Embracing Faith and Hope in Life's Journey

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In the last 36 years that I've known Verna, no one, not staff, not family, have I spent more time praying with than Verna Erickson. So me and Verna, more than anybody. The reason for that is that for a long season of our church's life, there were, in my experience, five prayer meetings a week, 30 minutes each. [00:04:54]

Verna was so present that nobody in my life have I spent more time praying with than Verna Erickson, which is an amazing statement for a pastor at 71 years old to make. Things happen inside you. They didn't, they happen. You don't make them happen over thirty years of praying with somebody. [00:05:49]

She was there, and she was in touch with the Living God. You know, some people are wired, and not just Verna-type people, but other people who are more ordinary, are wired that they find it more easy to speak their affections for Jesus while praying than looking you in the face. [00:06:42]

Verna had no social sensibilities about how to move gently into a conversation about Jesus. So we'd invite her to dinner, and guests were there, and she just turned to him and said, are you born again? What? And I watched that. God, make me more like that. Just cut to the chase. [00:14:25]

At the beginning of life, you know what it takes to be a success? Energy. If you're a lazy person who can't get out of bed and you just walk through life lethargy, it's hard to be a mom, it's hard to be a dad, it's hard to have a career. So energy at the front end of life is necessary for success. [00:17:43]

Let's resolve to take refuge in God rather than taking offense at our troubles. Verse one: In you, O Lord, I take refuge. If you forget that you are safe in God, he's a shield about you. If you forget that you are in a solid, unshakable, God-filled refuge, you're gonna take offense at your troubles. [00:18:48]

Let's resolve to remember with wonder and thanks the thousands of times we have leaned on God since our youth. Let's remember with wonder and thanks the thousands of times we have leaned on God from our youth. Verse 5: For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. [00:20:12]

Let's resolve to speak to God more and more about all his greatness until there's no room left in our mouths for murmuring. It's another way not to murmur. Fill your mouth up with his greatness. Verse 6: My praise is continually of you. Verse 14: I will praise you yet more and more. [00:21:34]

Let's resolve to be people of rugged, undefeatable hope and not give in to despair, even in the nursing home, and even if we outlive all our friends. Verse 14: I will hope continually. That will not be easy. It never is easy. It wasn't easy for Verna. It won't be easy for you or me. [00:23:47]

Let's resolve to go out of our way to find people to tell about God's wonderful acts of salvation. So if it's a nursing home, they're there. It's a neighborhood, they're there. To work, school, they're there. These works of salvation never run out. They are innumerable. [00:25:40]

Let's resolve to resist all stuffy stereotypes of old people. You know how old people are stuffy because people expect them to be. Let's resist all stuffy stereotypes of old people and instead, as we get older, play and sing and shout with joy, whether we look dignified or not. [00:30:27]

For God did not destined you for wrath. Is that the thinking? God has not destined his people for wrath. Not angry anymore. You're not gonna meet wrath. You're not gonna be angry. He is not destined you for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us. [00:36:17]

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