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reflections - It Is Never Too Late With God
Faith

It Is Never Too Late With God

by Corine Channell
written by Corine Channell

I personally know a woman who at age 65 began to write a new ending to her life story. All the hard roads she traveled that no one knew, would not stop her from moving forward and leaving a Godly crumb trail for all those who followed behind.

CHANGING GENERATIONS

She was a missionary to India and Japan from ages 69-89, a teacher, an author, a beloved woman in other lands. Age didn’t stop her. Hardships didn’t define her. Before I knew how to open bolted doors, she was charging through them herself. She saved babies and young orphan girls and boys, she fed lepers, she ministered to the elderly, she directed building construction. She read through the Bible dozens of times/requiring a new one each time due to her excessive notes on every.single.page., she traveled alone, she faced disease, her life was hard, she was lonely, she was old. BUT. NONE of those things became a reason or an excuse to stop. For 20 years she changed generations to come. She wrote a new ending to her story. Good to note that while we can’t always change what has already happened, we CAN change what comes next. We CAN forge a new path for those who come behind us, even if we never get to see them with our earthly eyes.

FATHER ABRAHAM

Reminds me of Abraham – father of us all. “And so from this one man (Abraham), and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.” (Hebrews 11:12) Whoa. Pretty sure I missed this verse till now. ONE man. (or in her case ONE woman) Could be any one of us/all of us. “He as good as dead…” Wow. I bet we have ALL felt this way. I know she did. I know I have.

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE

She wrote a book titled IT’S NEVER TOO LATE WITH GOD. Funny, our messages are so intertwined. She didn’t let anything define her life except for – Jesus. That was her message. That was her hope. That was the ending to her story that lives on. It lives on through me. She was my adoptive mother.

I get it mom. I get it. Thank you for the faith you instilled in me that against all odds, has remained. I am now writing my own ending. Thankyou for passing on the baton of blessing.

If you would like to see what Helen’s life was like in India, enjoy this video – and remember, this was a 5’foot tall lady in her 70’s and 80’s. And in her own words, her mantra for her life – “Adjust, and carry on.” It is never too late with God.

Helen Dexter Missionary to India

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blessing favor
Faith

What Determines Your Worth?

by Corine Channell
written by Corine Channell

Sometimes I find myself way too focused on what I see in my mirror. In my mind I feel pretty much the same age as I have for the past 30 years – for real! THEN I look in the mirror and go, Whoa! WHO are YOU? Aging really is a gift; it means you are still here and not done. Where do you get your worth though?

As women though, we seem to view aging as something to run from and something to cover up. There is make up, hair color, wrinkle gel, age spot cream, tooth whitener, the gym, healthy eating, and LOTS of vitamin infused water. These are all wonderful and useful, but should NEVER be the things we define our worth by. I am just as much a good bread baker with or without makeup. I am just as much of a creative Pinterest queen with or without hair color. I am currently writing – in my pajamas, messy hair and don’t care. Point being – our true value is NOT found in a mirror. It is found in our heart.

THE ESSENCE OF WHO WE ARE

Have you ever met someone who just to look at from outward appearances, would not be considered attractive? However, there is some shine or glow that comes forth from every pore of their being and after you get to KNOW them, they become the most beautiful person you’ve ever met. I have had this experience. The most beautiful people I know are beautiful from the inside out!

If I lose myself in my negative opinion of my age and my physical flaws, I lose the true essence of who I am.

I, like most of us, want to somehow stay youthful. None of us like wrinkles or gray hair or any signs of aging. Really though, all these things are signs of LIFE! We got the scars and the wrinkles and the gray hairs from experiencing life! We stayed in the race. We ran to WIN. If I make it to the finish line and look like I fought my way there, (blood, sweat, tears, wrinkles and ALL), then THIS should be a GOOD thing. I so want to embrace my aging body. I am SO trying.

WHAT DETERMINES MY WORTH

Who are we really? What determines our worth? Are our looks really in this equation at all, or should they be? Sure, being healthy and active and fit are necessary for the ability to do and be more. Agree. But to dismiss our signs of aging as a bad thing HAS to go.

I am a RELIC and a survivor and a warrior and a walking encyclopedia of days gone by. Cool, right? So are YOU! How about we stop trying to avoid the aging process and embrace our job of teaching and serving and molding the NEXT generation? I think what is being lost is what the Bible speaks of when it refers to “…generation to generation shall speak His praises…” Young people NEED the older people. Older people NEED the young people. We are all connected. It is NO shame to be young, nor is it shameful to be old.

I am going to stop being my own worst critic at the reflection in my mirror. I am going to cheer myself on and remind myself how far I have come and how much I still have to offer from that very long journey I took to get here.

THIS right here – “Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father and he will show you, and your elders – they will tell you.” (Deuteronomy 32:7)

RISE UP AND SHINE

It is TIME to rise up and be the shining light of generations gone, here, and yet to come. What an honor to still have time and opportunity to be a lighthouse for the lost, the battered and the broken. Teach them love, wisdom, forgiveness, when to speak or when to be silent; show them patience, teach humility, reinforce life skills, laugh often and loudly, take pictures, bake bread, journal your history and experiences, and be their refuge from a cruel world.

Come on my friends – step up and own your age! There is still time to leave a lasting legacy. The person in MY mirror wants to be a history maker. How about you? For the sake of generations HERE and yet to come, there is much work left to do.

Lift up your glass of vitamin water with me! (wink wink) Cheers to us! Who am I kidding – I have coffee!

“Don’t you know you’re beautiful?
Crazy kind of wonderful, and there’s no one like you
(Hey girl) you don’t need to measure up
You are the treasure of the God who loves you.”
(“Hey Girl” by Anne Wilson)

________________
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truths and history
Faith

History Is In Session

by Corine Channell
written by Corine Channell

One of the classes you study in school is History. The definition of history is: “The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. Also the whole series of past events connected with someone or something.”

How do we learn and change and grow if we don’t know what happened in the past? The past is our teacher. The past is our experience. The past is our history. You can NOT cancel history class.

HISTORY CAN’T BE FORGOTTEN

The past is a part of the sum total of the history of mankind, and of each of us as individuals. I have a past that has made me who I am today – all of it – the good, the bad and the ugly. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” (George Santayana)

Pr‌actically speaking, let’s just see why history is important – it gives us the resources to become better people; it teaches us about who we are; it helps us understand others and how they think or feel or live; we get a world view; it helps us not to repeat the same mistakes or even tragedies and overall history prepares us to be launched into the future. “A nation that forgets its past, has no future.” (Winston Churchill)

THE DIVINE INTERLOCKING

We are genetically connected to those generations who have gone before us. Did you know that in our own DNA are memories from our ancestors – memories of their struggles and hardships, their joys and triumphs. In essence, we carry them in us. We are part of a bigger story and part of a legacy, albeit good or bad. IF bad, we get the chance to do better and to be better. IF good, then we get to pass it on generation to generation. “If you don’t know history, then you don’t know anything. You are a leaf that doesn’t know it is part of a tree.” (Michael Chrichton)

So we are all connected to our ancestors who came before us. Sometimes you actually get to find out what they themselves were up against, and how they overcame.

ANCESTRAL ROOTS

My ancestors came to America on the Mayflower ship in 1620, exactly 400 years ago. They were called Pilgrims, and I myself was even born in Plymouth. My ancestor was William Brewster, the Pastor of the first church in America. He was also an author, who wrote over 400 books. My heritage and who I am have become so much more valuable to me now that I know what my roots are. My kids and my grandkids didn’t seem much surprised that my roots are in Jesus and writing. “Of course they are Nani – that makes sense!” We laugh at that but really, if there was no record of it I would have NO way of knowing. It empowers me to continue on for the sake OF my children and grandchildren, and generations to come. I hope someday someone will be able to say, “Oh look – 10 generations back was this lady you’re related to (or maybe named after)- she loved Jesus and writing, just like YOU!” THAT is why we can NOT cancel history. We are all interlocked like puzzle pieces from the past to the present to the future.

Our culture has become a drive thru experience, where we want what we want and we demand it NOW. That thinking keeps us imprisoned to only the here and now, and only thinking about ME ME ME! God thinks in generational terms, about family lines, blessings, covenants, memorials, offerings, memories and acts of remembrance. We are not here by accident or some random twist of fate. We are each a part of a bigger story.

THE STORY MATTERS

“We will not hide them from our children, telling to the generation to come, the praises of the Lord, and His strength and the wonderful works He has done.” ((Psalm 78:4) “Tell your children about it, and let your children tell their children, and their children the next generation.” (Joel 1:3) “That these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city…and that the memory of them should not perish among their descendants.” (Esther 9:28)

“The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.” (Winston Churchill)

Keep history in session for you and yours, and those generations yet to come. Leave behind a honorable legacy.

___________

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Hands touching in a circle showing teamwork
ArticlesIsraelIsrael InsiderNews

Three Goals of Teamwork

by Asher Intrater
written by Asher Intrater

Many years ago, when I looked at the promises in the Bible concerning Israel, the Church, the Messianic Remnant, and the End Times, I came to the conclusion that no one is strong, wise, or righteous enough to fulfill them. If God was calling us to be involved, we had to work together as a team. If we could not develop teamwork, we could not fulfill our destiny.

 

It’s never easy to work in a team. A team involves people, and people have problems. They bring their weaknesses, their differences of opinions, their pride, fears, stubbornness, frustrations, etc. People come with their “baggage” and their “garbage.”

 

Once I distributed pieces of a children’s jig-saw puzzle to our staff. We had to slide our pieces to the center of the table and make them fit together. The separated pieces had no meaning, but when they were connected, a coherent picture emerged.

 

Each piece had curves going inward and curves going outward. We interpreted the inward curves as our weaknesses or needs, and the outward curves as our talents or strong points. The inward curves – our weaknesses – were what enabled the pieces to fit together. To form a whole picture, the critical task is for each one to recognize his need for the other. We can allow our weaknesses to pull us together, where often our strengths push us apart.

 

Joint Ownership

 

I serve in senior leadership at Revive Israel Tikkun Global (RITG), Ahavat Yeshua, and Tiferet Yeshua. Thank God, each team is bearing much fruit by His grace. I feel very aware of my own weaknesses, and often am not sure of what I contribute. Each team is made up of people who are gifted, talented, and motivated in their own right.

 

If there is anything that I feel we have done right, it is to foster a feeling of teamwork and joint “ownership.” In each of these groups, it is apparent that there is interaction and “give and take” in the team. This in itself provides a sense of safety for the other people involved. Nothing is dependent on just one person.

 

I summarize our teamwork goals in a simple three-step guideline:

  1. Your Success

  2. Our Togetherness

  3. Generational Transfer

The first priority is to desire the success of the others involved. The attitude should be: “If I can help you succeed, then I have done my job.”

 

The second priority is maintaining the unity of the team. Everyone has to sacrifice of himself in order to keep the togetherness. Yielding is the price of unity.

 

The third area involves training and transfer. Not only are the goals of the kingdom of God too big for any one person, they are too big for any one generation. Transferring roles and positions goes in both directions: “up and out” for the elders, and “down and in” for the younger ones.

 

The transition is like a family in which the child eventually becomes a parent, and the parent becomes the grand parent. The authority is moved gradually away from the elder to the younger, but the elder remains in a place of influence and honor.

 

I hope these principles of teamwork and covenantal relationships will help you bear much fruit in every sphere of life (John 15:5, 8, 16).

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Hands touching in a circle showing teamwork
ArticlesIsraelIsrael InsiderNews

Three Goals of Teamwork

by Asher Intrater
written by Asher Intrater

Many years ago, when I looked at the promises in the Bible concerning Israel, the Church, the Messianic Remnant, and the End Times, I came to the conclusion that no one is strong, wise, or righteous enough to fulfill them. If God was calling us to be involved, we had to work together as a team. If we could not develop teamwork, we could not fulfill our destiny.

 

It’s never easy to work in a team. A team involves people, and people have problems. They bring their weaknesses, their differences of opinions, their pride, fears, stubbornness, frustrations, etc. People come with their “baggage” and their “garbage.”

 

Once I distributed pieces of a children’s jig-saw puzzle to our staff. We had to slide our pieces to the center of the table and make them fit together. The separated pieces had no meaning, but when they were connected, a coherent picture emerged.

 

Each piece had curves going inward and curves going outward. We interpreted the inward curves as our weaknesses or needs, and the outward curves as our talents or strong points. The inward curves – our weaknesses – were what enabled the pieces to fit together. To form a whole picture, the critical task is for each one to recognize his need for the other. We can allow our weaknesses to pull us together, where often our strengths push us apart.

 

Joint Ownership

 

I serve in senior leadership at Revive Israel Tikkun Global (RITG), Ahavat Yeshua, and Tiferet Yeshua. Thank God, each team is bearing much fruit by His grace. I feel very aware of my own weaknesses, and often am not sure of what I contribute. Each team is made up of people who are gifted, talented, and motivated in their own right.

 

If there is anything that I feel we have done right, it is to foster a feeling of teamwork and joint “ownership.” In each of these groups, it is apparent that there is interaction and “give and take” in the team. This in itself provides a sense of safety for the other people involved. Nothing is dependent on just one person.

 

I summarize our teamwork goals in a simple three-step guideline:

  1. Your Success

  2. Our Togetherness

  3. Generational Transfer

The first priority is to desire the success of the others involved. The attitude should be: “If I can help you succeed, then I have done my job.”

 

The second priority is maintaining the unity of the team. Everyone has to sacrifice of himself in order to keep the togetherness. Yielding is the price of unity.

 

The third area involves training and transfer. Not only are the goals of the kingdom of God too big for any one person, they are too big for any one generation. Transferring roles and positions goes in both directions: “up and out” for the elders, and “down and in” for the younger ones.

 

The transition is like a family in which the child eventually becomes a parent, and the parent becomes the grand parent. The authority is moved gradually away from the elder to the younger, but the elder remains in a place of influence and honor.

 

I hope these principles of teamwork and covenantal relationships will help you bear much fruit in every sphere of life (John 15:5, 8, 16).

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Faith

To A Thousand Generations, One Day Can Change It All

by Corine Channell
written by Corine Channell

“But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Peter 3:8) The thought struck me about Deborah, preparing her whole life for her ONE day when she stepped into her role. “Village life ceased, it ceased in Israel, Until I, Deborah, arose, arose a mother in Israel.” (Judges 5:7) I am wondering if, in terms of the “ONE day concept”, it is first about the long journey to GET TO the ONE day when everything changes. Not like in one day you do everything you are meant to do, and it’s over but more that it starts a generational ripple effect. It was exactly that way for Deborah – after her journey and her preparation, she arrived at her one day that would change thousands of generations after her. Wow. Staggering.

Our Actions Matter

I am just wanting us to think how much what we DO with this life we have been given, matters to those who come behind us. I think if we could grasp THAT truth it would change how we do everything. And I mean, Everything! But there is a lot of preparation before you get TO that one day; the one that changes everything when your life becomes an offering.

Speaking from my own life, I accomplished two landmark things in 2020, a year I would have NEVER seen either thing happening in. I wrote a book and got a college degree. It seems both of those things were accomplished in a day, but there were upwards of 50 years invested into both. Yet these 2 things will influence the 1000s of generations after me. I mean, I hope so. I realized that my life story needed to be heard so that it could help others who have walked a similar road of sexual abuse.

ONE DAY: It’s Never Too Late

Finishing college (after 46 years since day ONE in Bible college in 1974) felt like that THING I needed to just finish. To be true to completion, to it never being too late, to never giving up. And then to see that the degree I received actually MATTERED to my current age and purpose. A Bachelor’s Degree in WRITING. I could NOT have planned that, but God did. I have learned that preparation is essential in discovering or uncovering your ONE day experience. It doesn’t take a one day journey. But it COULD all culminate on ONE day, And therefore, change everything for generations yet to come.

Legacy

What is a legacy? It is the story of a person that lives on long after they leave so that they are not forgotten. Legacies are so important as they are like road maps left behind for others to follow, to guide the paths of those who follow in our footsteps.

Long before everything went digital, we recorded sounds on what was called a cassette recorder to be played back on magnetic tape that ran between two small reels. It was the place to store data, which generally was of some importance. Yeah I know – we have come a long way since then.

“One generation shall praise Your works to another.” (Psalm 145:4) This speaks of leaving behind truth for those who follow behind. This makes me shudder really, wondering if I will leave behind more than pictures of myself and Facebook posts and favorite possessions. This has led me to think about what do I want there to be on the cassette tape of MY life, so it is not left blank. This is why I wrote a book about my life and finished a long college journey.

Keep The Tape Rolling

Yes, my life story is full of pain and mistakes and failures and regrets, but I kept that tape rolling as I continued to walk out the rest and did NOT give up. I learned from the errors of my way and corrected them. I learned to forgive those who hurt me, whether intentionally or unintentionally. And I learned to forgive myself for not knowing what I did not know.

NOW I can leave words of guidance and sound advice. NOW I can teach tried and true life lessons. And I can be a light in the dark. A voice shattering the silence. A song in the night and a refuge in the storm. Only if I stop, will my cassette tape fade away or even run blank. Only if I stop. This is what it looks like when YOU rise up for YOUR one day, to step into YOUR purpose that will go on for a thousand generations.

I don’t even think quitting should ever be a choice. I think maybe we could be tougher or more resilient against the hardness of life if we understood it is more a responsibility to be and stay faithful.

One Day: Leave A Legacy

When we produced our documentary ‘Shattered Silence’ we were privileged to interview many precious Veterans of war. One man who has always stood out to me had been a POW for several years during the Vietnam War. He said how he survived the loneliness, the boredom, the sameness, the isolation – was the knowledge that he had to get back home to his family. He said, “That was my responsibility in those days, as I saw it.” He survived his incredible hardship by simply taking responsibility for his own survival, for the sake of those he loved.

Wow. Let that sink in. THIS is how we leave a legacy.

“Through our pain and suffering, we must fight to survive, taking responsibility for ourselves and our actions, so that out of the darkness we will RISE to our true potential.” – ‘Shattered Silence’, Joseph Channell

Inheritance Of Godly Character

“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.” (Proverbs 13:22) This is not just about leaving a will and leaving money for everyone; it is more about leaving an inheritance of godly character. Leave behind a legacy of integrity, trustworthiness, honor, wisdom, motivation, kindness, courage, generosity, humility, and valor. You will have to fight to make this happen; it is not for the faint of heart – it takes resolve and a constant choosing to own up to your life. No, we are not perfect – the story is NOT about perfection; it is about the journey itself.

Your one day – your legacy – that tape filled with the sounds of your life; it begins in the corners and reservoirs of your heart. It is recording your journey as you march on and never ever stop. “How blessed is the man who fears the Lord and who greatly delights in His commandments. His descendants (those who come behind you) will be MIGHTY on earth. The generation of the upright shall be BLESSED.” (Psalm 112:1-2)

Keep going till you RISE. It matters. “Until I arose.” THEN it all changes.

 

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Faith

Moth Boss, By The Light Of The Moon

by Corine Channell
written by Corine Channell

When I hear the word ‘Moth’ I first think of smelly mothballs from decades ago, tucked into boxes of clothes put away for winter. Why mothballs? Because moths munch holes in clothes. I also think of them flying head on to self-destruction in a bug zapper. What I did NOT know was how interesting they are and the purpose God meant for them to serve. IF they keep their bug eyes on the right light! (you can SEE where this is headed.)

Purpose Of The Moth

First, I want to tell you about their cool purpose. Maybe YOU knew this; I however did NOT. Moths are as important as bees. What? Yes. They pollinate flowers and plants. Pollen is in essence, plant sperm, and bees and moths are carriers of this. Bees as we know, are SO important to the pollination of plants and flowers. However, it is interesting to note that bees tend to zero in on the most fertile pollen sources. Moths? They leave no plant or flower behind. They actually pollinate plants unattended by the bees. WE as humans learn from their unbiased way of treating others. They don’t pick and choose who they should help. Their purpose is their purpose, and they embrace it without reservation or complaint.

Second, moths work at night – by the light of the moon. How cool is that!? Moths are part of the lifegiving process by their pollination, and plants that receive pollination are then able to reproduce. The goal of EVERY living thing is to reproduce. For example, moths use the moonlight as a compass, but because its light is so far away it demands that the moth stays in a straight line pattern. The moon is symbolic of eternity and immortality (think on THAT for a while). With such an important job in their bug DNA, how do they end up dead in bug zappers? It really is the whole moth drawn to light concept – fatal attraction.

The Moth Attracted To Light

The light that moths attract to is artificial, such as the flame of a fire, light bulbs, and the death sentence of lighted bug zappers. One theory surrounding this is NOT that they are actually attracted to it, but more that they are disoriented by it. To be disoriented means to be confused. A confused moth doesn’t know where it is going and loses its sense of direction. The more disoriented, the more the artificial light becomes all-inclusive with a hypnotic effect. Artificial light heat radiation imitates “Moth pheromone-chemicals released by insects to attract mates.” Because artificial lights confuse a bug’s navigational system, they must focus on the light of the moon, or they are entranced in the glow of the artificial light.

So as a human, how to escape this moth fate? How do we become a ‘moth boss’? The moon – let’s say that is symbolic of the light/nature/heart of Christ. Jesus said He is the light of the world and if we follow Him we will NEVER have to walk in darkness (John 8:12). He is our steady one, who keeps us steady on in our own night seasons. You could say He is our LIGHT on. Keep your eyes on the true light. Jesus IS the light of the world. Don’t let artificial lights fool you (even the expensive ones, the LED artificial lights…) It is either pure light, or it is not. There is NO in-between.

Look Straight Ahead

He tells us not to look to the right or to the left. Don’t pay any mind to the artificial lights along the sidelines. They will fry you or eat you. So to speak. “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” (Proverbs 4:25-27) All those shining, glowing, captivating beautiful lights that call out to your inner self that are prone to preferring the artificial to the real, need to one by one be avoided. “Let your Yay be Yay, and your Nay be Nay.” (Matthew 5:37)

God help us as humans to learn to be strong enough to just flip some OFF switches to the artificial lights. Delete. Block. Extinguish. Annihilate. Slay. We embrace our truest purpose, we are wise enough to CHOOSE pure and authentic, and be abhorred (disgusted, turned off) by the artificial.

Choose Christ

Finally, I think it is really a matter of the heart – to choose Christ. As a result, my own similar purpose (like a moth) is to focus on the Light (Jesus) to serve my purpose in the night season; the season where I pollinate flowers. As I said earlier, the goal for EVERY single living being IS pollination, which simply means creating offspring for the next generation. WE DO NOT LIVE ONLY FOR OURSELVES. I don’t want my legacy to be – on her final descent she flew head on straight into a bug zapper. Not when the light of the moon is still there, has never moved or changed, and will lead me home. And I can lead generations home too.

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Articles

A Builder Generation: The Preparation For Building

by Brian Taylor
written by Brian Taylor

It’s is interesting to note that I have been sharing this year about this season and time for building. As I write this, I recall a conversation I was having with one of God’s anointed prophets for this day. As we were talking, God began to allow me to share some prophetic insights. He was downloading to me insights that I believe are pertinent to now. It has much to do with where we are and where we are headed. It is a new Builder Generation. 

For those who may not recall, back in 2016, I shared in two separate posts about four unique generations of Americans; they are the Builders, Boomers, Busters, and Bridgers. I first learned of this distinct classification of generations through reading Thom Rainer’s book entitled The Bridger Generation: America’s Second Largest Generation, What They Believe, How to Reach Them. In that book, he identifies these four historic generations, their significance and contribution to America, and the importance to reach the generation known as the Bridger generation.  

Builder Generation And Other Groups

As a refresher, let me review each generation. Beginning with the Builder Generation, they are the people who were born between the years of 1922 to 1942. This is the generation that lived through the great depression and the aftermath of the First World War. Next, is the Boomer Generation. As the name suggests, this is the generation of the vast number of births between the years of 1942 and 1962. My parents actually fall into this category. If I’m completely accurate, my father falls between the builder and boomer generation, as he was born in the overlapping year. The Boomer generation is not just known for their size, but also having gone through the Second World War. 

Buster Generation

The generation that followed this is the Buster Generation. More commonly known as Generation X, these are the ones born between 1962 and 1982. This is the generation to attend desegregated schools, were the beneficiaries of the Civil Rights movement, and experience the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Finally, comes the Bridger generation born between 1982 to 2002 which is classified as the Bridger generation. This generation came through the Gulf Wars, 9/11, and are among the beginning generation of parents of those born into the 21st century. 

The significance of this Bridger generation is only now being realized to its fullest. However, what I believe is the greatest thing that God is highlighting in this season in which we are in right now is that this Bridger generation is becoming the generation that will birth forth the next generation of Builders. As we are well aware, God often works through seasons and cycles.  

Bridger Leaders

I believe God is signaling this Bridger generation.  They are now coming of age as emerging leaders and are the very ones to birth that new Builder generation. It is interesting the country is led by a president that is a renowned builder. He’s even been affectionately referenced as the Builder in Chief, as he is working to set the country back on a track for building for the future. I believe the generation that is not just born between 2002 to 2022 but even beyond is the generation that God is raising up as the new Builder Generation. This is the generation that will do many things. They will reaffirm, reestablish, restore, and to create what has yet to be. 

Time For The Builder Generation

God is calling especially for the Buster and Bridger generations to prepare these building ones. So that they have the tools necessary for building. Now more than ever, this is the time for equipping them. They will be the architects to take the generations that follow them where the nation has not yet been. Now is a time for seeking God for the blueprint plans, strategies, and ideas that will enable them to see. Write the vision for them to take it a run. Prepare the way for the new building generation. 

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One thing remains
Articles

Only One Thing Remains Forever

by Corine Channell
written by Corine Channell

What is it about going home that pulls on the heart strings? What is the attraction to reuniting with an old friend? Why do we search for old pictures or precious family treasures? How come we would rather have old Christmas ornaments on our tree instead of all brand new?

We all are looking for things that remain the same; things/places/people.

REMAIN by definition is: “To continue to possess a particular quality or fulfill a particular role.” Basically, ‘remain’ means to stay the same!

I remember being so excited for a summer trip to our camp on Wickwas Lake in N.H. I knew the tree house would still be where it was last time. Still be exactly the same way I left it. If I hid some little treasure within its walls, I knew right where it’d be. I was sure the cupboards in the camp would hold the same tin cups. I could find them with my eyes closed. The inviting, cozy fireplace was exactly as I remembered from the years before. Wood stacked and fireplace poker leaned against it as always. My heart would feel all kinds of warm and fuzzy.

We are drawn to things that remain the same.

Your mom’s pies, Thanksgiving stuffing, homemade bread… things that you can depend on to taste like they have for your entire life! Your dad’s greasy tools, hunting gear (complete with woodsy scents), favorite flannel shirt – things you can depend on to smell like they have always.

Photo albums, dusty antique glassware, handmade Christmas ornaments, books, grandma’s quilts – just a short list of treasures from the past that STILL matter to you because they remain the same.

Lost Boys

In the children’s movie “Hook”, Peter Pan, all grown up, goes back to see the “Lost Boys”. They struggled to identify him. One little boy comes right up to his face, looks deep in his eyes and says, “Oh, there you are, Peter!” We want to keep our own true identity through all the seasons of life.

I was thinking that I myself want to be known by others as one who remains the same. Sure, I need to always grow and evolve and become a more polished version, but in essence I want to stay ME.

I remember after my husband died, saving every little thing he ever touched. He had a pair of broken binoculars I couldn’t part with. I knew his clear blue eyes had once gazed through them at the unchanging mountains of West Virginia. This gave the broken binoculars a priceless value. We all are drawn to our own history because it has formed us and made us who we are.

We long for home, whatever that looks like to each of us. If our past is a messy thing, we will even more so look for something beautiful and unchanging to hang on to. It’s the familiar and the solid places that we search for all our lives. It’s a place, a person, a smell, a feel, a view, a taste – things that never change that connect us back to our roots.

One Thing Remains

In our ever changing world, it’s sadly becoming harder to find our tree houses and tin cups. We that are older need to work harder at preserving history and our own heirlooms for the next generation. Thirty years from now, they may need to glean from WHO we are NOW. And more than recipes, ornaments and antiques it is our FAITH that we need to leave behind as an indestructible legacy.

At the end of the day there is ONE constant that will outlast that tree house (which is now torn down), yellowed photo albums, mom’s thanksgiving dinners and even home sweet home itself. There is only one thing that remains forever and His name is Jesus.

Jesus never changes – therefore His love, mercy,  healing power, redeeming grace and all the other solid unmovable parts of Who He is remain the same from generation to generation. He remains.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

No matter if I can’t find my way home, I find great comfort in knowing I can always look in His eyes and feel the relief of, ‘Oh, there You are Jesus!’

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Articles

Mirror, Mirror On My Wall

by Corine Channell
written by Corine Channell

Sometimes I find myself way too focused on what I see in my mirror. In my mind I feel pretty much the same age as I have for the past 30 years – for real! THEN I look in the mirror and go, Whoa! WHO are YOU?

Aging really is a gift; it means you are still here and not done. As women though, we seem to view aging as something to run from and something to cover up. There is make up, hair color, wrinkle gel, age spot cream, tooth whitener, the gym, healthy eating, and LOTS of vitamin infused water. These are all wonderful and useful, but should NEVER be the things we define our worth by. I am just as much a good bread baker with or without makeup. I am just as much of a creative Pinterest queen with or without hair color. I am currently writing – in my pajamas, messy hair and don’t care. Point being – our true value is NOT found in a mirror. It is found in our heart.

Have you ever met someone who just to look at from outward appearances, would not be considered attractive? However, there is some shine or glow that comes forth from every pore of their being and after you get to KNOW them, they become the most beautiful person you’ve ever met. I have had this experience. The most beautiful people I know are beautiful from the inside out!

If I lose myself in my negative opinion of my age and my physical flaws, I lose the true essence of who I am.

I, like most of us, want to somehow stay youthful. None of us like wrinkles or gray hair or any signs of aging. Really though, all these things are signs of LIFE! We got the scars and the wrinkles and the gray hairs from experiencing life! We stayed in the race. We ran to WIN. If I make it to the finish line and look like I fought my way there, (blood, sweat, tears, wrinkle and ALL), then THIS should be a GOOD thing. I so want to embrace my aging body. I am SO trying.

Who are we really?

What determines our worth? Are our looks really in this equation at all, or should they be? Sure, being healthy and active and fit are necessary for the ability to do and be more. Agree. But to dismiss our signs of aging as a bad thing HAS to go. We tend to dismiss older people as, “Oh, they are just old.” Really? JUST old? Buddy, we have lived through some stuff! What do you want to know? What can we teach you? What can we warn you about? Want to learn how to make bread? Older people are NOT a burden or a “has-been” or some random dusty antique – they are RELICS and survivors and warriors and walking encyclopedias of days gone by.

Sure, I am not elderly yet, but I WILL be. And so will ALL of us. How about we stop trying to avoid the aging process and embrace our job of teaching and serving and molding the NEXT generation? I think what is being lost is what the Bible speaks of when it refers to “…generation to generation shall speak His praises…” Young people NEED the older people. Older people NEED the young people. We are all connected. It is NO shame to be young nor is it shameful to be old.

I will probably still color my hair awhile longer, and use make up (you’re welcome). However I am going to stop being my own worst critic at the reflection in my mirror. I am going to cheer myself on and remind myself how far I have come and how much I still have to offer from that very long journey I took to get here.

“Let this be recorded for a generation yet to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord.” (Psalm 102:18)

What an older person can leave behind will matter to those who come behind us. Think of all the amazing life lessons you have accumulated – Psalm 78:4 says NOT to  hide them from their children but TELL to the coming generation. Tell what? TELL ABOUT GOD and His deeds and His wonders.

THIS right here – “Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father and he will show you, and your elders – they will tell you.” (Deuteronomy 32:7)

Dear person over 50, who is emotionally crippled by the mirror and only sees physical flaws. It is TIME to rise up and be the shining light of generations gone, here, and yet to come. What an honor to still have time and opportunity to be a lighthouse for the lost, the battered and the broken. Teach them love, wisdom, forgiveness, when to speak or when to be silent; show them patience, teach humility, reinforce life skills, laugh often and loudly, take pictures, bake bread, journal your history and experiences, and be their refuge from a cruel world.

Come on my friends – step up and own your age! There is still time to leave a lasting legacy. The person in MY mirror wants to be a history maker. How about you? For the sake of generations HERE and yet to come, there is much work left to do. Lift up your glass of vitamin water with me! (wink wink) Cheers to us!

 

 

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