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Retirement in 3 Chapters

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments

Just 6 months ago my wife and I decided to finally make the decision to retire and move to Florida. She had finished her chemotherapy and was recovering her strength. The sale of our business was finalized and the transition completed. Even our kids and grandkids were urging us to make the plunge. Everything seemed so right and we moved ahead with as much enthusiasm as we could towards a new and uncertain future. For the benefit of anyone in our position or who are thinking about retirement here are three chapters we have passed through. Some days have been great and some have been stressed and even traumatic.

Chapter One… Wahoo we’re in Florida! No more ice..no more snow…no more 4-5 long colorless months of barren cold landscapes!!

Chapter Two…oh noooo we’re in Florida! It’s 1200 miles to the nearest friend or family. Everybody seems to be trying to sell us something and the water tastes like someone washed their gym socks in it!

Chapter Three… Oh I see -God has been in Florida long before we came. He knows all the answers and has called this new place our home!

Unpacking Boxes

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Luke 11:2 ESV

On mornings when I struggle to know what to pray I go back to the beginning of this prayer. Because we ate still unpacking from our recent move it is easy to think our “Real life” will begin once the final box is emptied. But just as Jesus taught us to pray for daily bread He also has a daily will. Waiting for when the boxes get unpacked, the graduation ceremony or the new job misses the point that today matters most to God.

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We feel overwhelmed with the things right in front of us today. But if Pastor Rick Warren or some famous TV show host, called and asked to do an interview we would find time. God is on the line right now calling us to open our m tumultuous day to Him. Because how we praise, have patience or think of the people around us matters to Him. His kingdom coming this morning means our King wants to come and help us unpack every box today for His glory!