Age Is No Problem

When it comes to our purpose in life we should remember that age has no boundaries. Other words whether you are young or elderly you have talents and gifts to share with others.

I am sure we have seen little kids on television performing acts that most of us would enjoy having the talent to do so as well. With the elderly they have wisdom and experience that we can learn from. This is even true of my ninety-seven year old mother who doesn’t always remember things she has marvelous stories to tell. She remembers things from the past more than today. Her memory though is still intact pretty well. It is the little things like the day of the week and so on. When she had her last physical a couple months ago she knew the day of the week though not the month however she did know it is 2018. She was asked to say world backwards and she said it faster than me thinking how to say it. LOL. The nurse said that she never heard anyone say it so fast. She is still a smart woman even at her age. She taught both French and German at high school level. She can still speak both though she doesn’t use either that much.

It is important that we encourage everyone in their gifts and talents no matter how old they are.

Relaxing Time

I realized I mentioned a month ago about taking time to relax. Well this time I figure we need to relax before, during and after any time we spend with others when it comes to our gifts and purposes.

Relaxing before will help put ourselves to ease well as the other person or persons. For some of us that is easy to do while for others not so much. It is important not to put pressure on ourselves especially to perform.

Feeling relaxing during the time is important so the other person feels comfortable. Whatever reason we are meeting with them this puts the pressure off for all the parties involved. Remember that your gift is the reason you are doing it for them.

When you return home or wherever you go when you’re done than spend some time resting and relaxing. I know it is important especially what you have been doing is very emotional.

When that is all done than you should get back to your normal way of life of course relaxing should be part of your daily routine as well. It is easy for us to put stress on ourselves however these steps will make things a lot better for us and for them.  

Making Plans

We usually make plans when it comes to our vacation or other important activities in our lives so how about our purposes in life?  Personally I think it is a good idea so I am ready to get started how about you?

I believe making plans should start with making a list. This list could begin with people we could influence followed by those who do the same for us.

We should make a list of our gifts and talents as well along with what we are doing right now. Are we mentoring anyone or are we being mentored ourselves.

Making a list will help us get where we want to go. While we are making our lists likely people, gifts and talents will be added that we never thought of before.

I know that I remember things more when I write them down. I am sure there are more things we can do when we finish our lists. We can set up schedules along with priorities of our purposes.

If you feel that your too busy to make lists than either you are on the right track or you need to lists those things that you can discard as well. I am not saying that you have to spend hours right now making your lists. You can spend five minutes writing some down and then later write some more when they come to mind.

Anyway I hope this is a good start for all of us to get going where we need to be.

Keep on Going

Whatever our purpose is we need to keep on going. It is easy to give up at times but we must say yes regardless of the circumstances.

Often unbelief is what makes us stop along with the circumstances in our lives. It is those circumstances that keep us off the trail. Even though we may get tired and weary it is still important to keep moving because other people are depended on us.

Whether we know it or not other people keep their eyes on us. They are looking to see us fail and fall if they are not our friends.

I enjoy watching other people seeing what they are about. I am sure these people look at me in the same way.

At times we are not going to do the right thing however others will see us to see whether we pick up ourselves up and keep moving. This is really what makes the person of purpose.

The joy of doing our purpose even under trying times shows others what we are made up of at the same time being examples as well. It is the tough times that make us who we are.

When you need the help there is only one you can call on and that is God. He is there to help us. He gave us the gifts and talents however he has given the free will whether to use them or not.

Remember in the bad times that you want to be a faithful person in all that you do and in the end you will finish the race.

Fountain of Youth

I am not sure whether I have found the fountain of youth however for us to help our fellow man is a good start.

Of course feeling younger I am sure starts with genes along with how we take care of ourselves. I know that some people think that I look younger than my age but I feel that if I can lose some weight it will do me even better good. I believe our attitudes will help us coming to feeling youthful. I to know we who are on the last end of life now can’t believe how time has flied by.  The last few years I have heard of those who I went to school with have died. It is sad though part of life as well.

My mother is still alive and doing well under the circumstances of her age. Our trip to Canada wore her out and she is doing more sleeping than before but maybe that is part of being over ninety as well. Her memory isn’t quite what it used to be either but if I am blessed to stick around long as she has I will take that as well. Mostly she doesn’t remember what is going on right now but she does remember the past pretty well. She is going through physical therapy to keep her balance. She does walk real slowly more than in recent times but better than many ten or twenty years younger than her. Even though her memory isn’t all there at least she doesn’t look confused most of the time though I do see others that do.

Whatever we try to do I do know that we can’t control our health though we can try our very best. If you have found fountain of you let me know. I am sure everyone would like to get the secret. In the meantime just plugging away doing God’s will and purpose in my life. Any way have yourself a good week in whatever you do. Amen!

Open Our Heart!

I am getting ready for Sunday to visit the second day of the annual Maritime Festival. My church is calling it our first annual service day to the community. We will do whatever we can to help whether it is cleaning up when the event is over or talking to people. I am being involved in the street evangelism where thirteen of us will talk to people about their relationship with God. It is fun thing to do when keeping things low key.

So it comes to where we should ask if we have open hearts not just for God but for other people. It is not an easy task because not everyone is open to speaking freely about their lives. Although I want to encourage us all to be open to other people I know it isn’t easy to let people into our world. I believe that one word can change a person’s life as long as they have their heart open to it. The one word isn’t the same for each person though. I believe the universal word though is love. I know that everyone wants to be loved even those who don’t know how to express it. So whatever way I say open your heart to love you may be surprised. Though we have all been created in uniqueness for a purpose love is the international language that can open our hearts. Take the time to share your life not only with friends but with strangers too who knows how our lives will change and we will become the person we have meant to be all along.

 

Do What We Can

I figure not only to encourage each other when it comes to our purpose and destiny but give some personal experience including places I am going.

Of course you know that I have been to British Columbia ten days ago so I have a picture of myself below when I went riding on a horse for the first time since I was nine. It is amazing that I was able to ride the horse with ease. I look forward to doing the same again in the next couple years. This is what life is about trying new things to see where things go even those that don’t work out at all. I have had friends who said there is no way that they could ride a horse. In fact the coffee shop I go to on a daily basis have my picture on their refrigerator in the back room.

This comes to me saying let’s do what we can. It doesn’t matter whether it is big or small. Just like this blog whether it reaches thousands or a few daily I want to be able to affect people in a positive way. I hope that I have done so in your life and world. Let your friends know about this blog and share with it with them. Also I recommend that you start a blog yourself to help others as well. I know that we can change the world even one step at a time. I give you a big thank you for your life and how God will use you in whatever way possible. Amen!!

No Motives - Maritime Celebration

The first weekend of June in my hometown of Gig Harbor Washington every year we have a Maritime Celebration that includes a parade that will take place on June 2.  A large crowd primarily families show up each year; I have been going to it since I was just out of high school. It takes place on the town’s waterfront that goes for a distance about two miles. Like many small towns the parade includes high school bands in the area along with other schools and businesses. I will be taking pictures so you will be able to see them later on Saturday or Sunday on my website www.herbnightingale.com.  The parade starts at 10 am and goes until 12 noon or so. I enjoy seeing people that the only time I see them is during the parade. After the parade they have booths you can visit that includes businesses and food. About 2pm there is a blessing of the fleet. There are a number of fishing boats that go up to Alaska every summer for three or four months. Also included during the festival will be all kinds of music at Skansie Park. On Sunday they will have more music along with the booths. Throughout the summer Skansie Park has different bands playing on Tuesday nights so it is a great place to come during the summer.

Anyway my church Harborview Fellowship has decided to have their first annual Service Day on Day. The purpose is to meet the people of the community at the Maritime Festival including cleaning up after words. Many of us will go to different places to help out. So the Service Day won’t just include the Maritime Festival. Some of our church members will go around the community to give a helping hand. The whole thing has nothing to do with any motives just loving on the people. It is our primary duty when it comes to our purpose in life to help others and to love on them. People can be helped even if it isn’t your primary gifting or talents. We can all spend a little time helping others out. Of course there are those have more of a gifting in the area of helps  whether it is as a carpenter, plumber or a car mechanic to name a few things. When I was up at my cousins in British Columbia two weeks ago though I didn’t have any experience in ranching I did help out with carrying around tools. It is a great thing with limited talent we can still help out those who do have the talent in getting the job done.

This will turn out to be such joy this weekend to help out those who need help without any motive at all except to love on them. I hope you can do the same wherever you are in small ways too.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

 For all Christians who believe in Jesus Christ have all been gifts by the Holy Spirit. No one has all the gifts but each one has at least one gift. The purpose is to build up the church.

Looking into the gifts I noticed that in Catechism of the Catholic Church doesn’t indicate all the same ones mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12. I am not here to judge the Catholic Church however the two that are not mentioned is speaking in different kinds of tongues and the interpretation of tongues. It is probably not a surprise because even in the protestant church there is controversy about tongues.

In 1 Corinthians 13 Paul says though you may speak in tongues but you don’t love than it is just clanging noise. Although he doesn’t mention the other spiritual gifts when it comes to love I expect it applies to them as well.  So my interpretation is whatever gifts and talents that we have comes down to love. We must have love to give the gifts and talents away to others. I can tell you everything that I believe and encourage you here but I don’t show love than on my part I won’t receive award. You may receive all that I have given you and benefit from it however I won’t.

I pray that I will love all and receive love not for the gifts and talents given to me but that I want love. In my mind nothing else matters besides love. I hope that you feel the same way and that love will cover you. Amen!

Let’s Do It

At the beginning of the year I mentioned that our purpose we should just “let’s do it.” I think that there is no better way. We can think about doing our purpose but getting out and do it is the best policy otherwise we can think too much about it.

Last year I made pressing on as the goal and that is still good as well and the year before being on an adventure. Put all three together by let’s do it because we are pressing on and we are on adventure. Actually that is really what life truly should be an adventure. It can be exciting if we think it that way. It doesn’t mean that we won’t have troubles because that is what comes along in life but works out better when we think life as an adventure.

Often people consider their jobs as the purpose in life but that is only part of it. We enjoy our job than the purpose of it really does help however you don’t enjoy the work as much as when you started than it doesn’t feel right at all.

My last job I enjoyed for a while but the last few months it became stressful and lack of enjoyment so when I left I found it too be a good thing. There were some parts of it that were enjoyable because I liked dealing with people but restrictions were happening that put the stress on. I felt like I had to be perfect in everything I did and I knew that really wasn’t going to happen.

Now I look at every day to be an adventure because I can just do it. I can see who comes my way and put some sunshine in their lives even if it is just for a moment. I hope in the future to put wisdom into other’s lives along with boldness. Yes that is what I was created to be with my purpose and destiny. I want everyone who walks away from me thinking wow I am a special person. I hope you feel that way to when you finish reading my posts. Amen!

What Does Life of Purpose Mean to You?

I am sure we all have asked this question at least once what does life of purpose mean to me or what purpose do I have living here. If you have been a regular reader of this post I hope that you have answered the question and you’re trying to live that way.

Most of all if you know the Ten Commandments the first two are the greatest in loving God and loving your neighbor. So we were created to love God and to love those around us beginning with our families. God did not leave it at that for our purpose though they are the two reasons we are meant to have a purpose.

I do know that we don’t always live our lives to fulfill our purpose by loving God and others. The gifts and talents we have are to glorify God and to help others around us. Other words I am here to give my life to God and to others. We are not to live a life of isolation so these gifts and talents are to show how glorious and loving God is and to help others. The great thing is not only am I here to help you are here for the same thing. Every one of us to make others have a wonderful life until the end; I am here to help you at the same time you help me. Unfortunately it isn’t always working out. The world is full of people who want to do their own thing. I am sure we have all been there whether right now or in the past. Often we do things to see what we can get out of others. We take our gifts and talents to put over people. Another way can be said to control others. We see that every day with politics, religion and business.

I hope that you have answered the question about your purpose and I am able to help give you any insight. All I know to is everyday use our purposes and hopefully discover new ones. Not only will we be able to help others we will be helping ourselves by having happier lives.

 

Having Patience

I believe one of the hardest things to maintain is having patience. If you are good at being patient it likely is a gift from God. At least that is my opinion anyway.

I am probably more patient than I realize however it isn’t something easy for me. It is important to be patient because darkness and negative thoughts come in. The lack of patience can bring self-pity, anger and bitterness to name a few negative thoughts.

It is important to have patience and it will take time to do so. Sort of a funny thing to say in a way because patience means it will take time.

I know that there are desires we have sometimes takes years to materialize. I have had friends say that you must be patient. I know that is true but how long do we have to be patient? They may not understand that the desires have been going on for ten, twenty or thirty years or even a lifetime. The answer to go with patience is faith. We must believe the desires will be fulfilled someday even if it never happens. Faith is what we must have for those desires that we have longed for many years otherwise anger and bitterness could rule our lives.

Most likely the desires we have still looking to be fulfilled others are going through the same thing and this is where our purpose comes in as well. We can help others who are going through the same thing and we are strengthened at the same time. We can put faith into others that will make our faith stronger to. I am saying these words for encouraging others but to encourage myself to. Often we have to hear the words over and over again. Please comment if you have some encouraging words and you have overcome areas of impatience. Thank you!

 

Memorial Day

Here in the United States of America we celebrate Memorial Day the last weekend of May. The purpose is to remember those who gave their lives serving in the military.

I go a step further because I know that most of us have ancestors who served in foreign services as well so I want to honor them as well. I had a great uncle Alan who was my grandfather’s (on my mother’s side) brother who lost his life like many during World War 1 in the Canadian Army. My grandfather fought in a couple wars for Canada as well however he stayed home for the Great War because they didn’t want families to lose more than one.

I honor those who I remember who didn’t serve as well who are no longer with us however as a nation this weekend is for those who did serve.

An appropriate scripture to read and meditate on this weekend out of the mouth of Jesus Christ John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”  Amen!