{"id":23870,"date":"2018-09-25T03:30:55","date_gmt":"2018-09-25T10:30:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=23870"},"modified":"2018-09-20T16:47:14","modified_gmt":"2018-09-20T23:47:14","slug":"september-25-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2018\/09\/25\/september-25-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"September 25, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cThey (the righteous) will still bear fruit in old age; they will be fresh and flourishing.\u201d\u00a0<\/em>Psalm 92:14<\/p>\n

The Example of Holiness<\/strong><\/h2>\n

My friend Helen and I share the same birthday. She turned 95 years old this year. Helen does not know this, but she is my mentor. Helen and I worked together in 1973 which means even though I moved to Northern California, we have remained friends for 45 years. She still prays faithfully for my family every Friday.<\/p>\n

Unaware of the lessons she was teaching me, Helen taught from the pulpit of her life. I listened to her and observed my co-worker and friend. Here are a few of the principles from God\u2019s Word that I learned from watching her life of sacrifice and holiness.<\/p>\n

In order to live in peace, I need to relinquish control of my life to God, have no fear of the future, and press toward personal holiness. I need to be committed to the Lord\u2019s command to \u201coccupy until I come.\u201d Helen faithfully researches the values and voting habits of candidates so she can vote responsibly for the people that uphold the Constitution and who follow biblical principles. She would never consider not voting.<\/p>\n

I need to be pure and just and walk humbly with my God. Helen desires to be conformed to the image of Christ, His holiness. I observed Helen’s relationship with the Lord as she kept her eyes on Him and trusted Him no matter what her circumstances. Her study of God\u2019s Word and dedication to prayer is a passionate part of her life as well as dedication to right thinking and right living through the pursuit of holiness.<\/p>\n

God said, \u201cBe holy for I am holy\u201d (1 Peter 1:16). For Helen, her time with the Lord in prayer and study of His Word is necessary to feed the spiritual part of her life throughout her day.<\/p>\n

Our lives are consumed with busyness. Corrie ten Boom said, \u201cIf the devil cannot make us bad, he will make us busy.\u201d Sometimes busyness will crowd out or shorten our time with our Lord. Holiness is placing every detail of our life under the scrutiny of a holy God.<\/p>\n

So I ask myself if I am tolerating any thought, attitude, or unacceptable behavior before a holy God, and I ask Him to examine my heart, thoughts, and words and to tell me if holiness is exhibited in my life.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank You, Lord, for faithful, holy handmaidens like Helen who teach us\u00a0by example that You are faithful, and You will still use us, if we are willing and available to You, even at 95 years old. May we, as Your handmaidens, be holy vessels poured out before You for future generations.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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