Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy
Welcome to Day 589of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.
This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom
Renewal- The Tools in Gramps' Backpack


 

 

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 589 of our Trek and Motivation Monday. We are hiking a series of trails called ‘The Tools in Gramps’ Backpack.'   Each Monday for a total of 20 weeks we will explore a different tool that is needed to motivate and equip parents and grandparents to train their children and grandchildren to be successful on their trek of life. If you don’t have children or grandchildren of your own, use these tools to train others that you do influence. Today the 16th tool from Gramps’ Backpack is: ’Renewal.” 

We are broadcasting from our studio at ‘The Big House’ in Marietta, OH.   When this trek is released, I should be back from a week in Arizona and have spoken at church yesterday.  I do have to admit, while I love work, and enjoy our life, there are times where I desperately need a time of rest and relaxation.   I do not do this as often as I should, so it is something that I need to work towards.

Even the most driven and healthy parents and grandparents need a period time for R&R and an infusion of God’s power.  It is also imperative that we teach our children, grandchildren, and others that we mentor how to use the valuable tool of:
Renewal
All of us, even if you are very strong in your faith, occasionally find themselves running on empty.   I know I fall prey to this.  The demands of daily life and the stresses that we place on ourselves can drain us of our strength and rob us of the joy that is ours in Christ.  When we find ourselves tired, discouraged, and not wanting to carry on, it is time to stop, maybe even step back for a bit, and determine what the source of our situation.   As Christ followers, we can also draw strength from God’s Word and other Christians to help us recharge our spiritual batteries.   God certainly knows our weaknesses and frailties and the Apostle Peter in his 1st letter 5:10 tells us: In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.God does intend for us to live a rich and satisfying life.  A joyous life filled with abundance and peace.  Sometimes though joy and peace seem to elude us and feels far away.

When these times cast a shadow on us, and they will occasionally, the first steps is to analyze if there are some lifestyle changes that need to be made.   Are you involved in too many activities and just stretching yourself too thin?  Are you getting adequate sleep, which means at least 6-8 hours on a regular basis?  Are you eating healthy, whole foods, and avoiding too much sugar and other highly processed foods?  Are you getting regular exercise to improve your strength and cardio?  With God’s strength, you can make the needed changes in the above list, but there is one other area that you cannot neglect.  Especially when you are tired and troubled, turn your heart and mind to God in prayer.  When you are weak, weary, and worried, make time to delve deeply into God’s Word and His precepts.  Allow them to wash through your mind to purify and renew your thinking.   When you still need additional strength, call upon fellow Christ followers to help you and support you.  When you make these practices habits in your life, you will discover that the Creator of the universe stands with you and will strengthen you when your own strength is too little.As Christ followers, we have a source of strength that others don’t have.  Romans 12:2 instructs us: Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world,