Over the last few years, death has been a common topic in my life. I spent some time as a Hospice Chaplain walking with people towards the end of their lives. In the same time period, I’ve had many friends face their mortality and struggle with significant illness. As someone who has lost both parents and in-laws to sudden tragedies and illness, death has often been something I have thought about. Only recently have I really wrestled with the idea that anything could happen at any time and one truly never knows when their last breath will be. 

I have been reading through Ecclesiastes recently and following Solomon’s thoughts on the meaning of life. He searches for joy in so many different things and doesn’t find any real lasting joy. He looks to wisdom, self-indulgence, work, riches, honor, etc. and finds that all these things are “vanity, like chasing after the wind.” While he did many things in his life that were not honoring God, he did come to the conclusion to, “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil”

(‭‭Ecc. ‭12‬:‭13‬b-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬).

So, as many of us wrestle with different things that we are walking through within our daily lives, let us remember that there is only one thing that lasts. Jim Elliot, a faithful follower who died as a martyr trying to share the gospel with the Huaorani people of Ecuador once said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” 

As believers, we do not need to fear death, loss of worldly treasures, or whatever else comes to destroy things on this side of heaven. We have a hope that goes beyond this life. Our home is somewhere else and our real treasure is there. The only things that will matter here are the things that the Lord says are lasting treasure…His Kingdom and righteousness. 

For further reflection read Matthew 6.

Living Legacy now has an elder team and a deacon team ordained and installed. God gave two offices, two types of officers, to His church - elder and deacon. “Ordained” has to do with those who are chosen by their church family to serve in these offices, they are recognized to have been, in fact, chosen by God and given to the church by God. 

Like baptism and communion, ordination is an outward sign of God having done an inside work. By ordaining those the church has chosen to these two offices, the congregation agrees to serve with their elders and deacons, and under their leadership - and the officers pledge to serve their congregation as they serve His kingdom, in all humility. There may be times when an elder or deacon is unable to serve or on some manner of hiatus, "installed" simply means they are currently in office serving. 

Now, why did I spend time going over that dry procedural stuff? Not everyone who serves God’s church and their own congregation is an ordained officer - “officer” affirms one serving is doing his work officially. So, when one ordained to an office says “this is what that means” or “this is how we’re going to do that” what they're saying is not merely “here’s what I think” but they are asserting “this is where our congregation stands”. They are “officially” representing their congregation.

So, teachers aren’t ordained, those who set up for our lunches aren't ordained, those who lead the singing aren’t ordained, etc. That “etc” is all the rest of us. Not all are called to an ordained office, but all are called to serve.

The role of the deacon is to instruct and encourage, and to enlist their fellow church family to serve. To care, to aid, to love. Ideally the deacon team and each individual deacon will instruct and encourage by the manner in which we do our deaconing. That’s what this little devotion is about. It's not about the procedural aspects of elders and deacons at Living Legacy - it’s about the congregation, it’s about you; just as you follow the doctrines our elders put forth in the preaching ministry here, the church family is to follow the lead of their deacons in serving one another. 

Remember, the Bible tells us that Jesus was mighty in word and deed. I believe that’s why these particular two offices were given to the church, a word and a deed ministry.

If I was to look at a calendar of birth dates of members and friends of Living Legacy Church, I would discover that I am the oldest member of the church. My September birthday will mark the beginning of my 85th year. Is that old? Does a calendar date determine who is old?

Should mobility be a factor? Does the use of a cane, crutches or a  walker signify old? Probably not. I recall long ago before the polio vaccine was discovered a friend in Junior High School contracted polio; she lost the use of her legs. The use of crutches gave her

mobility but did not make her old.

Is mental outlook a factor? Perhaps.  Self-talk concerning aches, pains, sadness, happiness, the desire to be with others, the desire to be alone may be a way to express 'I am getting old'.

Scripture does have some things to say about 'old age' but does not define when 'old age' occurs.

Isaiah 46:4 NIV 'Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you.  I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you'.

Job 12:12 NIV  'Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?'

Proverbs 16:31 NIV  'Gray hair is a crown of splendor, it is attained in the way of righteousness.'

For what it is worth, this soon to be 85 year old believes we are as old

(or young) as we think we are.

Do you ever wonder that? I know I do. I suspect that most of us do at times in our lives.

Maybe you're a youth being bullied at school or struggling with learning a difficult subject or what do you want to do after school, i.e.: college? job?, etc.  Maybe you're a young couple adjusting to a welcome but life changing event of caring for a new baby.  Maybe you're struggling financially, wondering where the money will come from for medicines or next month's bills. Maybe you're struggling with a serious illness and wondering, "Why is this happening to me?"   Maybe you're someone who through separation, divorce or death wonders, in a world of couples, "Where do I fit in"?  I think each of us have been or will be in one of the above situations at some time in our lives.

Storms and struggles are inevitable in life. Do we respond by asking  "Why is this happening to me or what am I doing wrong"? Or do we look up to our Lord to see His purpose in the storms - what He wants us to learn from them, knowing that nothing can happen to us unless God allows it.

In one of my daily devotional books, "Every Day With Jesus", there is a "Love Letter From Jesus" at the beginning of each month. The one below is one especially comforting to me when I'm facing the storms and struggles of life. I pray it will be to you as well.

              LOVE LETTERS FROM JESUS
                     Calming the Storm

My Faithful Followers,

When you encounter a storm in life, it might feel like I'm asleep or I don't care what happens to you. But nothing could be further from the truth. Just as I was on the boat that night with My disciples, I am always aware. I care more than you can imagine. I promise I will never fail you. Nothing escapes my notice. I am intimately acquainted with every detail of your life.

"Fear not" is the most oft-repeated phrase in the Bible. That's because I want you to take that command to heart. When your feelings lead you to fear, hold fast to the truth I have told you. I love you, and my perfect love casts out fear. I am with you. I will strengthen and uphold you. I will not allow you to fail. Nothing--not even the worst storm--can separate us. I am your Protector, your Provider, your Prince of Peace.

Trust me. I see the big picture, the beginning and the end, and I will do what is best. I alone have the power to speak peace into the storm. And in My perfect timing, My perfect way, I will call the storm. The wind and waves obey My voice. I am in control. I am in the boat with you--I never leave you alone--and you can count on Me to see you through.

I love you forever.

From Every Day With Jesus
  Daily Joy for the Journey
       2018

Robert and I woke up early one morning this week while we were off and there was a light drizzle of rain outside. He asked if I might want to go out for a quick walk before the kids got up. Initially, it gave me pause because it was raining but then I thought, “why not?” As we walked around the beautiful campus that we live on, we talked about how sweet God is and how beautiful his creation. The air was fresh, different birds flew from tree to tree and little critters scurried along. Despite the rain, everything was teeming with life. So many trees and bushes were glistening with different colors. 

In considering all this, it just really highlighted how amazingly creative our Lord is!  Psalm 104:24 says, “How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.” 

This week, we had a mock trial performance for one of our kids, dance, gymnastics, and ninja classes. There was yard work to do, friends and family going through various trials, and medical appointments for my daughter. Just like every week, things were busy and it could have been very easy to be overwhelmed or discouraged. 

However, taking a moment out to walk and reflect on the goodness of God in the midst of our busy and sometimes chaotic, messy, or broken lives can put things into perspective. God is good, all the time. Even when it looks like there is no hope, after the bleakness of winter, the April rains come down and wash everything clean and bring out the new life from the hibernating trees and flowers. Tiny buds form and blossom, causing splashes of color to explode from flowering trees and then just as quickly litter the ground with the fading flowers as they wither and dry. If we stop and look, we will see it. If we get too busy though, it will just look like another mess to clean up in our already hectic lives. 

The Psalmist tells us to "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name." How much sweeter is this life when we take the time to reflect on his goodness and give thanks for all of his many mercies.