And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? <\/i><\/p>\n
\u2014Luke 12:25<\/i><\/p>\n
3389<\/b> Prayer For The Middle-Aged<\/b><\/p>\n
Lord, Thou knowest better than I myself that I am growing older and will some day be old. Keep me from that fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Release me from craving to straighten out everyone\u2019s affairs. Make me thoughtful, but not moody; helpful, but not bossy. <\/p>\n
With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all, but Thou knowest, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end. <\/p>\n
Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details, give me wings to get to the point. Seal my lips on my aches and pains. They are increasing and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by. <\/p>\n
I dare not ask for grace enough to enjoy the tales of others\u2019 pains, but help me to endure them with patience. <\/p>\n
I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken. <\/p>\n
Keep me reasonable, sweet. I do not want to be a saint: some of them are so hard to live with, but a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil. Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places and talents in unexpected people. Give me the grace to tell them so. <\/p>\n
\u2014Now<\/i><\/p>\n
3390<\/b> On Fifty\u2019s Right Side<\/b><\/p>\n
Mr. Venn, convening with a stranger, was thus accosted: \u201cSir, I think you are on the wrong side of fifty?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOn the wrong side of fifty!\u201d answered Mr. Venn. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo, sir, I am on the right side of fifty.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSurely,\u201d the other replied, \u201cyou must be turned fifty?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, sir,\u201d added Mr. Venn; \u201cBut I am on the right side of fifty; for, every year I live, I am nearer my crown of glory.\u201d<\/p>\n
3391<\/b> The Youth Of Old Age<\/b><\/p>\n
Victor Hugo, titan of French literature, was once called upon to comfort a friend who had arrived at his 50th birthday and was depressed at the idea of growing old. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou should rejoice, my friend,\u201d Hugo told him, \u201cthat you have escaped your forties, which are the old age of youth, and have at last arrived at the age of fifty, which is the youth of old age.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Selected<\/p>\n
3392<\/b> Feeling Protected<\/b><\/p>\n
A. Leonard Griffiths has a sermon that he calls: \u201cA Gospel for the Middle-Aged.\u201d It is based on the words: \u201c \u2026 the destruction that wasteth at noonday\u201d (Psalm 91:6). Having enumerated some of the perils of the middle-aged, he observes: \u201cThe Psalmist sings not of life\u2019s perils, but of the Power protecting him against these perils. See how he begins, \u201cHe that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high\u201d \u2026 When a man sets his life within the context of faith in God, he does secure himself against many of the destructive elements that assault the human soul.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Pastor\u2019s Manual<\/i><\/p>\n
3393<\/b> Epigram On Middle Age<\/b><\/p>\n
\u2022 Middle age is that perplexing time of life when we hear two voices calling us, one saying, \u201cWhy not?\u201d and the other, \u201cWhy bother?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Last Things First<\/i><\/p>\n
\u2022 The first half of our lives is ruined by our parents and the second half by our children. <\/p>\n
\u2014Clarence S. Darrow<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u201cOur generation never got a break. When we were young, they taught us to respect our elders, and now that we\u2019re older, they tell us to listen to the youth.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 When I was a boy I used to do what my father wanted. Now I have to do what my boy wants. My problem is: when am I going to do what I want? <\/p>\n
\u2014Sam Levenson<\/p>\n
\u2022 If a middle-aged school superintendent could only sell his experience for half what it cost him, he could live in retirement and luxury. <\/p>\n
See also:<\/b> Man ; Old Age ; Youth ; Heb. 2:6.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? \u2014Luke 12:25 3389 Prayer For The Middle-Aged Lord, Thou knowest better than I myself that I am growing older and will some day be old. Keep me from that fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and … Continue reading “MIDDLE AGE”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5149","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5149","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5149"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5149\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5149"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5149"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5149"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}