Wednesday, December 5, 2012

What I've Learned, the First Fifty Years

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
~ Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)

Today I complete fifty years of drawing breath. I don't feel fifty years old unless I look back at all I've lived through or look forward to all I wait for, so I simply try to live in the present—to "seize the day" while remembering to plan for the future and see the past as no more than my schooling in life.

Here is a handful of some random things I've learned in my first fifty years.

The more I learn, the more I realize how ignorant I am of all there is to know, and the less I want to say.

The less you speak, the more likely people are to listen to what you have to say.

Strive for excellence and leave perfection to God.

Kindness is more important than efficiency.

Unkindness is never justified, however necessary or difficult the truth.

Force, even painful force, is necessary to authority and most effective with absence of anger or malice.

Neither debtor nor the one owed a debt is truly free. Forgiveness means living free of debts.

A good physician facilitates cures, but healing comes only from God.

(Likewise …) Any one of us can be an agent of rescue, but deliverance comes only from God.

There's no better place to be than the center of God's will.

Comfort can sometimes be purchased, but peace is a gift of God.

Joy is the product of expressed gratitude.

Money is a problem if you have too little or too much. If you have adequate food and clothing, you don't have too little.

Jesus died to save sinners, of whom I am chief, and there is no cause to look down on anyone.

The most important thing I will do today is express my great love for God in my love of neighbor.

Love doesn't eliminate sin, but it does cover a multitude of sins, and that's enough for mortals.

The Lord's Prayer covers everything. Pray it often and slowly.

There' s nothing in this world truly new—
That which has been is what will be,
That which is done is what will be done,
And there is nothing new under the sun.
~ Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NKJV)

God makes all things new (Revelation 21:5), every day—
This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.
Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
~ Lamentations 3:21-23 (NKJV)

Finally:
God is good. ALL. THE. TIME.

Gracious Father, if I have found favor in Your sight, please grant to me:
humility without defeat,
joy without pride,
peace without complacency,
faith without presumption,
hope without expectation,
passion without impatience,
and love without constraint,
for Your glory alone.

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Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

18 comments:

  1. I love your insight and reflection. Every nugget is just perfect. I just turned fifty three weeks ago. It's weird isn't it?

    By the way, I would have never guessed you were 50. Just saying!

    Keep on sister!

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    1. Wow, David! You just finished your jubilee year as well? May you discover in new ways how set free Jesus Christ has truly made you—free indeed.

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  2. Wonderful wisdom and grace here, Anne. Thank you. And happy birthday!

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    1. Thank YOU, Jason, for all the loving support you provide to so many people. Whatever wisdom and grace I'm able to express, it most certainly is a gift of God!

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  3. happy birthday young lady!:)

    "Joy is the product of expressed gratitude."

    ....to be honest about it, i don't know that i can honestly say that i understand it. my mind has been wrapped for hours now in an attempt to grasp it.

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    1. Bud, you can always go back to those three posts I did on Thanksgiving paybacks. I would add, and go so far as to say, that joy does not exist apart from gratitude.

      Humility -> Felt Gratitude -> Expressed Gratitude -> Contentment -> Joy -> Strength (Nehemiah 8:10)

      Now go think on THAT! : )

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  4. I will be filing this post away, as I still have so much to learn! Thanks and Happy Birthday!

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    1. Mary, I've learned much of it through you, especially the parts about kindness. : )

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  5. First of all, I would never have guessed you were 50! You are such a gorgeous woman, inside and out.

    Thank you for sharing your wisdom and your heart. I really enjoyed your post.

    Happy (belated) Birthday!

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    1. Ralene, I'd like to think that if I have a youthful appearance, it's due to the light of the Lord shining in my face. Thank you for your kind thoughts. You ARE a dear. ♥

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  6. I can't remember taking notes reading someone else's blog. I did today. I've got about a month and a half of more breaths than you, but not near the wisdom. God is honored.

    Happy Birthday and God bless.


    Oh, and thanks to Jason for linking this to his site.

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    1. Wow, Floyd—you took notes? And you look way too young to be my age. You make my day by saying God is honored here. Thank you!

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  7. Happy Birthday my wise sis, love you.

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    1. Thank you for the birthday wishes, Denise. Any wisdom is all His. Love you too! ♥

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  8. I am sure I just met through your blog a wise hearted woman. What a Godly list to challenges others. Great post, I will be back for more visits. Blessings.

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    1. Betty, I'm delighted to have you visit, and look forward to seeing you in the future. Blessing to you as well, as God in His loving wisdom knows you'll recognize from Him. : )

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  9. Thanking God for 50! And for His reminder to me, through you (that thing about kindness and efficiency).

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    1. Hi, Monica! Yeah, that thing about kindness and efficiency? I have to remind myself about it … CONSTANTLY!

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