Daily Living for Seniors

[Judy Harder]

How to overcome fear in your life

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. - 1 John 4:18

Little 5-year old Johnny was in the kitchen as his mother made supper one evening. So she asked him to go into the pantry and get her a can of tomato soup. But he didn't want to go in alone. "It's dark in there and I'm scared," he told her.

So she asked again and he persisted. Finally she said, "It's okay—Jesus will be in there with you." Johnny walked hesitantly to the door and slowly opened it. He peeked inside, saw it was dark, and started to leave when all at once an idea came. So he said, "Jesus, if you're in there, would you hand me that can of tomato soup?"

Everyone has fears. And maybe today, you're like little Johnny when it comes to fear in your life. No, you may not be afraid of the pantry, but perhaps there's something that stops you in your tracks and paralyzes you with fear... like sickness... loneliness... abandonment... or death.

But Scripture couldn't be clearer. The perfect love of Jesus Christ, who loves you so much that He died for you, can drive out any fear in your life. And if you have truly entered a love relationship with Him, then you have the power in you to overcome your greatest fears!

Don't let fear hinder your life. Instead, live in victory over it by trusting in the love of Christ that lives in you to be bold and live boldly for Him!

Prayer Challenge

Ask God to remind you of the depth of Christ's love for you. When you do, you'll be empowered to overcome fear as you cling to the promise that there's no safer place to be!

[Judy Harder]

How to love others with the love of Christ

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." - John 13:34

In Ernest Gordon's famous book Miracle on the River Kwai, he tells the story of captured soldiers who had been forced by their Japanese captors to labor on a jungle railroad. The group was extremely fragmented, but one afternoon something happened. A shovel was missing. The officer in charge became enraged. He demanded that the missing shovel be produced. When nobody in the squadron budged, the officer got his gun and threatened to kill them all on the spot.

Finally, one man stepped forward. So the officer put away his gun, picked up a shovel, and beat the man to death. When it was over, the survivors picked up the corpse and carried it with them to the second tool check. There had been a miscount at the first checkpoint—no shovel was missing.

The word spread like wildfire through the whole camp. An innocent man had been willing to die to save the others. The incident had a profound effect.... The men began to treat each other like brothers. When the victorious Allies swept in, the survivors, human skeletons, lined up in front of their captors and insisted, "No more hatred. No more killing. Now what we need is forgiveness."

It's amazing the power that sacrificial love can have. And as those who are in Christ look to the cross and see the sacrificial love that was shown there, they should also be moved to show it to others!

Prayer Challenge

Pray that God would give you a new appreciation for the sacrificial love that Christ showed you when He died on the cross. Ask that He would empower you to show that kind of love to others as well!

[Judy Harder]

How to keep your body and soul in good health

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." - Mark 12:30

Recent studies have shown that people who practice their faith regularly may be getting some health benefits: A study conducted by sociologists at Purdue University found that 4 percent of those who regularly attended religious services reported poor health, compared with 9 percent of those who did not attend a house of worship. And 36 percent of weekly worshippers reported they were in excellent health, compared with 26 percent of non-attenders.

So what makes the difference? Researchers aren't sure, but they say the reason could be that people attending weekly services may be more likely to see friends who ask about their health and can recommend a doctor. But while that may be true, there's most definitely something to be said for the healing benefits of connecting with God on a regular basis.

As a Christian, it's very important to care for your physical body. In fact, the Bible is clear that your body is God's temple (1 Corinthians 6:19). But one key aspect of that temple that much of modern medicine doesn't take into account is that it's not just physical, it's spiritual as well.

You're not just flesh and bone; you're also very much soul and spirit. So when it comes to your health, focus on the physical, but don't neglect your spiritual health as well. When your body and your soul are nourished appropriately, you can experience an overall health beyond what medicine can do alone!

Prayer Challenge

Ask God to help you nourish both your body and your spirit by staying physically and spiritually healthy!

[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]

The impact of your actions on others

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. - Romans 12:10

An old dentist recounts a story about his very busy dental office years ago. Apparently, he had one particular patient who was constantly late to his appointments. One day, this man was scheduled to come in to get a cavity filled. Before his appointment that morning, the phone at the office rang. It was the patient calling to let the dentist know he'd be about 15 minutes late. "Will that be a problem?" he asked.

"No, that won't be a problem at all," the dentist told him. "We just won't have time to give you any anesthetic."

For the first time, that man arrived early for his appointment!

It's amazing the change you see in others once they realize their actions will have a negative impact on them. So often, people are content to cause others trouble, yet when it causes them problems, they straighten up very quickly.

But the Bible says in today's passage to honor others above and beyond yourself. This means that in everything you do, consider the effects of your actions on other people. Then think, "If someone did this to me, how would it make me feel?"

As Christians, it's our duty to love others—even those who don't love us. So prefer others in your decisions and show God's love in everything you do!

Prayer Challenge

Ask God to show you how you can prefer others in the decisions you make.

[Judy Harder]

Finding supernatural patience as you wait on God

We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. - Colossians 1:9-12

Some of the greatest missionaries in the history of our faith were firmly devoted to spreading the seed of God's Word, and yet had to wait long periods before seeing the fruit of their efforts.

William Carey, for example, labored 7 years before the first Hindu convert was brought to Christ. In western Africa, it was 14 years after the first missionary came before one convert was received into the Christian church. In New Zealand, it took 9 years; and in Tahiti, it was 16 years before the first harvest of souls began.

Thomas à Kempis described that kind of patience in these words:

"He deserves not the name of patient who is only willing to suffer as much as he thinks proper, and for whom he pleases. The truly patient man asks (nothing) from whom he suffers, (whether) his superior, his equal, or his inferior... But from whomever, or how much, or how often wrong is done to him, he accepts it all as from the hand of God, and counts it gain!"

It's one thing to wait begrudgingly for God's timing. It's another to truly show supernatural patience—being joyful and anticipating God to come through in a big way. So when God calls you to wait, remember you're in good company and trust in Him with joy and eager expectation!

Prayer Challenge

Pray and ask God to give you supernatural patience as you wait for His perfect timing!

[Judy Harder]

Finding the Strength to Overcome Anxiety

"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." - Deuteronomy 31:8

In the mid-1960s, Bill Russell was the star basketball center for the world-champion Boston Celtics. He dominated the boards, and with effortless ease, he seemed to take charge of the whole court once the game got underway. The whole team revolved around his larger-than-life presence. Sports fans watched him from a distance, respecting his command of the sport.

Then, in a radio interview, Russell made a comment that shocked many of his fans. The sports reporter asked the all-pro basketball star if he ever got nervous or anxious before a big game. Russell's answer was surprising. He said, in his typical style of blunt honesty, "Before every game, I vomit."

Shocked, the sportscaster asked what he did if they played two games the same day. The unnerved Russell replied, "I vomit twice."

All people—even the ones who seem larger than life—deal with anxiety at some point in life. And as Christians, we can either allow anxiety to cripple or even paralyze us, or we can stare anxiety in the face just like Bill Russell did and work past it.

Don't look for things to worry about. Instead, experience freedom from your worries by finding your security in Jesus Christ. With His power, you'll be able to work through your fears and overcome any anxiety you face!

Prayer Challenge

Ask God to give you the strength to overcome your anxieties and live boldly for Christ!

[Judy Harder]

Finding perfect peace in a chaotic world

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:6-7

An art contest was held to find the perfect picture of peace. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally the great day of revelation arrived, and the field had been narrowed down to two paintings.

As a judge pulled the cover from first one, a hush fell over the crowd. A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely this was the winner.

When the second painting was uncovered, the crowd gasped in surprise. A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating spray. Stormy-gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind, and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls.

But in that tree, a little bird had built a nest. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil.

Perhaps today, you've been guilty of searching for the kind of peace in the first picture. But the problem is that it just doesn't exist. But real peace—the kind in the second picture—is one that's ready and available to you when you take shelter in the arms of the Savior!

Prayer Challenge

Pray that despite your circumstances, God would give you peace that surpasses all earthly understanding.

[Judy Harder]

Where do you store your treasure?

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:19-21

George W. Truett, a well-known pastor in the mid-1900s, was invited to dinner in the home of a very wealthy man in Texas. When the meal was finished, the gracious host took Pastor Truett to a high place where they could get a good view of the surrounding area.

Pointing to the oil wells on the horizon to the north, he boasted, "Twenty-five years ago I had nothing. Now, as far as you can see, it's all mine!" Looking south at his sprawling fields of grain, he said, "That's all mine too." And then, turning east toward huge herds of cattle, he bragged, "They're all mine also." Then pointing to the west and a beautiful forest, he exclaimed, "That too is all mine."

He paused, waiting for Dr. Truett to compliment him on his great success. Truett, however, placed one hand on the man's shoulder, pointed heavenward with the other, and simply asked, "How much do you have in that direction?"

The man hung his head and confessed, "I haven't really thought of that."

There are some people who have so many material possessions. Yet on the day they meet their Creator face to face, they'll come to understand that you leave the world the same way you came in... with nothing. So whether you have a lot or a little, remember to store up your real, imperishable treasure in heaven.

Prayer Challenge

Ask God to help you realize that whatever you have on earth is temporary and the treasures that last will be stored in heaven.

[Judy Harder]

Standing firm when you're tempted to compromise

"If you love me, keep my commands." - John 14:15

Sister Carol Anne O'Marie is a nun in Oakland, California, who writes mystery novels about an elderly nun who becomes a detective. Awhile back, Sister O'Marie was approached by a Hollywood television company who wanted to turn her novels into a television series. This was a very big production company and the offer would've made her very rich.

One of the producers told her, however, that it would help dramatically if the central character were younger, had a drinking problem, and perhaps even had an illicit love affair before she donned the habit. When the author declined to contemplate such changes because it would take the story in a way it was never intended to go, the television producer tried the ultimate argument:

"Sister, you're turning down a lot of money!"

"What would I do with it," replied the nun, who had taken a vow of poverty, "move to a nicer convent?!"

In our world today where everybody has a price and many people compromise what's right for what's beneficial, what is needed more than anything are people who will stand on principle. Yes, it's often convenient to give a little here or there, but faithful obedience speaks much louder than the convenience of compromise.

Stand firm in what you know is right, no matter the cost. Stay true to who you are and who God made you. You may miss out on temporal rewards, but you'll gain so much more in your heavenly treasure!

Prayer Challenge

Pray and ask God to show you areas where you need to stay firm when it may be convenient to compromise.