Heartset

Is there such a word? If not, consider it coined. Others/I talk a great deal about mindset (frame of reference) but what about our heartset? Sometimes I think the role our hearts play in who we are and how we go about being us isn't framed within the concept of our heart. Do we know what's there? HOW do we feed our hearts? What's in our hearts? Do we prioritize this understanding?

   "The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, 

    and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; ... (Matthew 12:35, AMP)

   "For out of the heart come evil thoughts and plans, murders, adulteries, 

    sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slanders (verbal abuse, 

    irreverent speech, blaspheming). These are the things which defile and

    dishonor the man; (15:19-20, AMP)

Couple these two verses and we begin to gain an appreciation about how important and what a significant role our hearts play in our growing and discovering who we are and what the heart does, besides pumping blood. How our heart is and how it influences our words and actions can't be diminished or underestimated. There are many verses in the Bible that discuss the heart but one that has always captured my attention is found in Proverbs 4:23:

   "Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life."

Watch... with ALL diligence. Not an idle suggestion. Whatever is seen in your behavior and heard from your words flows naturally from what's in your heart. So... whatever your heartset is - truly represents who and what you are and do. Actually, perhaps what we need to do is what is stated in Luke 12 - where our treasure is, there our heart will be. So where is your treasure? What is your treasure? Never minimize the place and influence our heart determines.

There is a way, a direction available for us to maximize our heart's influence positively. I believe we all need to remember and act on the prayer by David.

   "Hide Your face from my sins. And blot out all my iniquities.

    Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a right and steadfast 

    spirit within me.

    Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy 

    Spirit from me.

    Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing 

    spirit." (Psalm 51: 9-12, AMP)

That's the recipe for having a heartset that is the foundation we all need. Seeking the Lord so that He can create, renew, and restore. He tells us (John 15:1-11) to always abide in Him so we can be fruitful and glorify the Father. That is a testimony of who we are and what is our heartset.

Watch!

    "... Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He

    might sanctify the church, having cleansed her by the washing of water

    with the word [of God], so that [in turn] He might present the church to

    Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing;

    but that she would be holy [set apart for God] and blameless." 

    (Ephesians 5:25-27, AMP) 

Personally, I've always been troubled by this scripture. In my view, the Second Coming won't come any time soon because the church is veeery far from accomplishing this condition. And then, I seem to be nudged into realizing that I'm looking at the church with secular eyes and not spiritual ones. Secularly, my assessment is that 'it ain't gonna happen anytime soon'. Spiritually, if the Lord said it, then it will happen. That's all I really need to know. He even tells us we won't know the specifics of His return (Matthew 24:36. Mark 13:32).

...however... my mind sometimes gets in the way and I revert to looking at 'how'. It's not an issue of if or when... it's the how and our role and responsibility about preparing and doing what we need to do for His return. He even asks if there will be faith when He comes (Luke 18:8). Fortunately, scripture tells us what we need to do to prepare so that we are ready (Matthew 25:1-13) and not be like the foolish virgins. Actually, we are given the reason: “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming." (13) And therein lies the focus, the answer, the action. Watch. 

Being of the 'fixer' inclination, I do want to 'fix it' even though I know I can't and shouldn't, and really don't know how. Never the less, in refocusing, I am not without my 'to do' list. I can do a great deal as I watch. I can act in the giftings given to me by the Lord and do my part to touch lives for Him. His Commission tells us what is important and how we can be about the Father's 

business. 

'Watch' is not necessarily a passive activity. Watching is active - you do as you watch. Watching may be waiting but not standing still. We need to be active because...

   "Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is [indeed] plentiful, but 

    the workers are few. So pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out

    workers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:37-38, AMP)

WE are His feet, His hands, His voice in this world, in our world. We need to be about being those workers in this time of harvest. But we need each other in order to accomplish this goal. As we watch, we work and bring light in a dark world. 

   "From Him the whole body [the church, in all its various parts], joined 

    and knitted firmly together by what every joint supplies, when each 

    part is working properly, causes the body to grow and mature, building 

    itself up in [unselfish] love." (Ephesians 4: 16, AMP)

Watch. 

Being all things to all people...

Bluntly... rarely does this work! (Then again... it could be me.) I know we're taught in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (AMP) by Paul:

   "For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to every

    one, so that I may win more [for Christ].  ...

    I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means [in any 

    and every way] save some [by leading them to faith in Jesus Christ]. And 

    I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings 

    along with you."

And this sounds like a noble and worthy reason to be all to all, but... actually, how does one apply this approach?

However, do not mistake my words as doubting that the Lord was giving us this information - not. Instead, let me propose a different way of understanding this scripture. I believe it was a method used by Paul to find a common ground with whomever he was speaking. It was not a wishy washy approach. Yet, too often this is what we may portray - incorrectly. Obviously, it doesn't work in a group setting primarily because we portray a person that goes with the flow, agrees with whomever they are with - whether or not they really do.

Perhaps we need to know why we are trying to be all to all. To me a wishy washy approach would not be a good application of this philosophy. But if you begin considering the situations Paul was in, one's perspective does change. I realize that Paul was speaking in order to present a new way of thinking and trying to help his audience understand. But this doesn't mean watering down or compromising the message, something Paul never did. 

So our why and our how becomes critical. Being all things to all people does not mean compromise or equivocating. It is not diluting the message or failing to lift up the Lord. But perhaps it does help us to present the message more clearly and in the words our listeners will understand. The message and the focus of the message are what is important... and this should always be our goal. 

Paul's words to Timothy (2 Timothy 4:1-3) can guide us.

   "...preach the word [as an official messenger]; be ready when the time is 

    right and even when it is not [keep your sense of urgency, whether the

    opportunity seems favorable or unfavorable, whether convenient or

    inconvenient, whether welcome or unwelcome]; correct [those who err 

    in doctrine or behavior], warn [those who sin], exhort and encourage 

    [those who are growing toward spiritual maturity], with inexhaustible 

    patience and [faithful] teaching. For the time will come when people 

    will not tolerate sound doctrine and accurate instruction [that challenges 

    them with God’s truth]; but wanting to have their ears tickled [with 

    something pleasing], they will accumulate for themselves [many] 

    teachers [one after another, chosen] to satisfy their own desires and 

    to support the errors they hold, ..."

This - preach, be ready, correct, warn, exhort, encourage, teach - is the alternative on how to be all to all.

The WHOLE Picture

Do you ever get the feeling that you aren't seeing the complete picture? That something's missing ... but what?! When it comes to spiritual matters, I think it is incredibly important to understand and verify what it is that's missing. And therefore before you ask - no, I don't believe the Lord's hiding (fill in the blank) from us. I never believe that He tempts or teases us. Honestly, I think He wants for us to know everything we can because that demonstrates we do know and understand and can and will apply this. (As much for ourselves as a witness.)

My understanding is that learning, understanding, applying (fill in the blank) rarely is ever totally and completely finished ... it's like layers of an onion - we are always learning, seemingly unending.

   "For now [in this time of imperfection] we see in a mirror dimly [a 

    blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma], but then [when the time of 

    perfection comes we will see reality] face to face. Now I know in part 

    [just in fragments], but then I will know fully, just as I have been 

    fully known [by God]." (1 Corinthians 13:12, AMP)

The Message states this slightly different but the understanding is the same:

   "We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering 

    through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and 

    the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God 

    sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!"

Part of my understanding from these two interpretations is that we won't completely understand/know in this life. We will once we are at home with the Lord. One of my wonder-ments is not why we don't know but do we actually act on what we DO know? Obviously, we need each other to bring each of our understandings and let them blend into a greater understanding. But... do we act? Do we share and allow each other (like iron sharpening iron) to help us grow in understanding? And from that understanding, act in confidence?

I have a feeling that one of my initial comments will be a "Oooohhhhh" and/or "Aaaahhh Haaaaa". All things will be known and understood. Somehow the unimportant and insignificant will simply fade away. And yet... I really don't think our learning is 'ever' over with. Will we still learn? There is sooo much to learn and know and understand, will we intuitively know or will we learn? I prefer the discovery-learn approach to knowing. Then again this is my best method to understand and it may not be others.

Whole picture! Will we have the answer in this life? I doubt it. The reality seems to be... stayed tuned. I believe we will know and understand that which we need to when we need to especially if our mindset is to intentionally learn... to know... to understand... to apply. 

 

Always with us

You do realize that the Father has said in various places in scripture that He will never leave or forsake us? If He doesn't ever leave, this means that He's always with us. And if He's always with us... He knows! Actually, He would have anyway, but to be with us when we do those things we realllly wish we hadn't, He sees our motivation and the results of our actions. And, He realllllly isn't all that surprised. But this means that we should never wait to seek forgiveness... He knows.

Once I realized my foolishness I must admit it was a bit of a chuckle: to want Him constantly to be with me and to not be with me when I ultimately would need to seek forgiveness. How's that gonna happen? Not. It is a bit absurd when you think about it. And I reallllllllllly want Him to always be with me. Knowing He is provides me with courage, with the ability to Stand, with the desire to be pleasing to Him. 

What does 'always with us' mean for you? How do you understand this? And is this of comfort for you? or is it slightly uncomfortable because He always knows? The Amplified Bible says in Hebrews 13:5 

   "Let your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from 

    the love of money [shun greed—be financially ethical], being content with 

    what you have; for He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] 

    desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in 

    any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax 

    My hold on you [assuredly not]!”

There are a number of insights - one is that He says He will never leave us helpless. Like me, you've also probably felt helpless at times. But we don't need to! He is with us, we can turn to Him to discover what we need to do next... and fretting and worrying are not in the equation. Perhaps this is also the time to remind ourselves:

 
   "Inasmuch then as we [believers] have a great High Priest who has 

    [already ascended and] passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son 

    of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith and cling tenaciously 

    to our absolute trust in Him as Savior]. For we do not have a High 

    Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses 

    and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly 

    how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without 

    [committing any] sin. Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the 

    throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with 

    confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our 

    failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an 

    appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment]." 

    (Hebrews 4: 14-16, AMP) 

And reread Romans 8:31-39, AMP (excerpted)

   "What then shall we say to all these things? If God is for us, who can 

    be [successful] against us?" (v. 31) 

   "It is God who justifies us [declaring us blameless and putting us in a 

    right relationship with Himself]" (v. 33)

   "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an over-

    whelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for 

    us]." (v. 37) 

   "For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] 

    that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things 

    present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, 

    nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us 

    from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (v. 38-39)

Don't these verses make you feel energized? That you CAN do all things through Christ who strengths me (Philippians 4:13)? That the crowd of witnesses (Hebrews 12;1) surrounding us, cheering us on, increases our courage? And these 3 are only the beginning of exactly Who is with us and What He does!

Not to be too cheesy or irreverent... but having Him always with us is truly all it's cracked up to be!

FIRST

Who is First in your life? In the first and last analysis - who's #1. And when you look at your behavior... does that support, reinforce who's first, or call your words into account? How would anyone know what and who is your First?

   "Therefore do not worry or be anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted), 

    saying, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or 

    ‘What are we going to wear?’ For the [pagan] Gentiles eagerly seek all 

    these things; [but do not worry,] for your heavenly Father knows that 

    you need them. But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive 

    after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and 

    being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things 

    will be given to you also. “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow 

    will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." 

    (Matthew 6:31-34, AMP)

First and most importantly... His kingdom and His righteousness. If you say you are a Christian, would anyone (including yourself) know what is your 'first' and 'most importantly'? Are you seeking His kingdom, His righteousness? Do you know what His kingdom is? Are you living in His righteousness? I've said it before and repeat - being a Christian is never for the faint hearted. We are called to be warriors for the Lord but not in the traditional sense we perceive what a warrior does. We are 'tasked' with the greatest opportunity as warriors... leading/sharing  the Lord (The Great Commission) with others.  

Kingdom of God:  there are countless verses that talk about this... actually, there could be an argument made that the entire Bible is talking about the Kingdom in some way. But is this a concept that is so far in the future or out of the realm of your understanding. that you really don't comprehend this? I think we begin discovering and understanding His Kingdom with our level of trust, our faith. What is the Kingdom to you? A place? A mindset? A person? And how do you get there?

Let me share some of the attributes of 'first' as I have come to discover. First is not an idle thought, it is a prevailing one... never far from the corners of your mind. You seek, as diligently as you know how, to discover more so that you can become more and do what would be pleasing. Your conversations are laced with your understanding of how important 'first' is in your life. And those are only the tips of the iceberg of 'first'. An obsession? Perhaps, but I tend to think of first as a passion that you can never get enough of.

Remember the Lord's Prayer: "... Your kingdom come, Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven..."? That phrase, to me, focuses what your actions about 'first' are, can be. You want His will to be in evidence. And where do you find His Will? In His Word of course. Look again at the scripture... it talks about His Kingdom and Righteousness. Isaiah tells us:

   "For we all have become like one who is [ceremonially] unclean [like a 

    leper], And all our deeds of righteousness are like filthy rags; We all 

    wither and decay like a leaf, And our wickedness [our sin, our injustice,

    our wrongdoing], like the wind, takes us away [carrying us far from 

    God’s favor, toward destruction].

  

    Yet, O Lord,  You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our Potter,

    And we all are the work of Your hand." (64:6,8, AMP)

[As an aside... though that might be read as a slap in the face, it really is only a statement of fact. However, I've never read a scripture of chastisement, 'punishment', correction, direction that isn't followed by a statement of God's love and care for us - to help us understand the gravity and importance of our decisions and actions but holding out the hand of redemption.]

Perhaps the question isn't so much about agreeing with what's been said as it is with knowing what your part is in making His Kingdom ... First. I would suggest that studying and talking about, learning and understanding, sharing and discussing are the foundations of discovering His Will. He really isn't hiding it and He does repeat Himself. Doing His Will is the path to His kingdom. And it isn't difficult. Sometimes I wonder if the problem isn't that this approach is foreign to what we've experienced in the world, that acting this way is a learned behavior.

Though I've offered some 'food for thought' regarding First, Kingdom of God, His Righteousness... I've basically left the reader with questions. But they are personal and incredibly important questions. Primarily... you need to know not only His answers but yours. What is it you know? What is it you believe about these concepts that are essential and eternal? What is it you do?

And by His stripes...

Healing. Health. Where do you stand when it comes to healing and especially, do you believe for your own healing? Do you know why you believe as you do? This tends to be a subject that we really don't talk about because it is inevitable that you will offend someone. Passions run very high when it comes to this subject. And sometimes we don't know why we believe as we do. Remember... it takes courage to believe for healing. I didn't say, pray for, I said - believe for. Perhaps it's only those who have experienced their own, or someone close, healing that the fullness of this is realized.?

Is healing actually supported by scripture? Yes. And in a number of places in both the Old and New Testaments, but the most startling and impacting is found in Isaiah, in his prophecies about the coming Messiah.

   "He was despised and rejected by men,

    A Man of sorrows and pain and acquainted with grief;

    And like One from whom men hide their faces

    He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or esteem Him.

    But [in fact] He has borne our griefs,

    And He has carried our sorrows and pains;

    Yet we [ignorantly] assumed that He was stricken,

    Struck down by God and degraded and humiliated [by Him].

    But He was wounded for our transgressions,

    He was crushed for our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing];

    The punishment [required] for our well-being fell on Him,

    And by His stripes (wounds) we are healed.

    All of us like sheep have gone astray,

    We have turned, each one, to his own way;

    But the Lord has caused the wickedness of us all [our sin, our injustice, our     

    wrongdoing To fall on Him [instead of us]." (Isaiah 53:4-7, AMP)

Isaiah was prophesying this centuries before Jesus came and yet it is Jesus about whom he is referring. And while Isaiah was stating a future event, look at the words... He has, He was, we are healed. 'Are' is a immediate, now word - not a future state. WE ARE. So why aren't we? How do we view healing? Is healing for us now? Dare we believe for our own healing?

Healing is such a 'touchy' subject. And there are many who genuinely believe that God puts sickness and disease on us to teach us something. Let me try and dispel this last thought. I have problems with this concept on soooo many levels. First and foremost is WHY would God want His creation to be sick and infirm? And presupposing He does, why do we turn to Him for healing, if it is He who puts illness on us? See. Doesn't compute. There's no logic. Ergo, in my world, God never puts sickness and disease on His people to 'teach them something'. However, in our times of being sick, if we turn to Him, He can help us understand things we did not realize.

Then there is Jesus. What did he do? He went about healing all of our diseases (Matthew 4:34, AMP). 

   "And He went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and

    preaching the good news (gospel) of the kingdom, and healing every 

    kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people..."  

Why? He was demonstrating Who He was and where He came from. He went about healing, but it was also coupled with the people's faith (see Mark 6:5). But He also went an additional step - He empowered His disciples to heal. 

   "And He called the twelve [disciples] and began to send them out [as His 

    special messengers] two by two, and gave them authority and power 

    over the unclean spirits." (Mark 6:7, AMP)

Why would this happen if He wanted us sick? Look again at Isaiah 53:6 - 'And by His stripes (wounds) we are healed'. He suffered the cross for our healing, including physical healing. 

So what do we do when we do get sick? Suffer through? Stiff upper lip it until we experience our healing? Whatever you do... just never ignore what's happening. You need to address any illness you experience with wisdom and faith. And you can do this at the same time you proclaim your belief for your healing. Remember that Jesus used many ways to heal, from laying on hands, speaking words of healing, spitting on clay and putting that on the eyes of the blind man. Healing comes in various forms and not always do we recognize this. 

Obviously I don't have the last word when it comes to healing and health. I don't know why one person is instantly healed and another not. Does it have to do with their hearts? Probably. The point in this is that He is our healer, we come to Him to be healed... how is not the focus just like 'if' and when are/is not the question(s).  If He healed one... He will heal us all. And not just physical healings. Read again Isaiah 53:4-5

    But [in fact] He has borne our griefs,

    And He has carried our sorrows and pains;

    Yet we [ignorantly] assumed that He was stricken,

    Struck down by God and degraded and humiliated [by Him].

    But He was wounded for our transgressions,

    He was crushed for our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing];

Griefs, sorrows, pains, wounded, crushed... emotionally, spiritually, as well as physically. I believe this with all my being that God wants His creation to be whole, healthy, happy - spirit, soul, and body... abundantly.

What's at stake?!

The answer is - You. And what’s more important? If to no one else, you should be of importance to you. The question - where you will spend eternity. Actually, even if everything else in your life feels like it’s on shifting sand, where you will be after this phase in your life is over?

You think I'm wrong? But what is I'm not? I believe God thinks you're important and He's sent messengers to you in various forms throughout your life... and now, at this moment, He's sent me with this message. If you're reading this and you haven't accepted Jesus as your Savior and thus inherited a future life with Him... then this message IS intended for you.

This is not a message intended to prove God exists - He proves this day after day as long as you see. Plus, there are countless books, articles that have been written to assure you of the efficacy of the Bible. Even scientists who initially started out to prove God didn't exist or that Jesus wasn't who He said He was have through their investigations discovered their error and have come to a saving knowledge.

So how do I know that this message is directed at an unknown reader? Simple. Though I may not know you, God does. And He says:

   "Can a mother forget the infant at her breast, walk away from the 

    baby she bore? But even if mothers forget, I’d never forget you—

    never. Look, I’ve written your names on the backs of my hands."

    (Isaiah 49:15-16, AMP)

   "Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before 

    you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you:" (Jeremiah 1:5, MSG) 

   "He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor 

    give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree 

    leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My 

    hold on you [assuredly not]!” (Hebrews 13:5, AMP)

Those 3 verses from both the Old and New Testament are representative of many verses that state how God sees you. You are important to Him! But... if you say that you do accept God but don't believe that Jesus is the only way, then:

   "This Jesus is the stone which was despised and rejected by you, the 

    builders, but which became the chief Cornerstone. And there is 

    salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven 

    that has been given among people by which we must be saved [for 

    God has provided the world no alternative for salvation].” (Acts 4:11-12, AMP)

Again, there are many verses that I could cite that confirm this statement, but in this one verse alone we have all the evidence needed. One way. The Bible also states, in Romans 12:3, that God has dealt to each of us a measure of faith. So we have the ability to understand that even our faith is a gift.

   "For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you 

    to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment 

    and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of your-

    selves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] 

    gift of God; not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep 

    the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way 

   [for his salvation]. (Ephesians 2:8-9, AMP)

Let me ask you...if Jesus isn't your Lord, your Savior, then who/what is? And don't tell me that you do everything 'your way'. Not possible. If you don't love and serve the Lord, then you love and serve His enemy - the devil. It's always been either/or... always will be.

The unvarnished truth is that what's at stake is YOU. And only you can decide to accept the gift extended to you. Your choice. Quite honestly, it doesn't make that much difference what I say... the point has always been you.  

Opportunity and Risk

Have you ever thought about the fact that every opportunity is based in risk? It is only as we accept the risk and act that we see the fruit from the opportunity. Have you ever considered that moving is always forward and never in reverse? Reverse is not where you go if you want to move toward accomplishment, victory. Is 'forward' always the only direction? Can we move... backward to victory, or maybe to one or the other sides? Who are our models? How do they act? How do they speak? What is their message? 

A great number of questions, but none should be lightly considered. Our answers prove who we are and how we go about being us. We are always responding to our daily opportunities... or ignoring them. Our comfort level is always challenged and we can never just stand still. How can we accept the challenge and opportunity, take the risk. and move? The Lord came that we might have an abundant life, but can we do this without accepting all that attends 'abundant'? And He clearly states that we it is only as we abide in Him (John 15:4) that we are fruitful. That speaks to only 1 way in my understanding.

Now consider where you are. A mistake? If you are a Christian and know, not just feel, that you are being led by God, then can you honestly say you are in the wrong place at the wrong time? The more I think about it... can you call yourself a Christian and not be led by God? If you truly believe that you, where you are, what you are doing is a mistake... whose? Yours? God's? God doesn't make mistakes and He tries to help us all from making them too, though ultimately it is our decision. Have you stopped and looked at the opportunities at your hand? Do you see the challenges that can lead you to fruitfulness and an abundant life?

From only a brief glance at my writings, it is very evident that I am a proponent of 'moving on'. However, indiscriminate moving or moving for moving's sake are rarely the determiners of that movement. There should always be some general idea of where you are going and the 'why' is always a good mate to bring along. We need to be intentional, purposeful so that we act confidently.

   "Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and 

    to completely finish His work. Do you not say, ‘It is still four months 

    until the harvest comes?’ Look, I say to you, raise your eyes and look 

    at the fields and see, they are white for harvest. Already the reaper is 

    receiving his wages and he is gathering fruit for eternal life; so that he 

    who plants and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this case the 

    saying is true, ‘One [person] sows and another reaps.’" (John 4:34-37, AMP)

Scripture reminds us not only who we are, but Whose we are, and what we should be about. No, that doesn't mean that you are called to go to the extreme parts of this world, though you could be. It means that in the world that you live, you are there for a reason... not just to take up space. You are needed, wanted. equipped, enabled to be about our Father's business. Take advantage of the opportunities that are presented to you. Take the risk and be bold and experience the joy of being in a place and time that afforded you the opportunity to be a harvester. 

Not designed to grow old

Personally, the title is a concept, philosophy, belief, etc. I try and live by.  Then again... I believe that age is only a number. Old, on the other hand, I believe is a mindset. Which, when put together, the two mean that physical age and old may not be related. I have believed for a long time that 'old' reflected the person, not their age. We've all met people who were old long before their age defined them. And, we've met chronologically older people who still have a young person's view of life.

All that leads to definitions, because they describe what the word 'looks' like. So... what is 'old'? When I consulted Webster, it isn't a positive word and gives the impression of worthless (my interpretation). However, scripture verses about old, old age may not be what you think...

   "May He (the Lord) also be to you one who restores life and sustains 

    your old age;" (Ruth 4:15, AMP) 

   "(God speaking to the house of Jacob and Israel) 

    Even to your old age I am He, And even to your advanced old age I 

    will carry you! I have made you, and I will carry you; Be assured I 

    will carry you and I will save you." (Isaiah 46:4, AMP)

   "Therefore we do not become discouraged [spiritless, disappointed, or 

    afraid]. Though our outer self is [progressively] wasting away, yet our 

    inner self is being [progressively] renewed day by day." 

    (2 Corinthians 4:16, AMP) 

There are over 100 verses that speak to old, old age, etc. the three I am sharing reinforce the positive aspects of (old) age being a positive. (See also Job 32:7). I especially enjoy the verses that talk about the Father being involved in our 'old age'. However, the point really is you - how do you view 'old'? Does 'old' describe who you are? Is 'old' a positive? negative? What is old!?

If I believe that 'old' is a mindset, then how do I define this? Bottom line is that the definition really isn't at fault, isn't in error - it's the presumption that age is the definer of old. So what is an 'old' mindset? There are a number of descriptors such as: fearful, unwilling to risk, feeling that continuing to grow is not all that important, not willing to 'think out of the box' - in other words, there is almost a fear but definitely unwillingness to change or accept change. 'Don't rock the boat' is the MO. 

However, this is not our design. Our design is to embrace life not try and control it. And we are not alone, left to our own devices:

   "Who will separate us from the love of [a]Christ? Will tribulation, or 

    trouble, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 

         ...

    But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who 

    loved us." (Romans 8:35, 37, AMP)

The Word keeps telling us:

   "...I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know 

    how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; 

    in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled 

    and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can 

    do all things [c]through Him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:11-13, AMP) 

Those  verses do NOT describe 'old'? They describe someone who knows that they can live a life that is full and fruitful.