Daily Living for Seniors

[Judy Harder]

The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus." --Luke 1:28-31

One Baltimore church congregation found the answer to their financial difficulties hanging on the wall of their church building. It had been "hiding" there for more than 25 years, but someone finally recognized the valuable piece of art hanging on a wall in the chapel. It was a valuable woodblock print by Albrecht Durer, dated back to 1493, depicting the angel of the Lord telling Mary she would give birth to God's Son.

Some of the church members couldn't believe they had been unaware of the old masterpiece and its tremendous value. They asked, "If it were real, why would it be here?"

What about you? Are you overlooking the value of the same event pictured on that woodblock print? Jesus isn't hiding. The fact that He came to earth in human form is clearly announced in the Bible. It is reflected in art, our hymnbooks, and the written works of saints and scholars. Yet we still neglect the significance of Christ's birth.

This season, determine that you are not going to get so wrapped up in activities and programs-- such as shopping, parties, cooking, and more-- that you miss the valuable worth of knowing exactly who that Baby was and sharing the story with those in your life. Let's not miss out on the genuine worship of Jesus during this season. Take some time to go before Him in prayer and worship singing songs of praise. He came to save us from our sins and give us eternal life—that is reason to give Him the worship He deserves!

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God to help you avoid getting wrapped up in unnecessary activities this season that will take away from praising Him. Give glory to Jesus for being your "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

[Judy Harder]

Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit." --Matthew 1:19-20

Joseph was a young, Middle-Easterner who was looking forward to the day when he and his betrothed, Mary, could live as husband and wife. It didn't matter much that he was poor because the two of them shared a deep love for each other and an undying devotion to God. Joseph was perfectly content with spending his days making wood products for the people of his village.

But there came a day when devastating news shattered his future—Mary was pregnant. He knew he wasn't the father, but considering how things were handled in his day, he handled the situation gallantly. He never deserted her because he knew that she faced a prospect worse than his own embarrassment—public humiliation and disgrace.

As a result, Joseph devised a plan to deal with the issue privately. He decided to end things with her quietly. But before he could put his plan into action, a messenger from the Lord told him this baby in her womb wasn't bad news. In fact, it would bring forth the best news the world had ever known. His betrothed would give birth to the Messiah—the "child through the Holy Spirit" (v. 18).

The angel instructed Joseph to go ahead with his marriage to Mary and call the baby "Jesus." And that's exactly what he did. He followed the Lord's command with no questions asked and therefore, Joseph became a real man of God. He was fair, devoted, compassionate, and obedient to the Lord. No matter your age, you can find an example of a man of God in Joseph the carpenter.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God to build in you the character, love, faithfulness, and devotion that Joseph displayed in his life. Pray that when circumstances come your way, you will handle the situation gallantly and justly.

[Judy Harder]

Wednesday, December 23, 2009 

The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God." "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. --Luke 1:35-39

Imagine this—a young girl, betrothed to a reputable man, finds herself pregnant and the father is not her beloved. Two thousand years ago, this potential scandal could have cost her a reputation and maybe even her life. However, Mary was called out by the Lord. Probably no older than 15 years of age, she certainly had no job and no intentions of becoming a mother just yet. But God entrusted her with a great responsibility.

When the angel of the Lord appeared to her and assigned her this task, she didn't respond as most would by saying, "But I can't take on that responsibility, Lord. I am about to get married. I just want to enjoy time with my husband right now. Please pass this assignment off to someone else! I don't want you to call me to do this!"

No, instead Mary willingly obeyed the Lord and submitted to His will for her life. Many people confuse Mary's status—some put her on the same pedestal as Jesus and some even worship her as they would the Lord. But Mary was simply the woman God called to bear the Messiah and the woman who was willing to carry out the task He laid before her.

As believers, we must learn the meaning of surrender. When God places a call on your life, there is no room for questions or hesitation. Is God calling you to some specific task? Are you willing to surrender all to obey Him? You must simply say, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said." Take with you the very valuable lessons of surrender, compassion, obedience, and love displayed in the Christmas story.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask the Lord to show you His will for your life, and pray that He would help you to be a man or woman that is completely surrendered and obedient to Him.

[Judy Harder]

Thursday, December 24, 2009   

For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. --Matthew 16:27

A little girl needed an operation and was terrified of the thought. Her parents promised to give her something she had wanted for a long time as encouragement—her very own kitten. The operation was a success, but as the anesthesia wore off, the little girl mumbled, "This sure is a lousy way to get a cat!"

Believers who go through hardships while serving the Lord will never feel the way that little girl did when they look back on the trials they overcame. 2 Timothy 3:12 says, "Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." It's true—when you live a lifestyle of holiness, you will be mocked and perhaps even cursed.

However, Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Matthew 16:24). As a result of our faithfulness to follow Christ at all costs, Christ assured us that when He returns to earth, "he will reward each person according to what he has done" (Matthew 16:27).

The apostle Paul said to "consider it pure joy...whenever you face trials of many kinds" (James 1:2) because "our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18). You should rejoice in the fact that we "participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed" (1 Peter 4:13).

When you endure hardships and trials in this life, count it a privilege and blessing to be identified with the Savior. Suffering for Him will bring a sure and eternal reward free of any regrets.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask the Lord to give you joy when you suffer through hardships in the Christian life.

[Judy Harder]

My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle... --Job 7:6

Where are we going so fast? Scientific measurements indicate that we are moving even when we are standing still. Continental land masses sit on enormous slabs of rock that slide very slowly at the rate of 1 to 8 inches per year. In addition, America is gradually moving westward, away from Europe, at the rate of 3 inches per year.

Consider this: our Milky Way galaxy is hurtling through space at 375 miles per second or 1.3 million miles per hour. And within our own galaxy, the sun and its solar system are zooming along at 12.4 miles per second toward the star Vega in the constellation Lyra.

If you were to lie on your back in a quiet park on a cloudless day, you may feel as though all time and movement have stopped under the warm rays of the sun. And when you're walking down the street, you don't notice the earth spinning beneath your feet. But the scientist and the Christian know otherwise. Just as we are hurtling through the heavens at unimaginable speeds according to science, so too are we moving from here to eternity.

Our days and opportunities to live for the Lord and share Him with others pass so quickly that we cannot afford to waste any more time. It is important that we remember our days are numbered and life is but "a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14). Time is God's gift to you, so worship Him, live for Him, and bring others to the saving knowledge of His grace and forgiveness in the days you have left. Live dynamically for Christ today because tomorrow may not come.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask the Lord to help you live without desperation or futility as you travel quickly from your earthly home to your heavenly home.

[Judy Harder]

Monday, December 28, 2009 

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. --1 John 4:11-12

Space shuttles are propelled out of the earth's atmosphere by a fuel mixture producing millions of pounds of thrust and exertion. Indianapolis race cars travel at speeds averaging more than 200 mph, and they are powered by a highly volatile fuel concoction. So, what fuels you as a believer in Jesus Christ?

The indwelling Holy Spirit motivates you to perform Christ-like deeds of compassion, forgiveness, mercy, and self-sacrifice. The apostle John wrote, "If we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit" (1 John 4:12-13).

It's like the mother who asked her young son to clean her shoes. He worked on them diligently until they were spotless, shiny, and scuff-free. To show her appreciation for his hard work, she gave him a dollar. As she went to put her shoes on, she felt something wadded up in the toe of one. It was her dollar and attached to it was a note that read, "Here's yur doller, mom. I done it fer luv."

Fueled and motivated by the Holy Spirit living in you, you too can serve others in the love of Christ. The Scripture says, "We love because he first loved us. ...And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother" (1 John 4:19, 21). This coming year, be motivated to serve others and give of yourself to them as Christ did for you on the cross so long ago.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask the Lord to move your heart and feet in service for Him. Pray that He would empower you with the sacrificial love of Christ, so that you may bless someone's life by your service to them.

[Judy Harder]

December 29, 2009  Email    Facebook Twitter    Print 

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. --Philippians 3:14, 17

The 16th-century Venetian artist, Titian, portrayed Prudence as a man with three heads in his painting, "An Allegory of Prudence." One head featured a youth facing the future, another represented a mature man eyeing the present, and the last head portrayed a wise old man gazing back at the past.

Over their heads, Titian wrote a Latin phrase that translates, "From the example of the past, the man of the present acts prudently so as not to imperil the future." Oftentimes our past failures and fear of repeating them again torment us. But we need to remember the kind of wisdom Titian displayed in his painting, so we can avoid the kind of anxiety that keeps us from enjoying life to the fullest right now.

The apostle Paul was able to forget his past and look forward to his future. He said, "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I d forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14).

While his memory wasn't completely erased of past faults, he knew that God had forgiven him and he was free from any guilt or pride that had been bottled up inside. As you live in daily fellowship with the Lord, trials only make you more like the Savior. Don't let your past cloud your present and future. Determine this year to have one driving passion—to know Christ more intimately than ever before.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Pray and rededicate your life to Christ following Paul's example. Ask Jesus to enable you to live fully in the present, gain wisdom from the past, and face the future with courage.

[Judy Harder]

Wednesday, December 30, 2009 

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. --Joshua 1:9

Each year at this time, thousands of them stand in the cold in Times Square, New York. No big event beckons them. No ballgame is being played. No rock concert is getting underway. It's simply a huge, lighted ball that drops from a tall building. And within a few seconds, hardly worth fighting traffic and crowd pushing for, it descends marking a new year.

Why has this nonevent turned into a huge, money-making holiday? Most other holidays celebrate a reputable person, famous birthdays, document signings, or a noted event. But New Year's Eve only celebrates the passage of time—something that most of us would rather not recognize. We make a huge deal out of it because it signals the end of an old era and the start of a new one.

The old year's problems, heartaches, and struggles seem to vanish and become a faded memory when we think of getting the chance of a new year and a new start. It must have been the same way for the Israelites when they stood with Joshua looking forward to a new era ahead of them. They had wandered for 40 years in the desert, and finally they could see land flowing with milk and honey ahead. Better yet, they had God's promise that He would never leave or forsake them.

As you stand with your back to the old year and look forward to the new one, you can have hope in the promises of God. You will certainly face both trying and joyful times ahead, but you can rest assure that He "will never leave you nor forsake you" (Joshua 1:5). That promise is enough to celebrate the new year ahead!

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God to give you courage, strength, and faith in Him to face the days ahead. Thank Him for being faithful and for never leaving your side.
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[Judy Harder]

December 31, 2009 

You have heard that it was said, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those persecute you. --Matthew 5:43-44

Before his days as president, Abraham Lincoln was an attorney. He was approached once by a middle-class man who passionately insisted on suing an impoverished man who owed him $2.50. Lincoln quickly recognized the ridiculous nature of the situation and tried to discourage him. But the man was set on revenge and wanted to make his debtor pay.

Finally, when Lincoln realized that the man would stop at nothing to punish the other, he reluctantly agreed to take the case. When he did, he asked the man for a legal fee of $10, which the man immediately paid. Soon thereafter, Lincoln secretly gave half the money to the defendant, who willingly confessed the debt and paid the $2.50 in full!

Even more amazing than Lincoln's ingenious settlement was that the vengeful plaintiff was satisfied with the arrangement and walked away a very happy man!

Very often, when someone wrongs us, it's natural to want to seek revenge. In fact, the world encourages us to feel this way! But God's way is drastically different.

Had the irate man reacted like Christ, he wouldn't have worried about the debt, but he probably would have bought the poor defendant a meal or helped out his starving family! God's way of dealing with an enemy is completely different from the idea of "don't get mad — get even."

Today, if someone does you wrong, try to consider their situation... ask God to help you forgive them...and seek ways that you can minister to them. You never know how God will use your reaction to touch their life for Christ!

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask the Lord to fill your heart with love for those who do you wrong. Pray that He would help you share God's grace and mercy with them, so that they may come to know Jesus as you do.

[Judy Harder]

January 1, 2010   

At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. --Daniel 6:4

A young Christian professional interviewed for a position in a thriving business once, and brought with him a top-notch resume. In it, he listed many references, including his pastor, his Bible study teacher, and a church deacon.

Unbeknownst to the young man, the business owner was also a Christian. After he had studied the resume, he said, "Young man, I appreciate these recommendations from people in your church. However, what I would really like is a word of recommendation from people who know you during the week as well."

Oftentimes, the way people live their lives on Sunday is very different when compared to the way they live their lives the rest of the week. Often people act differently at church than they do out in the real world. But the truth is, the biblical truth we hear on Sunday should also be practiced throughout the week! Worship should be a way of life...not a weekly event.

Daniel was a perfect example of someone who was consistent in his relationship with both God and man. In fact, even his enemies couldn't find any fault with him!

As a follower of Christ, does your life look differently during the week than it does at church on Sunday? The old adage is true: "Actions speak louder than words." Determine to live a consistent Christian life on Sunday and every other day of the week!

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask the Lord to help you walk consistently with Him throughout the week...and pray that your life would be a constant reminder to those around you of Christ, the One you serve.