The Second Half

  Last weekend I attended a conference titled "Women on the Front Lines."  Two of the speakers, Patricia King and Clarice Fluitt, are not only pastors but professional motivational speakers.  They combined preaching the Gospel with motivating the attendees to do something about it.  This is ongoing evangelization at its finest.
  Many of the people there, like me, are in what might be called "the second half of life."  Of course, we don't really know how long we are going to live, so we don't know exactly when our second half starts, but we can assume that at 50 we are beginning that second half.  Both women urged us not to slow down, not to retire, not to think that our work with and for God is finished just because we are over 50.  
  Patricia told us that at the age of 50 she had never written a book.  Now she has written 35.  She started her own publishing company and media enterprise after the age of 50.  She is still creating, still dreaming, still going with God.  She is enjoying her life, her children and her grandchildren.  She plans to "die with her boots on" whenever God calls her home.  But in the meantime she is actively pursuing the plans God has for her.
  For Reflection:  Have I taken on a retirement mentality?  Have I decided that God is through with me?  Or that I am finished with God?
  Let us pray.  God, I agree with your word, "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).  I declare that I am strong in you and in the strength of your might and in your love.

---