This is NOT a Rehearsal!
I ran across this quote today:
Enjoy life! This is not a rehearsal. Anonymous
I don’t know who wrote it and what their inspiration was, but as I sit here reflecting o another birthday, I have to agree with at least one part, "this is not a rehearsal", so the first admonition is good, "enjoy life!"
When it’s said, life is fleeting, believe it. Time moves slowly for the young, but it flashes by as you age. As I have reflected on another birthday, I do have some words to offer – they’re not my words, but the Words that have helped me go from season to season:
"I have loved you just as the Father has loved me. You must go on living in my love. If you keep my commandments you will live in my love just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and live in his love. I have told you this so that you can share my joy, and that your happiness may be complete. This is my commandment: that you love each other as I have loved you. There is no greater love than this—that a man should lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I tell you to do. John 15:9 (PHILLIPS)
32-38 You must never forget those past days when you had received the light and went through such a great and painful struggle. It was partly because everyone’s eye was on you as you endured harsh words and hard experiences, partly because you threw in your lot with those who suffered much the same… Don’t throw away your trust now—it carries with it a rich reward in the world to come. Patient endurance is what you need if, after doing God’s will, you are to receive what he has promised. ‘For yet a little while, and he who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him’. Hebrews 10:32-39 -select verses (PHILLIPS)
"I leave behind with you—peacemy own peace and my gift is nothing like the peace of this world. You must not be distressed and you must not be daunted. John 14:27 (PHILLIPS)
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. Psalm 34:19 (KJV)
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Romans 5:1-5 (KJV)
Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others]. 1 Peter 4:8 (AMP)
There are many more, but these are a few of my all-time favorites – a word in season, for every season-.
Maria
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