Daily Living for Seniors

[Judy Harder]

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. --Ephesians 2:10

At a recent diving competition, an Olympic gold-medal diver was asked how he copes with the stress of competitions.

He responded by saying that he climbs to the board, takes a deep breath, and says to himself, "Even if I blow this dive, my mother will still love me." Then he goes for the gold!

As a believer, Satan can take advantage of your failures and try to weigh you down with feelings of inferiority and low self-esteem. However, the Bible tells us as believers that we are 100% accepted and loved by Jesus Christ! His grace covers all of our sins and failures.

If you are dealing with low self-esteem, then keep in mind these biblical prerequisites to a healthy self-esteem:

• Recognize your need for a Savior (Isaiah 53:6).
• Accept your worth in Jesus and know that He loves you (Eph. 1:6; Rom. 8:1).
• Press on toward God's purpose for you (Philippians 3:13-14).
• Develop a realistic view of yourself in Christ Jesus (Romans 12:3).
• Avoid comparing yourself to others (2 Corinthians 10:12).

At the beginning of each day, step up to the day's challenges, take a deep breath, and say, "Even if I blow it today, my God will still love me." And then go for God's glory!

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Thank God for turning your tragedies into triumphs and for loving you even when you fail.

[Judy Harder]

Discovering real life in God's Word

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. - Psalm 119:105

Anatoly Shcharansky, a dissident Soviet Jew, kissed his wife goodbye as she left Russia for freedom in Israel. His parting words to her were, "I'll see you soon in Jerusalem." But Anatoly was detained and finally imprisoned. Their reunion in Jerusalem would not only be postponed, it might never occur.

During long years in Russian prisons and work camps, Anatoly was stripped of his personal belongings, with the exception of a miniature copy of the Psalms. Once during his imprisonment, his refusal to release the book to the authorities cost him 130 days in solitary confinement.

Finally, twelve years after parting with his wife, Anatoly was offered his freedom. In February 1986, as the world watched, Shcharansky was allowed to walk away from Russian guards toward those who would take him to Jerusalem. But in the final moments of captivity, the guards tried again to confiscate the Psalms book. So Anatoly threw himself face down in the snow and refused to walk on to freedom without it because it was those words that had kept him alive during imprisonment.

Do you love the Word of God? Do you cherish His precepts so much that you would suffer for them? God's Word is more precious than any earthly possession. So as you live your life, keep the Bible as the light to your path because in it you'll find the way to the life God wants for you!

Prayer Challenge: Pray and ask God to help you to walk the path of life with His Word as your light!

[Judy Harder]

How to avoid playing the blame game

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." - Matthew 7:3-5

There was once a manager of a minor league baseball team who was so disgusted with his center fielder's performance that he ordered him to the dugout and assumed the position himself. The first ball that came into center field took a bad hop and hit the manager in the mouth. The next one was a high fly ball, which he lost in the glare of the sun—until it bounced off his forehead.

The third was a hard line drive that he charged with outstretched arms; unfortunately, it flew between his hands and smacked his eye. Furious, he ran back to the dugout, grabbed the center fielder by the uniform, and shouted, "You've got center field so messed up that even I can't do a thing with it!"

It's easy for some people to blame others when things aren't going their way, isn't it? They try and try to figure out just what someone else did wrong to put them in their predicament, all the while the real blame should be put on themselves.

In the Christian life, God wants you to take responsibility for your own actions. It's easy to look at others and find faults with them. But remember that every time you point a finger, you have three more pointing right back at you. So examine yourself before you blame others. Be quick to confess when you might be in the wrong. A humble heart is the key to maintaining good, godly relationships with others.

Prayer Challenge: Ask God to show you areas where you've been too judgmental toward others. If you need to, confess how you've unfairly blamed them, and accept responsibility when it's yours.

[Judy Harder]

The importance of dealing with bitterness

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. - Hebrews 12:15

Underneath the ground of Belgium's Flanders Field, one of the deadliest battlefields of World War I, a very dangerous and deadly secret lies. It's so deadly, in fact, that it's caused a very big problem for the Belgian government.

You see, all across this field, artillery shells are surfacing more than 90 years after they were fired. Still unexploded, many are still very capable of killing. Some are unearthed by farmers and construction workers, while others simply work their way up through the soil. Dozens of full-time workers cannot keep up with them. And even worse, thousands of these projectiles contain poisonous gas.

It's one thing to recognize something that can cause immense damage when it's obvious. I'm sure you didn't have to tell the soldiers fighting in World War I to avoid those artillery shells at all costs! However, when things such as these lie dormant for so long, they become all the more precarious because they are an unseen danger.

In much the same way, many Christians today hold on to bitterness for years, even decades, before it finally comes up to the surface or is unearthed by a particular situation. And when that happens, it can often be damaging, and even deadly, for relationships between friends and family.

So if you have any "unearthed" bitterness in your heart, be sure you deal with it by forgiving the person it concerns and even talking with them about it. Don't let buried feelings of contempt harm your relationships with friends and family because those relationships are some of God's greatest gifts!

Prayer Challenge

Pray and ask God to reveal to you any "unearthed" bitterness, no matter how old, you might have in your heart toward another person. If you find you do carry buried resentment, forgive that person and let them know you've let it go.

[Judy Harder]

For as he thinks within himself, so he is. --Proverbs 23:7

An unknown author once wrote this poem:

If you think you are beaten, you are,
If you think you dare not, you don't,
If you like to win, but you think you can't,
It is almost certain you won't. ...

Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man,
But sooner or later the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can!

Many psychologists today base their practices on Proverbs 23:7 and maintain that positive thinking increases happiness and success in life. They teach their patients that the way they think affects their emotions, their relationships, and their ability to cope with difficulty.

With the sin in the world that causes disease, suffering, heartache, and misfortune, it's easy for anyone to have negative thoughts. But the believer must be a positive thinker!

In Philippians 4:11-13, Paul assured his friends at Philippi of his positive attitude in Christ saying, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ...I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

However, as believers we must understand that this contentment and positive outlook exists in us because of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. As a result, we are always to think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:.

Those whose hearts have not been filled with the Spirit of God will find it harder to combat the mind tricks and temptations of Satan (see Matthew 15:19). Simply remember that the condition of your heart determines the condition of your thoughts.

Allow the Spirit of the Lord to consume your heart and thoughts so that you can live your life positively.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Pray that the Holy Spirit would invade your heart and mind, so that you would think, speak, and act positively in life.

[Judy Harder]

Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. --2 Peter 1:10-11

When Polish pianist Ignacy Jan Paderewski played before Queen Victoria in 1891, he won her approval. She exclaimed, "Mr. Paderewski, you are a genius."

To which Paderewski replied, "Perhaps, Your Majesty, but before that I was a drudge."

In the beginning, Paderewski was discouraged by his teachers from becoming a pianist. But through discipline and hours of practice each day, Paderewski launched his artistic career in 1885 and became known worldwide for his dynamic talents, abilities and infectious personality.

Just as Paderewski had to discipline himself to practice every day in order to grow in his talent, so we as believers must also discipline ourselves and take time each day to grow spiritually in the Lord.

Spiritual discipline is absolutely essential for Christian growth and development in the life of the believer. It is a process that continues on through the life of a believer, and helps him or her grow spiritually in Christ and know God's will.

The author of Hebrews encouraged believers to "show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure" and not become lazy, but "imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised" (Hebrews 6:11-12).

A believer can mature in Jesus by practicing spiritual disciplines such as Bible study, prayer, witnessing, worship, service, fellowship with other believers, and other godly acts.

In 2 Timothy 2:15, Paul said, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the world of truth."

If you will practice spiritual discipline each day in faith and obedience to the Lord despite the hardships that come along, then you can look forward to the abundant blessings of God (see Hebrews 12:11).

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Pray that God would build in you strength and determination to daily practice righteousness.

[Judy Harder]

How to avoid falling into bad doctrine

I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. - Romans 16:17

Africa's Victoria Falls produces a cloud of mist that is often heavy enough to impair visibility. Once a man was walking the path that skirts the giant gorge, and he noticed a sign on the rim but could not make it out. Not wanting to miss whatever it might be noting, he slithered and slid through the mud out to the very brink only to read the message:

"Danger! Crumbling Edge."

As Christians, it can sometimes be easy to unwittingly miss the danger you're in until you've gone too far. This is especially true when it comes to right and wrong ideas of God. You flip through the channels on TV at night and come across a preacher whose message sounds great at the beginning. But when you really understand the kind of Gospel he's preaching, you realize it may be very different from what the Bible teaches.

Sadly, many once-faithful followers of Christ have built their house on this "crumbling edge" of mistaken faith, and their whole spiritual life has fallen out from under them because they forgot to stand on the high ground of biblical truth.

So if you find yourself tempted to walk out into the heavy mist of dangerous doctrine where things may not seem as they should, watch out for the warning signs! Stay grounded in the truth of Scripture. Recognize when what's being taught is not what the Bible teaches. When you do that, you can be sure you'll build your faith on the solid rock of good doctrine and not on the crumbling edge of bad theology.

Prayer Challenge

Ask God to give you wisdom to discern between biblical and unbiblical teaching. And when you do hear false doctrine, flee from it and cling to the truth of the Bible!

[Judy Harder]

How to live with a heavenly perspective

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. - Hebrews 12:1-2

Former Senator Dwight W. Morrow was on a train to New York City when the conductor walked by and said, "Excuse me, Mr. Senator, may I see your ticket please?" Mr. Morrow searched and searched in vain to find the ticket he had purchased, but was unsuccessful. "I must find that ticket," he muttered.

So the conductor graciously and respectfully said, "Don't worry about it, Mr. Morrow. We know you had a ticket. Just mail it to the railroad when you find it."

"That's not what's troubling me," replied Morrow, "I need to find it to know where I'm going!"

How many believers in Christ today are just like that when it comes to their spiritual life? They know they're on a journey to their destination—heaven—but are either unaware about where they're going or choose to ignore it completely. And at the very root of their belief is a lack of understanding of the promise of heaven.

Now Scripture says that no one has ever seen what God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9). But you don't have to see heaven in order to grasp the promise of a glorious eternity with Jesus Christ.

So if you find yourself acting as a simple passenger on the journey of life with no real hope of heaven, fix your eyes on Jesus, knowing that if you love and trust in Him, you have the glorious promise of heaven to anticipate!

Prayer Challenge

Pray that God would give you a heavenly perspective on life by reminding you of the promise of heaven and reaffirming your faith in Christ as the only way to get there!

[Judy Harder]

Why you need Biblical Community

For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers. - Proverbs 11:14

A severe rash prompted a man from a rural area to come to town to be examined by a local doctor. After the usual history-taking followed by a series of tests, the physician advised the patient that he would have to get rid of the dog that was evidently causing the allergic reaction. As the man was preparing to leave the office, the doctor asked him out of curiosity if he planned to sell the animal or give it away.

"Neither one," the patient replied. "I'm going to get me a second opinion. It's a lot easier to find a doctor than a good bird dog!"

It happens all the time, doesn't it? People go around asking person after person for advice until they hear the opinion that matches theirs. But the reality is that we are the worst judges of our own actions because our opinions of ourselves will always be more favorable than reality.

That's why throughout Scripture, you'll find verses like today's that stress the need to surround yourself with a biblical community who will encourage you with the truth even when you may not want to hear it!

The Christian life was never meant to be lived alone. There are no "Lone Rangers" of the Christian faith. So if you don't have a community of others who know you and will help you grow in Christ, join a church Bible study or form a small group that meets weekly. The best kind of spiritual growth you'll ever experience will come when you have others who'll give you the "second opinion" you really need!

Prayer Challenge

Pray and ask God to give you a community of believers who will help you grow in your walk with Christ by encouraging you and giving you the "second opinions" you need!

[Judy Harder]

What's the point of pain?

Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. - Colossians 1:24

The great professor and author C. S. Lewis once wrote on the subject of pain,

"We can rest contentedly in our sins and in our stupidities, and everyone who has watched gluttons shoveling down the most exquisite foods as if they did not know what they were eating, will admit that we can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world."

So often, Christians experience pain on seemingly intolerable levels. Yet what keeps them going through the hard times and trials of life is the fact that God is in control. In fact, God is so in control that He often will appoint suffering to His people in order to help them strengthen their dependence on Him.

Yet unfortunately today, much of the Christian message has been distorted, with many "preachers" of the Word proclaiming that God only wants us to be healthy, wealthy, and prosperous. This is a dangerous message not only because it isn't biblical, but because it directly contradicts the experiences of so many faithful followers of Christ.

Pain is real. But in Christ, you have the hope that it's temporary. So if you're suffering today, deepen your dependence on God and remember that there will come a day when all pain will end and you'll be with the Lord forever!

Prayer Challenge

Ask God to give you the strength to persevere through pain and fully rely on Him through hard times.