Retired and Living Life!

Howard and his trike in Beaufort, SC
photo taken by son, John Arthur Mattson

"What gain have the workers from their toil? I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live..." Eccl 3:9-12

Live life!  I can't even begin to count how many times I have told people to live life; enjoy life! I believe some think, "who is she kidding? She's a Christian and a pastor. What can she know about fun?"  My fun may not be like a lot of people's idea of fun; but, I do know about enjoying life; about enjoying the numberless gifts that God has given me.

My husband retired for the second time this past summer. He has not quite reached the normal retirement age. But, he has worked hard for a long time. Most of his years have been "on call" twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week as his first career was as a U.S. Marine and his second career was as owner/administrator of an adult foster care home. So, I finally convinced him that it was time to retire and enjoy life; to take time for himself. He has taken a few vacations since then. He is enjoying life. I know that he also took pleasure in the work that he did; but, now is his time to live life; to take the time to more fully enjoy the gifts that God has given him.

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.." Eccl 3:1

It is time to truly live life!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 116 - Taxes

"I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!" (Psalm 116:1-2 NIV)

I was not facing death, but we have been facing the steady decline of our small business for the past few years. As overhead, things like insurance and taxes, keep going up and up, profits go down and down. My husband has been anxious about it and I have been just a little anxious for him.  The good news is as one's income decreases so do the taxes! (At least the lower tax debts are good for the small business owners even if it's not going to help the U.S. budget much)

I have been up since 1 a.m. and just finished our 2012 income taxes. The good news for my husband when he wakes up this moring - the silver lining in the cloud - is that we don't owe the huge amounts we normally do. What a relief! Of course, we owe. One never gets away from taxes, I suppose. But, God has been merciful.

I do not like tax time one iota. Income taxes are relatively easy to do. It's just so time consuming to I try to find all the documents I need to do them in the first place. It is a troubling time - frustrating - as I try to remember where I filed what.  I use to take a week's vacation time to dig up all of the paperwork. This year, I did not. I'm just getting up earlier to do them.

So, this morning, I see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel and I rejoice. The LORD has always seen us through. He has always provided. He has always met our needs. I remember days when husand was a very young U.S. Marine and there were nights when we would have pancakes, no bacon or ham or eggs, just pancakes made with water for supper. I had a budget of $20.00 per month for groceries. It was tight, but we ate. I remember his first W-2. Actually, I have it saved somewhere. It is unbelievable how much he didn't make and we had a son to support on it. It was less than most people get today for 2 weeks work. But, God has always provided for us, no matter how tight things seemed to get. God heard of our needs and answered.

Those early days of our marriage taught me to trust the LORD. They drew me into a closer relationship with Him. I can look back and know that we would not be where we are today, but by the grace of God.

In every need, do not hesitate to call upon the LORD. He hears your voice and answers.

God's Peace - Pr. J