Daily Living for Seniors

[Judy Harder]

How to emphasize the eternal in your life

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ. - Philippians 3:8

Professional golfer Tommy Bolt was playing in Los Angeles and had a caddy with a reputation of constant chatter. Before they teed off, Bolt told him, "Don't say a word to me. And if I ask you something, just answer yes or no."

During the round, Bolt found the ball next to a tree, where he had to hit under a branch, over a lake and onto the green. He got down on his knees and looked through the trees and sized up the shot. "What do you think?" he asked the caddy. "Five iron?" "No," the caddy said.

"What do you mean, not a five iron?" Bolt snorted. "Watch this shot."

The caddy rolled his eyes. "Nooo, Mr. Bolt."

But Bolt hit it and the ball stopped about two feet from the hole. He turned to his caddy, handed him the five-iron and said, "Now what do you think about that? You can talk now."

"Mr. Bolt," the caddy said, "that wasn't your ball."

Quite often in life, it's easy to expend time and energy on things that are ultimately meaningless. Just like Tommy Bolt hit the wrong ball, many people also put an enormous amount of effort into shots that don't count for anything when life is over.

When it comes to how you spend your time, do things that count. Spend your energy on things that bring glory to God—growing in His Word, fellowshipping with other believers, and loving those that don't know Him.

Prayer Challenge

Pray and ask God to show you when you are putting too much time and energy into things that have no eternal significance.

Questions for Thought

What are the temporal things in your life today on which you'd admit you've placed too much emphasis?

What are the things of eternal significance that you can put more time and energy into today?

[Judy Harder]

How you can avoid spiritual immaturity

For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel. - Ezra 7:10

In a survey conducted by the Barna Research Group, nearly 1/3 of all born-again Christians stated that all good people will go to heaven, whether they have embraced Jesus Christ or not.

Another astonishing fact found was that while 88% in a recent poll believe Jesus Christ was a real person, what they believe about Him differs sharply from Scriptural teaching. About 42% (even a quarter of the "born again" Christians) believe that while on earth, Jesus sinned just like other people. Around 61% believe the devil is just a symbol of evil, not a living being. And 54% think that if people are good enough, they will earn a place in heaven regardless of their religious beliefs.

As shocking as many of those statistics are, especially those that deal with "born-again" Christians, there's a very important inference that can be made from them: people aren't growing in their faith.

You see, many people who are raised in a "Christian" home learn the basics of the faith. Then, when they're about 10 to 12 years old, they begin coasting spiritually. And very often they coast for decades, until one day when they're 50, and they realize they have the biblical knowledge of a 10-year-old.

Don't allow yourself to coast in the spiritual life. Instead, like the prophet Ezra, grow deeper in God's Word by devoting yourself to studying and observing it every day!

Prayer Challenge

Ask God to give you insight and discipline to study His Word regularly to avoid coasting through life spiritually.

Questions for Thought

Are there areas in your spiritual life where you've been guilty of just coasting? What are they?

What's a practical plan for you to get in God's Word regularly to avoid the problem of spiritual immaturity?

[Judy Harder]

Finding reward in life's challenges

Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. - Exodus 19:5

Almost everyone has heard of Paul Revere's midnight ride to warn American patriots of advancing British soldiers during the American Revolution. But few have heard of Israel Bissel, a humble post rider on the Boston-New York route.

After the Battle of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, Bissel was ordered to raise the alarm in New Haven, Connecticut. He reached Worchester, Massachusetts, normally a day's ride, in just two hours. There, according to tradition, his horse promptly dropped dead.

Pausing only to get another mount, Bissel pressed on and by April 22, he was in New Haven—but he didn't stop there! He rode on to New York, arriving April 24, and then stayed in the saddle until he reached Philadelphia the next day. Bissel's 126-hour, 345-mile ride signaled American militia units throughout the Northeast to mobilize for war.

In the Christian life, God often calls us to challenging tasks that, while difficult, ultimately bring about good. Perhaps He challenges us to step out in faith and help mend a broken relationship. Or, maybe He calls us to step out in faith and share the message of salvation with another person. While tasks like these aren't always easy, they'll always be blessed.

So be willing to do the hard things for God so that in due time, you'll receive abundant blessings!

Prayer Challenge

Pray that God would give you a heart that's willing to do great things for Him even when they seem challenging.

Questions for Thought

Are you typically eager to accept challenges in life or are you more prone to do what's safe?

How can you change your perspective to be more eager to do the hard things for God, knowing that the reward will be great?

[Judy Harder]

The importance of facing life's challenges head-on

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. - 1 Corinthians 16:13

Researcher Spencer Silver from 3M was curious about what would happen if he mixed an unusual amount of monomer into a polymer-based adhesive he was working on. The result was an adhesive that would "tack" one piece of paper to another and even re-stick, without leaving any residue on the second piece of paper.

The company had no use for the new adhesive until 3M chemist Arthur Fry began having problems in the choir loft. The slips of paper he used to mark pages in his hymnal often fluttered to the floor, leaving him frantically searching for his place. Then he remembered Silver's adhesive. Fry's better bookmark soon metamorphosed into the handy Post-it Notes that have become a fixture in offices throughout the world.

It's very often true in life that some of the greatest things are born out of challenges. Had Arthur Fry not have reached a point of frustration with his hymnal, offices all over the globe today might not be filled with those florescent little sticky notes that have now become so commonplace.

Instead of giving up when you encounter a challenge or a struggle in your life, find out what God is doing. Seek Him and ask Him what He wants to accomplish through it. Because when you have the courage to face life's challenges head-on, you never know the impact it will have!

Prayer Challenge

Pray that God would give you the courage not to back down when challenges come your way.

Questions for Thought

As you look back at your life up to now, have you typically seen challenges as something to be avoided or embraced? Why is that?

What tangible steps can you take to become more resilient in the face of life's challenges?

[Judy Harder]

Appreciating the blessings of others in your life

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called "Today," so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. - Hebrews 3:13

A story was told of a man who loved old books. He met an acquaintance who had just thrown away a Bible that had been stored in the attic of his ancestral home for generations. "I couldn't read it," the friend explained. "Somebody named Guten-something had printed it."

"Not Gutenberg!" the book lover exclaimed in horror. "That Bible was one of the first books ever printed. Why, a copy just sold for over two million dollars!" His friend was unimpressed. "Well, this one wouldn't have brought a dollar. Some fellow named Martin Luther had scribbled all over it in German."

Sometimes you don't know the value of what you have until it's gone. There are people in your life who become so commonplace... you see them every day, talk with them, but you're never truly grateful for the blessings they bring to your life. Then one day, by death or something else, they're gone, and you realize how important they really were to you.

Don't take others in your life for granted. Instead, be thankful to God for the friends and family He's given you. And let those special people in your life know you care about them while you have the time. Be diligent to express appreciation for those you have today!

Prayer Challenge

Pray and ask God to show you those in your life who need to hear you appreciate them.

Questions for Thought

Why do you think people tend to take others in their lives for granted?

How can you show those in your life who've blessed you with their friendship and love that you appreciate them and don't take them for granted?

[Judy Harder]

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. --1 Timothy 1:12

In the early 1900s, a policeman walking his beat in Chicago observed a man standing before a mission. His hat was in his hand, and the officer thought he was acting strange. Thinking the man might be drunk or ill, the policeman approached him to find out what was going on. He noticed that his eyes were closed, so he nudged him and said, "What's the matter? Are you sick?"

The man looked up, smiled, and said, "No, sir. My name is Billy Sunday. I was converted right here in this mission. I never pass this way without taking the opportunity, if possible, to stand quietly for a moment and whisper a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord."

The officer understood and smiled back at Billy Sunday. Giving the evangelist a hearty handshake, the policeman warmly said, "Put 'er there, Bill! I've heard a lot about you! Keep right on with your prayer, and I'll see that no one bothers you."

In his letter to Timothy, Paul reflected on the sinner he once was by saying, "Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 1:13-14).

Jesus came into the world to save sinners like you and me. It is important that we stop often to remember the sacrifice He made on the cross and thank Him for appointing us as ministers of His Gospel.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Thank God for the salvation you have through Jesus Christ and for calling you to share the truth of His Word. Pray that He would empower and strengthen you daily to be a faithful follower.

[Judy Harder]

What is the foundation of your life?


"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock." - Matthew 7:24-25



On November 25, 1895, a cornerstone of ice was laid in Leadville, Colorado—the beginning of the largest ice palace ever built in America. In an effort to bolster the town's sagging economy, the citizens staged a winter carnival. On New Year's Day of 1896, the town turned out for the grand opening.

The immense palace measured 450 x 320 feet. The towers that flanked the entrance were 90 feet high. Inside was a 16,000-square-foot skating rink. But by the end of March, the palace was melting away, along with the hopes of Leadville. You see, the tens of thousands of visitors who were anticipated to come did not, and those who did come spent very little, leaving the town's economy in shambles.

Many Christians today also build their own "ice palaces" that eventually melt away. Perhaps they've trusted in money for their security. Maybe they've become codependent with another person to the point where they trust in them for everything. Or, it's possible they've allowed their possessions—their home, their car, or their "toys"—to become their idols.

Each of these things will melt away when summer comes. Money won't last forever; people will let you down; and your possessions won't follow you to heaven! So instead of building castles of ice, build your life on the rock of Jesus Christ so that when summer comes, you'll be standing strong!

Prayer Challenge

Ask God to reveal to you things you've built your life on that have no eternal significance.

Questions for Thought

What are some "ice palaces" that many people build their lives on today that eventually melt away?

How can you be diligent to keep your life founded on the rock of Jesus Christ instead of temporary things?

[Judy Harder]

How to break free from the bondage of sin

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. - Hebrews 12:1

In one of his most famous sermons, Pastor J. Alistair Brown told a story of how he passed a massive oak tree as he was walking through a park one day. A vine had grown up along its trunk and had gotten taller and taller. The entire lower half of the tree was covered by the vine's creepers. The mass of tiny feelers was so thick that the tree looked as though it had innumerable birds' nests in it.

The tree was in danger. This huge, solid oak was being taken over; the life was being squeezed from it. But the gardeners in that park had seen the danger. They had taken a saw and severed the trunk of the vine—one neat cut across the middle. The tangled mass of the vine's branches still clung to the oak, but the vine was now dead. This eventually became plain as weeks passed and the creepers began to die and fall away from the tree.

Brown went on to explain that it's so easy for sin, which begins so small and seemingly insignificant, to grow until it has a strangling grip on our lives. And yet, Christ's death has cut the power of sin. Yes, the "creepers" of sin still cling and have some effect. But sin's power is severed by Christ, and gradually, sin's grip dries up and falls away.

Maybe today you find yourself entangled by sin's creeping vines. But the good news is that in Christ, you're dead to sin and alive to God! So take heart that even when sin seems to have you, you have the power of Christ in you to throw off its bondage and live in freedom!

Prayer Challenge

Pray and ask God to help you throw off sin's entangling vines and live in the freedom Christ has purchased for you!

Questions for Thought

What are some areas in your life where the vines of sin have entangled you?

How can you break free from those old ways and embrace the freedom Christ has given you?

[Judy Harder]

             
The reward of living for today

And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. - Romans 13:11

J. Vernon McGee once attributed the secret to his longevity and ongoing strength to the fact that he took 12-14 vitamin pills a day.

One day he saw a man much older than he, and McGee bragged, "There isn't a thing I can't do today that I couldn't do when I was 16!"

The old-timer was astounded, "Really?"

"Yes," McGee replied. "It just shows what a pathetic 16-year-old I was!"

Dr. McGee was onto something that it seems people miss today. So many adults tend to look back on their past and think, "Everything was so great back then," or, "I wish I could just go back and be young for one day." What they don't realize is that there is a tendency in all people to romanticize the past and downplay the present... to see days gone by as better than today.

But God calls us all to have a much healthier outlook. He wants us to have a healthy, balanced view of the past, and look at today as a blessing.

When you're tempted to over-romanticize the past, think about all you've learned since you were very young and count your blessings today. Don't live for what's gone; live for what's here and experience the joy of renewal each day!

Prayer Challenge

Pray that God would give you the perspective of living your life not in the past, but anew each and every day.

Questions for Thought

What are some stages in life that, as you look back on them, you tend to think were greater than they actually were?

What are the blessings or life lessons you have today that you didn't have when you were younger?

[Judy Harder]

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess His name. --Hebrews 13:15

Throughout all of history, many cultures, nations, and people groups have set aside one time or another to express their thankfulness for various things in life. In the United States, Thanksgiving Day originated with the Pilgrims. While facing extreme hardship, the loss of loved ones, meager supplies, life-threatening illnesses, and severe weather conditions, they still believed it was important to acknowledge their blessings in the midst of their circumstances.

The Pilgrims chose to celebrate God's blessings by sharing a meal with the Native Americans who helped them survive the brutal conditions. How much more would it take for us today, considering all the gifts we currently have, for us to truly give thanks to God for what we have—without a hint of complaining?

It seems that many people have lost the spirit of the original celebration that took place between the Pilgrims and Native Americans. How often do we catch ourselves complaining that our Thanksgiving Day has been spoiled by dreary weather, bad food, or an annoying cold? We should make every day of the year one of thanksgiving—whatever our circumstances!

Billy Graham once wrote, "Ingratitude is a sin, just as surely as is lying or stealing or immorality or any other sin condemned by the Bible. Nothing turns us into bitter, selfish, dissatisfied people more quickly than an ungrateful heart. And nothing will do more to restore contentment and the joy of our salvation than a true spirit of thankfulness."

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Pray that God would give you an attitude of gratitude. Ask Him to fill you with thankfulness year round for the things with which He's blessed you.