Daily Living for Seniors

[Judy Harder]

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. --Lamentations 3:22-23

Have you ever been so overwhelmed by sorrow that you couldn't speak or move? If you have experienced this kind of sorrow, then you can understand firsthand the emotions of Jeremiah as he wrote the book of Lamentations. This book is a sobbing funeral song for the death of Jerusalem and the captivity of her people because of their sins. Each word in this book seems to be penned by someone with no hope. It is almost as if you could visualize the tears of Jeremiah falling onto every page.

Even though this book may seem to be full of destruction and desolation, there is a passage that may be familiar to you. It is the one ounce of hope that fills this barrelful of sadness. It says, "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23). What a message of hope and renewal!

We often forget the glimmer of light and hope found in these words amidst this seemingly dark book of sorrow in the Bible. Jeremiah's soul was aching, but he knew the Lord could cure it all. There may be times when you want to sink into despair. But even in the deepest pit of sorrow, there is One who will reach in and rescue you. Then you will be able to repeat the same words Jeremiah used: "I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him'" (Lamentations 3:24).

PRAYER CHALLENGE: If you are experiencing sorrow, ask the Lord to rescue you from the pain and sorrow. If you know someone who is going through this battle, pray for God's peace on their lives and point them to the ray of hope found in Lamentations.

[Judy Harder]

 Daily Living for Seniors

Wednesday, April 14, 2010   

I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all. --Ecclesiastes 9:11

A newspaper headline once read, "Jockey Beats Horse over Finish Line." The jockey, indeed, crossed the finish line a length before his horse and 20 lengths before the rest of the contestants. The would-be winner was thrown out of his saddle. His horse, which had tripped, followed right behind him. The victory went to the second-place finisher--"Slip Up."

One race official said the jockey and his horse were "so far in front that only a freak accident would stop him." All of us have faced life's unexpected events. The author of Ecclesiastes said, "The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong" (Ecclesiastes 9:11). He made apparent the fact that people are not controllers of their own destiny.

You are probably already very aware of this fact, but life is completely filled with unpredictable experiences. Someone once said these events "seem like stones dropped into the gears of human ingenuity."  A family survives a fire that destroys everything they own. A healthy man contracts a crippling, deadly disease. A senior citizen loses everything in a scam deal.

There are important life lessons we can learn from everyday experiences. That may sound like a general statement, but if you think about it, it becomes a powerful one. One lesson we can learn is not to trust our own strength, knowledge, or skill, but instead depend on God in all of life's day-to-day happenings. Only He knows what is going to happen from moment to moment. For us, life's race isn't over until the Lord says it is.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God to help you trust Him for the unexpected and unpredictable events life throws your way. Pray that He would give you faith to finish the race until He comes again.

[Judy Harder]

 

In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. --Psalm 5:3

Almost 50 years ago, A.W. Tozer said, "Modern civilization is so complex as to make the devotional life all but impossible." Tozer said this before there was internet, digital cable, palm pilots, or cell phones. While some of you may not have bought into this technology yet, you have definitely been affected and surrounded by it.

These types of technological advances are beneficial, but can also rob us of so much time. However, it's not just the modern complexities that hinder our devotional lives. Most of the time, the biggest obstacle in developing our relationships with God lies within ourselves. It's our own laziness and reluctance to stop and spend time in prayer and Bible study.

So how do you lay to rest Tozer's assumption that today's society makes devotional life impossible? First, you must admit that you have failed to spend time with God. Second, you must recognize that prayer and Bible study are absolutely essential for growth in your spiritual life. Your physical body can't live off one piece of bread a week, just as your soul can't live off the Word fed to you only on Sunday.

Develop a plan. In Psalm 5:3, we see that David set aside time every morning, before any part of his day unfolded, to spend time with the Lord. With this plan of action, you will be able to remove the complexities of the world and put first things first. Open your heart to the incredible joy and relationship that will come when you consistently devote your life to the Lord.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Pray that God would help you beat the impossible through time spent with Him every day. If you have not been faithful in spending time with God, ask for forgiveness and rededicate a piece of your time to your relationship with Him.

[Judy Harder]

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. --1 Corinthians 1:27

A famous violinist announced he would be playing one of the world's most expensive violins in his concert. The first composition he played flawlessly. And each one after that was better than the performance before. The audience was thrilled and enamored with his perfect performance.

After bowing during the applause, the violinist suddenly picked up the priceless violin and smashed it to the floor, completely destroying it. The audience gasped and looked on with horrified expressions. That is, until the famous violinist explained he had been playing an inexpensive violin all along.

The musician then picked up the truly expensive violin and began playing it. The sound was just as beautiful as before, and most people couldn't even tell the difference between the two instruments. The lesson in this illustration is that the quality of the violin was secondary to the skill of the violinist.

This is almost like our service to the Lord. The Master can and wants to use ordinary instruments like us. In 1 Corinthians 1:27, Paul states that God chose foolish and weak things to shame the wise and strong. And He did that so no one would "boast before Him" (1 Corinthians 1:29).

Like the cheap violin played by the violinist, we too can be instruments in the Lord's hands to bring glory to His name and blessing to those around us. It matters not if you are unable to serve as you did before, practice your talents, or put your gifts to use as often. God knows your every weakness and He still desires to use you right where He has placed you.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God to use you as an instrument for His glory. Pray that wherever He uses you, you will be an influence in the lives of others.

[Judy Harder]

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law. --Psalm 119:18

An elderly woman was living in Scotland in the worst kind of poverty. She had tattered clothes, a weathered house, and barely enough food to fill her stomach each day. Many years earlier, her son had come to America and had not returned to his native land. He had gone to make a way for himself and to provide a good life for his mother. But since that day, she had not seen him.

One day, a friend came to visit the mother. He said, "Does your son every help you with expenses?"

Reluctantly she admitted, "No, but he writes me nice long letters and sends me interesting pictures."

The visitor wanted to speak harshly of the man, but held back and instead asked, "May I see the pictures?"

The aged mother brought them out of the drawer, and to the friend's amazement they were valuable bank notes. Through the years, she had been needlessly living in poverty. All the while she had in her possession everything she needed to live.

Many times, in our attempt to learn more about God's Word, we skim over some of the most important things that could be valuable at that time in our lives. Unless we daily spend time in the Bible, it will be to us as it was to the mother in the story above—nothing but words or pictures that we can't quite understand.

Most of us don't realize the pile of gold sitting right in front of us found in Scripture. If we will just take some time every day to meditate on the truths, we will see its value.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God to reveal to you the valuable truths and golden nuggets of wisdom from His Word, so that you can be wealthy in knowledge of who He is and His love for you.

[Judy Harder]

For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier... --Ephesians 2:14

Many years ago, the Prince of Wales visited the capital city of India. An arduous, stately barrier had been set up to keep back the masses of people, most of them lower class, who wanted to catch a glimpse of royalty.

When the prince arrived, he shook hands with some of the political dignitaries who were presented to him. Then, looking over their heads to the crowds beyond, he said, "Take down those barriers!" They were quickly removed, and the people, regardless of social rank, had free access to the heir to the British throne.

Several years later, the Prince of Wales visited the same district again. Waiting on him, were 10,000 outcasts that waited under a banner. The banner welcomed him with these words inscribed: "The Prince of the Outcasts."

Not many of us take time out of our hectic schedules to reflect on the majesty of Jesus and what He did for us. Born into sin, we were outcasts from conception. But by the grace and forgiveness of Jesus, we have been adopted into the family of God.

So often we don't thank Him or praise Him enough for the incredible mercy he showed us on the cross. We were separated from God, we were the outcasts, sin was the barrier, and the heir to the throne came and ordered it to be taken away. As a result, we now have free access to the Son. Thank God for our "Prince of the Outcasts"—Jesus Christ.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Take a few moments to simply thank God for sending Jesus to provide forgiveness for your sins as a sacrifice on the cross through His shed blood. Take time to worship Him through song for bridging the gap so that we can have eternal life.

[Judy Harder]

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. --Galatians 3:28

A missionary who served in Calcutta said that she was profoundly influenced because of a communion service she attended during the Second World War.

The leader of that meeting was a Swedish minister. Among those present were a Chinese pastor, a Japanese teacher, a German doctor, several English citizens, and a small group of Indian believers. The missionary recalled that as she looked at that diverse company she felt a closeness to each person, especially when they partook of the bread and the cup.

The bond of Christian fellowship was real, even though some of those people were from countries engaged in a brutal war. Yes, Jesus Christ does remove the barriers of race and nationality, and He takes away the hatred that so often arises from these differences.

We live in a world, and especially a country, where diversity is great. More than the days of yesteryear, we see people of all nationalities, religions, and cultures coming to live together in one community and nation. In a time such as this, we must seek to be a witness for Jesus Christ to those who have never heard His name.

Our mission field has moved back home to the United States. While the need for evangelism abroad remains, we have a great opportunity to take Christ into our neighborhoods, communities, cities, and states like never before. People of all nations came here to live in freedom—and many of them are in need of the spiritual freedom found only in Christ Jesus.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God to empower you to be the kind of minister He wants you to be to those who have come from all over the world, so that they may join the family of God. Pray that you would have a great impact on the diverse generations of today.

[Judy Harder]

"And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." --Matthew 10:42

Have you ever found it difficult to ask others for help? Why is it so hard for us to admit we need help? It's simple. Most of us have never had to depend on anyone else. We've always had life completely under control and we've been the ones helping others, right? We didn't think we'd ever be incapable of handling things on our own. But that's not reality. We hesitate before taking that first step to ask for help.

People need each other—especially Christians. It makes sense that God included "helping" in the list of gifts found in 1 Corinthians 12:28. There is a difference between offering help and making help available. Some people offer help and are genuinely anxious to give it. Others seem to make help available, but actually have no plans of following through with their offer.

Some people seem to be born with the gift to reach out and help others, and the rest have a lot to learn about offering help. Once you see God working through the kind of person who has the innate ability to easily help others, you'll want be that kind of person as well. You don't necessarily have to have the gift of helping others to be blessed by it. People all around us have setbacks, and they depend on the goodness of others to meet their daily needs.

When offering help to others be honest, specific, personal, a good listener, sensitive to their needs, faithful, and be sure to follow up. The Bible teaches specifically how to be a friend and helper to those who need it. Times may change. The culture is going to change. And even people may change—but more often than not their needs don't. Make a choice to help someone in need today.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God to reveal to you someone who needs your help.

[Judy Harder]

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.--1 Peter 2:12

In Leslie B. Flynn's book Dare to Care Like Jesus, he says:

"A Christian baroness, living in the highlands of Nairobi, Kenya, told of a young national who was employed as her houseboy. After three months, he asked the baroness to give him a letter of reference to a friendly sheik some miles away.

"The baroness, not wishing the houseboy to leave just when he had learned the routine of the household, offered to increase his pay. The lad replied that he was not leaving for higher wages. Rather, he had decided that he would become either a Christian or a Muslim. This is why he had come to work for the baroness for three months.

"He had wished to see how Christian acted. Now he wanted to work for three months for the sheik to observe the ways of the Muslims. Then he would decide. The baroness was ashamed as she recalled the many shortcomings in her dealings with the houseboy. She could only exclaim, 'Why didn't you tell me at the beginning!'"


As Christians, people are constantly watching everything we say, do, and how we react. Many times, it is our witness that determines what others will think about our faith. If you have a harsh attitude, use hurtful words, participate in questionable activities, you could hinder someone from coming to know Christ.


It is our responsibility as Christians to take the Gospel of Christ to our communities, cities, and the ends of the earth. But we are also to emulate the person of Christ in our words and deeds to those we come in contact with. Simply stated: others will know the Lord by the way live our lives.


PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask the Lord to keep your heart, thoughts, and actions pure as you live your life in front of others. Pray that nonbelievers would constantly see Christ in you. 

[Judy Harder]

Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you. --Hosea 10:12

There's a story about a young mother who died giving birth to her third child. No one in the family was willing to take care of the three little girls, except their great-grandmother who came forward without hesitation. When she took them into her home, she was 83 years old. By God's grace, she lived another 16 years before passing on at the age of 99-long enough to parent each of the young girls into their teenage years and early 20s.

This is an amazing and inspiring example of the reality of retirement. After retirement, there is more to life than golf, easy chairs, your favorite daily television shows, and boredom. People today are living longer than ever before and it is estimated that by 2030 there will be more people over the age of 65 than those who are under the age of 18.

Almost two million people retire every year, leaving many people freed up to perform acts of kindness for others. Contributing to their long lives is good health, financial stability, and life experiences. As a result, many senior adults are ready and looking for challenging and meaningful pursuits in their older age.

You may not be in a situation like the one mentioned above, but there are some things you can do as a Christian senior adult. You are called to always be a prayer warrior for the people in your life (Ephesians 6:18), and retirement provides more time for this type of thing as well as volunteering your time in your church or neighborhood. Decide that you are going to be a blessing to others who need it. When you begin to creatively use your time, God will bring blessing into your life (Hosea 10:12).

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Pray that the Lord would make you a blessing in someone's life today through giving of your time, your talents, and your prayers.