Archive for the ‘old age’ Category
Today’s Bible Reading:
April 29, 2010 God Knows Me
Today’s Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 4; 2 Samuel 5; Psalm 139; Matthew 16 (The Message)
Scripture Focus:
Psalm 139:15–16
You know me inside and out,
you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
before I’d even lived one day.
Observation:
These words that tell about God’s intimate knowledge of me can be either comforting or terrifying. Perhaps a bit of both! God knows all the good, the bad, and the ugly about me. There’s nothing hidden from his sight.
But mostly these words are comforting. God cares about me enough to pay attention to me, to be interested in me, to lay out my life before me—prepare every day from the moment of conception, maybe even before.
Application:
I don’t have to fear the future. It’s been planned by God. He already knows what’s going to happen, so nothing is a surprise to him. And I can rest in the knowledge that my days are in God’s hands.
Prayer:
Thank you, beloved Father, for your tender loving care for me. I’m so touched by your love today!
Scripture Focus:
You know me inside and out,
you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
before I’d even lived one day.
August 17, 2009 Caring For Mom
Today’s Bible Reading: Jeremiah 23; Jeremiah 24; Jeremiah 25; John 19
Scripture Focus:
John 19:26–27 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.
Observation:
It was the responsibility of the oldest son to take care of his parents. Even as he was dying, Jesus thought to transfer his responsibilities to John, in spite of the fact that he had other brothers who could have taken over his responsibilities.
I see the heart of God in these verses. It is so opposite the spirit of evolution which says, “Survival of the strongest.” God is always looking out for the poor, the helpless, the widow, and women.
Application:
We are to look after our earthly parents and the widows who have no family. We are in that position right now with aging mothers and some elderly female friends who have no one to care for them. Jesus took the time to care for his mother while he was on the cross. We can take the time to care for our dear ones. If we are too busy to take the time, then something needs to change.
Prayer:
Father God, my life is too busy. Help me make the changes I need to make.
July 27, 2009 Fresh And Flourishing!
Today’s Bible Reading: Isaiah 50, 51, 52; Psalm 92; 2 Peter 1
Scripture Focus:
Psalm 92:12 The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree,
He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 Those who are planted in the house of the LORD
Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They shall still bear fruit in old age;
They shall be fresh and flourishing,
15 To declare that the LORD is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
Observation:
I must be on an old age theme. This is the second day in a row that scriptures about old age have caught my eye! These verses in Psalm 92 speak of old age as not diminished in fruitfulness. First comes being planted in the house of the Lord, though. If you aren’t planted in the house of the Lord with enough time to mature, you can’t bear fruit. But if you are, the promise is there:
They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing. For what purpose? To declare the person and character of God.
Application:
Now is the time to cause my roots to go deep with God. Don’t wait until later. If I water and sow spiritual things into my life now, I will begin to bear fruit and not stop, even in old age.
Prayer:
Father God, you’ve given me a vision today of what life can be at 80—declaring your faithfulness to the next generations!
July 26, 2009 Even To Your Old Age
Today’s Bible Reading: Isaiah 46, 47, 48, 49; 1 Peter 5
Scripture Focus:
Isaiah 46:3–4 Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been upheld by Me from birth, who have been carried from the womb; Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.
Observation:
Whether I’ve acknowledged it or not, or have been aware of it, God has carried me from birth and he will carry me and deliver me even to my old age. That signifies a continuum from birth to death, which means that he’s carrying me right now.
This is comforting, indeed. I’m dealing with aging parents, so it’s nice to know that this applies to them. I realize that someday, in the not too distant future, I will be in their shoes. However, it’s just as important for me know that God is carrying me right now.
Application:
Never doubt the love God has for you. From the time you were born, God was there, loving you, carrying you, and he will be there for you through old age. In fact ( O, you who worry about getting your first gray hairs!) let your gray hair remind you that God is carrying you!
Prayer:
Father God, I feel so loved by you! What a blessed promise it is to know you will be there for me to the end of my life.
