Daily Living for Seniors

[Judy Harder]

June 17, 2011     

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. --Colossians 3:12

A man waiting in between flights at an airport went to a store and bought a small package of cookies. He then sat down in the waiting area to read his newspaper. Gradually, he became aware of a rustling noise next to him. From behind his paper, he was shocked to see a neatly dressed woman helping herself to his cookies sitting in the next seat.

Not wanting to cause problems or make a scene out of the situation, the man leaned over and took a cookie himself from the package. A couple of minutes passed and then came more rustling. The woman was helping herself to another cookie!

By this time, the man was so angry he had a good mind to tell her off for digging in his things. Then, as if to add insult to injury, the woman broke the last cookie into two pieces, pushed half across to the man, ate the other half, and left.

Still fuming when his flight was announced, the man opened his briefcase to get his ticket. And to his embarrassment, there he found his package of unopened cookies!

How wrong our assumptions can be sometimes. Christ has called us to demonstrate kindness and love toward others in all situations—even those such as the one mentioned above.

"'Let...the wise man boast...that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,' declares the LORD" (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

If the Lord delights in kindness, so should we. In any situation, remember to take hold of and possess the qualities of kindness and brotherly love that our Lord demonstrates so you can be an effective witness to others (see 2 Peter 1:5-8).

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask the Lord to remind you to practice kindness toward others and to be an effective witness in all situations.

 

[Judy Harder]

June 20, 2011     

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. --Psalm 68:19

In the Philippines, the driver of a carabao wagon was on his way to the market when he came upon an older man carrying a very heavy load. The younger fellow took compassion on the older man and invited him to ride in the wagon. Gratefully, the old man accepted.

After a few minutes, the driver turned to see how the man was doing, but to his surprise he found the older man still straining under the heavy weight of his load in the bed of his wagon. He had not taken the burden off his shoulders.

Christ offers rest to all who will trust in Him completely. How simple is that? Any burdens, worries, or fears can be handed over to Jesus. However, so many times we refuse to give up our heavy loads and, as a result, constantly strain underneath the weight of it.

Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28-29).

Scripture also teaches us to help carry the burdens and ease the loads of our brothers and sisters in Christ (see Galatians 6:2). If you know someone who is carrying weighty burdens, then show him or her compassion and help bear the weight by praying with and ministering to that person.

If it's you that's carrying a heavy load of burdens today, then hand them over to Jesus and fully accept the rest that He offers. Don't let Satan add more weight to your pack. Simply trust Jesus and give it to Him.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God to take away the burdens that are weighing you down today. Pray that He would empower you to help remove the burdens from others' lives as well.

 

[Judy Harder]

June 21, 2011     

Daily Living for Seniors
     
The path of the righteous is level; O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth. --Isaiah 26:7

For many years, The Wide World of Sports television program broadcast the "agony of defeat" by showing a painful ending to an attempted ski jump. The skier was in good form as he headed down the jump, but for no apparent reason, he tumbled head over heels off the side of the jump and bounced off the supporting structure.

What viewers didn't know was that the skier chose to fall. He explained later that he started going too fast down the ramp. Midway down, he realized that if he completed the jump, he would land beyond the safe landing area, which could have been fatal. Because of his change in direction, he only suffered a headache from the tumble.

To change one's course in life can be a dramatic and sometimes painful experience. And no matter your age, life will always bring about changes in your path. But sometimes a change of course is better than a fatal landing in the end.

For the believer, Scripture says "the path of the righteous is level" (Isaiah 26:7). The Bible lists numerous verses on following in the footsteps of the Lord and His righteousness.

Proverbs 16:9, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." And Psalm 37:23:24 states "If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand."

When it happens, change may come as a shock to you, and it may be perceived as defeat to others. But if you are following the course the Lord has called you to, then you will ultimately experience victory.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God to guide your steps in the way of righteousness—even if it involves a change of direction.

[Judy Harder]

 June 22, 2011     


Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. --Romans 5:3-4

The Bible exhorts over and over again to be filled with godly virtues and the Holy Spirit. But what does this mean exactly? How do we know if we are full of goodness when we are full of sin, for example?

Think for a moment about a sponge. Let's say you pushed down with your finger ever so slightly on a sponge and water came running out. You could immediately assume that water filled the interior pockets of the sponge, right?

The same is true of people in general. You can tell what fills a person on the inside by what comes out under pressure and in every other situation. As believers, we should always fill our hearts and minds with goodness, godly virtues, and the Holy Spirit.

Paul said, "I myself am convinced...that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another. I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again..." (Romans 15:14-15).

If someone were to push a pressure point in your life, what would come spilling out? Would it be filth and ungodly characteristics or holiness and goodness?

Always be filled with the Holy Spirit and demonstrate godly virtues in every situation. Be prepared for the Lord to test your heart from time to time (see Proverbs 17:3). "...We speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts" (1 Thessalonians 2:4).

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Thank God for demonstrating His love and holiness to you, so that you can be a witness to others. Pray that He would fill you with goodness and saturate your heart and mind with His Word, so that your life will pour out godliness to others—even when the pressure is on.

 

[Judy Harder]

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. --Hebrews 13:8

When American author Lloyd C. Douglas was a university student, he lived in a boarding house. Downstairs on the first floor was a retired music teacher who lived in a small apartment.

Every morning, Douglas claimed they went through the same ritual. He would come down the steps, open the old man's door, and ask, "Well, what's the news?"

The old man would pick up his tuning fork, tap it on the side of his wheelchair, and say, "That's Middle C! It was Middle C yesterday; it will be Middle C tomorrow; it will be Middle C a thousand years from now. The tenor upstairs sings flat, the piano across the hall is out of tune, but my friend, that is Middle C!"

The old man had discovered one thing in his life upon which he could always depend—Middle C. For Christians, the one constant and absolute in this life, of which there is no shadow of changing, is Jesus Christ.

The Bible says that "because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. ... We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure" (Hebrews 6:17, 19). God sent His Son to die on the cross so that we might have eternal life with Him. He made a promise, and He kept it.

Because of this, we can rest assured that God will never change. He is ever-present when trouble comes barreling in. He is all-powerful to do exactly as He has promised. And He is all-knowing, and we should never worry because He is in control. He is the same "yesterday and today and forever."

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Thank God for being the constant reality in your life.

[Judy Harder]

Daily Living for Seniors
     
[Jesus said]: "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. ... If they persecute me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. --John 15:18-20

What is a Christian? In the Letter to Diognetus, dating back to the second century, an anonymous writer described Christians:

"Christians are not differentiated from other people by country, language, or customs; ...they do not live in cities of their own, or speak some strange dialect. ... They live in both Greek and foreign cities....They follow local customs in clothing, food, and the other aspects of life. But at the same time, they demonstrate to us the unusual form of their own citizenship.

"They live in their own native lands, but as aliens. ... They marry and have children...but they do not kill unwanted babies. They offer a shared table, but not a shared bed. They are passing their days on earth, but are citizens of heaven. They obey the appointed laws and go beyond the laws in their own lives.

"They love everyone, but are persecuted by all. They are put to death and gain life. They are poor and yet make many rich. They are dishonored and yet gain glory through dishonor. ... They are mocked and blessed in return. They are treated outrageously and behave respectfully to others.

"When they do good, they are punished as evildoers; when punished, they rejoice as if being given new life. They are attacked by Jews...and are persecuted by Greeks; yet those who hate them cannot give any reason for their hostility."

If you are a believer, the Bible commands you "...not [to] conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." (Romans 12:2). And you can expect the world to hate you as a result (see 1 John 3:13). Continue to be sanctified by the truth of God's Word and be in the world but not of it (see John 2:15).

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Pray that God would empower you to always be set apart, even when the world hates you, so that others can see the difference Jesus has made in your life.

[Judy Harder]

June 27, 2011     

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. --Deuteronomy 6:6-9

In her novel about Maine, The Country of the Pointed Firs, Sara Orne Jewett describes the journey of a woman on the road to the home of a retired sea captain named Elijah Tilley. When she arrived, the woman noticed many wooden stakes scattered randomly all about the property. Each stake was painted white and trimmed in yellow, just like the captain's house.

Curious about the wooden stakes, the woman asked Captain Tilley what they all meant. He explained that when he first plowed the ground, his plow snagged on many large rocks just beneath the surface. As a result, he set out stakes where the rocks lay so that he could avoid them when plowing in the future.

In some sense, this is what God has done with the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament. The Lord has said to us, "These are the trouble spots in life. My commandments are stakes by which you can recognize these troublesome spots. Avoid these trouble spots, and you won't snag your plow."

Many people today deem the Ten Commandments insignificant because of claims that they were written only for the people of God during that time period.

But 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man [or woman] of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (emphasis added).

Take some time to study each of the 10 commandments, and teach them to your family and those you love (see Matthew 5:19). Then apply them to your own life, so you can avoid the trouble spots when you're plowing the field.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Thank God for giving us His commandments so that we can avoid getting snagged along life's path. Pray that He would remind you daily to follow each one in your walk with Him.

 

[Judy Harder]

June 28, 2011     

...When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. --1 Corinthians 14:26

Several years ago, the world watched as three gray whales, icebound off Point Barrow, Alaska, floated battered, bruised, and bloody, gasping for breath at a hole in the ice. Their only hope was to somehow be transported five miles past the ice to the open sea.

Rescuers began cutting a string of breathing holes about twenty yards apart in the six-inch-thick ice. It took some time, but for eight days, the rescuers coaxed the whales from one hole to the next, mile after mile. Each hole allowed them the chance to breath all along the way.

During the five-mile journey, one of the three whales vanished and could only be presumed dead. But finally, with the help of Russian icebreakers, the whales Putu and Siku swam to freedom in the open sea.

Just the same, worship can be considered as a string of breathing holes the Lord provides His people. We often become battered and bruised in a world frozen over with greed, selfishness, and hatred. But worship allows us to rise up for air.

Church gives us that place to breathe again and to be loved and encouraged by other believers until that day when the Lord forever shatters the ice cap.

If you are able to attend church, take advantage of worshipping with others who may be going through some of the same struggles you are. If you are unable to attend, then take advantage of the technology today that allows us to experience church services each week via radio, TV,and event the internet!

Either way, when it seems that you can't make it another 20 yards, you can find a breath of fresh air in worshipping the Lord with other believers.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Thank God for the opportunity you have to worship Him with other Christians. Pray that He would provide various opportunities for you to worship with others so that you can be loved and encouraged in your walk with Christ.

[Judy Harder]

[Jesus said]: "...I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." --John 14:16-17

Rolf Zettersten once wrote in Focus on the Family magazine:

"A good friend in North Carolina bought a new car with a voice-warning system. ... At first Edwin was amused to hear the soft female voice gently remind him that his seat belt wasn't fastened. ... Edwin affectionately called this voice the 'little woman.'

"He soon discovered his little woman was programmed to warn him about his gasoline. 'Your fuel level is low,' she said one time in her sweet voice. ... He figured he still had enough to go another fifty miles, so he kept on driving. But a few minutes later, her voice interrupted again with the same warning.

"And so it went over and over. Although he knew it was the same recording, Edwin thought her voice sounded harsher each time. Finally, he stopped his car and crawled under the dashboard. After a quick search, he found the appropriate wires and gave them a good yank.

"He was still smiling to himself a few minutes later when his car began sputtering and coughing. He ran out of gas! Somewhere inside the dashboard, Edwin was sure he could hear the little woman laughing."

Believers must learn that the little voice inside, the Holy Spirit, even if ignored or disconnected, tells them exactly what they need to know. Jesus said, "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you" (John 14:26).

The Lord has given us His Holy Spirit to guide, direct, and warn us of what's ahead. Listen to that still, small voice in your heart and be obedient to the Spirit's calling.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Thank God for instilling in you His Holy Spirit to guide and direct your life. Ask God to make your heart sensitive to the Spirit's leading.

[Judy Harder]

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. --Ephesians 4:29

John Todd, a nineteenth-century clergyman, received a letter from his seriously ill, kind-hearted aunt, who raised him herself after his parents died when he was a child. She asked if death meant the end of everything, or if she could hope for something beyond. Todd responded:

"It is now 35 years since I, as a boy of six, was left quite alone in the world. You sent me word you would give me a home and be a kind mother to me. I have never forgotten the day I made the long journey to your house. I can still recall my disappointment when, instead of coming for me yourself, you sent your servant, Caesar, to fetch me.

"I remember my tears and anxiety as, perched high on your horse and clinging tight to Caesar, I rode off to my new home. Night fell before we finished the journey, and I became lonely and afraid. 'Do you think she'll go to bed before we get there?' I asked Caesar.

"'Oh no!' he said reassuringly, 'She'll stay up for you. When we get out o' these woods, you'll see her candle shinin' in the window.'

"Presently we did ride out into the clearing, and there, sure enough, was your candle. I remember you were waiting at the door, that you put your arms close about me—a tired and bewildered boy....

"Some day soon God will send for you, to take you to a new home. Don't fear the summons, the strange journey, or the messenger of death. God can be trusted to do as much for you as you were kind enough to do for me so many years ago. At the end of the road you will find love and a welcome awaiting, and you will be safe in God's care."

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Thank God for the hope of eternal life with Him as a believer.