50 and holding…

50 and holding…

I’m getting older…yesterday I turned 50. Er…….but I think I am more like 50 and holding! So the key here would be if I am 50 and holding….I better not let go!

People say age is just a state of mind and that you are only as old or only as young as you feel inside. It was discovered that longevity and happiness in our old age requires a purposeful lifestyle with ongoing
relationships, and sustained involvement. God wants us to live out your life in a meaningful way.
And the single best, the most meaningful way to spend these better years of our lives is by serving the Lord.

You never retire from your spiritual job. You can stay on the front line of the battle, working
for the Master. We may actually present ourselves with the time and opportunity to be of greater service than ever before. Wait, aren’t I too old for that now? God's army has no age limit.

Moses was eighty years old when God told him to go get His children out of Egypt. Abraham was seventy-five years old when he obeyed God's command to leave his homeland and serve Him
in the land of Canaan. We are never too old to serve the Lord, and we can definitely never retire from serving Him. Let me tell you when it comes to work of the kingdom, not one of us have earned the right to say "I've served our time".

This Psalms shows that David never considered himself as retired from serving the Lord and telling
people of God's goodness.

Psalm 71:9 "Do not cast me off in the time of old age"

David is an old man when he spoke these words; his strength was failing him as well and he
pleaded that God not forsake him. David was asking God to continue showing His glory through him as he had always done all his life. David still desired to be used by the Lord.

Here’s a heart stopper, my son asked me not to long ago if I wanted to play a video game with him. I stated, Logan, I’m too old for that.” In which Logan replied, “Dad whenever were you new?”

I tell you this because sometimes we are like this with God. Often our reply to God is, “I’m too old for that.” There was this dude name Caleb (Book of Numbers) and the Lord had sent out 12 Spies into Canaan. When they came back, most brought back reports of fearsome giant people there.
But Caleb had faith and said they should hurry and take the land that God has promised.

The people, however, were afraid and because of their refusal to take the land of Canaan God caused them to wander in the wilderness for forty years as punishment. After their wandering was over, there stood Caleb. He was 85 and do you think he was saying he was too old to fight? Nope, he said he was as ready today to go into the land as he was 45 years earlier.

Joshua 14:12 "Now then, give me this hill country about which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day that Anakim were there, with great fortified cities; perhaps the Lord will be with me, and I will drive them out as the Lord has spoken."

As he came to his final years, Caleb gave us aging Christians a great mantra, 'Give me this mountain!'"

In our old age we must always seek to be like Caleb and strive for those mountains that God has called us to claim in His name. Don't let your old age steal your witness and make you say 'What's the use?' People often give in to the "what's the use" mentality when they get old and their spiritual gifts become
paralyzed permanently all because of some trial or disappointment they experienced years ago that they haven't given over to God.

After 40 years in the wilderness, wandering, Caleb refused to give into the "what's the use" mentality.
Instead he said "God, give me that mountain!"

Ronald Reagan was the most powerful man in the world at age 75. My Great Grandfather danced up till 3 months before he passed away…at 94! The song 'Ave Maria' was written when Verdi was 85. This idea that life should be winding down at 50 or 60 years of age is crazy. The idea that we can grow too
old to serve the Lord or the notion that we have "served our time for the kingdom" is just as crazy.

God wants you to know today, that you are still of great benefit to Him and He still wants to use you for His glory. If you feel that you have already "served your time" in His kingdom, then God is greatly displeased with your attitude.

I'm not saying that you have to talk about God in every conversation you have, after all even God rested on the seventh day, however what I am saying is no one can ever really retire from serving the Lord. The only ability we really need in order to be of service to God is to know that Jesus Christ died to save us and to declare this knowledge to everyone we meet.

I’m really 50 and holding…

‘Holding’ to God’s grace and promise for my life. I intend to let all people know it till I finally get to go home!