Heart Thoughts

Life Changes
Is it just me or does the time change do more than ‘spring forward’ and’ fall back’ on the clock? It takes my aging body a while to adjust to the differences in waking to darkness in the mornings and waiting til darkness falls to feel that the day ends or is ‘in the gloamin’ as our Scots friends may say. My circadian rhythm gets all wacky-do! (That daily rhythmic cycle of activity based on my 24 hour life experiences is messed up, not to mention my sleep pattern).

Weather changes, time changes, fashions change, people change, grandchildren change as they mature, people change, relationships change, political figures change their minds, political parties change their platforms, our government changes, global changes, the earth shifts, morality changes; everything is changing. The old saying, ‘nothing is as constant as change’, truly speaks to the times in which we live.

Our life has changed drastically in the last three years. After eleven years in a wonderful pastorate, we moved to our place of marriage origin and changed gears completely. Now we reside in Greer, living approximately six miles in opposite directions from our children/grandchildren. It’s rather like a triangle.

Dennis pursued teaching opportunities as well as interim pastoral positions due to his aversion to the word ‘retirement’, and some of those things took place. I experienced two surgeries quite unexpectedly and was thankful I could recuperate without too many responsibilities to interfere with the healing process. We’ve enjoyed our grandchildren and their parents more than we ever had privilege to do before living this close to them.

Change occurred about six months ago in the form of an interim pastoral position at Bellview Baptist Church about six miles from Woodruff, SC, and about twenty=two miles from our home. Did I say change? Woodruff is where we lived when Dennis coached football and track 43 years ago and then again 39 years ago we returned there to coach once more. My older son, David, quipped, “Well, Mom, third time is the charm”. It was that second return that began our ministry years as we changed along with the youth group at Woodruff First Baptist and attempted to lead them toward a closer walk with Jesus.

Change, but then again familiarities from long ago keep popping up. People we knew back in the day, places we frequented are quite changed. Some things remain the same…but not many. Long story shortened, Dennis is now full time pastor once again, at Bellview. Life changes.

So, what is life if not change?
“What is life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away”. (James 4:14)
“Life is a splendid gift---there is nothing small about it.” (Florence Nightingale)
Jesus said, “I AM the way, the truth and THE LIFE”.From these few quotes, we may assume that our lives are short, but splendidly large in the process, nevertheless our lives do vanish quickly. It seems the longer we live the more swiftly the vapor vanishes.

Ms. Nightingale surely speaks truth that life is a splendid gift; so sad that many don’t see the relevance.

The fact that Jesus IS LIFE AND LIGHT (John 1:4-5) brings a smile and somewhat of stability to that vapor that so quickly vanishes away. For the Apostle Paul,”to live is Christ, to die would be gain.” (Phil. 1:21) Living…dying,
Changing, forever changing.

AH, but here we have it: Hebrews 13:8 tells us that “Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever.”strong> What an absolutely comforting unconditional TRUTH to grab hold of and hang on.

In our world that’s gone mad with change, Jesus is the same. WHO? JESUS! WHAT? He doesn’t change! He doesn’t love me less or more tomorrow. He doesn’t change the rules in our relationship from day to day. Jesus never fails; He never changes and He is not going to change. He’s the Rock you can cling to when there is no other hope. He will forever be the Good Shepherd, the Way, The Truth, the Life, The Bread of Life, The Son of God, and My Savior. Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever. You can ‘take it to the bank’ if you’re of a mind to do so…but remember, the banking institutions change quicker than I can change clothes. Just settle it in your heart of hearts: Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever!! My old friend, Corrie ten Boom, used to say, “God said it; I believe it and that settles it.” Alleluiah!