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Aging Gracefully

Job 11:16-17 For thou shalt forget thy misery; Thou shalt remember it as waters that are passed away, And thy life shall be clearer than the noonday; Though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning.

There is psychological age which is dependent on your attitude. If you have the attitude that you get better as you grow older in every way – physically, emotionally, spiritually and socially, then you will age in a much more graceful manner. So this is what studies tell us. How about you? Do you feel your age? Are you content with your age? Is your life now clearer than the noonday in retrospect? Are you comfortable in your skin so to speak?

There does come one thing for certain with age and that is wisdom. We have by head knowledge or by personal experience so much more soundness to offer others. Memory is also kinder to us as we look upon events that unfolded in our life with the safety of distance now. We have reason to rejoice even if our body's are having difficulties staying ahead of the aging process. God has truly given us grace and we display well.

If we refuse to look at aging as a universal disease punishing us, but as a time instead for God to make us shine with the qualities that only our age group can display, and if we rate ourselves high in the brain power area, we most likely knock off quite a few years on our chronological age. We might even delight to boast that number to others because we know that we have aged in a graceful manner. Even if our eyesight is no longer clear, our vision of a life lived well is as if we are still in the noonday of our life.

If your psychological age is not where you would like it to be, work on that area. It sure is worth your effort. Keep active as you can, especially with mentally stimulating activities like conversations, reading, even puzzles. Learn something new every day if you can. Challenge a faulty thinking within yourself. Take the time to smell a flower, pat a child on the head, or develop an interest in something you have never attempted before. Do something to get the pleasure nodules within yourself a chance to realize how good and precious life is. Take time to rejoice this day knowing that God rejoices in you.

Stepping Aside

Joh 3:30 He [Jesus] must become more important, while I become less important.
These words were spoken by John the Baptist shortly before the time of his death. He knew that the fame that he had achieved would be coming to an end. He knew that instead of focus on him and his words, Jesus must be more honored. I believe he had a glimpse that his life might end soon, so that the Lord would be focal in all those that had heard the Good News through him.

John the Baptist led a purposeful life. He had accomplished those things God had sent him to do. He was preparing to decrease, as such as many of us in the last quarter of our lives our doing also. But have we accomplished the works that God has so desired for us to do? Have we proclaimed the name of Jesus to others and prepared the way for others to believe through us? These are the works that God desires: That His Son Christ be glorified. This is now the season of decrease in our life that Christ's life might increase. Can we rest now that we have influence others to believe in the Lord? Or do we yet have that to do in our lives? Because we are old, or frail, or past our prime does not mean that our opportunity to do good and to lift up the name of Jesus is finished. It just means that we focus on less of ourselves and more of God as we prepare to finish the course that God has set out for us.

In the Book of Revelation (14:13) it proclaims that our works do follow us even after our earthly lives have come to an end. This is a perfect display of John the Baptist. This is the works that will follow us. This is the legacy that we can leave behind. This is the accomplishing of the things God so desired to do in our lives.

If we have not yet decreased, ceasing to talk more of ourselves, rather than of Jesus, then we still have a course to finish. We can use this time of life to proclaim the Good News. And people will always remember that about you. I'll always remember when I was a child the neighbors who asked my parents if they could take me to Sunday School each week. They didn't ask my parents to join a neighborhood watch or a Parent Teacher association. They didn't ask them if they would like to go out together to dinner once a week or play cards on Friday night. The life they lived was to proclaim Jesus. To make Him of more importance. They accomplished God's will in their life. Their works do follow them as they allowed Jesus to be more important than them. I still remember their kindness even when all the other neighbors have been forgotten by me.

Have you done the same? Are you preparing for your good works to follow you? What we all have now is time on our hands. Let us use it to glorify God! Remember to decrease so that Jesus might increase. You will be most blessed as you make it a practice to step-up for Jesus as you step aside. Do something of eternal value beginning this week.

Accentuate The Positive

Luk 20:37-38 Now that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.

Research on the subject of optimism is fascinating and does suggest that positive thinking can enhance health. As we wax old, health and living out our days in a positive condition is a priority. Nothing can give us more hope and wellness than a daily dose of God's Word and assurance. We have in this passage a declaration that only Jesus could proclaim with such authority. God is the God of all those that have adhered to Him. He does not disappear at the end of one's breath on earth. They go on to be in His Presence and He remains their God. There is no end to the life of the one who has loved and served Him. He remains evermore and so does that one that has put their trust in His promise of eternal life.

Enthusiasm adds significance to all you do. How thrilled we should be that Jesus came to proclaim Good News that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. We may not visualize or grasp this promise perfectly, but we can hold on to it as the best news that we have ever heard in our lives. God is the God of the living. In Christ you move, and live, and have your being. You will dwell and reign with God forever. As He does not cease, neither shall you. Because He lives, yet shall you live. Jesus has risen as He said He would as evidence that what He has promised is true.

Today we accentuate the positive and celebrate life in Christ, eternal life, and joy unspeakable for evermore. God is the God of the living. Celebrate that your life on earth will cease, but your spirit shall never come to an end. You are kept by our Lord who will never fail or forsake you. He is able to do as He has promised. He is your God. Rejoice that He has revealed Himself to you. Turn to someone today and tell them the Good News that we live unto God and God is the God of the living. In Him we achieve life, now and forevermore. Positively a priceless message.

An Offer That Can't Be Refused

Mar 14:3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he [Jesus] sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she broke the box, and poured it on his head.

Single handedly, this woman, in one act of kindness to our Lord was memorialized forever in the Good Book. When we think there is nothing in our life left to offer to others, the Lord draws this act of kindness to our attention. It is not the sizable monetary amount of this gift that matters, so extravagant indeed that it was a gift of a full days wages. We may not have that left in our own coffers to offer.

We learn in further in exploring Scripture that it was Mary of Bethany, Martha's and Lazarus' sister who had sat at the feet of Jesus to learn of Him. It is now remarkable that she stands over His head and pours out of gift to prepare for His burial. Mary arose from a sitting position to a standing position. That is a symbol of action. It wasn't that she had learned all of the lessons that were available to learn in this life, but that she was ready to put them forth in a grand burst of display which showed to others that she had not only heard what would happen to her Lord, but she was willing to be criticized by others. We read that there were some that were filled with indignation, murmured against her, and scrutinized her reasons for not giving this money to the poor.

I don't know what you think of this instance, but my mind immediately wanders to the fact that riches or poverty, abundance or lack, either case being, I always have, and always will have, the means of doing the Lord a great and kind act that others, by chance, might witness.

You may not be a guest in a house today, but the Lord is here. You might be a resident, but the Lord is not absent wherever you are at. You may not be a wealthy person, and are just getting by with basics. You are too late for the Lord's funeral, for He has risen indeed and you know that He is the Son of God as He said. But if you put your mind and heart and soul to it, you can think of something extravagant to do for Jesus today.

It might be that you just smile and smile at Jesus all day long so that it makes an observant ask you, "What's up with you? Why all the smiles? What is going on?" Then you can declare, "This is my very precious gift unto the Lord today." Won't that cause tongues to wag? You can be memorialized for that. Your name may not be Mary of Bethany, but your name will live on because of your love of the Lord. Smile at the Lord and let Him know you were listening.

God Will Carry You As You Fly

Psalm 91:4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

Everyone has a little bit of a bird watcher in them. We have had lovely observations of the mother bird covering her eggs to hatch them and then covering her chicks to provide warmth and safety. We are given this imagery to equate to us God the Father's care of us. He is faithful. He is our defensive wall.

An eagle mother does something that is amiss to us. The mother eagle "Stirreth up her nest," "fluttereth over her young," "spreadeth abroad her wings," and "beareth them on her wings." The time has come when the young eagle must leave the nest and strike out on his own, and the refuge the eaglets have always known becomes discomforting as she teaches them to leave the nest and fly. There is not one willing volunteer of the nest. The mother eagle must begin tearing up the nest and repeating this process until the eagle begins to fly. What an experience that must be.

Does it seem that God is dealing harshly with you? Is He tearing up your soft, comfortable nest? Does the place in God that once met such a need in your life now seem rough, tight, and uncomfortable? What is happening? The Lord is getting ready to push you off into heights you never dreamed of. He is preparing your final flight; destination heaven. He is teaching you how to move to a heavenly place.

We grew accustomed to routine, yet we knew those days would come when we could no longer dwell in our comfortable nest. That is what the senior years entail. God still covers us with His feathers. He is still our refuge. He will always be our faithful Father. But He knows that He has prepared an eternal and heavenly resort for us and now He begins the preparation to make us soar on that day of our departure.

Take courage, saints as we begin our ascent. It may appear to be a descent of the body, but the spirit is stronger than flesh and God's love is more protective than anything we can imagine otherwise. Rejoice for the Word declares, [God] is like an eagle that stirs up her nest, hovers over her young, spreads out her wings, takes them and carries them as she flies. Deu 32:11

Shine Jesus Shine

2Ch 24:15 But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; a hundred and thirty years old was he when he died.

A very interesting saying, "waxed old." I don't believe I have had any occasion in my life to use this term, have you? Perhaps it only catches my eye now because I am waxing old. How about you? Are you curious about this phrase or are you just simply, "waxing old" and no longer interested in learning something new?

There are only six instances of this term in the Bible, so we see that God surely never dwelt on it. Why should we? We are what we are. We are waxing old. We never said when we were young that we were waxen of youth, did we? Yet, I am confident that each and every well-placed word in the Bible has content and meaning. So, I looked beyond this quaint saying, recalling the days I tinkered in candle making, and wondered if there was a connection with the word wax and wear out. Sure enough the first sentence I read on the history of candles was, "Candles were once the only source of light in homes all over the world." Of course I thought, so it does waxing old mean passé"? Does this verse speak of the body or of the spirit? Yet again, does this saying really mean that the spirit, the source of light to our families, if not the world has grown dim? Is this what Jesus meant when He said we were the light of the world and not to hide our light under a bushel? Is God saying that we waxen old in our love and devotion to Him as our body grows weary and tired? Are we full of days in our body, exhausted, and forget that our spirit is what God sees foremost while the people of the earth only view our physical body? Is that what we only view too, or do we keep our light in Christ shining brightly? I see this verse has purpose for those that are not bodily weary, but for those that have served their fullest and highest purpose in glorifying God upon this earth.

Candles are also used in worship. Have we waxed old and are no longer of service in this area? Or does this mean we simply need our wicks trimmed? If you are discovering that you have waxed old, do you think the Lord might be dropping a huge hint today to rejuvenate in the area where you might be useful once more--and that is in your spirit? Can you contribute radiance around you today? You sure can even if the body has waxed old. You can outstretch your hand right now to the nearest person that you come into contact with today, and say, "The peace of the Lord be with you always." That one will realize, sooner or later, that you have not waxed old in letting your light shine brightly for Jesus.

Don't Worry; Be Happy

Rev 2:10a 'Stop being afraid of what you are about to be suffering. Listen indeed! (ALT)

Were you the typical child that had a relatively worry-free life? You trusted your parents to care for all your basic needs. There was food, clothing and shelter all taken for granted. You trusted them to provide healthcare and believed them when they said you would be feeling well again in no time at all. There was never a lack of hours in a day to find time for yourself. There was social activity within the family and without in your neighborhood and school. There was always, and I repeat always, an opportunity to learn something new and to retain it. Death was a foreign concept to you. Prejudice was not yet known. Red-tape was a term you were not yet introduced to. We had it all and was too young to comprehend the abundant blessing of our life before the process of inevitable growing-up set in.

Perhaps no one can exactly place a day and time that trust began to ebb out of their life and slowly be replaced by anxiety, cares and concerns. But happen it did. Here we are in this realm in our life where innocence of those times are just a remote memory. Reality stalks us daily. Past experiences have flavored us negatively. Statistics regarding our age group doesn't put a spin on high expectations. We do fear what the end of our lives will involve.

We have the opportunity to encompass Jesus' words to us today. When he speaks, "Stop being afraid of what you are about to be suffering," He did not say, "You will suffer; be afraid." Do you see the difference between projecting fear or accepting encouragement? In my formative years, I can still recall two catch phrases: 1) What, me worry? 2) Don't worry; be happy. Is that not exactly what Jesus attempted to say in this passage two thousand years ago that is still relevant this very day? Listen indeed!

The Just Shall Live By Faith

Heb 11:21-22 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshiped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

Both father Jacob, and son Israel, were blessed in discerning the day of their departure from this earth. They made plans that would positively effect their family and their last desire was fulfilled. A happy ending takes forethought. We may or not see our destination day to heaven as clearly, but as we finally become brave enough to label ourselves as a senior, we bravely then must make plans ahead for that day.

We are very blessed to have arrived at this point in life. When we think of those younger who have passed on before us, cut short in the prime of life that never had a clue that their exit was to be sooner rather than later, we know that God has highly favored us, and in return we must be good stewards of the time allotted us. We must bless those now that have been a blessing to us. We must make the final arrangements for the disposal of our body, rather than to leave the burdensome task to someone else. We must foresee that our progeny live on in privilege of God. We find that our final plans are one that only we can initiate if we so desire to have things done our way and God's until the last day.

We also have to realize the most important last leg of the journey in the above example of Jacob. The Scripture relates, [he] "worshipped." We return to God a profound adoration and gratitude for extending our life, for knowledge of Him, for blessings of family and friends, for unseen favor and blessing and those that are known, and primarily for the gift of salvation that we now have dwelling within us. Worship is what we will be doing in eternity. Why not begin to practice now? We perhaps cannot "perfect" worship of the Lord this side of heaven, but what a joy in improving how we relate to God while we are still clothed in this earthly tent. Make it a worshipful week by faith!

Serving Or Being Served?

Phm 1:8-9 For this reason, having much boldness [or, confidence] in Christ to be commanding you [to be doing] the proper [thing], [yet] on account of love I rather appeal, being such a one as Paul, an old man, but now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. (ALT)

Paul's ministry lasted around 30 years before he was martyred. He was indeed an aged man, not just a learned man. He had fought the good fight. He had, after his conversion, led a Christ-centered, dedicated life. He knew the day of his martyrdom when it drew near. He had no regrets and he had no fear of that day because he knew in Whom he had trusted.

Surely he had many privileges in the Lord that we may never have. On the other hand, he had many trials and persecutions that we will never have. But the whole idea when we have become an aged person, is to look back on our life with content, as he did. To know that when we die we are absent from the body and present with the Lord. We might not be accomplished people, but that will not be the question we hear from God. The question we hear, one and all, is what have you done with My Son? How will you answer that question as you ponder it today?

Have you served the poor? Have you reached out to the lost? Have you run a good race? These are just a few important questions we should be asking ourselves. If if we stumble across a no answer or two, we do have time to do something to change that answer into a yes. Wouldn't you rather, like Paul did, examine yourself daily to see if you are in the faith? Ziggy says, "Life is a trip and you only get a one way ticket." Is yours marked, destination heaven? Do something so faith-full this week that you will even startle yourself for boldly stepping out in faith.

If you take it to heart to influence someone for the Kingdom of God this week, you will have bragging rights. I would love to hear about it. I would love to have my spirit bolstered by knowing that for some of us the good years have truly begun.

Many say they will serve the Lord when they are retired. Are You doing that yet? Is it a priority? Can you be an encouragement to others that have discovered the flip side of fifty? Are you doing the proper thing on account of love for Jesus, or are you dwelling on me, myself, and my during these freedom years from child raising and employment? One thing is for certain. God will always need a voice. Is yours audible? Even if some of us are imprisoned with and old and ailing body, our spirit can never be bound. Reach out this week and try something new. What are you waiting for?

Hidden Away

Psa 13:1-3 How much longer will you forget me, LORD? Forever? How much longer will you hide yourself from me? How long must I endure trouble? How long will sorrow fill my heart day and night? How long will my enemies triumph over me? Look at me, O LORD my God, and answer me. Restore my strength; don't let me die. (GNB)

This week's selection was taken from the Good News Bible. Upon reading it we might wonder out loud why it is called Good News. It appears King David had his struggles too. We do not know the age in which he wrote this, but we can conclude he was not a young'n.

I stepped up my search for a weekly devotional for seniors. I have subscribed 3 times to a ministry devotional for that age group and have yet to receive one. I keep searching and can find no other, yet I am sure they must exist. Is this age group forgotten by people? Isn't it known by God that we need extra comfort as we go through the stage of rushing toward the term elderly? That we need something to focus on pointing us to the heavenlies rather than the earthly confines that appear to be getting the best of us?

Seeing I cannot yet find what I desire for seniors4Jesus, I will undertake to write a weekly devotional, prayerfully mindful that God does not forget us or forsake us. I hope to address the special needs of this age group, and although there are several common maladies that bind us together, this week I concentrate on loneliness. Doesn't it appear to you that David, despite his national renown, feels isolated, abandoned and at the brink of despair? Have you ever felt that way? Do you anticipate, or have experienced, as you grow older the younger people shirk away from you? You are no longer "cool" to be around? At one time your house might have been filled with many guests on many occasions. You held a party or gathering or dinner for the slightest reason. That is when you had vigor and strength to be a hostess. To do it all. To receive nothing in return for an often few days of cooking, preparing, cleaning and making sure the day would be lovely right down to the last details.

And now it is your turn to be a guest, and the invites don't come. It appears they think you might not want to make the drive? Or participate in a noisy environment? Or is it that your company is no longer festive and pleasant to be around? I am not sure what the real reason is that invites are not plentiful, but if you have insight, would you mind sharing with the curious in the same boat? Rest assured however, that God is just to remember us, even when others forget. I refuse to be lonely. How can I feel alone when God is always available, and I am closer to living eternally with Him than the first day I proclaimed Him as my very own. Lord, help us to seek out and understand all, never forsaking You in the journey to eternal life. Amen