Daily Living for Seniors

[Judy Harder]

This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. --1 John 3:10

John Hess-Yoder, a missionary in Laos, once told this story:

"While serving as a missionary in Laos I discovered an illustration of the kingdom of God. Before the colonialists imposed national boundaries, the kings of Laos and Vietnam reached an agreement on taxation in the border areas.

"Those who ate short-grain rice, built their houses on stilts, and decorated them with Indian-style serpents were considered Laotians.

"On the other hand, those who ate long-grain rice, built their houses on the ground, and decorated them with Chinese-style dragons were considered Vietnamese.

"The exact location of a person's home was not what determined his or her nationality. Instead, each person belonged to the kingdom whose cultural values he or she exhibited."

It is the same with believers. We live in the world, but not of it. Instead, we are children of God's kingdom. Therefore, we are to live according to His holy standards and values in this life.

The Scripture says, "He who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. ... No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God" (1 John 3:7-9).

If you are a believer, it should be easy for others to tell what makes you different from them. Just as the Laotians and Vietnamese could be easily defined according to their cultural values, we as Christians should also always be easily identified as followers of Jesus Christ and His values.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God to integrate His values, morals, and biblical standards into every area of your life. Pray that you would be easily identifiable to the world as a follower of Jesus.

[Judy Harder]

You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees. I am the Lord your God. Keep my decrees and laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them. I am the Lord.  --Leviticus 18:4-5

Author Timothy Munyon once wrote:

"While living in Florida, I had several friends who worked cleaning rooms at a nationally known inn located directly on the white sands of the Gulf of Mexico. They spent their work breaks running barefoot in the sand. The problem was the inn required all employees to wear shoes at all times while working.

"I noticed the employees responded in one of two ways.

"The majority thought the rule restricted their freedom. The rooms had shag carpeting, delightful to bare toes, and just a few steps away lay the beach. To them the rule to wear shoes was nothing more than employer harassment.

"But a minority of the employees looked at the rule differently. Sometimes late night parties would produce small pieces of broken glass. Occasionally a stickpin would be found hidden in the deep shag piles. Some knew the pain of skinning bare toes on the steel bed frame while making a bed. This minority saw the rule as protection, not restriction.

"Were God's laws written to make life miserable? Or were they written by a loving heavenly Father who cares about His children?"

Deuteronomy 11:1 says, "Love the Lord your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws, and his commands always."

Over and over again in Scripture, followers of Jesus are admonished to obey the commands and laws of the Lord. Many believe these "laws" are meant to restrict Christians from living a free and happy life. Others realize they are meant to provide certain boundaries for believers as a form of protection while walking with the Lord.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Thank God for the laws, commands, and biblical boundaries found in His Word. Pray that He would bring them to your mind as you walk daily with Him.

[Judy Harder]

How to lean on God in days of doubt

The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. - Psalm 14:1

Pastor and author Ravi Zacharias shares a story from British journalist Malcolm Muggeridge about a conversation he had with Svetlana Stalin, the daughter of Josef Stalin. She spent some time with Muggeridge in his home in England while they were working together on their BBC production on the life of her father.

According to Svetlana, as her father lay in his bed during his final hours, he suddenly sat halfway up in bed, clenched his fist toward the heavens once more, and fell back upon his pillow, never to be revived.

The incredible irony of his whole life is that at one time, Josef Stalin had been a seminary student preparing for the ministry until he made a decisive break from his belief in God. This dramatic and complete reversal of conviction that resulted in his hatred for all religion is why Lenin had earlier chosen Stalin and positioned him in authority. And as Stalin lay dying, his one last gesture was a clenched fist toward God, his hard heart in defiance of God's very existence.

Every Christian, at one time or another, experiences doubt when it comes to faith. And there are two reactions you can have toward doubt: you can let it harden your heart or you can use it to build your faith even more by leaning more into God and watching Him work. So when doubt creeps in, don't shake your fist. Rely on God all the more and you'll be amazed at what He does!

Prayer Challenge

Pray that God would strengthen your faith in Him whenever doubt arises!

Questions for Thought

What are some times in your life when you've experienced doubt when it comes to your faith?

When you think back on God's work in your life, how does that reaffirm His existence, His goodness, and His faithfulness toward you?

[Judy Harder]

How to stand firm in the face of pressure

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. - 1 Corinthians 15:58

Back in the early 1990s, it was no secret that President George H. W. Bush was not a fan of broccoli. In fact, his distaste for the vegetable was so strong that he actually banned it from Air Force One. This embroiled the entire nation in a "broccoli discussion," prompting broccoli growers to dispatch 10 tons of the vegetable free to Washington D.C.

Yet the President reiterated his distaste with gusto:

I do not like broccoli and I haven't liked it since I was a little kid and my mother made me eat it. And I'm President of the United States and I'm not going to eat any more broccoli. Now look, this is the last statement I'm going to have on broccoli. There are truckloads of broccoli at this very minute descending on Washington. My family is divided. For the broccoli vote out there: Barbara loves broccoli. She has tried to make me eat it. She eats it all the time herself. So she can go out and meet the caravan of broccoli that's coming in.

Talk about not bending under pressure! In the face of so much criticism and demand to change his ways, the President took a stand and told the world he was sticking to his guns!

If only more Christians today would stand firm like this in the face of the world's pressure to compromise and relent in their own enthusiasm for the Gospel. So when you're pressured to give in and water down your faith, remember that if one man can stand firm against a vegetable, you can stand firm for Jesus Christ!

Prayer Challenge

Ask God to help you stand firm for your faith when you feel pressured to back down.

Questions for Thought

Can you think of a time when you were pressured to compromise on what you knew was the right thing to do?

How can you be more intent on standing for your faith even when you might receive some criticism?

[Judy Harder]

The reward of good accountability

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:1-2

Former New York Yankee great Mickey Mantle recalls that as a teenager in the minor leagues he began playing poorly. Discouraged, homesick, and feeling sorry for himself, Mantle tearfully called his father to come to take him home. When the elder Mantle arrived, Mickey expected sympathy and reassurances.

But instead, Charles Mantle jarred his strapping son by saying, "Okay, if that's all the guts you've got, you might as well come home with me right now and work in the mines." Snapped awake, Mickey Mantle stuck it out that year—and wrote his name in history as one of the greatest baseball players to ever live.

Many times, we need a good kick in the pants to help us stay focused on what's really important. This is because it's so easy to get lost in the mundane and difficulty of our current circumstances that we lose sight of the big picture—we miss the forest for the trees! And it's in those times that you need people who will gently and lovingly steer you back in the right direction toward what's really important.

Keep a group of close friends around you who love you enough to spur you on to obedience to God's calling in your life. Mickey Mantle made history because of his baseball abilities. And you can impact eternity if you'll simply have those people in your lives who will love you enough to remind you of what really matters!

Prayer Challenge

Pray for God to reveal to you people in your life who you can ask to hold you accountable when you need it.

Questions for Thought

Can you think back to a time in your life when you let fleeting circumstances lead you to a wrong decision?

How many people can you name right now who, if they saw you making a wrong decision, would love you enough to let you know?

[Judy Harder]

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. --Deuteronomy 7:9

"It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents—except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up across the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies)...."

So begins Edward George Bulwer-Lytton's Paul Clifford, a novel containing what is widely considered one of the worst opening lines ever penned. So bad, in fact, that the English department at San Jose State University sponsors a whimsical competition every year challenging those who enter to write the worst novel opening possible!

Despite Bulwer-Lytton's shortcomings as an author, did you know he coined several phrases still used today? Phrases like "the almighty dollar" and "the pen is mightier than the sword." He also served as Interior Secretary of Canada, and a town in British Columbia bears his name. But unfortunately, he is most famous for that "dark and stormy night" opening line to his novel!

What about you? What legacy will you leave one day? When your family and friends think of you, what will come to mind?

The book of Deuteronomy gives us a sober warning that the consequences of our sin will affect those who come after us. But in the verse above, it also promises that God will keep His covenant of love for thousands of generations for those who love him and keep His commandments.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God to enable you to leave a lasting legacy for Him.

[Judy Harder]

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. --Matthew 28:19

The great Christian evangelist, D.L. Moody, was once asked to speak at a convention in Indianapolis.

One afternoon, he asked the convention's song leader to meet him on a street corner downtown at about 6 pm. When Ira Sankey got there, Moody had him stand on a overturned box and sing. This unusual spectacle attracted quite a crowd.

After speaking briefly, Moody persuaded most of the crowd to follow him to a nearby meeting place. They followed in droves and listened intently as Moody shared the good news of Jesus.

Too soon, the convention delegates started arriving, and Moody had to stop preaching. He said simply, "Now we must close, as the brethren of the convention wish to come and discuss the topic 'How to reach the masses'!"

So often, we think we have to have special training or special knowledge to tell others about Christ.

But like Moody, maybe all you need to do is be creative...and think of simple ways you can share Christ with others.

Maybe it's fixing dinner for your next-door neighbor. Maybe it's making a hospital or nursing home visit with a nice card or some flowers.

Whatever it is, God wants you to share His love with those around you. Don't think or talk about sharing your faith any longer...just go out and do it!

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God to show you someone with whom you can share His love and plan of salvation today.






Avoiding what hampers your heavenly focus

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. - Colossians 3:2

On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister became the very first man in recorded history to run a mile in less than 4 minutes. But within 2 months, John Landy eclipsed his record by 1.4 seconds. So on August 7, 1954, the two met together for a historic race.

As they moved into the final lap, Landy held the lead and it looked as if he would win. But as he neared the finish he was haunted by the question, "Where is Bannister?" As he turned to look, Bannister, just behind him, took the lead and won the race. Landy later told a reporter, "If I hadn't looked back, I would have won!"

As Christians, one of the most important things we can do is to focus on what really matters—God. But the problem is that very often, we become so consumed with the minutia of daily life that we allow it to take our eyes off of the ultimate prize. This causes us to become distracted, often losing ground in our walk with Christ.

But if we keep our eyes on Jesus and don't allow sin and distractions of the world to pull us aside (Hebrews 12:1), we'll maintain our heaven-focused perspective on the challenges when they arise. So don't let the small stuff take your attention away from what really matters. Keep your head forward and your eyes on the cross, and you're guaranteed victory at the finish line!

Prayer Challenge

Pray that God would help you stay focused on Him when you're tempted to let life's challenges distract you.

Questions for Thought

Can you think of some times when you've allowed earthly distractions to come between you and God?

What are some potential distractions you have in your life today you should be careful not to let hamper your heavenly focus?

[Judy Harder]

Who can you really trust?

Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God. - Psalm 146:3-5

In the early 15th century, the kings of both Italy and Bohemia promised safe transport and safe custody to the great pre-Reformation reformer, John Hus. Both, however, broke their promises, leading to Hus being burned at the stake in 1415.

The great British statesman Thomas Wentworth had once even carried a document signed by King Charles I which read, "Upon the word of a king you shall not suffer in life, honour, or fortune." It was not long, however, before Wentworth's death warrant was signed by the very same monarch!

If anything is sure in life, it's that there's very little that's sure in life! This is especially true when it comes to putting your faith in the rulers of the world. Yet so often, Christians are as guilty as anyone of saying, "If we can only get so-and-so elected, things will be great." History goes to show this just isn't the case.

In whom do you place your faith? Is it in the princes of the world who talk a big game and promise you anything that will get them more votes? Or, are you firmly committed in your faith to Jesus who is eminently greater than any earthly ruler? Princes will let you down, but Jesus never will!

Prayer Challenge

Pray for wisdom and discernment when it comes to politics—that you'd stay committed to Jesus, who is greater than any earthly ruler!

Questions for Thought

What are some instances when you've been guilty of trusting in man more than you trust in God?

What attitude should you have when you support a political candidate or cause that will help you stick to your convictions but avoid creating an idol?

[Judy Harder]

The best payback you'll ever have

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. - Luke 6:35

Georges Clemenceau was twice the prime minister of France, and played a major role in the treaties that concluded WWI. At the Paris Peace Conference, Clemenceau was on his way to a meeting with President Woodrow Wilson's adviser when he was shot at by a young anarchist named Emile Cottin.

As Clemenceau's car sped away, Cottin fired at least six more shots, one of which struck Clemenceau near his heart. Clemenceau very narrowly avoided death. But after Cottin was captured and the death penalty was demanded, Clemenceau asked for leniency, recommending eight years in prison "with intensive training in a shooting gallery."

It was a little good humor at a time which could've been filled with bitterness and hatred that showed Clemenceau wasn't holding a grudge against his attacker. And while most people won't ever face someone who wants to kill them, they find it so difficult to have that same kind of attitude of forgiveness.

In life, people are going to let you down and disappoint you. They are going to say bad things about you and insult you to your face. Yet how you respond to those who treat you that way says much about your relationship with your heavenly Father. So instead of harboring bitterness, forgive and show mercy to those who wrong you. It's the best payback you can have!

Prayer Challenge

Ask God to give you strength when others insult you. Pray He'll help you show them mercy instead of harboring bitterness.

Questions for Thought

Why do you think it's so difficult to show forgiveness and mercy to those who wrong us?

Think back to a time when you received unmerited forgiveness for something you did wrong. How did that make you feel?

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[Judy Harder]

As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." --Psalm 103:12

When a reporter once asked former Cowboys running back Walt Garrison if he had ever seen legendary Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry smile, he replied, "No, but I was only there nine years."

The first few years Landry coached in Dallas, he had little to smile about. The new Cowboys expansion team barely won a game and, shortly after his arrival, the country suffered a tragic blow when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

The dark cloud of Kennedy's assassination would hang over Dallas for years. It was an open wound that didn't seem to heal.

But this all changed when Landry led the Dallas Cowboys to their first Super Bowl win in 1972. The city that was once known as the city that killed JFK became the home of the Super Bowl champions, the Dallas Cowboys!

As I thought about this story, it made me wonder, do you ever feel like you have a dark cloud hanging over your life? Is there something in your past you are ashamed of...or something you just don't think you can overcome?

The enemy likes to remind you of your past and keep you under a dark cloud of guilt and regret. He wants to rob you of joy and hurt the witness you could have for Christ.

But don't let him! Romans 8:1 says, "...there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

As a Christian, you don't have to live under a cloud of guilt because Jesus paid the price for your mistakes and failures at Calvary. So claim this promise today. Because Jesus wants you to live in victory!

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Thank God for the forgiveness of your sins and praise Him that your past mistakes can't keep you from having a bright future.