The Next 50

by Audrey Wauson

Today I turned 50 … nifty 50. It is not something I’m ashamed of. I’m not 29 and holding. Although I enjoyed being 29, I also enjoyed being 30, and 40, and intend to enjoy being 50. I kinda wish my hair would turn gray or white or frosted so that I’d look like I had some wisdom about me. But it’s still my dishwater blonde … highlighted reddish blonde … that’s it’s been for years. I still weigh basically the same 135 – 140 pounds. I still have my ADD tendencies. I still enjoy talking and meeting people. I still love to sing. Basically I’m still me. The me that you know (the good, the bad, the ugly).

If you are reading this you are someone who has helped to shape who I’ve become in some way or another. But there is a me that you don’t know. The me that I was meant to be. The me that I sometimes avoid. This is the me that I hope you will someday see. The me that I hope you will pray for me to be. The me that I need to be.

In the first 50 years of my life I was blessed with abundant blessings: good health, healthy children, a good … great marriage, wonderful friends, opportunities to travel, educational endeavors and achievements, lovely houses to live in, wonderful neighbors, saw many beautiful sunrises and sunsets, heard amazingly glorious music, felt the softness of a baby’s hand, tasted some delicious food, smelled the sweet fragrance of beautiful flowers, through all of which I learned a knowledge of God.

In the first 50 years of my life I was also blessed with many trials: sick children, hospital stays, stressful moves, loneliness, lack of monetary funds, quarrels, roaches & mice, leaking roofs & toilets & sinks, friends who rejected me and friends who died, rebellious children, fights with my spouse, cancer, car accidents, broken appliances, misunderstandings … through all of which I learned more about trusting and believing in God.

When I think back on my life though, it revolved around me; what I wanted, my goals, my plans, my dreams, my desires, my friends, my family, my neighbors … my, my, my.

In this second half of my life I want to learn a healthy fear of God. What will it take? Where do I start? What does the Lord require of me but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God? How in the world do I do that? Where do I learn to fear Him? God please let me hear from You clearly! Lord, please reveal Yourself to me very clearly … at least in such a way that I do not doubt Your direction … please Lord, use me. Here I am, your servant, … use me.

Also, in this second half of my life my plan, my dream is to pursue what God wants. I want to find out what His goals are, His dreams & desires, who His friends are, who does He call family … I want my thoughts to be about Him and His. What I want now for the next 50 years is to live every day, every moment reflecting Him, doing the things that He wants me to do, the things that He created me to do.

I want to thank you for being my friend, for sharing with me. I pray that God will bless you for every act of kindness that you have shown to me and my family. And that you would feel His blessing upon your life. I truly hope that you enjoyed this day, December 18, 2008, my birthday.

Audrey Wauson

Be Thanksful

by Barbara Chadwick

Psalms 92:1
It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your
name, O Most High.

When I am thankful my spirit lifts from the ground to the sky. Try it
and you'll see that it works.

Today I am thankful for:
God's Love
God's provision throughout life
God's mercy and grace to me -the imperfect, ungracious, undeserving one
God's leading
Opportunities to serve Him
Family - Godly parents, a Godly husband, Children who love and serve
Him, and Grandchildren who love and serve Him
Our home - and that we can share it with others
The beauty of the mountains that surround our home
Sunrises and Sunsets and their dependability
Snow
Stars - the incredible beauty of a clear night sky
Seasons
Music and how it lifts our spirits
Praise to the Lord
Seeing God work in people's lives
Seeing the giftedness in individuals
Friends
Health - in our 60's and 70's we can still:
walk and climb stairs,
drive, exercise, love,
read, cook, clean house (ugh)
play piano, write, work on computer
For church

God's Blessings are: Incredible, Uncountable, Reliable, Dependable,
Generous, Inspiring

Will They Remember You?

by Audrey Wauson

As I was reading my Bible this morning I was noticing that whenever I think of Mary and Joseph, I think of Jesus. And whenever I think of Zachariah and Elizabeth I think of what God allowed them to be a part of. And when I think of the shepherds and the wise men, I think of God’s glory and angels.

It got me to thinking… when my name is mentioned …do people think of Him? Is my story… hmm.

You see we each of us tell each other stories all day long. We explain how we got an A on the exam, the studying that went into it etc. We explain to each other the intricate details of how we got into and out of a fight with someone else. And usually we tell our story in such a way as to highlight why we were right and they were wrong. We recount the funny, sad, strange things that happen in our lives. But how prominent is He in our stories. Read through the Old and New Testament, lots of great plots, twists, turns… but who are the stories about? What is the point?... God, His Son Jesus, the gift of His Spirit, salvation, grace, mercy, and love.

Anyways, I got to wondering this morning …do my stories lead to Him? What is the plot? Is He the climax of my stories? Do my stories reveal more of His character to others? Do I remind myself and others through my narratives that there is no god like my God? It got me to wondering …

Is there enough evidence of You, in me
That when others hear my name …
They remember You?

Daily someone new is born
Born to display Your grace
“born to” grows into …(not often) “lived to” …
Have I lived to spread Your fame?

After I am dead and gone
In the stories told about me …
Will they remember You?

Please Dear God, I don’t ever want to forget who You are and what You have done for me. Especially this season, when I am reminded of how ordinary people trusted You enough to tell others of the truly great things that You did in their lives. You are so amazing! Please help me to tell my stories in such a way that people remember that “nothing is impossible with God” Luke 1:37 and we “are blessed because we believe that the Lord will do what He says” Luke 1:45. Help me to spread Your fame throughout the whole earth!

Thanksgiving the Joy Of Giving

by Barbara Chadwick

Paul quotes Jesus in Acts 20:35, "It is more Blessed to give than to
receive."

Kenneth Ryan and Abigail delivered papers all year long in Sitka. They saved some of every pay check so that when they went to Grandma and Grandpa's house in the summer, they could pay for their four cousins to accompany them to the water park. What a blessing to see this spirit of sharing and giving.

Michael, 16, and Zachary, 15, came from Missouri to Colorado to work with their uncle in building construction for six weeks. It was hard work. They go tired. They missed their friends and family. They
learned a lot. At the end of six weeks they came to stay with Grandma
and Grandpa until their family came out at Christmas. Their parents
had enough money to make the trip but not enough to buy presents. So the boys, using their work money, provided presents for everyone.
What a joy to see them buy, wrap and place those gifts under the
tree - to see the anticipation of the joy of giving.

'nough said!

by Audrey Wauson

‘nough said!
Have you ever been a member of a volunteer organization? Some of them are so very well organized. Some of them aren’t organized at all but they have a great time. Others aren’t either one. But the ones I have always enjoyed and wanted to go back to again and again, are the ones where everyone is excited to participate at whatever level and for however long.

Our praise team is one of those that isn’t very organized but we are all having a great time. Mostly because we all want to sing and worship and we’re willing to do it even if it means giving up some control over the outcome. Sometimes that’s hard for me … the giving up control thingy. I kind’a like structure and dependability and knowing what’s going to happen. And most of the time … ok a lot of the time :P … my life isn’t like that.

Proverbs 10:19 When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.

So sometimes I find myself griping and complaining to God and other people about wanting things to happen a certain way and they didn’t … and wanting people to do certain things and they don’t … and just letting them know all of my complaints. Well recently someone I know began complaining to me the way I’ve been complaining to God … and I didn’t like it! I mean, really, I was doing the best I could given my schedule and level of authority. And I began huffing and puffing inside when all of a sudden God brought to my mind several instances recently and in the past where I had complained to Him and to others in the same manner. (Stab! … Ugh!)

One of the things I’ve learned in college is buy the textbook. Really it helps to read what you’re supposed to be learning. Another thing I’ve learned to do is to underline and highlight the things that you want to learn. God has given us the greatest textbook ever! You don’t have to buy new and improved editions or updates. The cost is considerably less than most college textbooks and it comes in a variety of readable translations. Guess what? God had something to teach me from His book.

Philippians 2:14 NLT - Do everything without complaining or arguing, Why?

2:15 … so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

Galations 6:4 NLT - Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else.
5. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.
6. Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.
7. Don't be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God.
You WILL always harvest what you plant.
8. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.
9. So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up.
10. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

Philippians 4:4 NLT - Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!
5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.
7 Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

I pray that God will bless your week and that you will know the thrill of doing whatever, whenever, for whoever, just ‘cuz you get to do it with Him! ‘nough said!

Come Thou Fount

by Barbara Chadwick

Come Thou fount of every blessing. Come gracious Father, the One who bestows every kind of blessing, come into my heart. Come into my life and help me to be pleasing to You.

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace. Praise bands tune their instruments before leading worship. Lord, would you tune my heart so my worship would be pleasing to Your ear? I know that attitude is key to worship. Glorious Lord tune my heart so I can hear Your voice. Tune my heart so I can be gracious to others. Tune my heart so when I speak, words of love and mercy come out of my mouth and not angry words or spiteful, stubborn or sarcastic words.

Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise. Lamentations 3:23 says Your mercies never cease and they are new every morning. I do praise You, Lord and my praise bubbles over into singing.

Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above. I would like to learn a song that angels sing so that my praise would be appropriately. I cannot by myself think of words grand or eloquent enough to express such lofty thoughts.

Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it, mount of Thy redeeming love. Mount Calvary! Lord, how can we merit so great a salvation? I praise You for your grace and mercy to me, one who doesn’t deserve one drop of the blood You spilt for me.

Here I raise mine Ebenezer. Ebenezer – a stone of remembrance. I need something in my home or my life like an Ebenezer. I have my wedding ring to remember my wedding vows; my diploma to remember graduation from college; birth certificates to show the birth of four children. Some people have a picture of their baptism, some wall plaques to indicate to visitors where they have placed their faith. I have my Bible to show my allegiance to You, Lord. Is that enough? Do I carry it with me often enough? Is there something about me that when people see me they say, “There goes that lady who is a Christ follower”?

Hither by Thy help I’m come. So up to this point in my life You have been with me. You have guided, comforted and taught me through Your Word.

And I hope by Thy good pleasure safely to arrive at home. To be at home with You, Lord, what joy, what peace, what security. Glorious!

Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God. He, to rescue me from danger, interposed His precious blood. It is very humbling, Lord, to think that You wanted me, that You were drawing me with cords of love even when I was far from You.

Oh, to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be! I owe my very days to You. My possessions, the air I breathe, where I am in this world belong to You.

Let Thy grace, Lord, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love. Fetter -s a chain or shackle. Would you bind Your grace and love around my heart and mind, Lord, like a shackle so that when I’m prone to wander from You it would pull me back into Your Presence?

Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it. Seal it for Thy courts above. Lord, I offer my heart. I want to put my life in Your hands. I ask You to take my self and seal it, bind it to You.

Faithful the Promises of Our Dear Lord

by Audrey Wauson

Recently precious family friends lost their oldest son to an unexpected accident. I guess accidents are always unexpected, but … well there are never words, only incredible, emotions. Emotions I never knew I had …. My husband and I made a flying trip back to Waco. The drive there was full of purpose, of prayer, of a sense of something to do, something that would help the pain. There we visited and grieved with the family and with other close friends. We caught up on things you forget to share in emails. Smiled and cried and hugged.

Then we drove home and the miles seemed longer. Everything reminded us of the loss. The tears were less frequent, but the pain seemed to have settled into a deep deep ache. We were reminded through our reminiscing that our Father also lost His Son. But most incredible to us was the way that our dear friend trusted God, in probably the most painful time of his life.

Steve and Eileen, other friends, were asked to break the news to our friend, Kevin. As they told him what happened, he bowed his head and said, “God is good.” They said that you could just practically see the presence and peace of God descend on him. Oh that we could live so prepared that when the hurricane storms of life come and destroy parts of our lives (sometimes big parts, sometimes small) our eyes are so fixed on heaven that we can truly know and believe that God is good.

Kevin shared that for a few weeks leading up to this, God had been showing him that the outer bands of a hurricane can do much damage, but it warns of a bigger danger coming. He said, at the memorial service for his son, we live in perilous times and it’s important that we realize that the outer bands of destruction are already here and we must pay attention. We must tend to the important things in life. Prepare for a time of great trial by spending time with God seeking to know Him better. During a storm is not the time to build, it’s the time to survive. And those who weather the storm best are those who are prepared. The death of his wife two years ago was probably an outer band and the Lord was preparing him for such a time as this.

I pray that you will make time to sit still and listen to whatever the Lord may want to share with you. We are not living in an easy time. Let’s prepare for the storm by remembering the promises of our Dear Lord. A few days after we returned home, I was trying to process my feelings, my pain, and I wrote this poem.

Faithful the Promises of Our Dear Lord

A man and his wife
Blessed with gifts from above
A girl ‘n a boy ‘n a boy ‘n a girl
Now a mom and a dad

… Then there were six

Memories and moments
Wrapped up as treasures
A blanket against
Life’s painful measures

The blanket pried open
By hands from above
Tenderly took one
The mom … out of love

… Then five clung together

The pain cut like a cold winter wind
HIS hand wrapped the blanket ‘round
Pulled it closer to HIM
Trembling hearts heard HIS voice speak
Comfort ‘n Hope ‘n Promise ‘n Peace

Then without warning another was taken
Snatched from the blanket,
The others cried, shaken
“Dear God, what is happening?
What are YOU doing?
In all of this pain,
Where now is our hope?
Where is the gain?”

Silence the answer …

A father’s head down
A heart bowed in reverence
A voice in the night
“God is good” he whispers

… Then there were four

For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD.
"They are plans for good and not for disaster,
to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

AW