Living My Encore

Grab a chair and slide it in close. Put a soft pillow on your lap to rest your arms on. Lean in. Imagine that I’m looking into your beautiful eyes as I whisper …

God is good. He’s got good things planned for you.

On February 21, 2018, I wrote myself a message on page 1,179 of my Bible:

I am not too old.

It’s written next to these words from Isaiah’s 43rd chapter:

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

That verse brings hope to my soul every time I read it.

Let me insert a little note here:

If you’ve got wrinkles and laugh lines that just can’t be removed by any face cream sold in Walgreens, I see you! We could start a club and buy black leather jackets with these words stitched across the back: I have truly lived. My wrinkles prove it. Cool, uh?

My dear friend. Let’s shift our chairs around and sit next to each other. (I’m keeping my pillow on my lap because that just always feels more comfortable.) May I link my arm inside of yours? There. We’re in this conversation together.

Perhaps you’ve got so many former things taking up space in your brain that there’s no room for new things. Perhaps it’s time to do a little housecleaning, remove some of the clutter, and add some eye-popping color and freshness into your grey matter. Perhaps it’s time to take God at his word and see what new, good thing is in front of you. Today.

Here’s the deal. God never invites us to a boring, humdrum, same-old, same-old life. He is always calling us to a full life. An abundant life. Even in our not-so-young years. Yes, what we do and how we do it may certainly change. We move through different seasons and our abilities and responsibilities adjust. But. There is still always something good and new in front of us to notice. To experience. To breathe life into our souls.

Last week I spoke at a church in Florida, located in a densely populated retirement community. (What a fabulous group of women!) This church focuses on the Encore Generation. Their small groups are called Encore Groups. I love that! The encore is what we want to experience after an extraordinary concert experience, right? We know the group saves something big for their final stage appearance, and we’re usually still on our feet when we see and hear it. I want to live my life’s encore well. With anticipation. Looking for the new.

Think for a moment about Isaiah’s words: God is making a way in the desert, where it is unbearably hot and dry, with very little signs of life. This is a miracle. He’s creating a way to move through it. And he’s placing streams in the wasteland. Another miracle. Cool, fresh, bubbling water where there is nothing living.

These miracles are promised to us. That includes you.

O.K. Let’s unlock our arms, turn our chairs just a bit, and open our Bibles and remember God’s other promises:

God loves me. (Unconditionally. Always.)

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Now this Word can get me out of bed in the morning!

God wants good things for me. (He isn’t out to get me – He’s my biggest cheerleader.)

For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Please note: He did not specify that this is only for the young ones. This is for you. And me. For us who are living our encore.

So, friend.

Let’s slip on our cute black leather jackets. In years past I would have added skinny jeans, a tight, white, V-necked t-shirt, and stiletto heels to the look. But now? I’m going to pass on the skinny and tight, and I’m sure I’d fall off the stilettos. But I am going to wear my jacket with pride, and stylishly, shamelessly, strut my message: I have truly lived. My wrinkles prove it.

As we get up and put our chairs back in place, tucking our lap pillows under our arms, let’s keep wondering and asking …

God, what good things are you putting in front of me today?

I’m looking for the way in the desert and the streams in the wasteland.

What can my encore look and sound like?

You, friend, are magnificently loved by a magnificent God.

He’s got good things for you.