My name is Carrie, I am almost sixty years old and while most of my friends and others my age are preparing for retirement, I have done the unthinkable, eight months ago I sold my property and left my family, children and grandchildren beautiful and crossed the ocean to join a small community on the east end of Glasgow. Why? Because I am not mine, the Bible says, “Don’t you know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit, that it is in you, that you have of God, and that you are not yourself?”Because you were bought with a price. Now, then, do you glorify God in your body?(1Co 6. 19. 20)
I was inspired by people whose stories are written in the Bible. I ask him what his first thought is when he thinks of Abraham, Moses, or even Joshua. What about Sarah (Isaac’s mother) or Elizabeth (the mother of John the Baptist)?I think you could answer that everyone received a great call from the Lord, they were asked to do powerful things that would advance the gospel in the world in which they lived. Is this a call to become the father of a great nation, to separate the sea for this great nation, or to fight a battle for this great nation?Had he already won a battle that God had promised?or giving birth to a baby much, much later than most women have babies, it was all for the glory of the Lord.
- These people lived at different times.
- But they all had one thing in common: God called them to do these powerful things later in life.
- Long after what we might call “the size of youth.
- “Abraham and Joshua were about 70 years old when God called them and Moses was about 80 years old.
- Even women.
- Who had children so late in life.
- Were for God’s purposes.
- Because we can read how these two men were used for the Lord during their lives.
- These are just a few examples of the people God called.
- And as far as I know.
- Age had nothing to do with their effectiveness.
- God called them to every task and.
- As He says in Hebrews 13:21.
- “perfect in all good to do his will.
- “.
Life isn’t just about serving yourself, it’s about serving others. Just because we are retired or are our own bosses does not mean that we stop serving others. Looking at friends’ posts on Facebook and Twitter, I began to realize that retirement, for some of us, was on the horizon. We have all worked for many years and now we are ready to sit back, relax and enjoy the benefits of our work. And now? Sell the house and move into a cabin by the lake? Peach? Hunting? Watch the sunrise or sunset sitting in our rocking chairs and watching the grass grow? Spend more time with children, grandchildren? How much golf, fishing or hunting can you do? On how many beaches or lakes can you rest? Or simply? and relax at your pace of life? Are any of them your plan? Or do you have at least one more? Have you been thinking a lot these days? Be careful, they will arrive soon.
I felt the call to the countryside for the first time almost ten years ago, but God had a lot of work in my heart to do. It was still a “work in progress. ” Reflecting, I am still “a work in progress,” but, as Ephesians 3:20 says, “God is able to do infinitely more than anything we ask or think, according to his power working in us. “I don’t have a degree in theology, the Bible or even Bible studies. I took Old Testament, New Testament, and Systematic Theology classes, but they were classes for lay people in my church, and I didn’t graduate, so it was primarily to help me better understand the Bible. I thought God would be faithful to his promises and assimilate those He called. Did you know it wasn’t going to be some kind of?Minister, and I certainly wouldn’t be the wife of a pastor, not even the best person on the team. So I wasn’t sure what I was going to do, but if I could trust God for my eternal life, why couldn’t I trust him for my mortal life?
In John Piper’s book, “Don’t Waste Your Life,” I read a story about a couple who retired prematurely at the age of fifty. He is a good retirement age, old enough to have good wisdom about life, but still young enough to have a successful and eventful life. They moved to Florida, where they sailed on their ten-metre boat, played softball and picked up shells. Some of you may be familiar with this story, but this is where it gets a little sad. We’ve all heard of the American Dream and many of us would love to experience this kind of dream, but actually this dream is more of a tragedy than a wonderful statement of someone’s life, especially the Christian life. Can you imagine them standing before God, the Creator of all heaven and the universe, realizing their lives?”Look, sir, ” they say, “do you see my shells? Somehow, I don’t think that’s a very good thing before God.
I think this story is very similar to the same stories I read about real-life people and friends, and my answer is that these stories show a loss of life. As far as I know, there’s no retreat in the Bible. If 50 are the new 40 and 60 are the new 50, then I would say that life stands firm, and if we are Christians, the Lord wants our lives to be at the service of his will, not ours. I think older adults are a much-needed resource, we have effort-gained wisdom that no school can teach, wisdom we need to share with others, not just take it to the grave!Should we sacrifice our children, grandchildren, friends, and even our lives?Don’t we ultimately deserve to have a quiet life? Accept it, we pay our dues for twenty, thirty, forty or more years in the labor market, doesn’t it matter?Well, that certainly matters, because it means that God has kindly given you and me all those extra years to mature, develop wisdom, and discernment. he gave us these gifts so we could give back to others.
So I’m here to ask each of you to think it over. If you are retired or in a good position to quit your job, or if you are approaching a situation like this and wondering what will happen next, why not dedicate your time completely to God? ? There is a great opportunity in almost every country in the world, and they could definitely seize it. When I first felt this call to the field, I had no idea where I would be or where in the world I would go. As I mentioned before, I have no real ability, and most importantly, I am an older woman, divorced and divorced twice (who wants me in his ministry?), But God gave me an understanding (confirmation) of what he can do . You understand me? I can walk next to someone and be their friend, I can tell someone who is hopeless about the hope of the gospel, I can listen when they want to speak and I can attest that ‘he is known and loved by God’. In fact, it is very simple, God has equipped me even in the simplest way. So when I saw a classified ad, by chance, on a website, specifically looking for mature women, at first I thought I had misunderstood it. I had looked at many ministries and had never seen any of them looking for an older woman, someone like me. But it was there.
When I first looked at the ’20 schemes’ and the ministry they had, to be honest, I had doubts, I was living with my elderly mother and helping her, I couldn’t escape and leave her there. My two children. I was married and loved spending time with them, not to mention having a good time with my precious grandchildren. I fought with God at first, because the more I looked at 20 diagrams, the more I saw a future and it scared me. I was afraid to go into the unknown, to a new ministry, to a new country, without knowing anyone. How could I leave my house, my family, my grandchildren?They were so small they didn’t even recognize me.
What about all my stuff, my furniture, my memories of the last forty years?Let me tell you, you know all these treasures that you’ve accumulated over the years, loving them and wanting your kids to love them too, there’s a lot of chance he won’t, just because we appreciate things in life doesn’t mean other people do it, so don’t bother giving these things to your family. , because they probably don’t want it either. If it is your desire to hang yourself from treasures, why not put your treasure in heaven?Do not accumulate other treasures for you on earth, where moths and rust corrode and thieves dig and steal; but it gathers other treasures in the sky, where it does not erode, where rust does not oxidize, and where thieves do not dig or steal; because where is your treasure, also your heart?(Mt 6:19).
Also, taking a closer look at the? 20 schemes? and specifically the Barlanark community, which was the one that interested me the most, I found that about 14% of the people were of retirement age, but the majority of people interested in participating in church planting efforts are in the range aged 20 to 20 years. 30 years. I am the oldest foreign worker here, so what does this mean? Who will reach the older generation in Scotland who desperately need to hear the gospel before it is too late? Recent searches for? Barna Research? found that less than 2. 5% of Scots are evangelical Christians. Young workers get a lot of attention and for good reason; however, we cannot ignore, reject or ignore the ancient Scots. Who cares for them? Since I came here I have met an incredible group of women who I am proud to call friends, they are strong, resilient and courageous, yet they are loving, caring, and in great need to know Jesus. Who else will reach these women if not me? Most of the pastors who arrive are young, with young families, but these women need other women who share similar life experiences. Some of the activities I participate in are walking groups, craft groups, cooking classes, or simply helping out in our little cafe that our church has two days a week. I know some women and I go on a trip to see the sights in the area, just give them time and talk to them, it’s not difficult to do, but what can be more difficult is what ‘a thirty year old woman really understands how a fifty or sixty year old person feels. This is why I think our age group should help others in that same group. So maybe God has in mind someone like you, like me, someone with a heart ready for people to hear the good news.
Now, the truth is that most people are not called away from home and from their families because, let’s face it, there is a large mission field in their own backyard, you certainly don’t need to go abroad to find one. For those who feel the call to missions abroad, I want to address some of the problems I had to “deal with. “I distinctly remember telling God that if he wanted me to go, he would, but he should help me because I certainly didn’t. I don’t know what to do or how to do it.
First, I knew my mom couldn’t take care of herself, so talking to my brother, we decided that she would move in with him and his family. I know some people don’t have that option, but again, I believe that if God has called you, He knows your situation and will guide you along the way. But please listen to me when I say it probably won’t be easy. My mom is in the middle stage of dementia, she knows who most of us are, but she doesn’t recognize time or distance, so leaving her was bittersweet, bitter because I don’t know how long she must be alive, but sweet. because she doesn’t know how long I’ve been away or where I am, so she’s not worried or anxious about me. Leaving my children and grandchildren was not easy, I cried every time I thought about it, for months. But God was also working on this situation, because people came to me and told me that they were still in contact with their grandchildren who lived in other states or even countries. So I knew that many people have faced this dilemma every day for years since our world has been like this. with jobs that distance families from their places of origin. Since I am thankful for Skype, Messenger, Facebook and other social networks, it means that the distance is not that great and I can still see my family and talk to them face to face.
I also heard the argument: “How can you get out?” But my answer is, “How come you don’t?For the Bible says, “He who loves his father or his mother more than me is not worthy of me; He who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; And he who does not take his cross and come after me is not worthy of me?Strong but comforting words are the last sentence: “Whoever finds his life will lose it; who, however, lost it because of me. Is it worth losing your life to find her?
For the first time, I can really say that I feel realized in my own life. I have a fantastic opportunity not only to live in another country, but also to live a life I never imagined possible. Most companies wouldn’t have given me anything. kind of work, because of my age, but God gave me a new life and a new course, equipped me to do the work he established before I existed, I am eternally grateful to give him the opportunity to work with you, to give me love for people, to love Scotland and to put a new song in my heart.
So age is just a number, do you love people enough to worry about your eternal state?Can you see the big picture of a world lost to sin and hell?There is a need for people like you who love the Lord and want to be obedient, come and see what 20 diagrams done. Come and be part of this broader picture, because the lost desperately need you. You have skills and abilities you never imagined, and they’re so needed here.
Remember that when the day comes and you stand before the Lord, you do not want to keep shells, but a life full of God’s promises and the fulfillment of those promises, which you have been used for his good and for his glory. What a testament to a well-lived life!