My New Self

I forget I am an old lady when I bike on the beach. I know pushing 60 is the new 20, but still...
I have long, flowing brown hair again...well, ok, I never had long flowing brown hair...I always had frizzy, rat-nest kind of hair...but you get the idea....

Anyway, I forget about the crotch full of sand and  how it is causing some nasty raw spots in places where no one wants raw spots. I forget about the strong likelihood of melanoma reoccurrance given the rate of burning skin. I forget about the crick in my neck from turning my head for an hour straight to scan the ocean for dolphins.

I am young, and carefree. There are no financial concerns, troubling issues, emotional upheavals, or worries about tomorrow. There is just a long, flat beach, a cool breeze, and a sparkling ocean. Next week when vacation ends will be soon enough to call those other things to remembrance.

I love how the Bible tells us that when we find new life in Jesus, the old things pass away. We are renewed and reborn to a new life. Our heart of stone is removed. A new self is created after the likeness of God....And God remembers our sin no more. Our old self is cast away like yesterday's coffee grounds.

So I am off again to the beach that is calling the new me. As I pedal the glistening miles to the roar of the surf,  I have long, supple limbs again...well, ok, I never had long supple limbs...I have always been short and inflexible. But you get the idea....

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2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Ephesians 4:22-24 

To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

John 5:24 

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

John 3:3 

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Revelation 21:5 

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Ezekiel 11:19 

And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,