transforming word's within this book. There's beautiful communion to be found with our Lord when we take the time to humbly sift through the pages of our Bible and focus in on the many aspects within that relate to our Creator and His chosen people. Our COMFORT is truly found in His promises and that is why I believe God tugged at my heart to dig deeper into His Promise! Praying you found comfort in these truths as well!