Word the Week - Life Lessons

“We will not hide them from our descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done”  Psalm 78:4

The fruit of a life well lived in Christ - My good friend David Pursell’s father Jimmy Pursell passed away on Sunday, Father’s Day, at the age of 89 only two weeks away from celebrating his 90^th birthday, see linked obituary.  Mr. Jimmy Pursell was an amazing man of God who leaves a legendary legacy.  I am so encouraged to witness how God can use one man to impact so many people.  Mr. Jimmy came to Christ in his mid-forties, halfway through his journey of life, but God did “Immeasurably more” Ephesians 3:20 than most of us could ever ask or imagine by God’s power at work in him and through him.  My life and family were majorly impacted by Jimmy and the Pursell family as I was introduced to JH Ranch/Outback America www.jhranch.com , by attending an Outback America event with my eldest daughter Mary Kathryn in 2003.  My life and our family’s trajectory was changed forever by that weekend experience.  If it were not for Jimmy Pursell’s encounter with the living God and submission to the Lord as a generous ambassador for Christ, I would not have had that experience and who knows where our family would be today.  This is just one small nugget of the thousands and possibly millions of seeds planted by the Lord through the life of Jimmy Pursell.  Our thought and prayers are with the Pursell Family and we rejoice in the godly legacy of Jimmy Pursell….Glory be to God!!!!!!!!The wisdom of life from experience and God’s word – I received this from my dad a few weeks ago and it really resonated with me.  After attending Jimmy’s life celebration reception on Friday at Pursell Farms I was prompted to share some wisdom from someone who has lived 90 years.  Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, writer for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio. "To celebrate growing older, she once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.”  It was the her most requested column ever written.  I think we have much to learn from those who have gone before us, especially those how have lived 70 plus years on this earth and have the wisdom of many years of life experience.  Even more powerful is a life lived in communion with the Lord Jesus and submitted to the Holy Spirit from a biblical godly perspective.  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, “declares the Lord.  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways”. Isaiah 55:8-9Life Lessons with Scriptural Context – The following are the first ten life lessons that Regina shared along with bible verses that I found that reinforce the principals/life lessons that Regina discovered over her 90 years on earth.  I think there is much truth and wisdom to be gleaned from Regina.

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good. Habakkuk 3:17-18 “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my savior”.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step. Matthew 6:34  “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
3. Life is too short – enjoy it. James 4:14 ^“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes”.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will. Acts 10:2  “He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.” 
5. Pay off your credit cards every month. Romans 13:8  “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.”
6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.  Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves”
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.  Romans 12:15 “ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.  Psalm 10:1 “Why, Lord, do you stand far off?  Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?”
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.  1 Corinthians 16:2 “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.”
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.  Ecclesiastes 2:24 “So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God.”

I hope you enjoyed these life lessons with scripture.  I will plan to share the next ten “life lessons” from Regina next week.Have a great week in preparation for the celebration of our Nations birthday.Blessings,-Duane