Daily Living for Seniors

[Judy Harder]

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. --Hebrews 13:16

One of the most popular syndicated newspaper columns of our time is "Dear Abby," the well-known advice column. It was started in 1956 by Abigail Van Buren, the original author. Today it is written by her daughter, Jeanne Phillips, who continues to offer advice and guidance to people who write in. Several years ago, a "Dear Abby" column, written by Jeanne, included this Thanksgiving Prayer written years before by her mother:

          O Heavenly Father:
          We thank Thee for food and remember the hungry.
          We thank Thee for health and remember the sick.
          We thank Thee for friends and remember the friendless.
          We thank Thee for freedom and remember the enslaved.
          May these remembrances stir us to service.
          That Thy gifts to us may be used for others. Amen.

This prayer parallels the clear teaching of Scripture. Our thanksgiving to God should always be accompanied by remembering those in need and giving praise to the Lord. Hebrews 13:15 says, "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name." In addition, we are to remember and serve the hungry, sick, poor, friendless, and imprisoned people in our world.

We are to put actions behind our gratitude to God by serving others. Just being thankful isn't enough. We must share the blessings God has given us with others, and through this God will be pleased. Learn to be thankful for God's many blessings—no matter their significance or value—and remember to think of others who have less than you.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God to help you serve others as a way of thanking Him for His many blessings in your life. Pray that the Lord would open up opportunities for you to share and serve others.

[Judy Harder]

How to get off the spiritual roller coaster

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. - 1 Corinthians 15:58

As a wealthy oil tycoon lay on his deathbed, his pastor talked of God's healing power. "Pastor," he gasped, "if God heals me, I'll give the church a million dollars." The pastor gave a wry grin and said, "Yes, sir, I'm sure you would!"

Miraculously, the man was healed and within a few short weeks was out of the hospital. One day several months later, he and the pastor were chatting on the sidewalk in front of the church. "You know," the pastor laughed, "when you were in the hospital dying, you promised to give the church a million dollars if you got well. We haven't got it yet."

"Did I say that?" the tycoon asked. "I guess that goes to show how sick I really was!"

It's interesting how in times of desperation, people tend to become more spiritual, promising God this and that. Yet when those times of desperation pass, they're left with unkept promises and a waning spiritual life.

Instead of living life on a spiritual roller coaster, stay close to God in good times and in bad. Don't treat God like a cosmic Santa Claus who you turn to when you need something. See Him, rather, as a faithful friend who is always with you no matter what you're going through!

Prayer Challenge

Pray that God would give you consistency in your walk with Him in good times and in bad.

Questions for Thought

Are there times in your life when you've been on a spiritual roller coaster? What were the circumstances that prompted you to get closer to or further from God?

When times are good, how can you reaffirm your commitment to God and avoid leaning on your circumstances for joy?

[Judy Harder]

The value placed on your life

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16

Years ago, a Dutch professor took time to calculate the cost of an enemy soldier's death at different epochs in history. He estimated that during the reign of Julius Caesar, to kill an enemy soldier cost less than one dollar.

At the time of Napoleon, it had considerably inflated—to more than $2,000. At the end of the First World War, it had multiplied several times to reach the figure of some $17,000. During the Second World War, it was about $40,000. And in Vietnam, in 1970, to kill an enemy soldier cost the United States $200,000.

What is the value of a human life? At different points in human history, and even to different people, various values have been ascribed. But to God, the price was the life of His Son. And that value was not because we're worthy of it; it was given by God.

We are all sinners worthy of death and separation from God. Yet because God loved us so much, He gave those who are in Christ value and adopted us through the death of His Son, and brings us into eternal life. That's the value God has placed on us as His faithful people!

Prayer Challenge

Thank God that He loved and valued you so much that He sent Jesus to die for you so that you can live forever!

Questions for Thought

How does it make you feel to know God valued you so much that He sent His only Son to die in your place?

What can you do to share this wonderful news with others?

[Judy Harder]

How to love those who ridicule you

Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." - 2 Peter 3:3-4

In 1818, Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis was born into a world of dying women. The finest hospitals lost one out of six young mothers to the scourge of "childbed fever." Back then, a doctor's daily routine began in the dissecting room where he performed autopsies. From there the doctor made his way to the hospital to examine expectant mothers without ever pausing to wash his hands.

Dr. Semmelweis was the first man in history to associate such examinations with the resultant infection and death. His own practice was to wash with a chlorine solution, and after eleven years and the delivery of 8,537 babies, he lost only 184 mothers—about one in fifty.

He spent the vigor of his life lecturing and debating with his colleagues. Once he argued, "While we talk, talk, talk, gentlemen, women are dying. I am not asking anything world shaking. I am asking you only to wash.... For God's sake, wash your hands."

Virtually no one believed him, and Semmelweis died insane at the age of 47, his colleagues laughing in his face. It wasn't until years later that hand washing became a common, life-saving practice among medical professionals.

There will come a day when all will be made known, and those who have scoffed at the gospel will see their error. But until then, stay vigilant in sharing God's message of salvation with a dying world!

Prayer Challenge

Pray that God would give you the resolve to be vigilant in sharing His message of hope with a dying world.

Questions for Thought

What is a time in your life when others have scoffed at you for what you deeply believed to be true?

How can you persevere in sharing God's message of salvation, even to those who see it as "silly" or "nonsense"?

[Judy Harder]

The most fruitful way to spend your time

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. - Joshua 1:8

Charles Francis Adams, the 19th century political figure and diplomat, kept a diary. One day he entered: "Went fishing with my son today—a day wasted." His son, Brook Adams, also kept a diary, which is still in existence. On that same day, Brook Adams made this entry: "Went fishing with my father—the most wonderful day of my life!"

It's amazing how two people can see the same thing, yet not see the same thing. Charles Adams saw his day spent fishing as a wasted day—a day when he could've been much more "productive" had he been working. Yet his son saw the time investment as meaningful and loving. What a tragic difference in perspectives.

The only way to tell the difference between wasting and investing is to know one's ultimate purpose in life. For some, time spent praying and reading the Bible is time wasted, when so much more could be done.

Yet for those with the right perspective, it's time with their Heavenly Father, who longs for them to invest their time in Him. So have the right perspective. Spend your time building your relationship with God. It will be the best time you'll ever invest!

Prayer Challenge

Pray and ask God to give you a correct perspective with regard to your time.

Questions for Thought

What are some lies that the enemy puts into your head when you think about spending time in God's Word and praying?

How can you overcome those lies and have the right perspective that time with God is time well spent?

[Judy Harder]

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" --Matthew 25:37-40

Once there were two young men working their way through Leland Stanford University. Their funds reached an all-time low, so they got the bright idea to solicit Polish pianist Ignace Paderewski, who was touring the U.S., for a piano recital. They decided they would devote the profits to their board and tuition.

The pianist's manager asked for a guarantee of $2,000. The fearless students worked hard to promote and stage the concert, but wound up only raising $1,600. After the concert, the two students presented the artist with their earnings along with a promissory note for $400 explaining they would earn the amount as soon as possible and send it to him.

Paderewski said, "No, I'm sorry, but that won't do." He tore the note to shreds, returned the money to them, and continued, "Take out of this $1,600 all of your expenses, keep for each of you 10 percent of the balance for your work, and let me have the rest."

Years went by and Paderewski became the premier of Poland. As war came upon the world, Paderewski strived to feed thousands of his starving Polish countrymen. Paderewski knew there was only one man in the world that could help his people. He called upon him, and tons of food began to flow into Poland for distribution.

After the people were fed, Paderewski traveled to Paris to thank his friend, Herbert Hoover, for the relief sent. Mr. Hoover replied, "That's all right, Mr. Paderewski. Besides, you don't remember it, but you helped me once when I was a student at college and I was in a hole."

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask the Lord to give you the opportunity to serve others in need this season. Thank Him for the blessings He has given you and for taking care of all your needs.

[Judy Harder]

Recognizing your value in Christ

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. - Ephesians 2:4-7

The greatest obstacle to being physically handicapped is often not the condition itself but the stigma society still associates with it. Carlene Mattson shared a touching story about her handicapped son, Jeff, in an interview with Focus on the Family. She said,

"Our Lord is still in the business of changing lives, but not always in the ways we expect. Several years ago, Jeff played in a special Little League for kids with disabilities. After many seasons of watching from the bleachers and rooting while his big brother played ball, Jeff's opportunity finally arrived. When he received his uniform, he couldn't wait to get home to put it on. When he raced out from his bedroom, fully suited up, he announced to me, 'Mom, now I'm a real boy!' Though his words pushed my heart to my throat, I assured him he had always been a 'real boy.'"

Very often, our society ascribes value to people based on their contribution to it. So many people who are limited in their capacity to contribute are thought of as less valuable. But the truth is we are valuable because of who we are, not because of how we look or what we accomplish.

Don't base your value on what the world says. Instead, value yourself how God values you as His child because of your faith in Christ!

Prayer Challenge

Thank God for the incredible value He's placed on you through your faith in Jesus Christ!

Questions for Thought

Think of some times when you've had feelings of "worthlessness." What were the circumstances that brought those feelings on?

How can you remind yourself each day of your value in God's eyes as one of His children?

[Judy Harder]

Connecting yourself with the body of Christ

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. - Romans 12:4-5

A churchgoer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. The letter read as follows:

"I've gone to church for 30 years now. In that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time, and the pastors are wasting their time."

This started a real controversy in the Letters to the Editor column. It went on for weeks until someone wrote the following clincher:

"I've been married for 30 years now. In that time, my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this: They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"

Quite often, people downplay the importance of church attendance simply because it doesn't give them the "spiritual high" they're looking for each and every week. But church doesn't exist to make you feel good. It exists to glorify God!

Stay in church; learn and grow with other believers. While you might not remember everything, you can be sure that if you have a willing heart, you're being transformed into Christ's likeness!

Prayer Challenge

Pray that God would give you the resolve to remain connected with other believers when you're tempted to do life alone.

Questions for Thought

Have there been times when you've had feelings of isolation? What brought those feelings on?

How can staying connected to other believers encourage you in your daily walk with Christ?

[Judy Harder]

How you can impact the next generation

Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come. - Psalm 71:18

In a recent survey, the Joseph and Edna Josephson Institute of Ethics reported that 61 percent of the high school students and 32 percent of the college students polled admitted to having cheated on an exam during the past year.

In the same survey, 33 percent of high school and 16 percent of college students said they'd stolen something in the last year. And, 16 percent of high school and 32 percent of college students said they'd lied on a resumé or job application.

Lying, cheating, and stealing are becoming an acceptable norm among many of the next generation. And while it's easy to look at young people and shake our heads at their lack of integrity, it's important to remember that they have received much of their guidance from members of the older generation—who have often placed so much emphasis on helping themselves that they haven't invested much time in those who will follow.

The good news is that it's never too late to make a difference in the lives of younger people. So help the next generation learn from your life experience by mentoring a younger person. You'll learn from them as well, and find you have much more in common than you might think!

Prayer Challenge

Pray that God would help you find a younger person to mentor so you can impart wisdom to the next generation.

Questions for Thought

Did you have a mentor growing up? If so, how did it help? If not, how might a mentor have helped you in life?

Who is a younger person in your life today with whom you could spend more time imparting wisdom?

[Judy Harder]

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. --Psalm 91:4

Sundar Singh, an Indian evangelist, wrote about a treacherous forest fire that swept through the Himalayas where he was traveling. Many men were trying their best to fight the fire, but there was one group that stood staring up at the flaming branches of one tree.

They watched as a mother bird flew frantically in circles above the treetop. She was chirping an alarm and warning to her nest full of babies. As the flames reached her nest and it began to burn, she didn't fly away. Instead she swooped down and covered her fledglings with her wings to protect them. However, in a matter of seconds she and her nestlings were consumed by the fire.

The men standing below were awe-stricken. Singh then used the opportunity to share with them: "We have witnessed a truly marvelous thing. God created that bird with such love and devotion that she gave her life trying to protect her young... That is the love that brought Him down from heaven to become man. That is the love that made Him suffer a painful death for our sake."

What a stirring, vivid portrayal of Christ's love for us. How often have you stood in awe and amazement as you think of the cross where Jesus gave His life for you? Where the fire of holy judgment burned down upon Him? It was on Calvary that Jesus willingly suffered, gave His life for us, and "bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness..." (1 Peter 2:24). And it is "by his wounds you have been healed" (1 Peter 2:24).

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Thank Jesus for dying in your place and forgiving you of your sins. Show Him every day how grateful you are for what He did on the cross by living for him.