Daily Living for Seniors

[Judy Harder]

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. --John 1:14

One of the great monarchs of Persia was known well as a champion of the common people. To relate to their needs and problems, he would mingle with them in various disguises.

On one particular occasion, he went as a poor citizen to the public baths. In a tiny cellar, he sat down beside the man who tended the furnace. He talked to the lonely man, and at dinnertime he ate some of his plain food. In the weeks that followed, the monarch visited the poor citizen and grew to love him dearly.

One day, the shah revealed his true identity to the man. He expected to hear a request for some expensive gift or money, but instead the poor man simply sat in silence, gazing at the monarch in awe and astonishment.

After a long period of silence, the poor man finally said respectfully, "You left your palace to sit with me in this dark place, to eat of my coarse bread, and to care whether my heart is glad or sad. You may give rich presents to others, but you have given yourself to me. Please, Your Majesty, never withdraw the priceless gift of your friendship."

You can rejoice that God came to earth as man, lived a perfect life, died on the cross, was buried in a tomb, and was resurrected three days later so that you could have salvation and forgiveness through Him and a personal relationship with Him. Are you walking with Him daily? Are you completely sold out in your relationship with Him? Jesus broke down the wall of sin that divided you and God, so that you may have the priceless gift of His friendship and love.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Thank God for His sacrifice upon the cross. Pray that your relationship with Him would flourish into an intimate friendship and love relationship.

[Judy Harder]

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." --Hebrews 13:5

There is a story of a rich industrialist who walked past a fisherman one day. He was irritated to find the man sitting lazily beside his boat instead of out at sea. The rich man asked, "Why aren't you out there fishing?"

The fisherman replied, "Because I've caught enough fish for today."

The rich man asked, "Why don't you catch more fish than you need? There's still more work to be done."

The fisherman responded with, "What would I do with them once I caught them?"

"You could buy a better boat so you could go deeper into the sea and catch more fish," the rich man impatiently replied. "You could purchase nylon nets, catch even more fish, and make even more money. Eventually, you'd have a fleet of boats, people to do the work for you, and be rich like me."

After quietly contemplating, the fisherman asked, "Then what would I do?"

"You could sit down and enjoy life like I am," the industrialist said.

Looking placidly out to sea, the fisherman replied, "What do you think I'm doing now?"

The Apostle Paul said to the church in Philippi, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ...I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:11-13).

Whatever situations come your way—good or bad—find your strength in the Lord and learn to rely on Him for provision. It's often hard to have faith that He will provide in times of need, but rejoice in what He has given you thus far in your current situation, and trust completely in His timing.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask the Lord to make you content in life whatever circumstances come your way.

[Judy Harder]

Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did. --1 John 2:6

The "mother" of the Salvation Army was Catherine Booth. Campbell Morgan said, "Wherever Catherine Booth went, humanity went to hear her. Princes and peeresses merged with paupers and prostitutes."

One particular night, Mrs. Booth and Mr. Morgan happened to be in the same meeting. A large crowd of "publicans and sinners" was also there. Many came to Christ that night because of her message. After the meeting, Booth and Morgan went to a glamorous home to be entertained. The lady of the manor said, "Mrs. Booth, that meeting was dreadful, wasn't it?"

Mrs. Booth replied, "What do you mean?"

The lady responded, "When you were speaking, I was looking at those people opposite of me. Their faces were so terrible, many of them. I don't think I shall sleep tonight!"

Mrs. Booth asked, "Don't you know them?"

The hostess replied, "Certainly not!"

Mrs. Booth said, "Well that's interesting...I didn't bring them with me from London; they are your neighbors!"

In Matthew 19:19, Jesus said, "Love your neighbor as yourself." This New Testament command originated in the Old Testament, Leviticus 19:18: "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself." God gave these instructions to show His people how they were to treat others and live in a community of peace with one another.

It may be hard to love some people—even those who may be in your church circle of friends—but we love the Lord by showing our love to others. When we love others with God's love, even the unlovable, He's able to transform lives and hearts.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God to help you love others just as He would. Thank God for His abounding love for you, so that you may share it with others.

[Judy Harder]

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. --Luke 2:11

When Pope Julius I declared December 25 to be celebrated as the birthday of Jesus in A.D. 353, who would have ever thought that it would become what it is today? And when Professor Charles Follen lit candles on the first Christmas tree in American in 1832, who would have ever thought that decorations would become as glamorous as they are today?

Even before these two events that shaped what Christmas means today for most, there was a bright, special star that lit the dark night thousands of years ago letting the world know that Jesus the King was born. Usually, we don't celebrate historical figures as children, but in the case of Christ, it is appropriate.

When Christ was born, shepherds came to honor Him, wise men from the East brought Him gifts, and the earth rejoiced at His birth. These people who came to worship Him had no idea what Christ would accomplish as an adult. But they were right in traveling to worship the King because His birth was the most remarkable event in human history. Wise men and women today worship not only the Child of Bethlehem, but the Christ of Calvary.

As we approach the holiday season again, we are faced with yet another opportunity to pause in the midst of all the excitement, decorations, and commercialization, to consider again the origin of Christmas--the One whose birth we celebrate. Let's not forget the true meaning of why we celebrate during this time of year. Celebrate the baby Jesus and trust Him as Savior today.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Thank God for sending His Son that glorious night to be born of a virgin, live a perfect life, die on the cross for your sins, and rise from the dead three days later to give you eternal life through Him.

[Judy Harder]

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." --Luke 2:13-14

In the year 1809, the international scene was tumultuous. Napoleon was sweeping through Austria and blood was flowing freely. Nobody was thinking about babies, but rather people were concerned with the wars and tyranny that existed. However, the world was overlooking some very significant births during that time.

That year many notable people were born: William Gladstone, destined to become one of England's finest statesmen; Alfred Tennyson, born to an obscure minister and his wife, greatly affect the world of literacy; Oliver Wendell Holmes, born in Cambridge, Massachusetts; Edgar Allan Poe, who began his eventful, yet tragic, life in Boston; Charles Robert Darwin, born to a physician and his wife; and Abraham Lincoln, born in a rugged log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky.

If journalism and news broadcasts had existed in 1809, these words might have been heard: "The destiny of the world is being shaped on an Austrian battlefield today." But in reality, history was being shaped in the cradles of Europe and America. Similarly when Jesus was born, taxation was the big news. But a young Jewish virgin woman cradled the biggest news of all: the birth of the Savior.

Even today, sometimes the biggest news is the latest product to buy at Christmas, the best vacation spot during the holidays, or the idolizing of icons that have become great symbols over the years during the season. You must remember that the greatest news of all was the birth of Jesus Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection years later. Jesus is the greatest news you could share with anyone this season.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God to give you the chance to share the Good News of His Son this season with friends, family, and acquaintances who don't know Him as their Savior.

[Judy Harder]

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. --1 Timothy 1:15

On the museum wall of the concentration camp at Dachau is a large and moving photograph of a mother and her little girl standing in line for the gas chamber. The child, who is walking in front of her mother, does not know where she's going. The mother, following behind, looks knowingly but is helpless to stop the tragedy.

In her helplessness, she performs the only act of love left to her. She places her hands over the child's eyes so she will at least not see the horror to come. When people come to the museum, most don't whisk by this photo hurriedly. Instead, they pause and almost feel the pain. Deep inside, they say to themselves, "O God, don't let that be all there is."

Hopelessness and helplessness are all that remain. God provided a way out by sending His Son to earth as a child so that He could one day save the sins of mankind through Christ's shed blood on the cross. The apostle Paul said in 1 Timothy 1:15, "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst."

If our greatest need had been information, then God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, then God would have sent us a scientist or engineer. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist or financial advisor. If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer. But instead of all of these things, God knew our greatest need was forgiveness, so He sent us a Savior.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Thank God for sending Jesus to save you from helplessness and hopelessness in this life. Praise Him for giving you joy and peace that passes all understanding.

[Judy Harder]

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. --John 3:16-18

Paul Harvey once told the story of a family who kept the same tradition each Christmas Eve—the mother and children would go to the church service, and the father would stay home to read the paper. When the family returned home from church, they would all gather to open their presents.

The father no longer believed in the stories of God coming as a baby in a manger. As the family left for church one particular Christmas, the father opened the evening paper and settled in by the fireplace. Suddenly, he heard tapping on the window. A bird kept flying against the glass trying to get out of the snow and into the warmth of his home .

Feeling sorry for the bird, the man went outside hoping to bring it in. When he got closer to the scared creature, it flew against the window even harder. The more the man tried to capture the bird, the more it continued to fly into window. He yelled out in frustration, "Stupid bird! Can't you understand that I'm trying to help? If only you understood, you wouldn't fly away. If only I could become a bird, and get you to understand."

Just then the church bells rang, and the father fell to his knees, began crying, and said, "Oh God, I didn't understand."

God's Son came in human form that we might understand from where we came, for what reason we were separated, and how we can be restored to God. Christmas isn't about empty promises of material gifts, holiday icons, or seasonal sights and sounds. It is about a fulfilled promise of a restored relationship between God and humankind.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God to strengthen your faith in Him, forgive you of your sins, restore you to a right relationship with Him, and give you joy this season.

[Judy Harder]

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. --2 Corinthians 5:6-8

In his book, The Best Is Yet to Be, Henry Durbanville told the story of an elderly woman who lived in southwest Scotland. She wanted very much to see the city of Edinburgh, but was afraid to take the train because it had to go through a long tunnel to get there.

Things came up and she was forced to travel to Scotland's capital. Filled with fear and anxiety, the trip began and she became more anxious as the train sped along the tracks. Before the train reached the long tunnel, the older woman, exhausted with worry, fell fast asleep. When she awoke, she was already in the city.

Of this story, Durbanville commented, "It is even so with the dying saint. He closes his eyes on earth, passes into what he thinks of as the tunnel of death, and opens them immediately in the celestial land."

Your earthly body is nothing more than a temporary home. Moving day is coming for everyone. You'll never know when the moving truck will pull up to your "house," with its crumbling foundation, failed heating system, and cracked windows, load up what's left inside, and take it away to your new home.

The Scripture says, "For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come" (Hebrews 13:14). As moving day approaches, it is important to realize in this analogy that death for the believer is not a dreaded parting—it is a glorious homecoming.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Pray that God would give you peace as you prepare to leave your earthly home. Thank God for the upcoming homecoming reunion that will take place when you are reunited with the ones you love and most importantly—the Lord Jesus Christ.

[Judy Harder]

Seeing your eternity in light of the temporary

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. - 2 Corinthians 4:18

The great preacher W. B. Hinson one day received the news that he had an illness from which he would never recover. In fact, the doctor told him he had only a year at best to live. So he went to a quiet place near his home in Portland, Oregon, and looked across a serene lake toward a beautiful mountain in the distance. He recounts,

"I looked at the river in which I rejoice, and I looked at the stately trees that are always God's own poetry to my soul. And I said, 'I may not see you many more times, but mountain, I shall be alive when you are gone; and river, I shall be alive when you cease running toward the sea.'"

Just like Hinson, each and every one of us is living on borrowed time. It doesn't matter if you're 20 or 90, your days here on this earth are numbered and there will come a day when they'll be no more. So the question isn't if, but only when we'll pass from this life to the next.

But for those of us who are in Christ, we have an eternal hope that surpasses everything else. We know that, in the end, we'll be with the Lord forever, outliving creation as we experience eternity with Him. So while our passing is certain, we have a hope that it will only be the beginning of an endless, joyful existence with Him!

Prayer Challenge

Pray that God would give you an eternal perspective on your life, knowing that if you're in Christ, you'll experience eternity with Him.

Questions for Thought

Why do you think it's so easy to focus on the here and now and lose our eternal perspective?

How would a stronger focus on the eternal give you hope as you face challenges in this life?

[Judy Harder]

The lost art of commitment

"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." - Matthew 22:37-40

In 1772, John Fawcett, the young pastor of a poor church in Hebden Bridge, England, was called to a large and influential church in London. But as the wagons were being loaded with the Fawcetts' few belongings, the people from their congregation came for a tearful farewell.

During the good-byes, Mary Fawcett cried, "John, I can't bear to leave!"

"Nor can I," he replied. "We shall remain here with our people." The wagons were unloaded, and John Fawcett spent his entire 53-year ministry in Hebden Bridge.

Sadly, this kind of commitment is almost unheard of in this day and age. That's because many people are simply looking for the next great thing rather than doing the hard work of staying committed when times get tough. This can be seen in high job turnover rates, short attention spans, and the skyrocketing divorce rates of recent years.

But the truth is that commitment to the right things brings contentment. Someone with lifelong friends will be much happier than the social butterfly who has superficial relationships. And staying devoted to serving Christ in your life will keep you more stable than following the changing philosophical winds of the world.

So commit yourself to God and to people. Not only will you remain stable in life, but you'll experience deeper joy and happiness as you weather the shifting winds of the world.

Prayer Challenge

Ask God to help you find the right things to commit yourself to and remain committed when the winds of the world try to shift your focus.

Questions for Thought

What are some things you've remained committed to throughout your life? What have been the benefits of those commitments?

How can you stay committed to the important things like people and your faith when the world tells you to give up?