Daily Living for Seniors

[Judy Harder]

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. - Philippians 3:13

One of the easiest traps to fall into in life is holding a grudge against someone who's wronged you. If you've been wounded, it's often difficult to forgive!

In elementary schools, you'll often hear teachers chiding their students, "Eyes forward!" if they aren't paying attention in class. In the same way, Paul encourages us in today's verse to look ahead. He reminds us not to focus...not to dwell on...what has already passed.

In friendships or marriages, it can be hard to keep our eyes forward when you see the same behavior repeat itself. However, "forgetting what is behind" is the right thing to do. Even after 30, 40, or 50 years in a relationship, we must practice forgiveness and ask God to help us forget past wrongs.

You and I have two choices in life: We can either live with our eyes looking back and a tight grip on all the wrongs that have been done to us...or we can accept the challenge to forgive, forget, and share the time we have left with those to whom we are closest.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God to help you identify and forgive any longstanding personal wounds and live with "eyes forward."

[Judy Harder]

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. - Hebrews 13:2

Today's verse is fascinating. Because according to the writer of Hebrews, you and I have the chance to entertain angels when we open our homes up to strangers!

But more than opening yourself up to entertaining angels, being hospitable and serving others is a tangible way you can show the love of Christ to those who don't know Him. In fact, Christ commanded that we should love our neighbors as ourselves (see Matt. 22:39).

As you get older, serving and entertaining does become more difficult. But there are still ways you can love your neighbor without exhausting yourself. For instance, doing little things like letting someone merge into your lane in traffic or simply talking to someone who appears lonely. It doesn't take much energy to show someone you love and care about them!

Today, think about ways you can serve and be hospitable towards others. And remember, you just might be serving an angel!

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God to give you creative ways to serve and entertain others who may not know Him.

[Judy Harder]

Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. - Titus 2:2

Few passages in Scripture apply to older men exclusively. Which is why I'm so grateful the Lord gave us today's verse!

After listing the attributes of a qualified elder in the church, Paul instructs Titus on the character of mature men in general. He first lists three qualities: temperance, dignity, and self-control. Then, he follows that with three areas in which senior men should be grounded: faith, love, and endurance.

All of these qualities work in concert with each other. Temperance indicates a level of restraint. You should practice moderation. If you cannot exercise this quality, you'll certainly risk undignified behavior. It could even result in public embarrassment and loss of respect. Such actions do not indicate self-control.

Older men should also strive to be "sound in faith, in love and in endurance." James 1 tells us that the testing of our faith produces perseverance. If you are grounded in your faith, then a natural side-effect should be spiritual endurance. Paul also reiterates the importance of love. We are always to be acting from a position of love.

Men, look at these qualities. Examine them as a checklist. How are you doing in each of these areas? Where could you use a little more work? In what area do you have consistent success? Tomorrow, I'll turn my attention and focus on the Paul's characteristics for older women.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God for strength in the area you are most lacking. Then thank Him for success in the area where you are most unwavering!

[Judy Harder]

Teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. - Titus 2:3

Today, I'm going to focus on Paul's instructions to the older women. Paul lays out his characteristics for senior women in three statements.

First, women are to be reverent in their behavior. I believe this reverence is meant to extend not only to reverence to God, but to the men of the Church as well. If the men are living as they are commanded, then they are worthy of respect. However, as with most of God's commands, this is not conditional. Even if those around you are not holding up their end, you must still act in a manner pleasing to the Lord.

Second, godly women are not to be "slanderers or addicted to much wine." Gossip is often a sin associated with women. This may not be altogether fair, but here Paul is specific in directing this at the older women. He also instructs them not to be excessive drinkers. When he uses the term "addicted," it's really the image of a slave. You should not be enslaved to drinking.

Finally, the women are called to teach what is good. Paul views the role of older women mentoring younger women as very important. In fact, he goes on to further instruct the more mature women in detail how to teach the younger wives proper behavior. Women, God is calling you to be an example to the young women in your lives.

I encourage you to examine any of the areas above where you may be struggling. As an example to the young women around you, what are you teaching them through your actions? Also, consider areas where God has given you much success through His grace.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God to show you the area in which you need the most improvement. Thank Him for providing victory in the area where you have the most success!

[Judy Harder]

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. --Psalm 28:7

Author Norman Cousins told of being hospitalized with a rare, crippling disease in his book, The Anatomy of an Illness: As Perceived by the Patient. When Cousins was diagnosed as incurable, he decided to check out of the hospital. He was fully aware of the harmful effects that negative emotions can have on the body, but Cousins reasoned that the reverse was true and decided to do something about it.

Once he was home, he determined to take action against the disease that was spreading through his body. He borrowed a movie projector and prescribed his own treatment.

Each day, he watched Marx Brothers films and old "Candid Camera" reruns. It wasn't long before Cousins realized that ten minutes of laughter provided two hours of pain-free sleep. Amazingly, his incurable disease was eventually reversed. His victory appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine and afterward, he received more than 3,000 letters from appreciative physicians throughout the world.

God does not expect us to be serious Christians all the time. We're expected to lighten up and have some fun. Even Jesus had fun: playing with children, attending a wedding party, and socializing with everyday people. The Christian life may seem like a somber and boring journey, but it's not supposed to be that way.

Unfortunately, non-believers often view Christians as a "no-fun" crowd, but we know that the life of the believer is full of joy—joy that can only be found in Christ. When the negativity of the world darkens your day, praise Jesus for the fulfillment, purpose, and happiness we have in Him.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Thank God for the joy you have in Jesus as a Christian. Pray that God would daily fill you with laughter and happiness through the Holy Spirit when the world gets you down.

[Judy Harder]

The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." --1 Samuel 3:10

Noted English architect, Sir Christopher Wren, was supervising the construction of a magnificent cathedral in London. During the construction, a local journalist thought it would be an interesting read to interview some of the workers and write a story on it's progress.

He chose three and individually asked them this question, "What are you doing?"

The first man replied, "I'm cutting stone for ten shillings a day."

The next man answered, "I'm putting in ten hours a day on this job."

Finally, the third exclaimed, "I'm helping Sir Christopher Wren construct one of London's greatest cathedrals."

Life is all about perspective. Do you hold a negative view of life, or a positive one? It is so easy to think negatively about the bad things going on around us and the difficulties we face day to day. But when you put your purpose into perspective, then this Christian life makes sense. When you keep a positive focus on your purpose in life, then the things that bring you down will seem to disappear.

God put each one of us here for a specific reason. Whether it is ministering to others, teaching His Word, providing encouragement and comfort, or something else, God gave you a gift for fulfilling the purpose He's laid before you. Samuel answered the call of God faithfully and he became the spokesman for God's Word to all of Israel.

Listen for God's call and answer it. Respond faithfully and He will reward you for your obedience to Him. Each morning, wake up with a fresh, positive outlook on life and your day-to-day challenges will be easy to conquer.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Pray that the Lord would continually keep your heart and mind sensitive to the Spirit's calling. Ask the Lord to clearly reveal His purpose for your life.

[Judy Harder]

Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" --Mark 1:14-15

There was once a ranger in the Yellowstone National Park that led a group of hikers to a fire lookout. The ranger was so intent on telling the hikers about the various flowers and animals in the park, that he ignored the messages coming through his two-way radio.

They soon became distracting while he was talking, so he just switched his radio off. But as the group neared the tower at the top of the mountain, they were met by a nearly breathless lookout. He asked why the ranger hadn't responded to any of the messages on his radio.

A grizzly bear had been seen stalking the group, and the authorities were frantically trying to warn them of the danger that followed. When we ignore the message God sends, we put ourselves, our loved ones, and those around us in danger.  It is so important to keep constant communication with the Lord.

Are there those around you who don't know of the danger that lies ahead if they aren't believers in Jesus? Do they know that Satan stalks them day and night looking to devour them? As believers, it is our responsibility to make sure others know of the most important message in the world--the saving knowledge of Jesus!

The message is clear and should be passed along with urgency. Warn those you love of what awaits them if they don't answer the call of Jesus. Open the lines of communication and seek to be a witness to others toward the path of righteousness.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask the Lord to open the right opportunities for you to share Christ with those in your life that aren't believers. Pray that He will give you the words to say and the answers to give as you share the message of hope and truth.

[Judy Harder]

But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. --1 John 2:5-6

Noted Bible scholar, James M. Gray, once told a story of impact in his life to underscore the importance of reading the Scriptures for personal growth. When he was a young Bible teacher, he became deeply impressed by the peace and spiritual maturity of a friend he spoke with often.

Gray wanted the same stability as his friend, so he asked what the secret of his confidence and positive outlook toward Scripture was. The man said, "It all started through reading Ephesians."

Having read through Ephesians many times, Gray was surprised by his response since he had never experienced the same strength he saw in his friend. After noticing Gray's puzzled look, the man said, "On one occasion, when I was on a short vacation, I took a pocket edition of Ephesians with me. One afternoon, I laid down outside and read all six chapters."

Gray's friend continued, "My interest was so aroused that I read the entire epistle again. In fact, I did not finally lay it down until I had gone through it some 15 times. When I arose to go into the house, I was in possession of Ephesians; or better yet, it was in possession of me. I had the feeling that I had been lifted up to sit together in heavenly places with Christ Jesus--a feeling that was new to me."

His friend's testimony encouraged Gray to master the Scripture himself. He began to saturate his mind and heart with the Word of God so he could freely and effectively communicate it to others and stand strong in his own faith. Do you have a hold on the Scriptures like Gray's friend? Or better yet, does it have a hold on you?

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Pray that God would speak to you clearly as you study His Word--book by book, chapter by chapter, and verse by verse.

[Judy Harder]

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. --1 Corinthians 12:27

At a meeting of the American Psychological Association, Jack Lipton, a psychologist at Union College, and R. Scott Builione, a graduate student at Columbia University, presented their findings on how members of the various sections of 11 major symphony orchestras perceived each other .

The percussionists were viewed as insensitive, unintelligent, and hard-of-hearing, yet fun-loving. String players were seen as arrogant, stiff, and non-athletic. The orchestra members overwhelmingly chose "loud" as the primary adjective to describe the brass players. Woodwind players seemed to be held in the highest esteem, described as quiet and meticulous, though a bit egotistical.

These were interesting findings! How could an orchestra ever come together to make such wonderful music with such widely different personalities and perceptions? The answer is very simple: regardless of how these musicians view each other, they discard their feelings and biases to follow the leadership of the conductor. Under his guidance, they play the most beautiful music.

The Scripture says, "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink" (1 Corinthians 12:12-13).

No matter where you serve--in a soup kitchen, in a Bible study, as a minister, as a prayer warrior, as an usher, or in another area--the body can't function properly without your help! You are an important part of the body of Christ!

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Thank God for each member of the Body of believers who come together to serve Him and others. Ask the Lord to make you a blessing in the Body and use you significantly as a member for His glory.

[Judy Harder]

Monday, October 11, 2010   

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. --Psalm 51:17

Will Rogers was most definitely known for his laughter, but he was also known for his character and compassion. One day, he was entertaining at the Milton H. Berry Institute in Los Angeles, a hospital that specialized in rehabilitating polio victims, people with broken backs, and those with other extreme physical handicaps.

As expected, Rogers had everyone laughing, even those patients who were in very bad condition. But he suddenly left the platform and headed straight for the restroom. Milton Berry followed to take him a towel. When he opened the door, he saw Rogers leaning against the wall sobbing. He quietly closed the door and left.

In a few minutes, Rogers was back on the platform, and continued on as happy as before. In The Integrity Crisis, Warren Wiersbe said, "If you want to learn what a person is really like, ask three questions: What makes him laugh? What makes him angry? What makes him weep? These are fairly good tests of character..."

Many times, people preach, teach, and share Jesus in anger. But what we truly need is brokenness for those who are hurting, lost, and without Jesus. It is that kind of anguish that Jesus showed when He removed all those who were selling and trading in the temple, and then went out and wept over the city.

It's easier to get angry over sin than it is to weep over it. While sin is wrong, we should cry out for those sinners who are hurting and hopeless. Choose today to be broken and compassionate toward those who do not know the love of Christ.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God to help break you so that you can minister to those who are lost and broken. Pray that He would give you the strength and compassion needed to reach others in their times of need.