Thursday, April 22, 2021

Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part IV - V (Links)

Source (book): "Growing Old Gracefully", Following Jesus to the End
By Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012


A must-read for those who are approaching or in their autumn years.
PHOTO: A must-read for those who are approaching or in their autumn years. Bishop Emeritus Solomon has provided a reliable view of what to expect as one grows old. His clear and reflective approach to address ageing issues from a Christian perspective, aptly supported by Scriptures, is instructive and encouraging. Growing old need not be limiting. Instead, it can liberate and help one to grow closer to Jesus, experiencing more of His joy and peace. This book will inspire readers with a renewed desire for an exciting adventure to grow old gracefully and follow Jesus to the end. - Chua Song Khim, Deputy Chief of Executive, National University Health System Elder, Bethesda Christian Centre

This book leads us on a journey of self-discovery, thinking through what may perhaps be the most challenging time in our life as we approach our twilight years. - Dr. Pang Wang Sun, Geriatrician, National Healthcare Group

Veteran pastor Robert Solomon offers a fresh perspective on ageing and how you can continue to grow with God into your autumn years. Discover how you can keep your eyes firmly on Jesus while nurturing habits and disciplines that will enable you to build redemptive (saving) relationship and cope with the physical, mental, and emotional challenges of ageing. Useful insights into ageing are presented as short chapters in an easy-to-read, large-print format.
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From "Growing Old Gracefully", Following Jesus to the End, Copyright © 2019 by Robert M. Solomon, ISBN 978-981-14-1836-5, "Preface", Page VII-XII.

Preface
We grow old so quickly. When we are young, we maintain the illusion that we will stay young forever, with the same energy and health, and long life to look forward to. But how rapidly we travel through life, and find ourselves aged and approaching the end!

Moses observed how quickly our days on earth pass and fly away (Psalm 90:10). People are the new grass of the morning: "In the morning it springs up new, but by evening it is dry and withered" (Psalm 90:6). Before long one become a "senior", an old man or old lady, and much of life has simply passed by. We are like "a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14).

How then should we view old age? How should we spend the later years of our lives? This book is written for those who are seniors - anyone 60 and above in years. By this time, you probably know that you have already passed the halfway point of life. Should this change the way we live? What should we focus on? What are our challenges, and what should we look out for?

The Bible paints two opposing views of old age. Firstly, old age is seen as a great time for undiminished faith, energy, and courage, as 85-year-old Caleb famously demonstrated, saying, "I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out [45 years before]" (Joshua 14:11). We read of how the righteous "will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green" (Psalm 92:14). We also read how "Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone" (Deuteronomy 34:7) or what one of Job's friends told him, "You will come to the grave in full vigour, like sheaves gathered in season" (Job 5:26), though this was hardly comforting to the suffering Job.

Such a perspective resonates with popular phrases we hear today: "golden years", "healthy ageing", "positive ageing", "successful ageing" and the like (though some argue that these slogans have "a strong anti-ageing tendency"). [101]

But the Bible also gives another view that must be taken seriously. We read about how old age brings with it deteriorating bodily functions and disabilities of many kinds, leading to loss of mobility and opportunities for social interaction. We are warned to be prepared for it, "before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, 'I find no pleasure in them'" (Ecclesiastes 12:1). Paul realistically admits that "outwardly we are wasting away" (2 Corinthians 4:16), and the psalmist prays, "Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone" (Psalm 71:9).

In this book, we will examine both perspectives to gain a fuller and deeper perspective of old age. The book is divided into five sections covering key themes that people should think about as they age.

Section 1 explores life as a spiritual journey and how old age ("the gift of years") [102] is an important part of it. What are some of the tasks and processes we should be thinking about as we age? [103] It is not that we have arrived - the journey continues on from maturity to maturity and glory to glory. We will deal with issues such as being clear about our destination, direction, motive, passion, convictions, and purpose in life (knowing Jesus and becoming like Him in love, wisdom, and holiness).

Spiritual habits are the focus in Section 2. How should we maintain those disciplines (understood as habits of responsiveness to God's grace that "bring us into more effective cooperation with Christ and his Kingdom") [104] that are essential for developing Christian maturity? Old age should not be a season for apathy (lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern) and laziness. It need not be a period of "institutionalised sloth", [105] but a time of studying God's Word, cultivating regular prayer, and growing habits of worship, participation in community, and service. Old age can be a richly fulfilling sage of our lives.

Section 3 is about the relationships in our lives. We are made for relationships, and in old age this becomes even more obvious and necessary. We will examine what makes us human, how we should focus on family and friends, and how to engage in conversations that are redemptive and edifying (providing moral or intellectual instruction).

Section 4 brings us to the frailties, pain, and suffering of old age. We need to examine this part of our lives in a realistic way, not becoming pessimistic but learning how to manage our growing weaknesses in a biblical way. How can we come to terms with declining health and pain and suffering, with bereavement and loneliness, depression, and the fear of losing our memories?

The final section turns our attention to our eternal home - heaven. We will not live long on earth, but heaven will be our permanent address. It is important that we think more and more about where we are heading. How will we end our earthly lives? What will heaven be like? How can we prepare for it? While we wait, how can we harbour a living hope in our hearts amid advancing age, and how can we continue to be a blessing to others and leave a legacy that glorifies God?

Our churches are becoming filled with a growing population of seniors. People talk about a "silver tsunami" in many societies globally. This is also happening in church. Many churches are so focused on the young and young families (who are important concerns) that they neglect the concerns and needs of the seniors, who in many places feel left out and redundant. Many seniors can empathise with the characters in Gordon MacDonald's novel, Who Stole My Church? [106] MacDonald, writing in his old age, tries to express how many elderly Christians feel marginalised at church services; strangers in their own churches. This must change.

There are also older people who find it difficult to age well in a society that tends to deny the natural process of ageing. They may be tempted to maintain an illusion that they are immune to this most essential of human processes, "one that can be denied only with great harm". [107]

This book intends to raise issues connected with the spirituality of ageing and ministry to seniors. It is meant for seniors as well as church leaders and younger people who ought to be thinking about how to minister to the ageing. The chapters are kept short for easy reading, and the text is in large print to make it easier for older people to read! The chapters adopt a devotional format to encourage biblical study as well as practical application. There are questions intended for both personal reflection and group discussion.

The great Christian novelist George MacDonald wrote, "Age is not all decay; it is the ripening, the swelling, of the fresh life within, the withers and bursts the husk." [108] May that be our experience as we turn to Christ and stay with Him in old age as He strengthens and blesses us, filling our lives with His peace, joy, and love.

Robert M. Solomon


Hopefully some of the information, reflection and discussion obtained from the internet and the book by Robert M. Solomon, "Growing Old Gracefully" Following Jesus to the End, Part IV - V, can be useful. Some of them are listed in the following. 

Part IV: HEALTH AND FRAILITIES
Chapter 23 - Staying Healthy
Question 1 - Reflection - Health and Frailties - Importance of Good Health, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-health-and-frailties.html [45]

Question 2 - Reflection - Health and Frailties - Health and Pursuit of God, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-health-and-frailties-health.html [46]
 

Why is it important to remain in good health?PHOTO: Why is it important to remain in good health?
Modern sentiments may be expressed better as "Stay healthy to stay useful".


Think of how you are doing this.
The original "Methodists" were a group of Greek physicians in the first century who prescribed an effective method for gaining good health: a proper diet and regular exercise.

It appears that these ancient physicians discovered something that remains true even now. In most advice about good health, these two points are often emphasised: watch what you eat and get some regular exercise. And this is sound advice.

This method of remaining in good health is still relevant, especially for those advancing in years. It can reduce the chance of developing chronic illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension, and slow down physical and mental deterioration associated with old age.

Many seniors take their health quite seriously, what with loads of advice available on the internet and newspapers, and countless WhatsApp messages received from well-meaning friends and family members. They take health supplements (a multi-billion dollar industry), try the latest fads, and attempt to remain healthy and strong for as long as is possible.


Think of what more you can do.
Some seniors may become obsessed with physical health. They spend an inordinate amount of time and money religiously guarding their health. In the process, they end up pursuing good physical health rather than God and His righteousness. When an ageing senior gets up without fail every morning to go for a jog or brisk walk, but does not practise regular Bible reading and prayer, he is getting his priorities wrong. Paul, as a veteran missionary, advised his protégé Timothy to drink a little wine for his stomach condition and frequent illnesses (1 Timothy 5:23). In addition, he wrote, "Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is valuable in every way, because it promises life both for the present and for the future" (1 Timothy 4:8 GNT).

Physical exercise has its proper place, but it should not replace spiritual exercise. The pursuit of physical health is good but must always be done in the context of pursuing spiritual health and well-being. We must remember that "Grey hair is a crown of splendour; it is attained in the way of righteousness" (Proverbs 16:31).


What are the limitations of pursuing good health?
There is a danger that lying at the heart of the modern obsession with physical health is an unhealthy desire to avoid, consciously and unconsciously, the ultimate death that awaits all human beings. Are we willing to lose physical health in the pursuit of God' glory? Or, if we are already in relatively poor health, are we willing to serve God well?
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Dear Lord
Dear Lord
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray to remain in good health to stay useful.

We learn that in the first century, the ‘Methodists’, a group of Greek physicians prescribed an effective method for gaining good health, that is, a proper diet and regular exercise. It appears that these ancient physicians discovered something that remains true even now. In most advice about good health, these two points are often emphasised: watch what you eat and get some regular exercise.

Help us to follow this sound advice as it is still relevant, especially for those advancing in years. It can reduce the chance of developing chronic illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension, and slow down physical and mental deterioration associated with old age.

Lord, many seniors take their health quite seriously, especially with encouragement from the internet, newspapers, and messages from well-meaning friends and family members. We take health supplements, try the latest fads, and attempt to remain healthy and strong for as long as is possible. However, some of us seniors may become obsessed with physical health.

Help us to stop spending an inordinate amount of time and money religiously guarding our health, and in the process, ending up pursuing good physical health rather than God and His righteousness. An ageing senior may get up without fail every morning to go for a jog or brisk walk, but does not practise regular Bible reading and prayer. Please help us to get our priorities right.

Paul had warned us that physical exercise has its proper place, but it should not replace spiritual exercise. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is valuable in every way, because it promises life both for the present and for the future. Help us to pursue physical health but must always be done in the context of pursuing spiritual health and well-being. Help us to have the godly wisdom of a mature man-of-God, or elderly lady-of-faith, attained in the way of righteousness.

Lord, help us to avoid the modern obsession with physical health to avoid, consciously and unconsciously, the ultimate death that awaits us. Help us to prioritise pursuing God’s glory, and willing to serve God well, over just our physical health.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
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The senior years cannot be just a matter of relaxing and reminiscing.
PHOTO: What can you learn from those who suffer chronic ailments and yet have a positive perspective of life and ministry?
Many faithful servants of God served the Lord in relatively poor health. Paul had to live and serve with his "thorn in my flesh" (generally understood to be a painful chronic physical condition) even though he prayed three times for the ailment to be removed from his body (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). According to tradition, Paul also suffered from bow legs, perhaps as a result of his frequent beatings and injuries (see 2 Corinthians 11:23-27). These did not prevent him from faithfully fulfilling God's calling.

The leaders of the Reformation suffered from many illnesses and frailties. Martin Luther had a long list of troubles: piles, constipation, cataracts, fainting spells, arthritis, kidney and bladder stones, and chest pains. John Calvin was physically frail and suffered from consumption (tuberculosis), ulcerated haemorrhoids, gout, kidney stones, and other distressing ailments. He was very careful with his diet because of stomach troubles and ate only one meal a day. He died at the age of 55, having a prolific (plentiful) writing ministry and having served as the pastor of Geneva and a leading reformer.

Charles Spurgeon, the prince of preachers, suffered from debilitating gout, arthritis, kidney disease, and depression, and yet he worked 18 hours a day, preparing sermons, writing tracts, counselling, and lecturing. He had a view about suffering and hard work that would not sit well with today's obsession with physical health and personal well-being. He wrote:

If by excessive labour, we die before reaching the average age of man, worn out in the Master's service, then glory be to God, we shall have so much less of earth and so much more of Heaven!


How can you ensure that your pursuit of God remains top priority?
Modern sentiments may be expressed better as "Stay healthy to stay useful". But the point is that the pursuit of health should not become an idol at the expense of our pursuit of God and His glory. We must apply common sense by watching our diet and getting regular exercise (walking is a good exercise for seniors). But we must be prepared to stretch ourselves in self-giving love and serve God even in poor health. We must seek Him and His righteousness - that should always be first above other concerns and pursuits (Matthew 6:33).
Picture posted by Deacon Chuck on 15 October 2016 - Moses in prayer with Aaron and Hur on the Mountain Horeb (Exodus 17:8-16)
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https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/10/reflection-spiritual-habits-minister-to.html
 
 

There are the serious distractions caused by our aging and poor health.
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we learn that there are those who suffer chronic ailments and yet have a positive perspective of life and ministry. Many faithful servants of God served the Lord in relatively poor health.

Help us to be like Paul who had to live and serve with his ‘thorn in his flesh’ even though he prayed three times for the ailment to be removed from his body. Paul also suffered from bow legs, but these did not prevent him from faithfully fulfilling God's calling.

Other leaders of the Reformation had also suffered from many illnesses and frailties. Martin Luther had a long list of troubles: piles, constipation, cataracts, fainting spells, arthritis, kidney and bladder stones, and chest pains. John Calvin was physically frail and suffered from consumption or tuberculosis, ulcerated haemorrhoids, gout, kidney stones, and other distressing ailments. Help us to learn from their prolific writing ministry and having served as the pastor of Geneva and a leading reformer.

Help us too, to learn from Charles Spurgeon, the prince of preachers, who suffered from debilitating gout, arthritis, kidney disease, and depression, and yet he worked 18 hours a day, preparing sermons, writing tracts, counselling, and lecturing.

May we keep in mind his encouragement, ‘If by excessive labour, we die before reaching the average age of man, worn out in the Master's service, then glory be to God, we shall have so much less of earth and so much more of Heaven!’

Lord, help us to ensure that our pursuit of God remains top priority by stretching ourselves in self-giving love and serve God even in poor health. Help us to seek Him and His righteousness - that should always be first above other concerns and pursuits. May this be the modern sentiments of ‘Stay healthy to stay useful’.
Let our pursuit of health not to become an idol at the expense of our pursuit of God and His glory.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
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Chapter 24 - Coming to Terms with Declining Health
Question 1 - Reflection - Health and Frailties - The despairs of Ageing, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-health-and-frailties_24.html [47]

Question 2 - Reflection - Health and Frailties - Encouraging Ageing Christians, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-health-and-frailties_25.html [48]
 


Reflect on Ecclesiastes 12:1-5.
PHOTO: Reflect on Ecclesiastes 12:1-5.
Old age, according to Christian writer Helen Oppenheimer, is characterised by both fruition and decay, fulfilment and loss. Or, we may say that old age is both a special gift and a special burden. The writer of the deeply philosophical book Ecclesiastes describes old age realistically, to the extent that it may make an ageing person despair:

Honor and enjoy your Creator while you’re still young,
Before the years take their toll and your vigor wanes,
Before your vision dims and the world blurs
And the winter years keep you close to the fire.

In old age, your body no longer serves you so well.
Muscles slacken, grip weakens, joints stiffen.
The shades are pulled down on the world.
You can’t come and go at will. Things grind to a halt.
The hum of the household fades away.
You are wakened now by bird-song.
Hikes to the mountains are a thing of the past.
Even a stroll down the road has its terrors.
Your hair turns apple-blossom white,
Adorning a fragile and impotent matchstick body.
Yes, you’re well on your way to eternal rest,
While your friends make plans for your funeral.
(Ecclesiastes 12:1-5 The Message (MSG))


What feelings does the passage evoke in you?
This is a portrayal of an ageing body that is breaking down. Old age brings with it failing eyesight, decreasing energy, strength, and flexibility, loss of hearing and teeth, and sleeplessness. The body loses its beauty, leaving behind scars and other ravages (cause severe and extensive damage to) of time. The systems in the body begin to crumble.

Some people finds it difficult to accept this, and try their best to deny it by pretending to remain youthful, at least in appearance and lifestyle - thus repudiating (rejecting) the true honour of old age. An awareness that one is ageing can lead to both hyperactivity (increased activities) or hypoactivity (too much slowing down). In our age-denying culture, the former is the bigger phenomenon. But you can't fight ageing for long. Degeneration eventually wins.


Why do you think this is so?
The apostle Paul states the hard facts: "outwardly we are wasting away" (2 Corinthians 4:16). Elsewhere, in deep theological reflection, he observes that creation is "subjected to frustration" and in "bondage to decay" (Romans 8:20-21). In our present universe, because of sin and its consequences, everything is set to decay (the more scientifically inclined of us may remember the Second Law of Thermodynamics). This includes the breaking down of our body and its proper functioning. Those who are suffering from the effects of ageing know this from personal experience.


Share with fellow seniors your thoughts and concerns and discuss what you can do about them.
Ageing can bring with it many anxieties. There is the fear of pain and of failing to cope with life's normal duties and routines. What if a stroke occurs and one becomes bedridden or wheelchair bound? How would one cope with the loss of freedom, mobility, and independence? What about rising medical costs; how can one afford increasingly frequent treatment? Will one become redundant, a burden to others? American governor of Colorado Richard Lamm once said, rather alarmingly, that terminally ill elderly people have a "duty to die and get out of the way"! Would one be discarded as a heavy burden on society?

Doctors say that the last 10 years of a person's life are typically very difficult, as health fails and increasingly frequent and urgent medical attention is needed. People worry about how life will end for them. What will they have to face?

How can one prepare for this deterioration in health? Psalm 71 is comforting for ageing people. It echoes the feeling of growing old: "Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone" (Psalm 71:9). There is an awareness that natural strength is failing, and a fear that one may be forsaken and forgotten by God. But a growing relationship with God - knowing, trusting, and obeying God - makes this prayer poignant (evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret) and hopeful. "Since my youth, God, you have taught me" (Psalm 71:17).

According to Paul, we "groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies" (Romans 8:23). Note that amid crumbling bodies, we look forward to our redemption, including that of our bodies. There is hope, but we must accept the present reality of declining health and failing bodies - that will lead to death.
Artwork by Andrew Wyeth, American (1917-2009) - Spring (1978)
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Ageing can bring with it many anxieties.
PHOTO: Ageing can bring with it many anxieties. There is the fear of pain and of failing to cope with life's normal duties and routines.  American governor of Colorado Richard Lamm once said, rather alarmingly, that terminally ill elderly people have a "duty to die and get out of the way"! Would one be discarded as a heavy burden on society?
Artwork by Vincent Van Gogh - Worn Out (1882), The suffering Old Man, Worn Out At Eternity's Gate
Picture posted by pixels.com on 08 March 2018
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https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-health-and-frailties_24.html
 

Dear Lord
Dear Lord
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we learn that old age is characterised by both fruition and decay, fulfilment and loss. It is both a special gift and a special burden. The book Ecclesiastes describes old age realistically, to the extent that it may make an ageing person despair.

The book Ecclesiastes is a portrayal of an ageing body that is breaking down. Old age brings with it failing eyesight, decreasing energy, strength, and flexibility, loss of hearing and teeth, and sleeplessness. The body loses its beauty, leaving behind scars and other ravages of time. The systems in the body begin to crumble.

We pray for your help to accept this, and not to try our best to deny it by pretending to remain youthful, at least in appearance and lifestyle - thus repudiating the true honour of old age. We learn that awareness that one is ageing can lead to hyperactivity or hypoactivity. In our age-denying culture, the former is the bigger phenomenon. We can't fight ageing for long. Degeneration eventually wins.

Lord, we think this is so because the apostle Paul states the hard facts: ‘outwardly we are wasting away’. He also observed that creation is ‘subjected to frustration’ and in ‘bondage to decay’. In our present universe, because of sin and its consequences, everything is set to decay. We who are suffering from the effects of ageing know this from personal experience.

We can’t fight ageing for long, and degeneration eventually wins is also stated in the Second Law of Thermodynamics, which includes the breaking down of our body and its proper functioning.

Lord, we share our thoughts and concerns about ageing. Ageing can bring with it many anxieties. There is the fear of pain and of failing to cope with life's normal duties and routines. What if a stroke occurs and one becomes bedridden or wheelchair bound? How would one cope with the loss of freedom, mobility, and independence? What about rising medical costs; how can one afford increasingly frequent treatment? Will one become redundant, a burden to others? American governor of Colorado Richard Lamm once said, rather alarmingly, that terminally ill elderly people have a ‘duty to die and get out of the way’! Would one be discarded as a heavy burden on society?

Lord, doctors say that the last 10 years of a person's life are typically very difficult, as health fails and increasingly frequent and urgent medical attention is needed. We worry about how life will end for us. Help us to face the end of our life gracefully.

Help us to prepare for this deterioration in health. We pray like the Psalmist in Psalm 71, which is comforting for us ageing people. ‘Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone’.
 
There is an awareness that our natural strength is failing, and a fear that we may be forsaken and forgotten by you. We pray for a growing relationship with you - knowing, trusting, and obeying you. This makes the Psalm 71 prayer poignant and hopeful. ‘Since my youth, God, you have taught me’.

Lord, like Paul, we ‘groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies’. Amid our crumbling bodies, we look forward to our redemption, including that of our bodies. Thank you for this hope. Help us to learn that we must accept the present reality of declining health and failing bodies - that will lead to death.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
Picture posted by IKKA on Sunday, 04 June 2017 at 15:33:52 - There are many discoveries when you listen to His voice
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwrUEHulfY8hxXQxSJUIL797DEaG3ZPs5CwqaFKM-9SH45y-Z1Sr3Llwvg0PZVqIXXsyUwLS19GMh2I-b40f5XkjBgitcLrYKx31zReqLwF0ewGm39Ci7DAxOjfDVSR_58dUJ00oFHRvw/s648/o3851256713953025217.gif
https://stat.ameba.jp/user_images/20170604/16/ikkastra/a4/0f/j/o3851256713953025217.jpg
https://ameblo.jp/ikkastra/entry-12280722911.html
 

Reflect on Psalm 71.
Reflect on Psalm 71.
PHOTO: Reflect on Psalm 71. How do you think this psalm can encourage ageing Christians?
How can one prepare for this deterioration in health? Psalm 71 is comforting for ageing people. It echoes the feeling of growing old: "Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone" (Psalm 71:9). There is an awareness that natural strength is failing, and a fear that one may be forsaken and forgotten by God. But a growing relationship with God - knowing, trusting, and obeying God - makes this prayer poignant (evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret) and hopeful. "Since my youth, God, you have taught me" (Psalm 71:17).

The ageing person in Psalm 71 is full of hope in God. "Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up" (Psalm 71:20). God will rescue us from pain and death, and be with us in our time of need.


Learn to pray the prayer mentioned, be convinced of the hope described, and share the views of service that can be rendered in one's senior years.
Because of his hope and prayer, the ageing person is able to make the best use of the remaining years, declaring God's power to the next generation (Psalm 71:18). "All day long", he or she will be speaking of God's goodness and righteousness (Psalm 71:15, 24), even amid the pain, weakness and uncertainty of old age.

The frailties of old age may actually be a hidden blessing. In the mid-19th century, William Mountford wrote these words:

Is your eyesight dimmer? Then the world is seen by you in cathedral light. Is your hearing duller? Then it is just as though you were always where loud voices and footsteps ought not to be heard . . . Yes, for twilight and silence . . . old age makes us like daily dwellers in the house of the Lord.

Indeed, the increasing frailty an ageing person experiences may actually serve to heighten his awareness of a reality and life beyond our normal senses. An older person whose physical senses are declining, and yet displays increasing joy and contentment, would be a great encouragement to others. We will say with the psalmist, "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever" (Psalm 73:26).
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https://poster2.instacks.com/?date=2020
 
 

Dear Lord
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we learn that Psalm 71 can encourage ageing Christians and prepare us for deterioration in health.

Psalm 71 is comforting for ageing people like us. It echoes the feeling of growing old: ‘Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone’. There is an awareness that natural strength is failing, and a fear that one may be forsaken and forgotten by God.

Lord, help us to have a growing relationship with God by knowing, trusting, and obeying Him, so that this prayer will be poignant and hopeful. Especially ‘Since my youth, God, you have taught me’.

Help us to be like the ageing person in Psalm 71 who is full of hope in God. ‘Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up’.

Lord, rescue us from pain and death, and be with us in our time of need. Because of this hope and prayer, we, the ageing person will be able to make the best use of the remaining years, and declaring God's power to the next generation. ‘All day long’, we will be speaking of God's goodness and righteousness, even amid the pain, weakness and uncertainty of old age.

Please turn the frailties of our old age into a hidden blessing. We want to see the world in cathedral light, and be where loud voices and footsteps ought not to be heard. The physical presence of the world will symbolises both the glory of God and of the church. Just like daily dwellers in the house of the Lord.

May our increasing frailty may actually serve to heighten our awareness of a reality and life beyond our normal senses. With our physical senses declining, and yet displays increasing joy and contentment, would be a great encouragement to others. Younger ones will be inspired. God will be glorified.

We will say with the psalmist, ‘My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever’.

May we have the ever shining light, beauty, and emotion symbolising the glory of God.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
Picture posted by Needpix.com - "I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands." (Psalm 143:5).
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https://www.needpix.com/photo/968439/girl-flowers-basket-art-nature-abstract-watercolor-vintage-beauty
 


Chapter 25 - Pain and Suffering
Question 1 - Reflection - Health and Frailties - Pain and Suffering, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/01/reflection-health-and-frailties-pain.html [49]
 
Question 2 - Reflection - Health and Frailties - God's Presence, Promise, and People, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/01/reflection-health-and-frailties-gods.html [50]
 
 

Reflect on why pain and suffering are part of life, and especially of Christian discipleship.
PHOTO: Reflect on why pain and suffering are part of life, and especially of Christian discipleship.
When I was a youth, I came across a story of a king who welcomed his battle-weary sailors home after they had fought valiantly to defend their country. They returned in their badly battered ships and lined up to be received by their king. They stood tall, some missing an eye, other a limb, and many more bearing various injuries and bandages. With tears in his eyes, the king embraced each of them.

If a less than perfect earthly king can welcome his faithful and valiant soldiers in this deeply moving way, how much more will the perfect heavenly King welcome home His faithful saints?

In his old age, Paul had a battered body, carrying the marks of his various trials and sufferings (Galatians 6:17) that had failed to deter him from standing up for Jesus and obeying Him. In his last epistle, he wrote to Timothy, reminding him of his many suffering for Christ. In particular, he referred to what he endured in Lystra, Timothy's home town.

There Paul had been stoned by a mob and dragged outside the city; everyone thought he was dead. Paul must have lain motionless after suffering this severe, hate-filled stoning instigated by his Jewish enemies. The disciples probably gathered around the still figure of the apostle, praying for him. Amazingly, Paul (most likely bleeding wounds and all) "got up and went back into the city" (Acts 14:20). Such tenacity (determination) and endurance in the face of violence must have left a deep impression on the young Timothy, who is reminded by the ageing apostle of the "persecutions I endured" (2 Timothy 3:11).

Instead of complaining that God was "unkind" to him, Paul readily offered thanks when recollecting his many sufferings: "Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them" (2 Timothy 3:11). Paul was eager to talk about God's kindness amidst his hardships. Such was his character. Upon reflecting deeply about all the pain he had to endure, Paul had this to say: "We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope" (Romans 5:3-4). Paul was convinced that no pain or suffering comes our way without God's permission, and that in God's economy, no pain is wasted or meaningless. The sufferer is eventually the victor, who gains what cannot be gained otherwise. Christian character helps one endure suffering, and this in turn deepens Christian character.

Paul did not say much about his pain and disabilities arising from the many injuries sustained during the course of faithful ministry. Many scholars believe Paul had eye problems, and perhaps that was the thorn in the flesh he referred to in 2 Corinthians 12:7 (see also Galatians 4:13-15; 6:11). Also, tradition says that he was bow-legged and disfigured because of his injuries. But in the midst of it all, he was thankful to God because his sufferings enabled him to grow in Christlikeness. He was determined to become better, not bitter.


How has your own experience been in this area, and how do you feel about it?
As we age, we also collect many wounds and scars. These are our spiritual medals of honour, if they were received for the sake of Christ. They take the form of social or psychological suffering, giving up a lucrative career, or simply becoming chronically ill because we went to some remote area to spread the fragrance of Christ. As a result, our suffering may grow more pronounced in old age, adding to the normal aches that come with advancing years.

Why do some suffer more than others? We do not know the answers to such questions, but instead of trying to find answers, we must offer our love and understanding. Those who feel that they have been "selected" to suffer more than the rest must stop comparing themselves with others and indulging in self-pity.

The Lord Jesus, when asked by Peter about John after Jesus revealed to Peter how he would suffer, told him simply, "You must follow me" (John 21:22). Each disciple has his own path to walk, carefully chosen by the Lord with all His wisdom and love. Whether we have more pain or less, we must stay on the path and be faithful to the Lord till the end.
Picture posted by SeventhFairy on 22 September 2013 - Loves me.....Loves me not...
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https://www.deviantart.com/seventhfairy/art/Loves-me-Loves-me-not-401842586
 

Paul had been stoned by a mob and dragged outside the city; everyone thought he was dead.PHOTO: Paul had been stoned by a mob and dragged outside the city; everyone thought he was dead. Paul must have lain motionless after suffering this severe, hate-filled stoning instigated by his Jewish enemies. Amazingly, Paul (most likely bleeding wounds and all) "got up and went back into the city" (Acts 14:20).
Picture saved by Patrice Ruhmann alias Tom Rhombe to Paul in BIBLE SAINTES ECRITURES
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https://www.pinterest.cl/pin/328270260338858507/
 

Dear Lord
Dear Lord
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we learn that pain and suffering are part of life, and especially of Christian discipleship.

We came across a story of a king who welcomed his battle-weary sailors home after they had fought valiantly to defend their country. They returned in their badly battered ships and lined up to be received by their king. They stood tall, some missing an eye, other a limb, and many more bearing various injuries and bandages. With tears in his eyes, the king embraced each of them.

If a less than perfect earthly king can welcome his faithful and valiant soldiers in this deeply moving way, the perfect heavenly King will do much more to welcome home His faithful saints.

In the Bible we learn that Paul in his old age had a battered body, carrying the marks of his various trials and sufferings that had failed to deter him from standing up for Jesus and obeying Him. In his last epistle, he wrote to Timothy, reminding him of his many suffering for Christ. In particular, he referred to what he endured in Lystra, Timothy's home town.

There Paul had been stoned by a mob and dragged outside the city; everyone thought he was dead. Paul must have lain motionless after suffering this severe, hate-filled stoning instigated by his Jewish enemies. The disciples probably gathered around the still figure of the apostle, praying for him. Amazingly, Paul (most likely bleeding wounds and all) ‘got up and went back into the city’. Such tenacity and endurance in the face of violence must have left a deep impression on the young Timothy, who was reminded by the ageing apostle of the ‘persecutions he endured'.

We pray that we too would have such tenacity and endurance when met with such danger and violence.

Lord, help us to be like Paul who Instead of complaining that God was ‘unkind’ to him, Paul readily offered thanks when recollecting his many sufferings: Similarly, we too have pain and suffering throughout our live and would like to be like him, able to said that ‘yet the Lord rescued us from all of them’. We pray that we are eager to talk about God's kindness amidst our hardships. Help us upon reflecting deeply about all the pain we had to endure, be able to say: ‘We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope’.

Lord, help us to be like Paul, are convince that no pain or suffering comes our way without God's permission, and that in God's economy, no pain is wasted or meaningless. The sufferer is eventually the victor, who gains what cannot be gained otherwise. We pray that our Christian character help us to endure suffering, and this in turn deepens our Christian character.

Help us in the midst of it all, to be thankful to God because our sufferings enabled us to grow in Christlikeness. Help us to be determined to become better, not bitter.

We learn that as we age, we also collect many wounds and scars. These are our spiritual medals of honour, if they were received for the sake of Christ. They take the form of social or psychological suffering, giving up a lucrative career, or simply becoming chronically ill because we went to some remote area to spread the fragrance of Christ. As a result, our suffering may grow more pronounced in old age, adding to the normal aches that come with advancing years.

Some suffer more than others, which we do not know why. Lord, help us instead of trying to find answers, we must offer our love and understanding. Help us who feel that we have been ‘selected’ to suffer more than the rest to stop comparing ourselves with others and indulging in self-pity.

Every disciple has his own path to walk, carefully chosen by the Lord with all His wisdom and love. Help us, whether we have more pain or less, we must stay on the path and be faithful to the Lord till the end.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
Picture posted by Joy-Kelberwitz on 11 July 2010 - Feel the Rain
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https://www.deviantart.com/joy-kelberwitz/art/Feel-the-Rain-170788730
 

Review the three bullet points: God's presence, promise, and people.
PHOTO: Review the three bullet points: God's presence, promise, and people. How do these help when one is facing growing pain and suffering?
As pain, disability, and suffering increase, it is possible to grow disheartened, and even doubt whether God sill cares for us. If and when this happens, it is important to recognise some truths, besides seeking medical help for our conditions:
  • We must remember how good God has been to us in the past, and that He will never leave nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5). Remember His promise that He is working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).
  • Remember that for the Christian, though the going may get more painful by the day, ultimately, there will be a quantum leap into a far better and more glorious day. Paul expressed it in these words: "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18). Such a view of the distant end (no more tears, suffering, and pain; Revelation 21:4) help us bear with present suffering.
  • We need community to help us. It has been said that a burden shared is a burden halved. Getting together with other ageing saints, who may all be hurting in some way, can be mutually encouraging. We spur one another to persevere and be resilient.

Think of how you and your church can help seniors in this situation.
Those in the larger community (as the one in the local church) can minister to seniors who may need help - praying with them, bringing them to clinics, running errands for them, and just talking to them.
Picture posted by paintedflowers on 03 March 2008
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https://www.deviantart.com/paintedflowers/art/Freyja-78960243
 

We need community to help us. It has been said that a burden shared is a burden halved.
PHOTO: We need community to help us. It has been said that a burden shared is a burden halved. Getting together with other ageing saints, who may all be hurting in some way, can be mutually encouraging. We spur one another to persevere and be resilient.
Picture posted bu Artstation
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kKAV7G8RaiFt92p_WmNtTSbCSnOI-O7JT-dc7iR_AK3XFAMwG8kdB9ixeFj2ytfD74fR6MHlBgnAAvGjZhxZ6m53pw1lYqmJv6c8EIzWh-rYkMuWTTNexW13wNUhmNaar4TrjP6PUjA/s1500/paperblue-net-forest-shack-bl.jpg
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https://www.artstation.com/artwork/8AbaQ
 

Dear Lord
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, as pain, disability, and suffering increase, it is possible to grow disheartened, and even doubt whether God sill cares for us. If and when this happens, help us to recognise some truths, besides seeking medical help for our conditions:

Help us to remember how good God has been to us in the past, and that He will never leave nor forsake us. Help us to remember His promise that He is working all things together for our good.

Encourage us by remembering that for the Christian, though the going may get more painful by the day, ultimately, there will be a quantum leap into a far better and more glorious day. Paul expressed it in these words: ‘I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us’. Such a view of the distant end (no more tears, suffering, and pain) help us bear with present suffering.

Lord, we need community to help us. It has been said that a burden shared is a burden halved. Getting together with other ageing saints, who may all be hurting in some way, can be mutually encouraging. We spur one another to persevere and be resilient.

Help us to think of how we and our church can help seniors in this painful and suffering situation. We pray that those in the larger community (as the one in the local church) can minister to seniors who may need help - praying with them, bringing them to clinics, running errands for them, and just talking to them.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
Picture saved by Kimberly Faith to Christian Purpose
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https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/712905815989770813/
 
 

Chapter 26 - Overcoming the Fear of Death
Question 1 - Reflection - Health and Frailties - The Fear of Death, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/01/reflection-health-and-frailties-fear-of.html [51]

Question 2 - Reflection - Health and Frailties - Overcoming the Fear of Death, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/01/reflection-health-and-frailties.html [52]
 
 

Why do you think the Bible says that many are held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death (Hebrews 2:15)?
PHOTO: Why do you think the Bible says that many are held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death (Hebrews 2:15)?
What does the Bible say about the fear of death? The Bible brings together two important realities in our lives - sin and death. When God created the first couple, Adam and Eve, and placed them in the Garden of Eden, He told them that they were free to eat from all the trees, except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  God had given them free will to trust and obey Him, but tragically they used it to disobey. They sinned when they ate the forbidden fruit. It was not because they were ignorant. The real problem was that they were disobedient. They chose to believe Satan's lie that they could live apart from God, that they did not need Him and could be the masters of their own destinies.

God had earlier warned them that if they disobeyed Him, they would certainly die (Genesis 2:17). This is reiterated in another part of the Bible, where we read that "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). This ancient connection that God made between sin and death is deeply embedded in our human memory. We may not understand it intellectually or may even claim not to believe it, but the emotional effects of sensing that connection come to us quite naturally. We carry in our hearts the fear of death because we know that we are sinners, whether we acknowledge it or not. What God warned Adam and Eve about continues to echo in the deep recesses of our souls. People are afraid of dying.

We try to cover up this fear of death by filling our lives with earthly achievements or fleeting entertainment. Sometimes, the nagging fear resurfaces - when we are alone of feeling sad. Then, we plunge ourselves again into mindless activities to drown out the deeply buried fear of death, sweeping it under the carpet of busyness.

But this fear of death stays with us, no matter what distractions we try. The Bible describes people "who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death" (Hebrews 2:15). It stays with people all their lives - unless they discover the real solution.


What do you think are reasons people fear death and dying?
Why do people fear death? It is quite natural. This fear can range from philosophical anxieties about not existing any more to more practical fears about how one would die - perhaps alone in a hospital bed, hooked up to machines and fighting for every breath, or in an aeroplane plunging helplessly towards the sea. Or, the fear could be focused on what would happen after death. Is there such a thing as judgment? Do I have to stand before God? How would I fare? Is there a place called hell for those who do not make it to heaven?


What are your own fears in this regard?
Fears that one is unprepared for death and what lies beyond can also make things worse. Perhaps this fear is expressed in a common dream people have - one is facing an exam or other important task, but is totally unprepared; you have lost your clothes, or your study notes. This kind of dream is probably created by the brain to express the deep fear of being unprepared for death.

"We die alone, one at a time." Perhaps that is one reason why people fear death. To travel alone through the unknown can be a frightening prospect. How will you manage what you find on the other side? But when we have Jesus with us, we are not really alone. We have the One who really matters because He is the One who has been through it before, and has come out victorious. He is the perfect guide and companion through death. We need not fear when we have Him by our side.
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God had earlier warned them that if they disobeyed Him, they would certainly die (Genesis 2:17).PHOTO: God had earlier warned them that if they disobeyed Him, they would certainly die (Genesis 2:17). This is reiterated in another part of the Bible, where we read that "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). This ancient connection that God made between sin and death is deeply embedded in our human memory. People are afraid of dying.
Picture saved by baerje to Adam and Eve
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHY9894ap47dgB7t9hpHUrTn3mnL3x0y1NzUat1bWHcE0hPM8QsQpgHPct4cL_I8lBHGPj2vN8FsEKxeMOwQ9AzymUd-ID_B7kTQThulyXx3BuxGoNwKpoVUremQa8lExJhTpSouQR3vQ/s1000/ee2dca46db57424b75f47a8d92a976a1.jpg
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Dear Lord
Dear Lord
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, the Bible brings together two important realities in our lives - sin and death. When God created the first couple, Adam and Eve, and placed them in the Garden of Eden, He told them that they were free to eat from all the trees, except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  God had given them free will to trust and obey Him, but tragically they used it to disobey. They sinned when they ate the forbidden fruit. It was not because they were ignorant. The real problem was that they were disobedient. They chose to believe Satan's lie that they could live apart from God, that they did not need Him and could be the masters of their own destinies.

God had earlier warned them that if they disobeyed Him, they would certainly die. In in another part of the Bible, where we read that ‘the wages of sin is death’. This ancient connection that God made between sin and death is deeply embedded in our human memory. We may not understand it intellectually or may even claim not to believe it, but the emotional effects of sensing that connection come to us quite naturally. We carry in our hearts the fear of death because we know that we are sinners, whether we acknowledge it or not. What God warned Adam and Eve about continues to echo in the deep recesses of our souls. People are afraid of dying.

Lord, we tried in vain to cover up this fear of death by filling our lives with earthly achievements or fleeting entertainment. Sometimes, the nagging fear resurfaces - when we are alone of feeling sad. Then, we plunge ourselves again into mindless activities to drown out the deeply buried fear of death, sweeping it under the carpet of busyness.

We pray for your help because this fear of death stays with us, no matter what distractions we try. The Bible describes people ‘who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death’. It stays with us all our lives - unless we discover the real solution.

Lord, It is already quite natural that we fear death. This fear can range from philosophical anxieties about not existing any more to more practical fears about how one would die - perhaps alone in a hospital bed, hooked up to machines and fighting for every breath, or in an aeroplane plunging helplessly towards the sea. Or, the fear could be focused on what would happen after death. Is there such a thing as judgment? Do I have to stand before God? How would I fare? Is there a place called hell for those who do not make it to heaven?

We pray for help for the fear that one is unprepared for death and what lies beyond, which can also make things worse. Please help us to overcome the frightening dream which is probably created by the brain to express the deep fear of being unprepared for death.

Lord, help us to overcome the fear of having to die alone, one at a time. Because to travel alone through the unknown can be a frightening prospect. We may be unable to manage what we find on the other side.

We pray that we have Jesus with us, so that we are not really alone. Then we can have the One who really matters because He is the One who has been through it before, and has come out victorious. He is the perfect guide and companion through death. We need not fear when we have Him by our side.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
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https://www.dreamstime.com/cross-sky-light-rays-pigeon-pigeon-over-cross-cloudy-sky-background-light-rays-image177009445
 

How can we be freed from the fear of death?PHOTO: How can we be freed from the fear of death?
How then does one cope with this lingering fear of death? There are numerous suggestions offered by websites and gurus, and most of them involve keeping thoughts of death out of sight and out of mind. But is this a wise thing to do, knowing that death is inevitable, and that it is important to think about it and be prepared for it? To keep it out of our minds is to engage in a form of escapism, which not only distracts us from reality, but also distorts our perspective of things. Only those who know how to die well will know how to live well. To deny the reality of death is to deny the inevitable truth. Yet many people choose to do so.


What truths and experiences are most helpful?
What is the real solution? The real solution to our fear of death is Jesus Christ. There are two main reasons for this: Firstly, Jesus died for us. What did Jesus accomplish when He died in our place on the cross? He removed in our lives the curse that was associated with sin and death. By accepting the consequences of our sins on himself, He has removed the sting of death so that we need not feel terrorised or paralysed by it.

Secondly, Jesus rose from the dead. The fact that Jesus rose form the dead means that we do not have to fear death. Jesus has broken the curse of sin and transformed death; it is no longer a heavy tombstone sealed shut but a glorious doorway to eternal life. In the words of poet T. S. Eliot, "In my end is my beginning."


How would you minister to your elderly friends who are afraid of dying?
Jesus is our Companion. Those who entrust themselves to Him will enjoy His presence. He will become a lifelong and eternal Companion who will walk with us, even through death. "The later years take us into the heart of the central Christian paradox of death/resurrection" and the discovery of God's "winter grace".

Because Jesus has tasted death and returned from it, He is able to accompany us when our turn comes. We observe this precious truth when we read the well-known Psalm 23. The psalmist begins by telling his audience various things about God - how the Lord is his shepherd, who feeds his soul and helps him to walk in righteous paths. Then, when he comes to the "valley of the shadow of death" (Psalm 23:4, footnote), the grammar changes. Instead of speaking about God, he speaks to God: "I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4). The psalmist's audience is gone. Only the Lord Jesus remains with us in the shadow of death.

"We die alone, one at a time." Perhaps that is one reason why people fear death. To travel alone through the unknown can be a frightening prospect. How will you manage what you find on the other side? But when we have Jesus with us, we are not really alone. We have the One who really matters because He is the One who has been through it before, and has come out victorious. He is the perfect guide and companion through death. We need not fear when we have Him by our side.
Picture posted by AspiringImagery on 16 September 2015 - Sense of Stillness
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https://www.deviantart.com/aspiringimagery/art/Sense-of-Stillness-560603928
 

There are numerous suggestions offered by websites and gurus, and most of them involve keeping thoughts of death out of sight and out of mind.
PHOTO: There are numerous suggestions offered by websites and gurus, and most of them involve keeping thoughts of death out of sight and out of mind. But is this a wise thing to do, knowing that death is inevitable, and that it is important to think about it and be prepared for it? To deny the reality of death is to deny the inevitable truth.
Picture posted by CorneliaGillmann on 22 August 2015
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https://www.deviantart.com/corneliagillmann/art/Overgrown-Earthlings-556341678
 

Dear Lord
Dear Lord
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we learn that there are numerous suggestions offered by websites and gurus, and most of them involve keeping thoughts of death out of sight and out of mind. But this is not a wise thing to do, knowing that death is inevitable, and that it is important to think about it and be prepared for it.

Lord, help us not to keep it out of our minds because it is to engage in a form of escapism, which not only distracts us from reality, but also distorts our perspective of things. Only those who know how to die well will know how to live well. To deny the reality of death is to deny the inevitable truth.

We pray for your help to realise that the real solution to our fear of death is Jesus Christ. Firstly, Jesus died for us. He removed in our lives the curse that was associated with sin and death. By accepting the consequences of our sins on himself, He has removed the sting of death so that we need not feel terrorised or paralysed by it.

Secondly, Jesus rose from the dead. The fact that Jesus rose form the dead means that we do not have to fear death. Jesus has broken the curse of sin and transformed death; it is no longer a heavy tombstone sealed shut but a glorious doorway to eternal life. ‘In my end is my beginning.’

Lord, help us to minister to our elderly friends who are afraid of dying, by letting them know that Jesus is our Companion. Those who entrust themselves to Him will enjoy His presence. He will become a lifelong and eternal Companion who will walk with us, even through death. ‘The later years take us into the heart of the central Christian paradox of death/resurrection’ and the discovery of God's ‘winter grace’.

Lord, because Jesus has tasted death and returned from it, He is able to accompany us when our turn comes. Help us to be able to follow the psalmist when we comes to the ‘valley of the shadow of death’ and able to speak to God: ‘I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me". Let the Lord Jesus remains with us in the shadow of death.

Lord, help us to overcome the fear of having to die alone, one at a time. Because to travel alone through the unknown can be a frightening prospect. We may be unable to manage what we find on the other side.

We pray that we have Jesus with us, so that we are not really alone. Then we can have the One who really matters because He is the One who has been through it before, and has come out victorious. He is the perfect guide and companion through death. We need not fear when we have Him by our side.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
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Chapter 27 - Bereavement and Loneliness
Question 1 - Reflection - Health and Frailties - Bereavement and Loneliness, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/01/reflection-health-and-frailties_24.html [53]

Question 2 - Reflection - Health nd Frailties - Struggling with Loneliness, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/01/reflection-health-and-frailties_26.html [54]
 
 

Psalm 146:9 says that God 'sustains the fatherless and the widow'.
PHOTO: Psalm 146:9 says that God "sustains the fatherless and the widow". Why does the Bible pay particular attention to the needs of the bereaved (Deuteronomy 14:29; Isaiah 1:17, 23; Acts 6:1; James 1:27)?
The Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale measures the stress an individual is facing. Topping the list of life stresses is the loss of a spouse (100 points). It often comes as a devastating blow, especially when the relationship has been close. It's even worse when the couple have been living in an "empty nest" - there is suddenly an overwhelming sense of loneliness and helplessness.

Old age brings with it potential bereavement; it is something we cannot avoid, unless we are the spouse who die first. It has been noted that husbands usually die earlier than their wives; there are more widows than widowers. It has also been noted that the surviving spouse may die soon after.

The grieving process that people go through when a loved one dies has been studied extensively. Typically, five stages are described as comprising the grieving process; these are the same in any experience of loss.

  • Stage 1: Denial. The person uses a psychological defence mechanism to deny that the loved one has died. She is shocked, numbs her feelings, and speaks of the spouse in the present tense, as if he is still around.
  • Stage 2: Anger. The truth can hit hard when the bereaved person finally faces reality. There may be a sense of frustration and helplessness. Feeling of anger may be directed at doctors ("Why did they not catch it earlier?"), circumstances ("Why did it have to be us?"), God ("Why did you let this happen?"), or the departed ("Why did you leave me so soon?").
  • Stage 3: Bargaining. At this stage, the bereaved person lives in a "What if" and "If only" phase, going through what could have been done or how things could have turned out differently. Feeling of guilt may dominate.
  • Stage 4: Depression. This is a phase of coming to terms with the painful reality that the loved one has died, and one is now alone. A sense of loneliness and self-pity can make the depression more painful to bear. Symptoms may include trouble sleeping, frequent weeping, loss of appetite and energy, and staying away from others.
  • Stage 5: Acceptance. The bereaved person comes to accept the new reality, makes necessary adjustments, feels more at peace, and moves forward emotionally and practically in the everyday details of life. Healing takes place.

Sometimes a person may return to earlier stages as part of the healing process, or they may get stuck at a certain stage and find it difficult to move on. It is good to remember that the Lord wept when his friend Lazarus died (John 11:35). He understands what it means to suffer loss and grief, and he "heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds" (Psalm 147:3).

One of the major struggles faced in old age is loneliness, which often becomes more acute with the loss of a spouse, close relative, or friend. Loneliness can be a very painful experience that leads to social isolation and depression. It may result in the loss of a healthy self-regard.

Ultimately, God is with us. We may be alone, but we need not be lonely, because if we are walking with Christ, He is always with us and will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).


How can the church minister to those suffering from bereavement?
The congregational community of a grieving family has a number of opportunities to make a difference:

Be present.  Ways of being present at the time of crisis include being part of the rescue team, bringing meals, starting a prayer chain, caring for the well and surviving child, meeting financial needs for hospital and funeral costs, sitting in the emergency room and the intensive care waiting room. Keep being present a year after the death and ten and twenty years after the death.

Listen to the story as many times as the bereaved need to tell it.  The key to being helpful is hearing the story every time as though it were the first.  Those in crisis and those who have lost someone important to them have to find a way to make sense of the experience.  Telling it to a good listener is the most effective intervention.

Be honest.  Provide information that is accurate and simple and in small increments.  It is not necessary to tell all truth at once.  Persons in crisis need time to absorb the realities of death and loss.

Never take away hope.  Persons in crisis deal with reality as they are ready.  Being honest does not mean communicating hopelessness.  Allow people to reframe their hope as they are ready.  A mother once expressed hope that she would be healed, then that she wouldn’t hurt, and finally that her children would be cared for after she was gone.  She was never without hope.  The content and focus of her hope changed over time, however.

Be available over time.  The process of grief takes years.  The entire first year after a loss is one loss after another.  Mark your calendar and send a note or call on special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and the anniversary of the death.  Remember that the bereaved will be thinking about when their child would have graduated from high school, will mourn the secondary losses of the grandchildren they will never have, and will continue to deal with the loss over time.

Don’t box people into artificial stages or categories.  Normalize the grief experience with language of feelings and permission to feel those feelings. Don’t tell persons what they must do or must not do.  Each person must find the expressions of grief that are helpful to them and those that are not.

Provide spiritual support by allowing persons to live the questions.  God can handle expressions of anger or questions.  Let the bereaved’s belief system guide discussions about life after death, the sources of hope for the future.  Be the presence of God when the bereaved cannot see or feel God.

Speak the name of the deceased.  It is helpful to provide rituals of remembering and memorials that honour the deceased.  A great fear of the bereaved is that their loved one will not be remembered.  Ask how the bereaved can be remembered for years after the loss.

Remember that persons who are grieving are not locked in time.  They age, grow, change, and enter new life stages as well.  Allow the normative changes of life without judgment.  A bereaved husband may, with time, marry again.  A dying teenager once shared with me his prayer that his parents would have another child soon, not to replace him, but because they were such incredible parents.  As the bereaved begin new stages of their lives, they will continue to remember the relationship that was lost.

Offer readings on grief to the bereaved. Understanding that their ability to accept them and timing will vary from person to person.

Trust your own intuitive awareness.  What you say is less important than that you are there.  Take care of yourself so that you can care for others.  Model self-care.


In an era of families often stretched across great geographic distances, and congregations are in a unique position to offer to those who are isolated by grief or distance or both. The love and nurturing that is naturally part of the spiritual family experience are the foundational pieces of churches reaching out to those who are grieving.
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Never take away hope.PHOTO: Never take away hope.
Persons in crisis deal with reality as they are ready.  Being honest does not mean communicating hopelessness.  Allow people to reframe their hope as they are ready.  A mother once expressed hope that she would be healed, then that she wouldn’t hurt, and finally that her children would be cared for after she was gone.  She was never without hope.
picture posted by J. Halil Jebran
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFVtW0tuqw5YQOx7PdhEoqgPSJt16DZoyJ5ZfM7MrdRqaZKgL4C6x-YOD6KkZXmEJjbKZfX95qArzIJX2zk2LPLKnYyDH4mUXYD4IyqJeR6CIroZfDfX7oc6fXUL2L2v0DNx1mv9C8Xg/s960/10400740_10204155256160720_4724372530745950338_n.jpg
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https://biwastudio.wordpress.com/2015/12/26/ჯ-ჰალილ-ჯებრანი/
 

Dear Lord
Dear Lord
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, the Bible pay particular attention to the needs of the bereaved, and especially ‘sustains the fatherless and the widow’. The loss of a spouse is 100% stressful. It often comes as a devastating blow, especially when the relationship has been close. It's even worse when the couple have been living in an ‘empty nest’ - there is suddenly an overwhelming sense of loneliness and helplessness.

Lord, we learn that old age brings with it potential bereavement; it is something we cannot avoid, unless we are the spouse who die first. It has been noted that husbands usually die earlier than their wives; there are more widows than widowers. It has also been noted that the surviving spouse may die soon after.

The grieving process that people go through when a loved one dies has been studied extensively. The five stages are described as comprising the grieving process; these are the same in any experience of loss.
Stage 1: Denial.
Stage 2: Anger.
Stage 3: Bargaining.
Stage 4: Depression.
Stage 5: Acceptance.

Lord, sometimes a person may return to earlier stages as part of the healing process, or they may get stuck at a certain stage and find it difficult to move on. We are comforted that you understand what it means to suffer loss and grief, and will ‘heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds’. It is good to remember that the Lord wept when his friend Lazarus died.

We believe that another reason why the Bible pay particular attention to the needs of the bereaved is because old age faces loneliness, which often becomes more acute with the loss of a spouse, close relative, or friend. Loneliness can be a very painful experience that leads to social isolation and depression. It may result in the loss of a healthy self-regard.

Thank you for being with us. We may be alone, but we need not be lonely, because if we are walking with Christ, He is always with us and will never leave us nor forsake us.

Lord, we learn that the church can minister to those suffering from bereavement in the following ways.
1. Be present.
2. Listen to the story as many times as the bereaved need to tell it.
3. Be honest.
4. Never take away hope.
5. Be available over time.
6. Don’t box people into artificial stages or categories.
7. Provide spiritual support.
8. Speak the name of the deceased.
9. Remember that persons who are grieving are not locked in time.
10. Offer readings on grief to the bereaved.
11. Model self-care.

Lord, it is comforting to know that we are now in an era where families often stretched across great geographic distances, and congregations are in a unique position to offer to those who are isolated by grief or distance or both. Their love and nurturing are the foundational pieces of churches reaching out to those who are grieving.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
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Read Romans 8:31-39. How does this passage help one who is struggling with loneliness?PHOTO: Read Romans 8:31-39. How does this passage help one who is struggling with loneliness?
In the face of things like the brokenness of creation, struggles with our physical bodies, ongoing battle with sin and opposition from the world we can be tempted to doubt God’s goodness and his work to secure our salvation and belonging into his family. If we find ourselves facing such a temptation we need look no further than Romans 8:31-39.

Romans 8:31-39 teaches us that there are many things that are real and practical enemies to our faith. These enemies include both the physical and spiritual world. Yet notice that ultimately no one can stand in God’s way. Who is against us? We have security because of God’s generous love in how he gave the ultimate gift, his son. Who shall bring a charge against the elect? We do not need to fear a charge being brought against those in Christ because God has justified (made righteous) those in Jesus. So those charges that come from our sin nature and the enemy that ring in our ear are actually hollow accusations. Who is to condemn? At this very moment, follower of Jesus, Christ is raised and at the right hand of God interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of God? Suffering in this world is not proof that God has abandoned us, suffering is to be expected and God is with his people in it. God has rendered each and every enemy powerless and he is steadfast in his love for his people.

Paul finally shares with us his personal confidence in all these things saying in Romans 8:38 “For I am sure”. He is absolutely confident that our union with Christ and security is never in question. Death nor life, angels nor rules, things present nor things to come, nor powers, height nor depth… and just in case we think he forgot something Paul adds in “nothing else in all creation”. Nothing and no one can separate the people of God from his steadfast lost in Christ Jesus.

Main idea: If we are tempted to look to our circumstances and situations as a measure of God’s love then we will struggle to feel assurance. What God offers us instead is to look to the work he has done in Christ. The believers' confidence can be found in the generous, steadfast and overwhelming love of God in Christ Jesus.

Scripture is supernatural and can help anyone who feels lonely, including lonely singles, lonely married couples and those who are experiencing loneliness and depression. As the foundation, God’s Word reminds us that, despite our loneliness telling us that we are alone, as His beloved children, we are never alone. The following verse is a good place to start:

- For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).


What would a ministry to the lonely look like?
Even the apostle Paul felt lonely - when he was immobilised in prision and cut off from his regular social ties. He complained that "no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me" (2 Timothy 4:16; see also 2 Timothy 1:15). Some of his friends had been lured by the distractions of the world or deterred by the danger of associating with him (since he was a political prisoner); others had gone on to do the Lord's work. "Only Luke is with me" wrote Paul (2 Timothy 4:11). He therefore urged Timothy to visit him quickly and to bring along Mark (2 Timothy 4:9, 11).

We may also remember the Old Testament prophet Elijah who, in a moment of exhaustion, loneliness and depression, lamented to God, "I am the only one left" (1 King 19:14). But God revealed to him that he had reserved seven thousand brave and faithful people like Elijah, and that he was not alone (1 King 19:18).

What can a bereaved or lonely person do to find relief and help? He can consider several suggestions:
  • Be honest with yourself about your thoughts and feelings.
  • Share with someone close what you are going through. If you find it difficult to open up to another person, try expressing your feelings by writing them down in a journal.
  • Find a group you can be part of. For the bereaved, getting together with others who have also experienced bereavement can be immensely helpful.
  • If you are struggling with loneliness, try connecting with others. Some local churches organise day activities for seniors.
  • Volunteer your services and get involved with those in need. Reaching out to others with compassion is itself a healing, strengthening, and deeply satisfying experience.
  • Give yourself time; healing often takes time.
  • Above all, turn to God for company and strength.

Ultimately, God is with us. We may be alone, but we need not ever be lonely, because if we are walking with Christ, He is always with us and will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).


Is there someone you can reach out with God's love?
  • Those who are in wheelchairs and need help to go up a steep slope.
  • Those who get caught in a heavy rainfall and does not have shelter.
  • Those who need a listening ear while exercising along the Park Connector Network (PCN).
  • Those who are unable to walk normally while alone the PCN.
  • Those who need companionship while walking alone the PCN.
  • Those who are out alone the PCN with lamp-posts' light off, during pre-dawn.
  • Those who need to be vaccinated but have fear in Covid-19 vaccination.
Picture posted by Consuelo-Parra on 30 January 2018
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Romans 8:31-39 teaches us that there are many things that are real and practical enemies to our faith.PHOTO: Romans 8:31-39 teaches us that there are many things that are real and practical enemies to our faith. These enemies include both the physical and spiritual world. Ultimately no one can stand in God’s way. We have security because of God’s generous love in how he gave the ultimate gift, his son. We do not need to fear a charge being brought against those in Christ because God has justified (made righteous) those in Jesus. So those charges that come from our sin nature and the enemy that ring in our ear are actually hollow accusations. At this very moment, follower of Jesus, Christ is raised and at the right hand of God interceding for us. Suffering in this world is not proof that God has abandoned us, suffering is to be expected and God is with his people in it. God has rendered each and every enemy powerless and he is steadfast in his love for his people.
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Dear Lord,
Dear Lord,
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we learn that in the face of things like the brokenness of creation, struggles with our physical bodies, ongoing battle with sin and opposition from the world we can be tempted to doubt God’s goodness and his work to secure our salvation and belonging into his family.

Romans 8:31-39 teaches us that there are many things that are real and practical enemies to our faith. These enemies include both the physical and spiritual world. We notice that ultimately no one can stand in God’s way. We have security because of God’s generous love in how he gave the ultimate gift, his son. We do not need to fear a charge being brought against those in Christ because God has justified (made righteous) those in Jesus. So those charges that come from our sin nature and the enemy that ring in our ear are actually hollow accusations.

At this very moment, follower of Jesus, Christ is raised and at the right hand of God interceding for us. Suffering in this world is not proof that God has abandoned us, suffering is to be expected and God is with his people in it. God has rendered each and every enemy powerless and he is steadfast in his love for his people.

Thank you, Lord, as we learn from Paul that our union with Christ and security is never in question. Death nor life, angels nor rules, things present nor things to come, nor powers, height nor depth… and just in case we think he forgot something Paul adds in ‘nothing else in all creation’. Nothing and no one can separate the people of God from his steadfast lost in Christ Jesus.

Lord, we learn that if we are tempted to look to our circumstances and situations as a measure of God’s love then we will struggle to feel assurance. What God offers us instead is to look to the work he has done in Christ. The believers' confidence can be found in the generous, steadfast and overwhelming love of God in Christ Jesus.

Thank you for providing us with Scripture that is supernatural and can help anyone who feels lonely, including lonely singles, lonely married couples and those who are experiencing loneliness and depression. As the foundation, God’s Word reminds us that, despite our loneliness telling us that we are alone, as His beloved children, we are never alone. The following verse confirmed this.

‘For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (Romans 8:38-39).

Lord, thank you for providing a bereaved or lonely person find relief and help by the following:
  • Be honest with ourselves about our thoughts and feelings.
  • Share with someone close what we are going through. If we find it difficult to open up to another person, try expressing our feelings by writing them down in a journal.
  • Find a group we can be part of. For the bereaved, getting together with others who have also experienced bereavement can be immensely helpful.
  • If we are struggling with loneliness, try connecting with others. Some local churches organise day activities for seniors.
  • Volunteer our services and get involved with those in need. Reaching out to others with compassion is itself a healing, strengthening, and deeply satisfying experience.
  • Give ourself time; healing often takes time.
  • Above all, turn to God for company and strength.

Ultimately, God is with us. We may be alone, but we need not ever be lonely, because if we are walking with Christ, He is always with us and will never leave us nor forsake us.

We pray for your help to reach out to that someone with God’s love, especially:
  • Those who are in wheelchairs and need help to go up a steep slope.
  • Those who get caught in a heavy rainfall and does not have shelter.
  • Those who need a listening ear while exercising along the Park Connector Network (PCN).
  • Those who are unable to walk normally while alone the PCN
  • Those who need companionship while walking alone the PCN
  • Those who are out alone the PCN with lamp-posts' light off, during pre-dawn.
  • Those who need to be vaccinated but have fear in Covid-19 vaccination.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
Photograph by Jose Mauricio Vargas Mercado uploaded on 24 July 2016
Picture posted by pixels - Crying to the Moon, the world's cruelty and sadness
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Chapter 28 - Dealing with Depression
Question 1 - Reflection - Health and Frailties - Dealing with Depression, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/02/reflection-health-and-frailties-dealing.html [55]

Question 2 - Reflection - Health and Frailties - Turn to Christ for help with Depression, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/02/reflection-health-and-frailties-turn-to.html [56]
 
 

Reflect on the causes connected with depression and assess whether you have a problem with the condition.
PHOTO: Reflect on the causes connected with depression and assess whether you have a problem with the condition.
There are many possible causes of depression. Christian psychologist Archibald Hart describes four types of depression: psychotic, endogenous, neurotic, and reactive.

Psychotic depression is a very serious mental illness, requiring medical treatment, often long-term. Endogenous depression is connected with an imbalance in brain chemistry and is treated with medication that sets right the imbalances. I once counselled a pastor who suffered severe depression and referred him for medical treatment. After a few weeks, he recovered remarkably and told me he had changed his sceptical view of medical treatment for depression. Neurotic depression is connected with personality issues that trigger learned psychological reactions. In stress or anxiety, such a person can become depressed as a way of coping or reacting. Treatment includes counselling and therapy with appropriate medication. Reactive depression is the result of one's personal and social circumstances. Most of us become sad or depressed when things go wrong, when we are disappointed or face failure. When the stressful circumstance is removed, the depression lifts. For example, a person waiting for laboratory tests to confirm if he is suffering from a serious medical condition will become and remain depressed. But when informed that the lab results are normal and there is nothing to worry about, he quickly returns to his old self. Reactive depression is also helped by counselling.

But there is also a kind of depression that can best be termed "spiritual depression". This may be due to the devil's attacks on one's thoughts and moods. It could also be due to spiritual apathy and disobedience. The solution, by definition, has to be spiritual.

Old age brings with it a higher risk of depression. Declining health, bereavement, loneliness, financial concerns, impending death, and regrets may all come together to bring about depression. The senior may feel a loss of energy, appetite, and interest in people and events. Insomnia, negative thoughts and attitudes, and problems remembering and paying attention may make things worse. Also, feeling of helplessness, worthlessness, and hopelessness may break a person down.

For me, such old age feeling of helplessness, worthlessness, and hopelessness may creep in once in a while, but lasted temporary. There are many other life events to effectively replace them, and I 'quickly return to my old self'. My other concerns like declining health and financial problems need to be addressed in the not too far future - a kind of reactive depression I believe most elderly would have. Especially those who are branded under the 'UFO' category. Being Ugly, Fat, and Old may normally means no job at the remaining years. For those who are still single, it too, adds extra embarrassment when meeting peers who are already successful grandparents. Remaining 'faceless' is the better option, to minimise the painful failure to perform in life. To the world, we are effectively rotten and cheap, kept wasting away in the shelf. It will just be a matter of time before becoming a fading memory, to nobody's regret.
 

If so, what help have you sought and what more can you do?
Some may feel depressed and socially marginalised with advancing years. Anglican priest Michael Butler and psychotherapist Ann Orbach describe what it's like:
"Getting old may feel like acting in a play where the rest of the cast is new and most of the props have changed. There is something familiar about the plot, but we have smaller parts to play, with a lot of time waiting in the wings before making a final bow. For many people, the worst fear is to be 'unwept, unhonoured and unsung', but serenity comes through managing not to mind."

The psalmist asks himself, "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?" (Psalm 42:11). He answers his own question with what he has learned about God - that God is trustworthy and full of love for us. He therefore tells himself, "Put your hope in God" (Psalm 42:11).

We may get depressed when we look at ourselves and our circumstances, but when we lift our eyes and thoughts to God, we will see another perspective and receive comfort, courage, and strength. The "twilight time", writes Joan Chittister, "has its own tasks, its burdens, its subtle gifts to give us."

Besides seeking medical help, confiding in others or joining a support group, and taking common sense measures like having good meals and adequate exercise, we must turn ultimately to Christ, who gives us peace.
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Besides seeking medical help, confiding in others or joining a support group, and taking common sense measures like having good meals and adequate exercise, we must turn ultimately to Christ, who gives us peace.
Besides seeking medical help, confiding in others or joining a support group, and taking common sense measures like having good meals and adequate exercise, we must turn ultimately to Christ, who gives us peace.
PHOTO: Besides seeking medical help, confiding in others or joining a support group, and taking common sense measures like having good meals and adequate exercise, we must turn ultimately to Christ, who gives us peace.
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Dear LordPHOTO: "Dear Lord, we learn that there are many possible causes of depression. Christian psychologist Archibald Hart describes four types of depression: psychotic, endogenous, neurotic, and reactive.

Psychotic depression is a very serious mental illness, requiring medical treatment, often long-term.
Endogenous depression is connected with an imbalance in brain chemistry and is treated with medication that sets right the imbalances.

Neurotic depression is connected with personality issues that trigger learned psychological reactions. In stress or anxiety, such a person can become depressed as a way of coping or reacting. Treatment includes counselling and therapy with appropriate medication.

Reactive depression is the result of one's personal and social circumstances. Most of us become sad or depressed when things go wrong, when we are disappointed or face failure. When the stressful circumstance is removed, the depression lifts.

But there is also a kind of depression that can best be termed ‘spiritual depression’. This may be due to the devil's attacks on one's thoughts and moods. It could also be due to spiritual apathy and disobedience. The solution, by definition, has to be spiritual.

Lord help us, especially the old age because it brings with it a higher risk of depression. Declining health, bereavement, loneliness, financial concerns, impending death, and regrets may all come together to bring about depression. The senior may feel a loss of energy, appetite, and interest in people and events. Insomnia, negative thoughts and attitudes, and problems remembering and paying attention may make things worse. Also, feeling of helplessness, worthlessness, and hopelessness may break a person down.

I pray for your help to overcome my feeling of helplessness, worthlessness, and hopelessness, which may creep in once in a while, but lasted temporary. Lord, I pray also for help with other concerns like declining health and financial problems which need to be addressed. It is a kind of reactive depression I believe most elderly would have. We pray that we can manage not to mind that it will just be a matter of time before becoming a fading memory, to nobody's regret.

Lord, give us the serenity that comes through managing not to mind our worst fear to be ‘unwept, unhonoured and unsung’.

The psalmist asks himself, ‘Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?’ Help us to answer the question like what he has learned about God. God is trustworthy and full of love for us. We therefore want to tell ourselves, ‘Put your hope in God’.

Help us whenever we get depressed as we look at ourselves and our circumstances, to lift our eyes and thoughts to God. Help us to see another perspective and receive comfort, courage, and strength.

We pray that besides seeking medical help, confiding in others or joining a support group, and taking common sense measures like having good meals and adequate exercise, we must turn ultimately to Christ, who gives us peace.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
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How does turning to Christ help us when we are depressed?
PHOTO: How does turning to Christ help us when we are depressed?
Spiritual writer Kathleen Fischer notes that in the case of Abraham and Sarah, we can find the dual themes of humour and human limitation on the one hand, and hope and human possibility on the other. The old couple suffered, not surprisingly, from infertility, and laughed when told that they were about to become parents (Genesis 17:17; 18:12). But God has the last laugh, and when their son was born, they named him "Laughter" (Isaac). God enters our fruitless lives and changes everything.

The two disciples on the road to Emmaus had downcast faces because Jesus had been crucified (Luke 24:17). The risen Christ joined them and explained the Scripture to them (Luke 24:27). Then He joined them at a meal, and their eyes were opened and they recognised Him (Luke 24:30-31). Their hearts were thrilled and they ran joyfully to the other disciples to tell them the good news. Jesus then appeared to them saying, "Peace be with you", and told them not to be troubled (Luke 24:36-38).


How would you help someone who is struggling with depression?
Some may feel depressed and socially marginalised with advancing years. Anglican priest Michael Butler and psychotherapist Ann Orbach describe what it's like:
"Getting old may feel like acting in a play where the rest of the cast is new and most of the props have changed. There is something familiar about the plot, but we have smaller parts to play, with a lot of time waiting in the wings before making a final bow. For many people, the worst fear is to be 'unwept, unhonoured and unsung', but serenity comes through managing not to mind."

Help someone who is struggling with depression by achieving serenity through managing not to mind.


What would you say and do?
What I would say to those with depression: "Put your hope in God"

The psalmist asks himself, "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?" (Psalm 42:11). He answers his own question with what he has learned about God - that God is trustworthy and full of love for us. He therefore tells himself, "Put your hope in God" (Psalm 42:11).

We may get depressed when we look at ourselves and our circumstances, but when we lift our eyes and thoughts to God, we will see another perspective and receive comfort, courage, and strength. The "twilight time", writes Joan Chittister, "has its own tasks, its burdens, its subtle gifts to give us."

What I would do to those who are having depression:
Besides seeking medical help, confiding in others or joining a support group, and taking common sense measures like having good meals and adequate exercise, encourage the depressed to turn to Christ, who gives us peace (from depression).
Picture posted by Big Hugs, Jane on 26 March 2020
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhisG0eCEkqX18xCKumCNVaL5BGrtfgM2AZ1MRXpBF1g8udwtoqdX5nrqZTYttGwUDTURbsFuGUp0scxGQvI6Il9b7Btp7RJwBqB0pYw7kP6vcVc1Xi7PVEB34nntkqU3qtKmK4IPBRCNY/s1000/Prayers-to-overcome-fear-anxiety-and-stress_1.png
https://positivelyjane.net/blog/praying-through-the-fear/
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/02/reflection-health-and-frailties-dealing.html
 

Help someone who is struggling with depression by achieving serenity through managing not to mind.
Help someone who is struggling with depression by achieving serenity through managing not to mind.
PHOTO: Help someone who is struggling with depression by achieving serenity through managing not to mind.
Some may feel depressed and socially marginalised with advancing years. For many people, the worst fear is to be 'unwept, unhonoured and unsung', but serenity comes through managing not to mind.
Picture saved by Nadie to Necromancy
gif file generated by Animated Images Effects Generator at http://www.webestools.com/animated-images-effect-generator-effects-gif-images-picture-blog-gif-fx-images-animated-effect.html
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https://www.pinterest.es/pin/847028642412544471/
 

Dear LordPHOTO: "Dear Lord, the Bible has shown us that when we are depressed, God enters our fruitless lives and changes everything. Just like in the case of Abraham and Sarah, the old couple suffered from infertility, God overcome their human limitation, and has them give birth to their son, Isaac.

In another case, two disciples on the road to Emmaus had downcast faces because Jesus had been crucified. The risen Christ joined them and explained the Scripture to them. Then He joined them at a meal, and their eyes were opened and they recognised Him. Their hearts were thrilled and they ran joyfully to the other disciples to tell them the good news. Jesus then appeared to them saying, ‘Peace be with you’, and told them not to be troubled.

Lord, help us to help those who are struggling with depression to achieve serenity through managing not to mind the worst fear of being 'unwept, unhonoured and unsung'. This is so especially during our advancing years when we feel depressed and socially marginalised.

Help us to say to those with depression: ‘Put your hope in God’, just like the psalmist answers his own question with what he has learned about God - that God is trustworthy and full of love for us.

We may get depressed when we look at ourselves and our circumstances, but when we lift our eyes and thoughts to God, help us to see another perspective and receive comfort, courage, and strength.

Besides seeking medical help, confiding in others or joining a support group, and taking common sense measures like having good meals and adequate exercise, help us to encourage the depressed to turn to Christ, who can give us peace from depression.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
Picture posted by Вячеслав on 29 August 2018 at 21:58:40
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https://content-27.foto.my.mail.ru/community/girl.mm/_groupsphoto/h-17040.jpg
http://vyacheslavromantik.mybb.ru/viewtopic.php?id=1305#p31299



Chapter 29 - Living with the Fear of Losing Our Memory
Question 1 - Reflection - Health and Frailties - Losing Our Memory, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/02/reflection-health-and-frailties-losing.html [57]

Question 2 - Reflection - Health and Frailties - Christian memory and the Church, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/02/reflection-health-and-frailties.html [58]
 
 

What are some fears that seniors have of 'losing their minds'?
PHOTO: What are some fears that seniors have of "losing their minds"?
A disease like Alzheimer's poses several significant theological questions. Will we be able to function properly as human beings if we lose our ability to remember? In a thoughtful book on Alzheimer's disease, Christian historian David Keck directs our attention to the dilemma of people who cannot remember whose they are. To forget whose you are is to lose your identity.


Reflect on your own fears and concerns over this matter.
One of my own fears is unable to function properly as human beings if I lose my ability to remember. I have unhealthy conditions of the 3 highs - high blood sugar (diabetes), high blood pressure (hypertension), and high cholesterol (LDL cholesterol too high, and HDL cholesterol too low). I need to remember to take many types and doses of medicines to sustain the poor health. Without the memory to remember them could have undesirable consequences. Without the required help, there will be confusion with the normal daily activities, like exercises, appointments with doctors, and other Activities of Daily Living (ADL).

I may experience tension and frustration when considerable effort is needed to remember dates, names, and other details. Hence the possible occurrence of frequent swing in moods and behaviours. I would then become an unreasonable and grouchy old man. A loathed old man who is always irritable and bad-tempered, grumpy and complaining. Always repeating the same speeches over and over again.

Also to loss the memory of God, or spiritual amnesia, is equivalent to forget whose I am, and that is to lose my identity. I could probably ended up as a prisoner of the past, doomed to ultimate insignificance.


What do you know of advice given by experts to help maintain our cognitive abilities?
To forget whose you are is to lose your identity.

What a terrifying thought! Keck, writing from personal experience with his mother, an Alzheimer's sufferer, finds a solution in the need for the Christian community to remember our story and past - what Keck calls "churched history". Alzheimer's patients can be sustained through the collective memory of the community.


Read 2 Timothy 4:13. Why do you think Paul requested for his scrolls and parchments (Scriptures, writing and reading material)?
"When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments." (2 Timothy 4:13).

Paul, at this point, didn't need the "parchments" any more for argument or for evangelism. He needed it for his own personal growth (or refreshment and maintenance), and blessing. Paul wanted to spend the rest of his fleeting life reading and meditating on the books of the Old Testament and probably which ever books of the N.T. that had been written by 64 A.D. (the time that this was written).

Every verse or chapter memorized will be a treasure to him. Just like us, Paul could have known that his memories could be fading. He could have suffered the same fears which we have, and hence the need to revised, and refreshed the Words of God.

He probably knew and understand the reasons why the biblical tradition places great emphasis on the discipline and act of remembering. That is, to keep the intellectual abilities strong in old age. The past should not be absolutized (declare perfect, complete, or unchangeable) and idolised to such an extent that the future and the present are sacrificed for its sake.


What does it say about keeping our intellectual abilities strong in old age?
The biblical tradition places great emphasis on the discipline and act of remembering. The main message of the book of Deuteronomy, in which the word "remember" appears 14 times, is to call Israel to remember God, His covenant with her, and the history of Israel, especially her enslavement to Egypt, the deliverance of the nation and exodus (the departure of the Israelites from Egypt), and her entrance into the Promised Land. Israel got into trouble whenever she forgot her history. Revival came whenever the nation's memory was stirred and she remembered her history and God's dealings with her.

Remembering the past can be both helpful and unhelpful. When people face the great uncertainties of the future, they may cling to the past in a neurotic and obsessive way. When this occurs, a sentimental nostalgia sets in and people get stuck in a glorified past. The past is then absolutized (declare perfect, complete, or unchangeable) and idolised to such an extent that the future and the present are sacrificed for its sake. In the history of the early church, there were several Jewish Christians who were guilty of clinging to the past in such a way that they were insensitive to the leading of God.

We must avoid the two dangers we have noted - spiritual amnesia and sentimental nostalgia for the past. In other words, we must neither ignore nor idolise the past. Spiritual amnesia, or the loss of memory of God's dealings with us, seems to be the greater danger today, and leads to a loss of our identity. No matter how active and vibrant a church is, without an identity rooted in history, it is doomed to ultimate insignificance. At the same time, the church must avoid a sentimental nostalgia which makes her a prisoner of the past. Amnesia and nostalgia must both be replaced with a proper remembering of God and the story of His people. Such a memory-rich church can offer help to Alzheimer's patients.
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/02/reflection-health-and-frailties-losing.html
 

What would life be like if you forget most of your key memories?PHOTO: What would life be like if you forget most of your key memories? What is a person without his or her memories? Will people lose their identity when they forget who they are or have been?
Illustrator Denis Gordeev.
Picture posted by book-graphics on Monday, 25 January 2016 - The Children of Húrin Graphics
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https://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/66529/24302342.227/0_b8447_e5d69bec_orig
http://book-graphics.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-children-of-hurin.html
 

Dear Lord
 Dear Lord
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we learn that whatever our beliefs may be, the fact remains that the past is connected to the present and future. We live in historical time, and one event leads to another. We cannot ignore yesterday's decisions, relationships, commitments, and experiences.

Lord, we pray for your help for seniors who have fears of ‘losing their minds’. A disease like Alzheimer's poses several significant theological questions. Will we be able to function properly as human beings if we lose our ability to remember? We need help to overcome our dilemma of whose we are. To forget whose we are is to lose our identity.

Please help us who has fears of unable to function properly as human beings when we lose our ability to remember. Without the required help, there will be confusion with the normal daily activities, like exercises, appointments with doctors, and other Activities of Daily Living (ADL).

Help us seniors who may experience tension and frustration when considerable effort is needed to remember dates, names, and other details. Hence the possible occurrence of frequent swing in moods and behaviours. We would then become an unreasonable and grouchy old man. A loathed old man who is always irritable and bad-tempered, grumpy and complaining. Always repeating the same speeches over and over again.

Lord, we have the fear to loss the memory of God, or spiritual amnesia, which is equivalent to forget whose we are, and that is to lose our identity. We could probably ended up as a prisoner of the past, doomed to ultimate insignificance.

Lord, give us the community to help us remember our story and past. We asked to be sustained through the collective memory of the community.

Lord, help us to learn from Paul too. In 2 Timothy 4:13, Paul, at this point, didn't need the ‘parchments’ any more for argument or for evangelism. He probably needed it for his own personal growth (or refreshment and maintenance), and blessing. Paul wanted to spend the rest of his fleeting life reading and meditating on the books of the Old Testament and probably which ever books of the N.T. that had been written by 64 A.D. (the time that this was written).

Let every verse or chapter of the Bible memorized will be a treasure to us. Our memories could be fading and hence the need revised, and refreshed the Words of God. This could be possibly be the reasons why the biblical tradition places great emphasis on the discipline and act of remembering to keep the intellectual abilities strong in old age. We pray that our past should not be absolutized and idolised to such an extent that the future and the present are sacrificed for its sake.

Help us to avoid the two dangers we have noted - spiritual amnesia and sentimental nostalgia for the past. We pray that we neither ignore nor idolise the past. Protect us from the dangers that lead to a loss of our identity. Because no matter how active and vibrant a church is, without an identity rooted in history, it is doomed to ultimate insignificance.

We pray for help to avoid a sentimental nostalgia which makes us prisoners of the past. Make amnesia and nostalgia both be replaced with a proper remembering of God and the story of His people.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
Picture posted by Gabriela Borges
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/02/reflection-health-and-frailties-losing.html
 

Reflect on how the Christian memory and ministry of the church can help individuals who have lost their memory.PHOTO: Reflect on how the Christian memory and ministry of the church can help individuals who have lost their memory.
We must avoid the two dangers we have noted - spiritual amnesia and sentimental nostalgia for the past. In other words, we must neither ignore nor idolise the past. Spiritual amnesia, or the loss of memory of God's dealings with us, seems to be the greater danger today, and leads to a loss of our identity. No matter how active and vibrant a church is, without an identity rooted in history, it is doomed to ultimate insignificance. At the same time, the church must avoid a sentimental nostalgia which makes her a prisoner of the past. Amnesia and nostalgia must both be replaced with a proper remembering of God and the story of His people. Such a memory-rich church can offer help to Alzheimer's patients.

In cases of significant memory loss in old age, we can rest in the truth that ultimately, who we are has to do with whose we are. The Christian community can help us remember whose we are through its acts of worship and ministry. Even if those suffering from Alzheimer's disease lose their cognitive abilities to understand these things, the story of the church shared and acted out regularly can help sustain them. From time to time, something in the mists of lost memory may be stirred, when a hymn is sung or Bible passage is read.


How are you comforted that God's memory of us will never fade?
Social memories are fragile and can also fade. But God's memory remains forever. God remembers us (see Genesis 8:1; 19:29; 30:22). We read that the righteous "will be remember forever" (Psalm 112:6). The one remembering here is God himself. While we may forget who we are, and others may forget us after a while, God's memory of us remains solid. And it is His memory that we can ultimately trust. Because He will remember us forever, we can also have eternal life. Our future is not dependent on our personal and social memories, but on God's divine memory.


How can we entrust ourselves to Him?
"When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly." (1 Peter 2:23).

“Trust” is a firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. Trust in God means recognizing or acknowledging that God is Sovereign and Mighty over His Creation.

But, in these verses the Apostle Peter tells us that when Jesus experienced suffering, He entrusted Himself to God.

“Trust” is something we believe while “entrust” is something we do because we believe. Entrusting is more than just believing, “Entrust” is “trust” in action!

Trusting God requires a change in your thinking while entrusting yourself to God requires a change in your behaviour.

So, “trust” is just the first step in establishing a trust-relationship with God. A young woman may love a young man, but she entrusts herself to his care and protection by marrying him. Trusting God must be followed up by entrusting ourselves to God.

For the Christian, trusting in God should become entrusting yourself to God. When you trust God, then you believe God can and believe God will. But, when you entrust yourself to God, you submit, surrender, yield yourself to God so that what you believe God can and will do, He does through you!

Entrusting yourself to God means you make yourself available to God to work His will through you. That’s what Jesus did.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;" (Proverbs 3:5).
Picture posted by Editorial board on Saturday, 08 February 2021 at 13:21
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https://www.quotidianodiragusa.com/cache/2021/02/malattie-neurologiche-croniche-tempo-covid_900x600.jpg
https://www.quotidianodiragusa.it/2021/02/08/salute-e-benessere/malattie-neurologiche-croniche-al-tempo-del-covid/80123
 

'Trust' is something we believe while 'entrust' is something we do because we believe.
PHOTO: “Trust” is something we believe while “entrust” is something we do because we believe. Entrusting is more than just believing, “Entrust” is “trust” in action!
Trusting God requires a change in your thinking while entrusting yourself to God requires a change in your behaviour.
Picture posted by Alarmy
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https://www.alamy.com/woman-in-sundress-standing-next-to-sea-with-arms-raised-rear-view-image278183416.html
 

Dear Lord
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we learn that we must two dangers - spiritual amnesia and sentimental nostalgia for the past. Help us neither to ignore nor idolise the past. Spiritual amnesia, or the loss of memory of God's dealings with us, seems to be the greater danger today, and leads to a loss of our identity. No matter how active and vibrant a church is, without an identity rooted in history, it is doomed to ultimate insignificance.

Lord, help us at the same time, to avoid a sentimental nostalgia which makes us a prisoner of the past.

We pray that both our amnesia and nostalgia to be replaced with a proper remembering of God and the story of His people. Such a memory-rich church can offer help to Alzheimer's patients.

We learn that in cases of significant memory loss in old age, we can rest in the truth that ultimately, who we are has to do with whose we are. We pray that our Christian community can help us remember whose we are through its acts of worship and ministry. Even if those suffering from Alzheimer's disease lose their cognitive abilities to understand these things, the story of the church shared and acted out regularly can help sustain them. From time to time, something in the mists of lost memory may be stirred, when a hymn is sung or Bible passage is read.

Lord, our social memories are fragile and can also fade. But God's memory remains forever. God remembers us. We read that the righteous ‘will be remember forever’. We are comforted that God's memory of us will never fade because the one remembering here is God himself.

Thank you lord, while we may forget who we are, and others may forget us after a while, God's memory of us remains solid. And it is His memory that we can ultimately trust. Because He will remember us forever, we can also have eternal life. Our future is not dependent on our personal and social memories, but on God's divine memory.

Help us to entrust ourselves to Him, like when Jesus experienced suffering, He entrusted Himself to God. We learn that trusting God requires a change in our thinking while entrusting ourselves to God requires a change in our behaviour.

Lord, lead us to do the first step in establishing a trust-relationship with God followed up by entrusting ourselves to God successfully. When we trust God, then we believe God can and believe God will. But, when we entrust ourselves to God, we submit, surrender, yield ourselves to God so that what we believe God can and will do, He does through us.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
Picture posted by dharmendra kumar@darmendrakuma on 29 February 2016 at 7:17 pm - I can't stop loving you
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https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CcYMf41UAAAnWRv?format=jpg&name=medium - (CcYMf41UAAAnWRv.jpg)
https://twitter.com/darmendrakuma/status/704264157307150336



Part V: THINKING OF HEAVEN
Chapter 30 - What is our Exit Plan?
Question 1 - Reflection - Thinking of Heaven - Common Fears of Death, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/02/reflection-thinking-of-heaven-common.html [59]

Question 2 - Reflection - Thinking of Heaven - How would Peter die, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/02/reflection-thinking-of-heaven-how-would.html [60]
 
 

What are some common fears that people have as to how they would die?PHOTO: What are some common fears that people have as to how they would die?
How will each of us exit this world? Many will not think very much about it because they are too busy. Wiser ones will know that no one can be sure how they will die, and so there is no point thinking or worrying about it. But many people still hope for a pleasant exit.

In the Bible, there are two men who were taken away from life on earth in a glorious way - without the usual trouble of having to physically die. They are Enoch and Elijah. Enoch was a godly man who "walked faithfully with God" (meaning that he lived a life of constant communion and obedience to God) and at the end of his life he "was no more, because God took him away" (Genesis 5:21-24). The story of Enoch appears in a narrative of men, from Adam to Noah, who had very long life spans ranging from 969 to 365 years (Genesis 5; see Psalm 91:16). The shortest was that of Enoch, which suggests that how long one lives is not as important as how one lives.

Moreover, for all the others, each narrative ends with "and then he died". The only exception was Enoch, suggesting that he did not exit the world the usual way, but was taken by God.

When we read about the prophet Elijah, we get an idea of how this could have taken place. At the end of his life, Elijah was walking with his successor Elisha when "suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, 'My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!' And Elisha saw him no more" (2 Kings 2:11-12). That was a glorious and spectacular exit indeed! How we wish we could go like that.

But everyone else in the Bible died in some way, whether due to old age, deadly illness, war, accident, or martyrdom. It is no different in the world we live in. But we still harbour the hope that when our turn comes, it will be a quiet and pain-free exit. We have heard stories of how some people have died at home in their sleep, with no prior illness or hospitalisation. And we wish that our own death would be like that.


How do you think there can be relief for such fears, apart from simply denying them?
The truth of the matter is that how we die is not in our hands. Scripture declares that our times are in God's hands (Psalm 31:15); and it is into His hands that we can commit our spirits (Psalm 31:5). This was what our Lord Jesus himself prayed to the heavenly Father when He died on the cross (Luke 23:45). His followers, like the first Christian martyr Stephen, prayed the same when they died (Acts 7:59).

God is entirely sovereign in determining how we will end our journey on earth. It may come suddenly, or after a long struggle with illness. It may be painful or peaceful. It is not for us to say how it will be. We can have our preferences, but ultimately we die according to God's will.

The Bible tells us that God not only personally shaped us in our mother's womb ("you knit me together in my mother's womb") but also that "all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be" (Psalm 139:13, 16).

God decides how long we will live and how we will die. He does it with all sovereign wisdom, love, and power. We can trust Him to work all things together for our good (Romans 8:28). Though the end may be unpleasant for some, it will not last long. And as we go through the valley of the shadow of death, we will not have to be afraid, for Jesus who once died for us will be there with us. His shepherd's rod and staff will comfort us (Psalm 23:4).

We may not know how we will die, but we know who will be with us when we die. And that's what really matters. That should be our exit plan.
Picture posted by greenleafstudio on 29 December 2006 - Fear of Death
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYn9qSrn4VjnLnNSg1jze1VMc4uTV3rvFhqFpRo-fpWxFAcPghfOlxbMQ9LS5oqWvwxHSo2cMZt0lQDzXyIeSSOIrUC3dtSXO1BUPqCwUXv-bD2LX6yAUQixs2Vjx0ttVkJsgJhaOLlY/s600/dr3klp-3990c1da-2688-4cf0-a6b5-1fc3190813b4.jpg
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https://www.deviantart.com/greenleafstudio/art/Fear-of-Death-45516301
 

Everyone else in the Bible died in some way, whether due to old age, deadly illness, war, accident, or martyrdom.PHOTO: Everyone else in the Bible died in some way, whether due to old age, deadly illness, war, accident, or martyrdom. It is no different in the world we live in. But we still harbour the hope that when our turn comes, it will be a quiet and pain-free exit. We have heard stories of how some people have died at home in their sleep, with no prior illness or hospitalisation. And we wish that our own death would be like that.
Picture posted by pixels.com - Shackles Of Fear
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https://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large-5/shackles-of-fear-heru-agustiana.jpg
https://pixels.com/featured/shackles-of-fear-heru-agustiana.html
 

Dear Lord
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, the common fear we have is not having a pleasant exit from this world. Many of us will not think very much about it because we are too busy. Wiser ones will know that no one can be sure how we will die, and so there is no point thinking or worrying about it. But many people still hope for a pleasant exit.

Lord, we learn from the Bible that there are two men who were taken away from life on earth in a glorious way - without the usual trouble of having to physically die. They are Enoch and Elijah. Enoch was a godly man who ‘walked faithfully with God’ and at the end of his life he ‘was no more, because God took him away’.

The story of Enoch appears in a narrative of men, from Adam to Noah, who had very long life spans ranging from 969 to 365 years. The shortest was that of Enoch, which suggests that how long one lives is not as important as how one lives.

We learn that for all the others, each narrative ends with ‘and then he died’. The only exception was Enoch, suggesting that he did not exit the world the usual way, but was taken by God. Especially when we read about the prophet Elijah, we get an idea of how this could have taken place. At the end of his life, Elijah was walking with his successor Elisha when ‘suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, ‘My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!' And Elisha saw him no more’.

That was a glorious and spectacular exit indeed! We pray that we could go like that.

However our fear of how we die started again when we read that everyone else in the Bible died in some way, whether due to old age, deadly illness, war, accident, or martyrdom. It is no different in the world we live in.

Lord, we still harbour the hope that when our turn comes, it will be a quiet and pain-free exit. We have heard stories of how some people have died at home in their sleep, with no prior illness or hospitalisation. And we pray for your help that our own death would be like that.

However, we learn that the truth of the matter is that how we die is not in our hands. Scripture declares that our times are in Your hands and it is into Your hands that we can commit our spirits. This was what our Lord Jesus himself prayed to the heavenly Father when He died on the cross. His followers, like the first Christian martyr Stephen, prayed the same when they died.

Lord, You are entirely sovereign in determining how we will end our journey on earth. It may come suddenly, or after a long struggle with illness. It may be painful or peaceful. It is not for us to say how it will be. We can have our preferences, but ultimately we die according to Your will.

The Bible tells us that You not only personally shaped us in our mother's womb but also that ‘all the days ordained for us were written in Your book before one of them came to be’.

Lord, You decides how long we will live and how we will die. You do it with all sovereign wisdom, love, and power. We therefore can trust You to work all things together for our good. Though the end may be unpleasant for some, we pray that it will not last long. And as we go through the valley of the shadow of death, we will not have to be afraid, for Jesus who once died for us will be there with us. His shepherd's rod and staff will comfort us.

Lord, we may not know how we will die, but we know who will be with us when we die. And that's what really matters. We pray for that to be our exit plan. Then we can have relief for the fears we have to exit the world, apart from simply denying them.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
Picture posted by Can I tell you the truth? on 10 May 2013
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https://canitellyouthetruth.wordpress.com/tag/bible/
 

Read John 21:18-19. Jesus told Peter how he would die, which would be an unpleasant experience (and tradition holds that Peter was crucified for his faith in Christ).PHOTO: Read John 21:18-19. Jesus told Peter how he would die, which would be an unpleasant experience (and tradition holds that Peter was crucified for his faith in Christ). Why do you think Jesus then commanded Peter, "Follow me!".
Peter said way back there in chapter 13, “Lord, I’ll die, I’ll go anywhere, I’ll follow You, I’ll go to the cross. If they’re going to crucify You, they can crucify me too.” (John 13:36-38). And now Jesus is saying, “Well, Peter, that’s going to happen. You’re going to have an opportunity to be nailed to a cross. If you’re going to follow Me, pick up your cross right now; that’s where we’re going.” (John 21:18-19).


What would have happened if Peter had not followed Christ?
Jesus said people would run up to Him and say, “Master, we’ll follow you wherever we walk.” (John 13:37).

And Jesus would say, “You sure you want to follow me? You want to know where we’re going? We’re heading for a hill outside Jerusalem called Calvary and they’re going to nail Me to a cross."

But they couldn’t follow him. They all forsook Him and fled. (John 13:38). Before the rooster crows, Peter will disown Him three times! (John 13:38). They were thinking of themselves. Whereas Jesus was thinking of us, they were thinking of themselves.

Peter denied the Lord thrice, but he is given a second chance to die for the Lord in the Tribulation. Peter would be willing to die but not in a hurry to die!

Being told to follow the Lord, we’d think Peter would watch Him, but he turned his eyes to John (John 21:20). Instead he should have been “looking unto Jesus” for the Lord was faithful to death (Hebrews12:2), while John might not be.

In John 21:18-19, the Lord had predicted that Peter would be faithful to death. If Peter had not followed Christ, he probably would have run away from his mission. But, as in the book of Jonah, God will pursue His people relentlessly —— whether a renegade prophet, a boatful of desperate sailors, or a sinful city. God will not hesitate to use the forces of nature to challenge Peter.

But this was not the case, and John had wrote enough to get men to believe that Jesus was the Christ (John 20:31).


How do you think he would have died? (Hint: To follow Jesus is to have His company even to the end.)
If Peter had not follow the Lord, how he would have died is only known by God. The truth of the matter is that how we die is not in our hands. Scripture declares that our times are in God's hands (Psalm 31:15).

God is entirely sovereign in determining how we will end our journey on earth. It may come suddenly, or after a long struggle with illness. It may be painful or peaceful. It is not for us to say how it will be. We can have our preferences, but ultimately we die according to God's will.

Though the end may be unpleasant for some, it will not last long. And as we go through the valley of the shadow of death, we will not have to be afraid, for Jesus who once died for us will be there with us. His shepherd's rod and staff will comfort us (Psalm 23:4).

We may not know how we will die, but we know who will be with us when we die. And that's what really matters.

In spite of the gruesome details Peter heard about his death, he must have taken comfort and joy in hearing that his death would glorify God. Peter’s love for Jesus and his desire to obey and glorify Him were evident throughout the rest of his life and ministry. For Peter to die a martyr’s death clinging to the hope of heaven testifies to the courage, faith, patience, and perseverance of this great man of God who rejoiced to be counted worthy to die for the name of Jesus.
Picture posed by jw.org - Why do we die?
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzyMi1NWSn4R3XUijnOhq7jE6NpfWcFkY9k0Thb1lzLlWjGtbZwAy6TcVNRvxjiP5aSIfLQKCcqyUnfo-chTO2n9CN2wX_8DTYwF_eTOaS1ByEeT9dm-D4Ke6Ql2mSdMrfbY794xl4O8/s1473/2017126_univ_cnt_4_xl.jpg
https://assetsnffrgf-a.akamaihd.net/assets/m/2017126/univ/art/2017126_univ_cnt_4_xl.jpg
https://www.jw.org/es/biblioteca/revistas/atalaya-2017-numero4-julio/respuesta-biblia-vida-muerte/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/70437477531758/
 

If Peter had not follow the Lord, how he would have died is only known by God.
PHOTO: If Peter had not follow the Lord, how he would have died is only known by God. The truth of the matter is that how we die is not in our hands. Scripture declares that our times are in God's hands (Psalm 31:15). 
Picture painted by Marc Fishman
Picture posted by World Virtual Museum
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbmNx35RQqW_7hkcNrkl9SqVJuWMom8T4Tkwm1dfnbW-cGRyYp_og4xLkQw32-Mt5c2eoFiMbOa2af-7vs91hJZ59GPaMmsT7FqTSAdEOxumnfjyuFciCHTtALb1jTLl1UEB0j7HEjHo/s1750/GabrielsLament-1-1.jpg
http://www.worldvirtualmuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/GabrielsLament-1-1.jpg
http://www.worldvirtualmuseum.com/marc-fishman/
 

Dear LordPHOTO: "Dear Lord, we learn in John 21:18-19, Jesus told Peter how he would die, which would be an unpleasant experience. Jesus then commanded Peter, ‘Follow me!’ – to give Peter a second chance to follow Him.

In John 21:18-19, the Lord had predicted that Peter would be faithful to death. If Peter had not followed Christ, he probably would have run away from his mission. But, as in the book of Jonah, God will pursue His people relentlessly —— whether a renegade prophet, a boatful of desperate sailors, or a sinful city. God will not hesitate to use the forces of nature to challenge Peter. Thank You Lord, for always guiding us onto the correct path, just as You have done for Peter.

We learn that if Peter had not follow the Lord, how he would have died is only known by God. The truth of the matter is that how we die is not in our hands. Scripture declares that our times are in God's hands.

Lord, You are entirely sovereign in determining how we will end our journey on earth. It may come suddenly, or after a long struggle with illness. It may be painful or peaceful. It is not for us to say how it will be. We can have our preferences, but ultimately we die according to Your will.

Lord, You decides how long we will live and how we will die. You do it with all sovereign wisdom, love, and power. We therefore can trust You to work all things together for our good. Though the end may be unpleasant for some, we pray that it will not last long. And as we go through the valley of the shadow of death, we will not have to be afraid, for Jesus who once died for us will be there with us. His shepherd's rod and staff will comfort us.

Lord, we may not know how we will die, but we know who will be with us when we die. And that's what really matters.

We pray for Your help if like Peter, in spite of the gruesome details we heard about our death, we can take comfort and joy that our death would glorify God. Have our love for Jesus and our desire to obey and glorify Him be evident throughout the rest of our life and ministry. Help us to cling to the hope of heaven and be testified to the courage, faith, patience, and perseverance, and that we can rejoice to be counted worthy to die for the name of Jesus.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
Picture posted by kartinkinaden.ru
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Chapter 31 - What Will Heaven Be Like?
Question 1 - Reflection - Thinking of Heaven - What Will Heaven Be Like, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/03/reflection-thinking-of-heaven-what-will.html [61]

Question 2 - Reflection - Thinking of Heaven - How Senior Think About Heaven, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/03/reflection-thinking-of-heaven-how.html [62]
 
 

What are your favourite thoughts about heaven?PHOTO: What are your favourite thoughts about heaven? What are some questions you have?
Christians think about heaven in many different ways. One of the questions people ask is: "What will we do in heaven?" Popular culture often depicts people in heaven as lazing around on clouds, leisurely playing their harps. This idea probably has biblical roots, for the book of Revelation does speak about clouds and harps (Revelation 5:8, 14:2, 14; 15:2). There is also the notion that we will all be one eternal choir praising God - just look at all the heavenly songs in Revelation. This usually begins as a great thought, especially for those who love singing, but after a while, even they ask, "But what else will we do in heaven?"


Discuss these with other Christians, and explore how our thoughts of heaven can be shaped by what Scripture teaches.
The problem is that we may be approaching the subject from the wrong angle. Even thoughts that begin with biblical passages can be hijacked by mindsets that are dominated by worldly culture. Yes, the Bible does speak about harps and clouds, and about heavenly singing. But if we see them as nothing more than actions or activities, then we have misunderstood what the Bible actually teaches.

Our problem is that we have become captive to a pragmatic (practical) way of thinking that has been absorbed into our way of life in every sphere. We have uncritically embraced utilitarianism. We therefore tend to measure ourselves by what we do or achieve, and judge others in the same way. This is reflected in every conceivable area of life. Take, for instance, going on holiday. We tend to be obsessed with what our holiday destination has to offer in terms of attractions. We are terrified by the thoughts of becoming bored with nothing to do. The problem is that we in the modern age tend to define ourselves by our "doing".

Those who see the inadequacy of such a perspective try to find a more satisfying basis - by exploring what was the dominant way of thinking in the pre-modern era. Then, the focus was more on being, rather than doing. We were defined by who we were rather than what we did. Thus, we have people who remind us today that we ought to focus on being rather than doing, that our Christian lives really have to do with who we become, rather than what we achieve. This is immediately helpful and a much-needed corrective in a culture infected by an activism that makes us run in meaningless circles. Let us stop and think about what sort of people we are, and are becoming.

Perhaps we can approach the question of heaven from this angle: asking what we will do is not as important as thinking about what we will be in heaven. However, even here, we will face limitations, for we know ourselves. The human condition, as pointed out by Thomas Oden, includes boredom (as well as anxiety and guilt). If we are left to ourselves, we will soon hit rock bottom and become bored. Just lock yourself in a room for a few weeks with nothing else to do and no one to talk to, and you will understand this.

This brings us to what the Bible really teaches. The biblical worldview is that we are defined not by what we do or achieve, and not even by who we are, but by whose we are. We are defined by who we are with. The core of existence is not doing or even being, but being with. That is why Jesus warns disciples that judgement will have to do with being with rather than doing per se (by itself) (Matthew 7:21-23).
Picture posted by Shun En
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https://i.pinimg.com/564x/ff/92/66/ff9266b87b71294cf77e96468c17a1b8.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/612630355542642267/
 

Those who see the inadequacy of such a perspective try to find a more satisfying basis - by exploring what was the dominant way of thinking in the pre-modern era.
PHOTO: Those who see the inadequacy of such a perspective try to find a more satisfying basis - by exploring what was the dominant way of thinking in the pre-modern era. Then, the focus was more on being, rather than doing. We were defined by who we were rather than what we did. Thus, we have people who remind us today that we ought to focus on being rather than doing, that our Christian lives really have to do with who we become, rather than what we achieve.
Painting by Zhang Qingming uploaded on 26 August 2011 - L'Amour et Psyche Enfants (Love and Psyche Children)
Copy of a painting of William Adolphe Bouguereau
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgslQ0VABqS-WaJrVbpbN36lxwLH5eJgVdMq6xPSTtSG-UeSHAJg5aI_X4NgLRD9u39aSfxxc6jQJD1_pbbd2bASlnOizMoKmwQB-jTmNCDDpksa4-cqvdmLYsLtP122BWkR1bRKnH4hbQ/s900/lamour-et-psyche-enfants-zhang-qingming.jpg
https://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/lamour-et-psyche-enfants-zhang-qingming.jpg
https://pixels.com/featured/lamour-et-psyche-enfants-zhang-qingming.html
 

Dear Lord
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, Christians think about heaven in many different ways. One of the questions people ask is: ‘What will we do in heaven?’ Popular culture often depicts people in heaven as lazing around on clouds, leisurely playing their harps. This idea probably has biblical roots, for the book of Revelation does speak about clouds and harps. There is also the notion that we will all be one eternal choir praising God. This usually begins as a great thought, especially for those who love singing, but after a while, even they ask, ‘But what else will we do in heaven?’

Lord, the problem is that we may be approaching the subject from the wrong angle. Even thoughts that begin with biblical passages can be hijacked by mindsets that are dominated by worldly culture.

The Bible does speak about harps and clouds, and about heavenly singing. But if we see them as nothing more than actions or activities, then we have misunderstood what the Bible actually teaches.

Lord, our problem is that we have become captive to a pragmatic way of thinking that has been absorbed into our way of life in every sphere. We have uncritically embraced utilitarianism. We therefore tend to measure ourselves by what we do or achieve, and judge others in the same way. This is reflected in every conceivable area of life. Help us to overcome this erroneous way of defining ourselves by ‘doing’.

Those who see the inadequacy of such a perspective try to find a more satisfying basis - by exploring what was the dominant way of thinking in the pre-modern era. Then, the focus was more on being, rather than doing. We were defined by who we were rather than what we did. Thus, we have people who remind us today that we ought to focus on being rather than doing, that our Christian lives really have to do with who we become, rather than what we achieve.

Lord, help us to correct our culture infected by an activism that makes us run in meaningless circles. Help us to stop and think about what sort of people we are, and are becoming.

We may approach the question of heaven from this angle: asking what we will do is not as important as thinking about what we will be in heaven. However, even here, we will face limitations, for we know ourselves. The human condition, includes boredom (as well as anxiety and guilt). If we are left to ourselves, we will soon hit rock bottom and become bored.

We need to learn what the Bible really teaches. The biblical worldview is that we are defined not by what we do or achieve, and not even by who we are, but by whose we are. We are defined by who we are with. The core of existence is not doing or even being, but being with.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
Artwork by Louis-Michel van Loo  (1707–1771) - Venus, Mercurio y el Amor (Venus, Mercury and Love )
Painting from Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLS5OrS_m8wbWAYAOKHjDyU1gP63OQ580CSWocOFVTAnmmonCvas22-Rh5I_VHVkJdkOXkTXFK7vHdixR9Q0OgJF4trBWFi6ke5VeGLldnutZuKhLIXYQHuH__N8hVMgaE18mE6YwOGm4/s2048/Louis_Michel_van_Loo_-_Venus%252C_Mercurio_y_el_Amor_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/Louis_Michel_van_Loo_-_Venus%2C_Mercurio_y_el_Amor_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Louis_Michel_van_Loo_-_Venus,_Mercurio_y_el_Amor_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
 

As we age, we realise that it would not be long before we are in our eternal home
PHOTO: As we age, we realise that it would not be long before we are in our eternal home. How would you think about heaven?
When Paul, the ageing apostle, was imprisoned in Rome, he no doubt thought much about what would happen to him. Would he be martyred, or would God allow him to continue his ministry for a few more years? In his letter to the Philippians, he reveals some of these thoughts: "I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body . . . so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me" (Philippians 1:23-26, emphasis added).

For Paul, heaven was defined as being with Christ. The alternative was being with God's people. In putting it this way, Paul summarised the heart of Christian living - which is being with the Lord and His people. Another way this is seen is in what the Lord himself taught - that the heart of the Law is love for God and neighbour (Matthew 22:34-40). The call to Christian discipleship is a call to enter into holy and loving relationships with God and others. It is essentially a relationship matter.

We now return to our previous questions about heaven. What will heaven be like? Paul quoted Isaiah by declaring; "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9). No one can fully imagine or even accurately depict how heaven will be like for us. But Paul did add a clause immediately after his quote from Isaiah: "these are things God has revealed to us by his Spirit" (1 Corinthians 2:10).


How would such thoughts bring you peace and hope?
We now have some idea of how heaven will be like. It should not be conceived of in terms of what we will do, or even who we will be, but rather who we will be with (Revelation 21:3). We must approach heaven not with a "to do" list or in terms of some Gnostic idea of self-fulfilment, but rather in terms of relationship. In heaven, we will be with the eternal God who created and saved us, who sustains us moment by moment. He is an infinitely creative Being in whose presence we will not get bored. We will get bored with activities and ourselves but we will never get bored with the eternal God. His love will remove our deep boredom.

This much we know from Scripture. We already have a brief description of heaven. The reality, however, awaits us in the future, and we can look forward to it with great anticipation. And yes, we will sing, but in a state of self-forgetfulness and without needing to check our watches, in the presence of divine majesty.
Picture saved by monique drees - van der ham to digital art: Moonzaphire
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Hbqw1dau0fX54VPHNMNCQgfd-yRpBPP03K1EmiWZF9H_hZncqp_a9Yat3HVTCOz7SwkR6T_pjTrfTXW-uZvtNIl1R2Yw0k4mcF33RVbXIsWfd1sjAcqLWCkJNCuQDgS7Krw0aX9DFd4/s714/03eea571e4f4540c9f3518f7ee4bc3d7_1.png
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/03/ee/a5/03eea571e4f4540c9f3518f7ee4bc3d7.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/298926493992772223/
 

We already have a brief description of heaven.
PHOTO: We already have a brief description of heaven. The reality, however, awaits us in the future, and we can look forward to it with great anticipation. And yes, we will sing, but in a state of self-forgetfulness and without needing to check our watches, in the presence of divine majesty.
Picture posted by Depositphotos
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https://st3.depositphotos.com/4125379/35385/i/1600/depositphotos_353852928-stock-photo-beautiful-sad-girl-sitting-on.jpg
https://br.depositphotos.com/353852928/stock-photo-beautiful-sad-girl-sitting-on.html
 

Dear Lord

 Dear LordPHOTO: "Dear Lord, we like Paul, the ageing apostle who was imprisoned in Rome, also realise that it would not be long before we are in our eternal home. He no doubt thought much about what would happen to him. Would he be martyred, or would God allow him to continue his ministry for a few more years? In his letter to the Philippians, he reveals that he is torn between the two: the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for us that he remain in the body, so that through his being with us again our boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of him.

We learn for Paul, heaven was defined as being with Christ. The alternative was being with God's people. In putting it this way, Paul summarised the heart of Christian living - which is being with the Lord and His people. Another way this is seen is in what the Lord himself taught - that the heart of the Law is love for God and neighbour. The call to Christian discipleship is a call to enter into holy and loving relationships with God and others. It is essentially a relationship matter.

Lord, from Paul’s quotation of Isaiah, heaven is a place ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him.’ This mean no one can fully imagine or even accurately depict how heaven will be like for us. But Paul did add a clause immediately after his quote from Isaiah: ‘these are things God has revealed to us by his Spirit’.

Thank You, Lord, for such thoughts bring us peace and hope. We now have some idea of how heaven will be like. It should not be conceived of in terms of what we will do, or even who we will be, but rather who we will be with.

We must approach heaven not with a ‘to do’ list or in terms of some Gnostic idea of self-fulfilment, but rather in terms of relationship. In heaven, we will be with the eternal God who created and saved us, who sustains us moment by moment. He is an infinitely creative Being in whose presence we will not get bored. We will get bored with activities and ourselves but we will never get bored with the eternal God. His love will remove our deep boredom.

Lord, this much we know from Scripture. We already have a brief description of heaven. The reality, however, awaits us in the future, and we can look forward to it with great anticipation. We pray that we will sing, but in a state of self-forgetfulness and without needing to check our watches, in the presence of divine majesty.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
Picture posted by m.post
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Chapter 32 - Preparing for Heaven
Question 1 - Reflection - Thinking of Heaven - Counting Our Days Aright, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/03/reflection-thinking-of-heaven-counting.html [63]

Question 2 - Reflection - Thinking of Heaven - A Wisely-Lived Life, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/03/reflection-thinking-of-heaven-wisely.html [64]
 
 

How does learning to count our days aright help us prepare for heaven?
PHOTO: How does learning to count our days aright help us prepare for heaven?
Psalm 90, attributed to Moses, is probably the oldest psalm in the Bible. In it, we read a petition: "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12 NIV1984, emphasis added).

To count our days aright is to realise that our remaining days are numbered - and it is not really a big number. To count our days correctly does not mean arriving at a particular number, it means arriving at true wisdom, a wisdom that knows the implications of limited time on earth. Such wisdom will enable us to see our days on earth and all they entail (require) in the context of eternity with God in His kingdom (heaven). As we read in the well-known Psalm 23, we often think about the phrase "all the days of my life" (Psalm 23:6) and long for all our days on earth to be richly blessed with God's goodness and love. But this would be true only if all our days are framed in the "forever" reality of the "house of the LORD" (Psalm 23:6).


What would this entail for you personally?
Only as we turn to the eternal God saying: "from everlasting to everlasting you are God" (Psalm 90:2), can we really learn to count our days aright. Our limited days must be properly framed within the eternal years of God; then only can we find true meaning for our passing and transient days. Godly wisdom will know how to differentiate the ultimate from the penultimate (2nd last), the number of perforations in the communion rail from the life-transforming encounter with the living Christ.


How can you learn to count your days aright?
Many people encounter a problem here. They spend a good part, if not all, of their days worrying and running after functional penultimate goals. They have difficult knowing the difference between means and ends, between that which will crumble into dust and that which will endure. Jesus told His listeners: "do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear . . . your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:25, 32-33).

Jesus also told the story of an unnamed rich man and a beggar named Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). The story itself is radical. Both rich men and beggars must die, but their lot in the other side can be vastly different from that on earth. The rich man had the skills to count his wealth and possessions. Even on the other side, he could still count (he mentions his five brothers), and he expects Lazarus to be like a servant to him when he asks Abraham to send him over with some water! The man had not changed, for his sinful character had become frozen and hardened on the other side.

Lazarus must also have counted his days. His days on earth were extremely miserable; he lived in the shadows of the margins, and his sores refused to heal. He must have told himself that the end was surely not far away, that his sufferings would soon be over. The rich man, on the other hand, thought that there would be no end to his pleasures. He did not have the godly wisdom to count his days.

The ancient St Catherine's monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai marks the spot where Moses (who wrote Psalm 90) met God at the burning bush. Monks have been living there for the last 1,500 years. When they die, they are buried for a while, and then their bones are unearthed and kept in the chapel. Visitors will find heaps of skulls gathered over the centuries. They serve to remind the monks that their days on earth need to be framed by eternity. The skull heaps quietly articulate that ancient prayer: Teach us to count our days (asking for wisdom).

Our churches today have no skull heaps nor graveyards (which are common in old churches across Europe) to give us wisdom, and although some have columbaria, these tend to be disconnected from the regular life of the churches. Still, as congregations, we must collectively and individually seek to live wisely, learning to count down our days, and looking forward to the days that cannot be counted in the "forever" reality of God. As the years pass us by, let us learn to frame our days with the eternity of God.
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What would count our days aright entail (requires) for you personally?PHOTO: What would  count our days aright entail (requires) for you personally?
Turn to the eternal God saying: "from everlasting to everlasting you are God" (Psalm 90:2), can we really learn to count our days aright.
Picture posted by Tina Connor - psalm 90:2 KJV
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Dear LordPHOTO: "Dear Lord, we learn that to count our days aright is to have the wisdom to realise that our remaining days are numbered - and it is not really a big number. To count our days correctly does not mean arriving at a particular number, it means arriving at true wisdom, a wisdom that knows the implications of limited time on earth. Grant us this wisdom which will enable us to see our days on earth and all they require for eternity with God in His kingdom.

Help us to turn to the eternal God saying: ‘from everlasting to everlasting you are God’, so that we really learn to count our days aright. Our limited days must be properly framed within the eternal years of God; then only can we find true meaning for our passing and transient days. We pray for godly wisdom that know how to differentiate the ultimate from the penultimate. Grant us the ultimate life-transforming encounter with the living Christ.

We need Your help as we seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness, so that all our days on earth can be richly blessed with God's goodness and love. May we be like Lazarus telling ourselves that our sufferings would soon be over. And not to think that there would be no end to our pleasures with just our earthly possessions. Please give us the godly wisdom to count our days aright.

As congregations, help us to collectively and individually seek to live wisely, learning to count down our days, and looking forward to the days that cannot be counted in the ‘forever’ reality of God. As the years pass us by, let us learn to frame our days with the eternity of God.

Teach us to count our days. May all our days be ultimately framed in the ‘forever’ reality of the ‘house of the LORD’.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
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Knowing how to count our days aright helps us to live our remaining days wisely.
PHOTO: Knowing how to count our days aright helps us to live our remaining days wisely. What characterises such a wisely-lived life?
When we count our days aright, we will be blessed in many ways. First, we will experience deep satisfaction from knowing God personally, for He satisfies us every morning with His unfailing love (Psalm 90:14). There is no greater satisfaction in life than knowing with certainty that God loves us perfectly. He knows what we need and will give it to us. He will not leave us stranded or forgotten.

Second, even amid affliction, we can experience gladness (Psalm 90:15). We are able to say with Paul, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18). Godly wisdom knows that there is value in suffering, for "suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope" (Romans 5:3-4). We are not victims of circumstances but "patients" of God, who is remaking us into something that is likely to be beyond our imagination!

Third, God's presence in our lives will continue in the following generation (Psalm 90:16). We will be enabled to live wisely so that God's splendour will be shown to our children too. We will have the joy of knowing that God has been at work not only in our lives but also in those who come after us. God is not only the God of Abraham, but also of Isaac and Jacob.
.
Fourth, the work that we do for the Lord will endure (Psalm 90:17). Wisely done labour for the Lord will not be in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). We can have the confidence that it is really God who is at work, putting everything together for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28). Work carried out with godly wisdom will survive into eternity (1 Corinthians 3:14).

In short, the wisdom that we read about in Psalm 90 leads to peace in the heart, even amid setbacks, as we come to know God deeply. Our blessings will endure in the lives of others as we leave behind a legacy in the service we do for the Lord. All this wisdom comes from knowing how to count our days aright.


How should our days on earth be made meaningful and framed by God's eternity?
The ancient St Catherine's monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai marks the spot where Moses (who wrote Psalm 90) met God at the burning bush. Monks have been living there for the last 1,500 years. When they die, they are buried for a while, and then their bones are unearthed and kept in the chapel. Visitors will find heaps of skulls gathered over the centuries. They serve to remind the monks that their days on earth need to be framed by eternity. The skull heaps quietly articulate that ancient prayer: Teach us to count our days (asking for wisdom).

Our churches today have no skull heaps nor graveyards (which are common in old churches across Europe) to give us wisdom, and although some have columbaria, these tend to be disconnected from the regular life of the churches. Still, as congregations, we must collectively and individually seek to live wisely, learning to count down our days, and looking forward to the days that cannot be counted in the "forever" reality of God. As the years pass us by, let us learn to frame our days with the eternity of God.


Examine your own life in this light.
We’re designed by God to know that there’s something more than this brief physical life. Eternity becomes for us either our greatest delight or our greatest dread. It is our greatest possible delight because we can spend eternity in the perfect new universe that God will create. However, eternity can be our greatest dread because without Christ, eternal separation from God is the reality.

The fact is every person will live forever because God has set eternity in our heart (Ecclesiastes 3:11). The issue is where will we spend eternity? The Bible says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life.” (Which means everlasting life in heaven.)

By trusting the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary and accepting him as Lord and Saviour, heaven is the eternal destiny for all who believe. May we call on Christ today. He created us to spend eternity with him.

We "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness" to learn to count our days aright.

When we count our days aright, it helps us to live our remaining days wisely because of the godly wisdom that follows.

With the wisely-lived life, work carried out with godly wisdom will survive into eternity with God.

We can then spend eternity in the perfect new universe that God will create.
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We 'seek first his kingdom and his righteousness' to learn to count our days aright.PHOTO: We "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness" to learn to count our days aright.
When we count our days aright, it helps us to live our remaining days wisely because of the godly wisdom that follows.
With the wisely-lived life, work carried out with godly wisdom will survive into eternity with God.
We can then spend eternity in the perfect new universe that God will create.
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Dear LordPHOTO: "Dear Lord, knowing how to count our days aright helps us to live our remaining days wisely. We learn that when we count our days aright, we will be blessed in many ways.

First, we will experience deep satisfaction from knowing God personally, for He satisfies us every morning with His unfailing love. There is no greater satisfaction in life than knowing with certainty that God loves us perfectly. Thank You for giving us what we need, and will not leave us stranded or forgotten.

Lord, thank You for even amid affliction, we can experience gladness. Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Godly wisdom knows that there is value in suffering, for ‘suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope’. Thank You for remaking us into something that is likely to be beyond our imagination.

We learn that Your presence in our lives will continue in the following generation. You enable us to live wisely so that Your splendour will be shown to our children too. We will have the joy of knowing that You have been at work not only in our lives but also in those who come after us.

Thank You for having our work done for You will endure. Wisely done labour for the Lord will not be in vain. You are at work, putting everything together for our good and Your glory. Also our work carried out with godly wisdom will survive into eternity. These give us peace in the heart, even amid setbacks, as we come to know You deeply.

Our blessings will endure in the lives of others as we leave behind a legacy in the service we do for the Lord. All this wisdom comes from knowing how to count our days aright.

As congregations, help us to collectively and individually seek to live wisely, learning to count down our days, and looking forward to the days that cannot be counted in the ‘forever’ reality of God. As the years pass us by, let us learn to frame our days with the eternity of God.

Teach us to count our days. May all our days be ultimately framed in the ‘forever’ reality of the ‘house of the LORD’.

Lord, You have designed us to know that there’s something more than this brief physical life. But eternity becomes for us either our greatest delight or our greatest dread. It is our greatest possible delight because we can spend eternity in the perfect new universe that You will create. However, eternity can be our greatest dread because without Christ, eternal separation from God is the reality.

We pray for Your help to trust the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary and accepting him as Lord and Saviour, so that heaven is the eternal destiny for all who believe. May we call on Christ today. He created us to spend eternity with him.

We pray that we ‘seek first his kingdom and his righteousness’ to learn to count our days aright. When we can count our days aright, helps us to live our remaining days wisely. With the wisely-lived life, work carried out with godly wisdom will survive into eternity with You. We can then spend eternity in the perfect new universe that You will create.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
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Chapter 33 - Habouring Hope
Question 1 - Reflection - Thinking of Heaven - God of Hope, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/03/reflection-thinking-of-heaven-god-of.html [65]

Question 2 - Reflection - Thinking of Heaven - Living Hope, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/03/reflection-thinking-of-heaven-living.html [66]
 
 

Why is God called the 'God of hope' (Romans 15:13)?
PHOTO: Why is God called the "God of hope" (Romans 15:13)?
Our God is described as the "God of hope" who fills us with joy and peace that we are not able to find elsewhere. Paul prayed for the Christians in Rome, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13). He is the one who gives us endurance and encouragement (Romans 15:5), even as we face the challenges of this life. He can be trusted, and as we do so, He will give us His peace, joy, and hope.


How can a senior find hope in Christ amid worsening circumstances?
Old age brings with it all kinds of challenges, as we have already seen. There are illnesses to struggle with, the sense of the end, perhaps loneliness and depression, and fears regarding the future. But for Christian, who believes in Christ and walks with Him, there is always hope. Christ will have the final say in our lives. And He will say, as God said after creating all things, "It is good". He works all things together for our good. (Romans 8:28), and will give the final verdict, pronouncing what He has created out of the ups and downs of our lives as "Good!".

If He is for us, who can be against us, and what can separate us from His love (Romans 8:31, 35)?

J. I. Packer describes the condition of many old people in Western society, who have no faith and hope:

One of the saddest things today is the number of elderly people who, not being believers, have nothing to look forward to. Their life is fading away. Their bodies are getting feeble and breaking down. They cannot do what they used to, and will never be able to do it again. They feel they are moving deeper into a dark cave with the darkness thickening around them, and no light, or way out, for them at the end. They find living without hope to be an unrelieved burden. They get bitter in heart, and sunk in self-pity and nostalgia. If they become (as, alas, they sometimes do) a misery to others, it is because they first became in this way a misery to themselves. Hopelessness wastes the spirit.

It is a dreadful situation to turn old and helpless without any hope for the future. But for the child of God, there is always hope, because we are moving towards a glorious future. We do not have it yet, nor have we already arrived. It is awaiting us, like light at the end of the tunnel.


How would you help someone who has lost hope?
Robert Browning's poem encourages the old and reminds them of their hope in God.

Grow old along with me
The best is yet to be.
The last of life, for which the first was made;
Our times are in his hand
Who with, "A Whole I planned,
Youth shows but half: trust God: see all, be not afraid.

Paul describes how we wait for our full redemption in Christ, and writes, "For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently" (Romans 8:24-25).

It is with this same spirit that Paul also testified, "Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14). Adam Clarke used stirring words to describe how Paul anticipates impending death: "he now appears, standing on the verge of eternity, full of God, and strongly anticipating an eternity of glory." To die full of God and hope is to die well.

Let us therefore remember the resurrection of Christ and be filled with this "living hope", knowing that in Christ, an inheritance is kept in heaven for us (1 Peter 1:3-4). We would do well to heed the wise advice of Oswald Chambers:

Remember Whose you are and Whom you serve. Provoke yourself by recollection, and your affection for God will increase tenfold; your imagination will not be starved any longer, but will be quick and enthusiastic, and your hope will be inexpressibly bright.
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How would you help someone who has lost hope?
PHOTO: How would you help someone who has lost hope?
Grow old along with me
The best is yet to be.
The last of life, for which the first was made;
Our times are in his hand
Who with, "A Whole I planned,
Youth shows but half: trust God: see all, be not afraid.
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Dear Lord
Dear Lord
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we learn that our God is described as the ‘God of hope’ who fills us with joy and peace that we are not able to find elsewhere. Paul prayed for the Christians in Rome, ‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit’.

Lord, You are the one who gives us endurance and encouragement, even as we face the challenges of this life. You can be trusted, and as we do so, You will give us Your peace, joy, and hope.

Amid worsening circumstances, a Christian senior who believes in Christ and walks with Him, there is always hope. You will have the final say in our lives. As God said after creating all things, ‘It is good’, You work all things together for our good, and will give the final verdict, pronouncing what You have created out of the ups and downs of our lives as ‘Good!’.

Lord, thank You, because if You are for us, who can be against us, and what can separate us from Your love?

We pray for Your help for those who are in dreadful situation to turn old and helpless without any hope for the future. May all the children of God always have hope, and are moving towards a glorious future.

Lord, we pray for those who have lost hope to wait patiently for their full redemption in Christ. This hope will save us, especially those hope for what we do not yet have. Help us to forget what is behind and strain towards what is ahead. Help us to press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenwards in Christ Jesus.

Lord, help us to be like Paul when anticipating impending death, to stand on the verge of eternity, full of God, and strongly anticipating an eternity of glory. And to die full of God and hope is to die well.

We pray that we remember the resurrection of Christ and be filled with this ‘living hope’, knowing that in Christ, an inheritance is kept in heaven for us.

Help us to remember Whose we are and Whom we serve. May we provoke ourselves by recollection, and let our affection for God increase tenfold; our imagination will not be starved any longer, but will be quick and enthusiastic, and our hope will be inexpressibly bright.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
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What does it mean to have a 'iving hope' (1 Peter 1:3) and what sort of inheritance do you think awaits us in heaven?PHOTO: What does it mean to have a "living hope" (1 Peter 1:3) and what sort of inheritance do you think awaits us in heaven?
A pastor in East Malaysia told me about an American missionary couple who had served the Lord in that region for many years, planting churches, discipling many, and blessing countless people. They had retired to America and were in their 80s when some of the Christian leaders in Sabah arranged for them to visit the land of their missionary service. They came with much joy and were greeted by grateful crowds, who fondly thanked them for blessing them greatly. In one place, they lined a street to welcome the missionaries. After the celebrations, the missionary gentleman told the pastor, "You know, after this, there is nothing else to look forward to on earth." Shortly after their return to the US, the man died and went home to the Lord.

The pastor related how for the last 5 years of his life, the missionary spoke increasingly about heaven. Near the end of his life, it was as if there was nothing else he could talk about. This servant of God had a living hope. He knew that his time to leave earth and arrive at his eternal home in Christ was near, and he was excited about it. It was as if he had already "packed his bags" and sent them off to heaven. He was just waiting for the transport.


In what way would it be totally different from our earthly experience?
For the Christian, the future neither holds nothing, nor more of the same; rather, it holds the best, for in the future, there will be no more pain, death, failure, or disappointment, and everything will be renewed by Christ (Revelation 21:4-5).


How does this (living hope) encourage you? Find opportunities to share this with elderly friends and those who are suffering.
We have to learn, with the power of the Holy Spirit, to endure and be encouraged as we wait in eager expectation.

Joni Eareckson Tada, who was paralysed at a young age due to an accident, lives in this way that glorifies God and ministers to many. She wrote about the kind of hope that she had personally experienced through pain, suffering, and disability. "The best we can hope for in this life is a knothole peek at the shining realities ahead. Yet a glimpse is enough. It's enough to convince our hearts that whatever sufferings and sorrows currently assail (torment) us aren't worthy of comparison to that which waits over the horizon."

A Christian who has walked with Christ faithfully till old age would have received more than a fair share of such knothole peeks at the future that awaits us, for God has revealed to us in part what He has prepared for us, beyond our imagination (1 Corinthians 2:9-10). We know that Christ "will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body" (Philippians 3:21).

Let us therefore remember the resurrection of Christ and be filled with this "living hope", knowing that in Christ, an inheritance is kept in heaven for us (1 Peter 1:3-4). We would do well to heed the wise advice of Oswald Chambers:

Remember Whose you are and Whom you serve. Provoke yourself by recollection, and your affection for God will increase tenfold; your imagination will not be starved any longer, but will be quick and enthusiastic, and your hope will be inexpressibly bright.
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Dear Lord
Dear LordPHOTO: "Dear Lord, we learn that having a ‘living hope’ can be an exciting experience especially when near the end of our life. We will speak increasingly about heaven, as if there is nothing else we could talk about. When we know that our time to leave earth and arrive at our eternal home in Christ is near, we become excited. It is as if we have already 'packed our bags' and sent them off to heaven. We are just waiting for the transport.

Thank You Lord, for giving us the eternal home in heaven as our inheritance, which will be totally different from our earthly experience. For the Christian, the future neither holds nothing, nor more of the same; rather, it holds the best, for in the future, there will be no more pain, death, failure, or disappointment, and everything will be renewed by Christ.

This living hope encouraged us by the promise that Christ ‘will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body’, and what He has prepared for us, is beyond our imagination.

Lord, help us to learn, with the power of the Holy Spirit, to endure and be encouraged as we wait in eager expectation.

We pray for a knothole peek at the shining realities ahead. We learn that a glimpse is enough. It's enough to convince our hearts that whatever sufferings and sorrows currently assail us aren't worthy of comparison to that which waits over the horizon.

Lord, help us to remember the resurrection of Christ and be filled with this ‘living hope’, knowing that in Christ, an inheritance is kept in heaven for us.

We pray that we remember Whose we are and Whom we serve. Provoke us by recollection, and let our affection for God increase tenfold. May our imagination will not be starved any longer, but will be quick and enthusiastic. Let our hope be inexpressibly bright, so that we wait in eager expectation amid our earthly experience through pain, suffering, or disability.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
Picture posted by Mohit Sharma on 12 August 2020
https://angelnumbers.net/10-powerful-angel-to-help-you-in-your-life/



Chapter 34 - Being a Blessing
Question 1 - Reflection - Thinking of Heaven - Maturity and being a blessing, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/04/reflection-thinking-of-heaven-maturity.html [67]

Question 2 - Reflection - Thinking of Heaven - Focus on Being a Blessing, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/04/reflection-thinking-of-heaven-focus-on.html [68]
 
 

What has maturity got to do with moving away from self-centredness to focusing on others - God and those around us? PHOTO: What has maturity got to do with moving away from self-centredness to focusing on others - God and those around us?
Most people want to be blessed in life. Fewer people seek to be a blessing in life.

This is not surprising as the self is the most important reality for most people. Everyone is born with a full sense of self. Scientists tell us that a newborn baby is only aware of himself, and that everybody, including the mother, is perceived as an extension of that self. There is no sense of distinction between self and the other. The infant soon recognises others apart from himself. But most children still grow up with the self as the most important reality. They will then tend to use others for their own self-centred purposes and agendas. They also tend to use God in the same way.

Most people begin their journey of faith in the same way. They realise there is a God above themselves, then try to use Him for their own well-being. The medieval monk Bernard of Clairvaux called this "loving God for our own sake".
 
It takes some time in the faith journey before we discover a deeper layer where we learn to "love God for His sake". Between the two stages is a Copernican revolution of sorts, where self is no longer at the centre of our universe. Instead, God takes His rightful place as the central reality of our existence.

When this takes place, we become less self-centred and self-absorbed, and begin to relate to God and others in a self-giving way. When we turn to God in this way, we discover true worship. When we turn to those around us in a self-giving way, we discover true service; we become a blessing to others.


How will this be experienced both in terms of worship (God-centredness) and service (seeking to bless others)?
As we age, we should be discovering these important stages in our spiritual journey. A certain sense of contentment should mark our path. It is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6; Hebrews 13:5) and something we can learn to experience whatever our circumstances (Philippians 4:11-12). This experience of contentment and gratitude becomes the springboard of true service.

When God called Abraham, He told the man, "I will bless those who bless you . . . and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you" (Genesis 12:3). We must note the connection here. God blesses us, and as a result, we become a blessing to others. We are not to become selfish reservoirs, but generous channels through which God's blessings flow into the lives of others.

A geographical lesson from Israel is sometimes used to illustrate this. There are two big lakes in Israel: the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee. The Dead Sea is far below sea level and collects all the water flowing in from the Jordan River. Because the water does not flow out, the lake has become stagnant and lifeless - hence its name.

On the other hand, the Sea of Galilee is teeming with life and has vegetation, towns, and cities on its shores. As it was in Jesus' day, it is a place where fish are caught commercially. The Sea of Galilee has water flowing both into and out. When God called Abraham, He intended the patriarch to be like the Sea of Galilee - being blessed and being a blessing.

Is it possible that in heaven, as each person is called to stand before God, others who have been a blessing to them will also be called to stand alongside? Who would stand with you? These would be people who have blessed you: some well-known, others you didn't even realise were used by God to bless you.

When others are called, will you be called as one who has been blessing to them? Imagine the joy if this happens, especially if you are called upon many times!Picture posted by 123RF
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Dear LordPHOTO: "Dear Lord, we learn that most people want to be blessed in life. Fewer people seek to be a blessing in life.

Scientists tell us that a newborn baby is only aware of himself, and that everybody, including the mother, is perceived as an extension of that self. This is not surprising as the self is the most important reality for most people. Everyone is born with a full sense of self.

There is no sense of distinction between self and the other. The infant soon recognises others apart from himself. But most children still grow up with the self as the most important reality. They will then tend to use others for their own self-centred purposes and agendas.

Lord, we also tend to use God in the same way. We begin our journey of faith in the same way. We realise there is a God above ourselves, then try to use Him for our own well-being. We are ‘loving God for our own sake’.

It takes some time in the faith journey before we discover a deeper layer where we learn to ‘love God for His sake’. Between the two stages is a Copernican revolution of sorts, where self is no longer at the centre of our universe. Instead, God takes His rightful place as the central reality of our existence.

Lord, we pray that this takes place, so that we become less self-centred and self-absorbed, and begin to relate to God and others in a self-giving way. When we turn to God in this way, we discover true worship. When we turn to those around us in a self-giving way, we discover true service; we become a blessing to others.

Lord, as we age, help us to discover these important stages in our spiritual journey. A certain sense of contentment marking our path. We pray that this is great gain and something we can learn to experience whatever our circumstances. This experience of contentment and gratitude to become the springboard of true service.

We learn that when God called Abraham, He told him, ‘I will bless those who bless you . . . and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you’. Lord, You bless us, and as a result, we become a blessing to others. Help us not to become selfish reservoirs, but generous channels through which God's blessings flow into the lives of others.

Help us to be like the Sea of Galilee which has water flowing both into and out, and is teeming with life and has vegetation, towns, and cities on its shores. Help us to be like the Sea of Galilee - being blessed and being a blessing, as You have intended.

Lord, we pray that we would not be like the Dead Sea where it is far below sea level and collects all the water flowing in from the Jordan River. Because the water does not flow out, the lake has become stagnant and lifeless.

Lord, is it possible that in heaven, as each person is called to stand before God, others who have been a blessing to them will also be called to stand alongside? These would be people who have blessed us: some well-known, others we didn't even realise were used by God to bless us.

When others are called, may we be called as one who has been blessing to them. Allow us to have this joy if this happens, especially if we are called upon many times!

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
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How can a senior learn to focus on being a blessing to others?
PHOTO: How can a senior learn to focus on being a blessing to others?
As we age, we have probably collected more blessings than younger people. One popular local saying is: "I have eaten more salt than you have eaten rice," meaning, "I have more experience of life than you". This is often said by an older person to the young. Yes, there are joys and sorrows in life, but blessings come in many forms, and if we paused to count our blessings, we would realise we have an overwhelming number of them. This should create a living stream of gratitude in us, and as Adrian van Kaam and Susan Muto point out, "ageing gracefully is impossible without gratefulness". We may remember Johnson Oatman Junior's hymn,

When upon life's billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

If we have been blessed as such, we should also be thinking of others, and more so as we age. Why not prayerfully thank God for His blessings and start making a list of people in whose lives we can be a blessing? It could be a family member, churchgoer, other seniors, and those we meet in the market, hospital, train, and so many other places.


What everyday opportunities to do this come your way?
How can one be a blessing to others? We may have slowed down in old age but there are still so many ways we can be a blessing to others.

We can be available to others to lean a listening ear, offer a healing or encouraging word, or perform a kind act. We can conduct Bible study with a group, like our family, or with individuals. We can pass good books on for others to read. We can smile when others around us are frowning, or talk to those who are lonely or neglected. We can use our resources for mission work. We can simply pray for others.


Learn to look through the eyes of Jesus and identify those to whom you can be a channel of blessing.
An old proverb states, "There is only one crime worse than murder in the desert, and that is to know where the water is and not tell." We can be a great blessing to others when we make use of opportunities to tell them about the Jesus who save us and satisfies our soul-quenching thirst. A senior could pray like this (from H. Glen Lanier's hymn "For All the Joys of Living"):

Let not the fear of ageing
Consume our future days;
Give us the daily courage, Lord,
To serve in untried ways.

Keep us from weak complaining,
Of years that now are gone;
May insights gained each passing year
Be light to lead us on.


Who are these people (whom we can be a channel of blessing)?
Is it possible that in heaven, as each person is called to stand before God, others who have been a blessing to them will also be called to stand alongside? Who would stand with you? These would be people who have blessed you: some well-known, others you didn't even realise were used by God to bless you.

When others are called, will you be called as one who has been blessing to them? Those people could be a family member, churchgoer, other seniors, and those we meet in the market, hospital, train, and so many other places.

Imagine the joy if this happens, especially if you are called upon many times!
 

As we age, we have probably collected more blessings than younger people.PHOTO: As we age, we have probably collected more blessings than younger people. There are joys and sorrows in life, but blessings come in many forms, and if we paused to count our blessings, we would realise we have an overwhelming number of them. This should create a living stream of gratitude in us, and as Adrian van Kaam and Susan Muto point out, "ageing gracefully is impossible without gratefulness".
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Dear Lord
Dear Lord
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, help us to be thinking of others, and more so as we age. While we count our blessings, create a living stream of gratitude in us. May we prayerfully thank God for His blessings and start making a list of people in whose lives we can be a blessing.

Lord help us to be available to others to lean a listening ear, offer a healing or encouraging word, or perform a kind act. We can conduct Bible study with a group, like our family, or with individuals. We can pass good books on for others to read. We can smile when others around us are frowning, or talk to those who are lonely or neglected. We can use our resources for mission work. We can simply pray for others.

We pray that we can look through the eyes of Jesus and identify those to whom we can be a channel of blessing. Help us to be a great blessing to others when we make use of opportunities to tell them about the Jesus who save us and satisfies our soul-quenching thirst.

Lord, may it be possible that in heaven, as each person is called to stand before God, others who have been a blessing to them will also be called to stand alongside. These would be people who have blessed us: some well-known, others we didn't even realise were used by God to bless us.

Lord, when others are called, may we be called as one who has been blessing to them. Those people could be a family member, churchgoer, other seniors, and those we meet in the market, hospital, train, and so many other places.

Allow us to have the joy if this happens, especially if we are called upon many times.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
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Chapter 35 - Leaving a Legacy
Question 1 - Reflection - Thinking of Heaven - Leaving a Legacy, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/04/reflection-thinking-of-heaven-leaving.html [69]

Question 2 - Reflection - Thinking of Heaven - Legacies That Bring Glory to God, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/04/reflection-thinking-of-heaven-legacies.html [70]



Reflect on the legacy that Jesus left behind.
PHOTO: Reflect on the legacy that Jesus left behind.
In short, His teachings and His church. Jesus declared, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away" (Matthew 24:35). He also said, "I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it" (Matthew 16:18).

The Lord encountered crowds, which were a common feature of His relatively short ministry on earth. Among these, He left behind many who were touched by His ministry - the blind, lame, dumb, and even those who had died and were raised by Him. More importantly, Jesus left behind disciples. There were 120 believers in the Upper Room (Acts 1:15) who waited for Pentecost. Of these, Jesus particularly trained the Twelve, and spent considerable time with them. The apostles spread the gospel around the world, wrote or were instrumental in the writing of the Scriptures, and died as martyrs. They were not the best of men, but Jesus did His miracle of transforming them, correcting their blindness and slowness of spirit. Jesus gave His disciples three realities.

First, He gave them His Holy Spirit. The Spirit is connected to Jesus. He promised them the filling of the Spirit (which was achieved at Pentecost, and this filling transformed the apostles). The Spirit would produce holiness in them (the character of Christ) and enable them to carry on the ministry of Jesus. The Spirit of Jesus is His lasting legacy because the Holy Spirit will be with us forever (John 14:16).

While we are not Jesus, and we do not impart the Holy Spirit like Jesus did, nevertheless, the lesson for us is that we can leave behind the spirit that characterised our lives - the legacy we leave behind represents our character, attitudes, ministry, and so on - it is a living legacy.

Second, Jesus gave His disciples His teachings. Jesus taught with authority, like no other (Mark 1:22). He left behind a certain worldview, a certain way of looking at the Old Testament, and a certain way of faith and life. All this is concretely captured in the New Testament. Jesus left behind His Word. The implication for us is that we too can leave behind what shaped our lives - our beliefs, values, principles, and precepts for living.

Third, Jesus left behind His peace to His disciples. The risen Jesus greeted His disciples with "Peace be with you" (Luke 24:36; John 20:19, 26). Jesus did not promise a stress-free life; there will be troubles. In John 16:33, He says that "in this world you will have trouble" but also that "in me you may have peace". This is the legacy that Jesus has left behind that has inspired so many and has been demonstrated in the lives of so many down the centuries.


What personal lessons are there for you?
Jesus left behind a people and His Word that He gave to them. He also gave them His Spirit and His peace. If these are the emphases (significance) of Jesus, should they not be reflected in our own legacies - in how we invest our lives and spend our days and energies?

Eugene Bianchi suggests, "Perhaps the most beautiful legacy that ageing parents can leave their children is a personally lived lesson about facing old age and death with courage and grace." We can think of both biological and spiritual children here.


What do your reflections tell you about how you should live and what you should focus on?
Adam Clarke wrote of believers in Christ, you "are immortal till your work is done." This statement was deeply encouraging to me when I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2012. My doctors were ready to perform surgery, but I sought a second opinion overseas on the biopsy results. Three weeks later, the second opinion came back, saying it was not likely to be cancer. The surgery was thankfully cancelled.

The experience led me to reflect on why God keeps us alive. I realised that our work is really the result of God's work. Every new day, we should ask ourselves, why has God kept me alive today? I have learned two answers to that question. First, God's work in me is not over - this has to do with my becoming Christlike. Second, God's work through me is not over - this has to do with my ministry for Christ. On the day God take me home, I will know that His work in me and through me is finished - to His glory.

What a splendid truth! Because God is working in us and through us, as we cooperate with God and let Him reproduce Christ's character and ministry in our lives, we will leave behind a living legacy shaped by His grace and power.
 
 

Dear Lord
Dear Lord
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we learn that Jesus did not have the kind of things that people usually associate with a legacy. He did not leave behind a family (wife and children), house, property, bank account, business, monument, portrait, book, physical remnant, or gravestone.

He, was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village, where He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or a home. He didn't go to college. He never visited a big city. He never travelled two hundred miles from the place where He was born. He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself.

He was only thirty-three when the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves.

While He was dying, His executioners gambled for His garments, the only property He had on earth. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

Nineteen centuries have come and gone, and today He is the central figure of the human race. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not effected the life of man on this earth as much as that One Solitary Life.

The legacy that Jesus left behind are His teachings, His church, and His disciples. He left behind many who were touched by His ministry - the blind, lame, dumb, and even those who had died and were raised by Him. The apostles spread the gospel around the world, wrote or were instrumental in the writing of the Scriptures, and died as martyrs. They were not the best of men, but Jesus did His miracle of transforming them, correcting their blindness and slowness of spirit. Jesus gave His disciples three realities.

First, He gave them His Holy Spirit. The Spirit would produce holiness in them (the character of Christ) and enable them to carry on the ministry of Jesus. The Spirit of Jesus is His lasting legacy because the Holy Spirit will be with us forever.

Lord, while we are not Jesus, and we do not impart the Holy Spirit like Jesus did, nevertheless help us to leave behind the spirit that characterised our lives - the legacy we leave behind represents our character, attitudes, ministry, and so on - it is a living legacy.

Second, Jesus gave His disciples His teachings. Jesus left behind His Word. Lord, we pray that we too can leave behind what shaped our lives - our beliefs, values, principles, and precepts for living.

Third, Jesus left behind His peace to His disciples. Jesus did not promise a stress-free life; there will be troubles. He says that ‘in this world you will have trouble’ but also that ‘in me you may have peace’.

This is the legacy that Jesus has left behind that has inspired so many and has been demonstrated in the lives of so many down the centuries. Jesus left behind a people and His Word that He gave to them. He also gave them His Spirit and His peace. Lord, we pray that these emphases of Jesus be reflected in our own legacies - in how we invest our lives and spend our days and energies. Perhaps the most beautiful legacy that ageing parents can leave their children is a personally lived lesson about facing old age and death with courage and grace.

Lord, let our reflections tell us about how we should live and what we should focus on. Help us to reflect on why God keeps us alive. Help us to realise that our work is really the result of God's work. May we ask ourselves, why God kept us alive every new day?

We learned that there are two answers to that question. First, God's work in us is not over - this has to do with our becoming Christlike. Second, God's work through us is not over - this has to do with our ministry for Christ. On the day God take us home, we will know that His work in us and through us is finished - to His glory.

Lord, help us to cooperate with God and let Him reproduce Christ's character and ministry in our lives. May we leave behind a living legacy shaped by His grace and power.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
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Think of some people you knew who have departed from this life, and who have left behind a good legacy.
PHOTO: Think of some people you knew who have departed from this life, and who have left behind a good legacy.
According to Mose Niccky, A Positive Mind Blogger, some of the leaders who have left the biggest legacy include
  • Albert Einstein (1879-1955) ...
  • Marie Curie (1867-1934) ...

What features of their legacy do you appreciate?
Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
The Nobel Prize-winning German theoretical physicist is responsible for developing the theory of relativity. Not only that, but the famously eccentric genius also came up with the mass-energy equivalence formula, E = mc². In 1921, he received the Nobel Prize in Physics, having discovered the law of the photoelectric effect. This was to become pivotal in the evolution of quantum theory.

E = mc², is the world's most famous equation, but what does it really mean? "Energy equals mass times the speed of light squared." On the most basic level, the equation says that energy and mass (matter) are interchangeable; they are different forms of the same thing. In terms of SI base units of energy, joule is equal to a kilogram times meter squared divided by a second squared (kg×m²×s‾²).

Many everyday devices, from smoke detectors to exit signs, also host an ongoing, invisible fireworks of E = mc² transformations. Radiocarbon dating, which archaeologists use to date ancient material, is yet another application of the formula.
 
Marie Curie (1867-1934)
Marie Skłodowska Curie, the Polish physicist and chemist became famous for her work conducting pioneering research on radioactivity. She discovered two new chemicals, radium and polonium and used her knowledge to carry out the first research into treating tumours with radiation. She was the first woman to earn a Nobel Prize, the only woman to earn it twice and the first person to earn one in two separate sciences.

When World War I broke out in 1914, Curie devoted her time and resources to help the cause with development of X-rays. She championed the use of portable X-ray machines in the field, and these medical vehicles earned the nickname "Little Curies."

Curie died on July 4, 1934, of aplastic anemia, believed to be caused by prolonged exposure to radiation. She was known to carry test tubes of radium around in the pocket of her lab coat. Her many years working with radioactive materials took a toll on her health.


What do they (features of their legacy) say about their beliefs, values, relationships, and priorities in life?
Radioactivity is E = mc2 in miniature. Einstein himself suspected this even as he devised the equation. In the 1905 paper in which he introduced E = mc2 to the world, he suggested that it might be possible to test his theory about the equation using radium, an ounce of which, as Marie Curie had discovered not long before, continuously emits 4,000 calories of heat per hour. Einstein believed that radium was constantly converting part of its mass to energy exactly as his equation specified. He was eventually proved right.

Einstein received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics "for his services to theoretical physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect". He published a paper on general relativity in 1916, introducing his theory of gravitation. In 1917, he applied the general theory of relativity to model the structure of the universe.

Albert Einstein was a civil rights activist before the civil rights movement. He was a strong supporter of civil rights and free speech. When W.E.B. Du Bois was indicted in 1951 as an unregistered agent for a foreign power, Einstein volunteered to testify as a character witness on his behalf. After Du Bois’s lawyer informed the court that Einstein would appear, the judge decided to dismiss the case. His legacies and many other achievements were enough to convince the judge his righteousness.

Around 1911, Curie joined with other famous scientists, including Albert Einstein and Max Planck, to attend the first Solvay Congress in Physics and discuss the many groundbreaking discoveries in their field. These ultimately benefited the world and its future generations.

The legacies they leave behind represents their character, attitudes and ministry - it is a living legacy. They leave behind what shaped their lives - their beliefs, values, principles, relationships, priorities in life, and precepts for living. These are the legacies left behind which have inspired so many and have been demonstrated in the lives of so many down the centuries.


How do these legacies bring glory to God?
Einstein, instead of being a relic, may have been too far ahead of his time. The strong force, a major piece of any unified field theory, was still a total mystery in Einstein’s lifetime. Only in the 1970s and ’80s did physicists begin to unravel the secret of the strong force with the quark model. Nevertheless, Einstein’s work continues to win Nobel Prizes for succeeding physicists. In 1993 a Nobel Prize was awarded to the discoverers of gravitation waves, predicted by Einstein. In 1995 a Nobel Prize was awarded to the discoverers of Bose-Einstein condensates (a new form of matter that can occur at extremely low temperatures). Known black holes now number in the thousands. New generations of space satellites have continued to verify the cosmology of Einstein. And many leading physicists are trying to finish Einstein’s ultimate dream of a “theory of everything.”

Through a series of sophisticated “thought experiments,” Einstein tried to find logical inconsistencies in the quantum theory, particularly its lack of a deterministic mechanism. Einstein would often say that “God does not play dice with the universe.”

Einstein starts off with a beautiful piece of mathematics that's based on some very deep insights into the way the universe works and then, from that, makes predictions about what ought to happen in the world. That's one of the legacies — that we thought was the power of human creativity in the sciences, is actually what Einstein himself might have said, 'to know the mind of God.' The legacy could only shed some light on God's creation - how we derived heat from the sun, that shows no sign of diminishing.

Like Einstein, Curie made many breakthroughs in her lifetime. Remembered as a leading figure in science and a role model for women, she has received numerous posthumous honours. Several educational and research institutions and medical centers bear the Curie name, including the Curie Institute and Pierre and Marie Curie University (UPMC).

The legacies of Einstein, Marie Curie, and other Physicists bring glory to God by contributing to the evolution of quantum theory, and their work in Physics such as radioactivity. On the day God take them home, His work in them and through them are finished - to His glory.

Because God is working in us and through us, as we cooperate with God and let Him reproduce Christ's character and ministry in our lives, we will leave behind a living legacy shaped by His grace and power.
Picture posted by Brooke Dibble
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https://www.brookedibble.blog/beauty-beast-2017-new-poster/
 

Albert Einstein was a civil rights activist before the civil rights movement.
PHOTO: Albert Einstein was a civil rights activist before the civil rights movement. He was a strong supporter of civil rights and free speech. When W.E.B. Du Bois was indicted in 1951 as an unregistered agent for a foreign power, Einstein volunteered to testify as a character witness on his behalf. After Du Bois’s lawyer informed the court that Einstein would appear, the judge decided to dismiss the case. His legacies and many other achievements were enough to convince the judge his righteousness.
Picture posted by valvalent on Tuesday, 27 December 2016 at 20:58:00
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https://tvorchestvof.blogspot.com/2016/ 
 

The legacies they leave behind represents their character, attitudes and ministry - it is a living legacy.
PHOTO: The legacies they leave behind represents their character, attitudes and ministry - it is a living legacy. They leave behind what shaped their lives - their beliefs, values, principles, relationships, priorities in life, and precepts for living. These are the legacies left behind which have inspired so many and have been demonstrated in the lives of so many down the centuries.
Picture posted by The Nobel Prize on 2019 - Marie Curie on her first encounter with Pierre Curie on ValentinesDay
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Dear LordPHOTO: "Dear Lord, we learn that some of the leaders who have left the biggest legacy include Albert Einstein (1879-1955) and Marie Curie (1867-1934).

We appreciate Albert Einstein for developing the theory of relativity, and his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect. This was to become pivotal in the evolution of quantum theory.

Many everyday devices, from smoke detectors to exit signs, also host an ongoing, invisible fireworks of E = mc² transformations. Radiocarbon dating, which archaeologists use to date ancient material, is yet another application of the formula.

We appreciate too, Marie Skłodowska Curie, the Polish physicist and chemist for her work conducting pioneering research on radioactivity. She discovered two new chemicals, radium and polonium and used her knowledge to carry out the first research into treating tumours with radiation. When World War I broke out in 1914, Curie devoted her time and resources to help the cause with development of X-rays. She championed the use of portable X-ray machines in the field.

Einstein suggested that it might be possible to test his theory about the equation using radium, an ounce of which, as Marie Curie had discovered not long before, continuously emits 4,000 calories of heat per hour. Einstein believed that radium was constantly converting part of its mass to energy exactly as his equation specified. He was eventually proved right.

When W.E.B. Du Bois was indicted in 1951 as an unregistered agent for a foreign power, Einstein volunteered to testify as a character witness on his behalf. After Du Bois’s lawyer informed the court that Einstein would appear, the judge decided to dismiss the case. His legacies and many other achievements were enough to convince the judge his righteousness.

Around 1911, Curie joined with other famous scientists, including Albert Einstein and Max Planck, to attend the first Solvay Congress in Physics and discuss the many groundbreaking discoveries in their field.

The legacies they leave behind represents their character, attitudes and ministry - it is a living legacy. They leave behind what shaped their lives - their beliefs, values, principles, relationships, priorities in life, and precepts for living. These are the legacies left behind which have inspired so many and have been demonstrated in the lives of so many down the centuries.

Lord, we learn that through a series of sophisticated “thought experiments,” Einstein tried to find logical inconsistencies in the quantum theory, particularly its lack of a deterministic mechanism. But he would often say that ‘God does not play dice with the universe.’

The legacies — that we thought was the power of human creativity in the sciences, is actually what Einstein himself might have said, 'to know the mind of God.' Their legacies merely shed some light on God's creations.

Lord, like Einstein, Curie made many breakthroughs in her lifetime. Remembered as a leading figure in science and a role model for women, she has received numerous posthumous honours. Several educational and research institutions and medical centers bear the Curie name.

The legacies of Einstein, Marie Curie, and other Physicists bring glory to You by contributing to the evolution of quantum theory, and their work in Physics such as radioactivity. On the day You take them home, Your work in them and through them are finished - to Your glory.

Lord, we pray that You continue working in us and through us. Help us to cooperate with You and let You reproduce Christ's character and ministry in our lives. May we leave behind a living legacy shaped by Your grace and power.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
Picture posted by Brooke Dibble
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From "Growing Old Gracefully", Following Jesus to the End, Copyright © 2019 by Robert M. Solomon, ISBN 978-981-14-1836-5, "Epilogue", Page 237-239.


What good is it to live a long life when we amend that life so little?
What good is it to live a long life when we amend that life so little?
PHOTO: "What good is it to live a long life when we amend that life so little?" Thomas à Kempis asks this thought-provoking question in his classic The Imitation of Christ. [122] The question is important and it will either make someone try harder or give up completely.
Picture from Thinkstock
Picture posted by Nanci Hellmich, USA TODAY on 23 May 2015 at 09:00 am ET - Taking the steps to your best life in retirement
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https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2015/05/23/making-the-transition-to-retirement/26702909/


Epilogue
"What good is it to live a long life when we amend that life so little?" Thomas à Kempis asks this thought-provoking question in his classic The Imitation of Christ. [122] The question is important and it will either make someone try harder or give up completely.

Imagine you are stuck in traffic, inching forward at a crawling pace that tests your patience. What if you give up and pull up by the side of the road? Life can be like that. You find that you are not making much progress. In spite of listening to countless sermons and inspiring talks, you find that your life has become stagnant. Old age can bring with it increasing scepticism, and you may just give up the whole "spiritual journey thing", and just seek to enjoy life as it comes (A note to preachers: how important it is to learn how to preach edifying (providing moral or intellectual instruction) and meaningful sermons to seniors in the church). [123]

But if you persist and remain in the journey, you will make progress, no matter how slow or small. After a jam, the traffic inevitably starts flowing again, and you will eventually reach your destination. The key is to stay in the journey, and in the Christian life, this is done through obedience, the putting into practice of whatever we hear from God.

At the end of His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Jesus told the parable of the two men who build their houses. The wise man builds his house on solid rock, while the foolish man takes the easy way out and builds his house on the sand. Eventually it rains heavily, and the flood waters rise. The house on the rock remains standing while the other one collapses.

The difference between the two builders is explained by Jesus. "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house o the rock . . . But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand" (Matthew 7:24, 26). The difference is whether we put into practice what we hear.

The apostle Paul says the same thing, with an appeal to urgent and consistent action. "Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me - everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you" (Philippians 4:9 NLT).

As age catches up with us, we do not have the luxury of time. We must avoid the situation where we are "always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 3:7). We can only grow in our knowledge of truth through faith and obedience that are consistently exercised. J. I. Packer, the wise and aged theologian, advises that in the last lap of our lives, we must "live for God one day at a time", remembering the line from a hymn written in 1674 b Bishop Thomas Ken - "Live each day as if thy last". [124]

Even to your old age and grey hairs
I am He, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you. (Isaiah 46:4)

Let us therefore gain insight and our true inheritance in Christ. In the words of Dag Hammarskjöld, we can say with gratitude to God and hope in Christ, "Night is drawing nigh; for all that has been, thanks; for all that shall be, yes." [125]
 

If you persist and remain in the journey, you will make progress, no matter how slow or small.
If you persist and remain in the journey, you will make progress, no matter how slow or small.
PHOTO: If you persist and remain in the journey, you will make progress, no matter how slow or small. After a jam, the traffic inevitably starts flowing again, and you will eventually reach your destination. The key is to stay in the journey, and in the Christian life, this is done through obedience, the putting into practice of whatever we hear from God.
Let us therefore gain insight and our true inheritance in Christ. In the words of Dag Hammarskjöld, we can say with gratitude to God and hope in Christ, "Night is drawing nigh; for all that has been, thanks; for all that shall be, yes."
Picture posted by Highland Lakes church of Christ on 12 May 2018 - GROWING OLD, GRACEFULLY
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https://hlcoc.org/2018/05/12/growing-old-gracefully/

Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully (Links) (2020)
Source (book): "Growing Old Gracefully", Following Jesus to the End
By Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012
 
 
Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part I - III (Links), posted on Wednesday, 09 December 2020
Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part I - III (Links), posted on Wednesday, 09 December 2020
 



 
Also from the same author, Robert M. Solomon

"Faithful to the end", A Preacher's Exposition of 2 Timothy, @ 2014 by Robert M. Solomon

'Faithful to the end', A Preacher's Exposition of 2 Timothy, @ 2014 by Robert M. Solomon<br>
Reflection - Faithful to the end (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2017/06/reflection-faithful-to-end-links.html


"Finding rest for the soul" Responding to Jesus' Invitation in Matthew 11:28-29, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2018/10/reflection-finding-rest-for-soul-links.html


"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

'Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-i.html


"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

'Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-iv.html

 
"Songs of Christmas", The Stories and Significance of 20 Well-Loved Carols, © 2018 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020
Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/04/reflection-songs-of-christmas-links.html
 


Reference
[1] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Journey - Our Origins and Destination, posted on Saturday, 02 May 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/05/reflection-spiritual-journey-our.html

[2] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Journey - Ultimate Christian Destination, posted on Wednesday, 06 May 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/05/reflection-spiritual-journey-ultimate.html

[3] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Journey - Methods of Satan and the Sinful World, posted on Thursday, 14 May 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/05/reflection-spiritual-journey-methods-of.html

[4] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Journey - Staying on Course, posted on Monday, 18 May 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/05/reflection-spiritual-journey-staying-on.html
 
[5] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Journey - God's Holiness and Glory, posted on Sunday, 24 May, 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/05/reflection-spiritual-journey-gods.html

[6] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Journey - Good Deeds and Godly Motives, posted on Saturday, 30 May 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/05/reflection-spiritual-journey-good-deeds.html
 
[7] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Journey - Christian's Passion in Early Years, posted on Saturday, 06 June 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/06/reflection-spiritual-journey-christians_6.html

[8] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Journey - Older Christian's Loss of Spiritual Passion, posted on Tuesday, 09 June 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/06/reflection-spiritual-journey-older.html

[9] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Journey - Life lived According to Various Philosophies, posted on Tuesday, 16 June 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/06/reflection-spiritual-journey-life-lived.html
 
[10] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Journey - Being with Jesus, posted on Friday, 19 June 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/06/reflection-spiritual-journey-being-with.html

[11] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Journey - Christlikeness is God's highest purpose, posted on Wednesday, 24 June 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/06/reflection-spiritual-journey.html

[12] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Journey - Keep Our Eyes Fixed on Jesus, posted on Sunday, 05 July 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/07/reflection-spiritual-journey-keep-our.html
 
[13] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Journey - Personal Convictions, posted on Friday, 17 July 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/07/reflection-spiritual-journey-personal.html
 
[14] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Journey - Strengthening Convictions, posted on Sunday, 12 July 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/07/reflection-spiritual-journey.html
 
[15] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Journey - Growing Wise, posted on Monday, 20 July 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/07/reflection-spiritual-journey-growing.html

[16] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Reflection - Spiritual Journey - Jesus definition of a Wise Man, posted on Wednesday, 22 July 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/07/reflection-spiritual-journey-jesus.html
 
[17] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Journey - Becoming Loving, posted on Monday, 27 July 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/07/reflection-spiritual-journey-becoming.html

[18] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Journey - Showing Love for God, posted on Sunday, 02 August 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/08/reflection-spiritual-journey-showing.html
 
[19] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Habits - Reading the Bible Deeply, posted on Friday, 07 August 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/08/reflection-spiritual-habits-reading.html
 
[20] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Habits - Factors Affecting Reading the Bible Deeply, posted on Tuesday, 11 August 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/08/reflection-spiritual-habits-factors.html

[21] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Habits - The Lord's Prayer, posted on Tuesday, 18 August 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/08/reflection-spiritual-habits-lords-prayer.html
 
[22] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Habits - Discovering the Secrets of Prayer, posted on Thursday, 20 August 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/08/reflection-spiritual-habits-discovering.html
 
[23] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Habits - Hearing God Afresh, posted on Saturday, 22 August 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/08/reflection-spiritual-habits-hearing-god.html
 
[24] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Habits - How God Speaks to Us, posted on Thursday, 27 August 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/08/reflection-spiritual-habits-how-god.html
 
[25] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Habits - Consecrating Life, posted on Tuesday, 01 September 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/09/reflection-spiritual-habits.html
 
[26] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Habits - Un-consecrated Lives, posted on Friday, 04 September 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/09/reflection-spiritual-habits-un.html
 
[27] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Habits - Worshipping Wholeheartedly, posted on Friday, 11 September 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/09/reflection-spiritual-habits-worshipping.html
 
[28] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Habits - Distractions in Serving God Wholeheartedly, posted on Wednesday, 16 September 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/09/reflection-spiritual-habits_16.html
 
[29] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Habits - Finding Community, posted on Monday, 28 September 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/09/reflection-spiritual-habits-finding.html

[30] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Habits - Strengthening Bonds with Communities, posted on Thursday, 01 October 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/10/reflection-spiritual-habits.html

[31] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Habits - Having a Ministry Mindset, posted on Monday, 05 October 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/10/reflection-spiritual-habits-having.html
 
[32] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Spiritual Habits - Minister to others, posted on Thursday, 08 October 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/10/reflection-spiritual-habits-minister-to.html
 
[33] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Redemptive Relationships - Losing Humanness, posted on Wednesday, 14 October 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/10/reflection-redemptive-relationships.html
 
[34] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Redemptive Relationships - Becoming Truly Human, posted on Tuesday, 20 October 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/10/reflection-redemptive-relationships_20.html
 
[35] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Redemptive Relationships - Friendship, posted on Sunday, 25 October 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/10/reflection-redemptive-relationships_25.html
 
[36] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Redemptive Relationships - Four Seasons of Friendship, posted on Thursday, 29 October 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/10/reflection-redemptive-relationships_29.html
 
[37] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Redemptive Relationships - Engaging and Enjoying the Family, posted on Wednesday, 04 November 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/11/reflection-redemptive-relationships.html
 
[38] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Redemptive Relationships - Family Relationship, posted on Tuesday, 10 November, 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/11/reflection-redemptive-relationships_10.html
 
[39] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Redemptive Relationships - Mentoring the Next Generation, posted on Saturday, 14 November 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/11/reflection-redemptive-relationships_14.html
 
[40] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Redemptive Relationships - Mentoring Core Teaching, posted on Tuesday, 17 November 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/11/reflection-redemptive-relationships_17.html
 
[41] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Redemptive Relationships - Redemptive Conversations, posted on Wednesday, 25 November 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/11/reflection-redemptive-relationships_25.html
 
[42] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Redemptive Relationships - Redemptive Conversations, posted on Wednesday, 25 November 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/11/reflection-redemptive-relationships_25.html
 
[43] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Redemptive Relationships - Intercessory Prayer, posted on Sunday, 06 December, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-redemptive-relationships.html
 
[44] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Redemptive Relationships - Praying for Others, posted on Tuesday, 08 December 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-redemptive-relationships_8.html
 
[45] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Health and Frailties - Importance of Good Health, posted on Thursday, 17 December 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-health-and-frailties.html
 
[46] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Health and Frailties - Health and Pursuit of God, posted on Saturday, 19 December 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-health-and-frailties-health.html

[47] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Health and Frailties - The despairs of Ageing, posted on Thursday, 24 December 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-health-and-frailties_24.html

[48] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Health and Frailties - Encouraging Ageing Christians, posted on Friday, December 25, 2020, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-health-and-frailties_25.html
 
[49] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Health and Frailties - Pain and Suffering, posted on Tuesday, 05 January 2021, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/01/reflection-health-and-frailties-pain.html
 
[50] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Health and Frailties - God's Presence, Promise, and People, posted on Wednesday, 06 January 2021, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/01/reflection-health-and-frailties-gods.html
 
[51] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Health and Frailties - The Fear of Death, posted on Friday, 15 January 2021, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/01/reflection-health-and-frailties-fear-of.html
 
[52] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Health and Frailties - Overcoming the Fear of Death, posted on Sunday, 17 January 2021, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/01/reflection-health-and-frailties.html
 
[53] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Health and Frailties - Bereavement and Loneliness, posted on Sunday, 24 January 2021, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/01/reflection-health-and-frailties_24.html
 
[54] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Health and Frailties - Struggling with Loneliness, posted on Tuesday, 26 January 2021, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/01/reflection-health-and-frailties_26.html
 
[55] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Health and Frailties - Dealing with Depression, posted on Wednesday, 03 February 2021, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/02/reflection-health-and-frailties-dealing.html
 
[56] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Health and Frailties - Turn to Christ for help with Depression, posted on Thursday, 04 February 2021, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/02/reflection-health-and-frailties-turn-to.html
 
[57] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Health and Frailties - Losing Our Memory, posted on Wednesday, 10 February  2021, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/02/reflection-health-and-frailties-losing.html
 
[58] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Health and Frailties - Christian memory and the Church, posted on Saturday, 13 February 2021, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/02/reflection-health-and-frailties.html 

[59] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Thinking of Heaven - Common Fears of Death, posted on Wednesday, 24 February 2021, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/02/reflection-thinking-of-heaven-common.html
 
[60] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Thinking of Heaven - How would Peter die, posted on Saturday, 27 February 2021, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/02/reflection-thinking-of-heaven-how-would.html
 
[61] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Thinking of Heaven - What Will Heaven Be Like, posted on Tuesday, 02 March 2021, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/03/reflection-thinking-of-heaven-what-will.html
 
[62] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Thinking of Heaven - How Senior Think About Heaven, posted on Wednesday, 03 March 2021, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/03/reflection-thinking-of-heaven-how.html
 
[63] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Thinking of Heaven - Counting Our Days Aright, posted on Saturday, 13 March 2021, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/03/reflection-thinking-of-heaven-counting.html
 
[64] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Thinking of Heaven - A Wisely-Lived Life, posted on Saturday, 13 March 2021, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/03/reflection-thinking-of-heaven-counting.html
 
[65] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Thinking of Heaven - God of Hope, posted on Wednesday, 24 March 2021, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/03/reflection-thinking-of-heaven-god-of.html
 
[66] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Thinking of Heaven - Living Hope, posted on Saturday, 27 March 2021, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/03/reflection-thinking-of-heaven-living.html
 
[67] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Thinking of Heaven - Maturity and being a blessing, posted on Saturday, 03 April 2021, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/04/reflection-thinking-of-heaven-maturity.html
 
[68] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Thinking of Heaven - Focus on Being a Blessing, posted on Monday, 05 April 2021, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/04/reflection-thinking-of-heaven-focus-on.html
 
[69] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Thinking of Heaven - Leaving a Legacy, posted on Wednesday, 14 April 2021, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/04/reflection-thinking-of-heaven-leaving.html
 
[70] Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012, Reflection - Thinking of Heaven - Legacies That Bring Glory to God, posted on Wednesday, 21 April 2021, https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/04/reflection-thinking-of-heaven-legacies.html
 
[101] Frits de Lange, Loving Later Life; An Ethics of Aging (Grand Rapids: William B.Eerdmans, 2015), 4. See also Heather E. Dillaway and Mary Byrnes, "Reconsidering Successful Aging: A Call for Renewed and Expanded Academic Critiques and Conceptualizations", Journal of Applied Gerontology 28, no. 6 (December 2009), 702-722.

[102] Carole Bailey Stoneking, "Modernity: The Social Construction of Aging", in Growing Old in Christ, eds. (editors) Stanley Hauerwas, Carole Bailey Stoneking, Keith G. Meador, and David Cloutier (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 2003), 63.

[103] See Robert Raines, A Time to Live: Seven Tasks of Creative Aging (New York: Dutton, 1997), where he lists the seven tasks: waking up (to our mortality and spiritual needs), embracing sorrow (acknowledging losses and pain and growing in compassion). savouring blessedness (remembering how we have been blessed and can be a blessing), re-imagining work (fulfilling vocation), nurturing intimacy (with family and friends), seeking forgiveness entering old age with minimum baggage), and taking on the mystery (accepting life and death and exploring the ultimate meaning of life with thanksgiving and hope). See also Kenneth Stokes, "A Growing Faith After 60", Alert 12, no. 4 (1983), 11-13, where he mentions four faith tasks of older adulthood: adjusting to retirement and loss of power, keeping mentally and spiritually alert, adjusting to changing cultural values and patterns, and personal  preparation for death.

[104] R.  Paul Stevens, Aging Matters: Finding Your Calling for the Rest of Your Life (Grand Rapids: William B Eerdmans, 2006), 67; Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives (San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1988), 156.

[105] Ibid. (in the same source), 15.

[106] Gordon MacDonald, Who Stole My Church? What to Do When the Church You Love Tries to Enter the 21st Century (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2007).

[107] Henri J. M. Nouwen and Walter J. Gaffney, Aging: The Fulfillment of Life (Garden City, NY: Image Books, 1976), 154.

[108] George MacDonald, "The Marquis of Lossie", in Dephi Complete Works of George MacDonald, (Hastings, England: Delphi, 2015), 5832.

[122] Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, ed. Harold C Gardiner (New York: Doubleday, 2009), 1:23, 1:33.

[123] See William J. Carl Jr., ed., Graying Gracefully: Preachig to Older Adults (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knot Press, 1997). The book is a collection of essays on the topic and model sermons.

[124] J. I. Packer, Finishing Our Course with Joy: Guidance from God for Engaging with Our Aging (Wheaton: Crossway, 2014), 22.

[125] Hammarskjöld, Markings, 89.


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Exodus 17:8-16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+17%3A8-16&version=NIV

Ezekiel 36:26 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+36%3A26&version=NIV

Galatians 2:20 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+2%3A20&version=NIV

Galatians 4:13-15; 6:11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+4%3A13-15%3B+6%3A11&version=NIV

Galatians 5:19 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5%3A19&version=NIV

Galatians 5:22-23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5%3A22-23&version=NIV

Galatians 6:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+6%3A17&version=NIV

Genesis 1:27 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1%3A27&version=NIV

Genesis 2:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+2%3A17&version=NIV

Genesis 3:5 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3%3A5&version=NIV

Genesis 3:6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3%3A6&version=NIV

Genesis 3:8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3%3A8&version=NIV

Genesis 5 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+5&version=NIV

Genesis 5:21-24 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+5%3A21-24&version=NIV

Genesis 8:1; 19:29; 30:22 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+8%3A1%3B+19%3A29%3B+30%3A22&version=NIV

Genesis 12:2 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+12%3A2&version=NIV

Genesis 12:3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+12%3A3&version=NIV

Genesis 12:11-13 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+12%3A11-13&version=NIV

Genesis 17:17; 18:12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+17%3A17%3B+18%3A12&version=NIV

Genesis 26:1-11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+26%3A1-11&version=NIV

Genesis 25:8 HCSB - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+25%3A8&version=HCSB

Genesis 25:28 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+25%3A28&version=NIV

Genesis 37:3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+37%3A3&version=NIV

Habakkuk 2:20 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Habakkuk+2%3A20&version=NIV

Haggai 1:5, 7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Haggai+1%3A5%2C+7&version=NIV

Hebrews 1:1-3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+1%3A1-3&version=NIV

Hebrews 2:14-18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+2%3A14-18&version=NIV

Hebrews 2:15 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+++2%3A15&version=NIV

Hebrews 4:12-13 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+4%3A12-13&version=NIV

Hebrews 4:14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+4%3A14&version=NIV

Hebrews 5:12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+5%3A12&version=NIV

Hebrews 6:19 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+6%3A19&version=NIV

Hebrews 9:14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Heb.+9%3A14&version=NIV

Hebrews 10:25 NKJV - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+10%3A25&version=NKJV

Hebrews 11:9-10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+11%3A9-10&version=NIV

Hebrews 11:13 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+11%3A13&version=NIV

Hebrews 11:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+11%3A16&version=NIV

Hebrews 12:1 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+12%3A1&version=NIV

Hebrews 12:2 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+12%3A2&version=NIV

Hebrews 13:5 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+13%3A5&version=NIV

Isaiah 1:17, 23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+1%3A17%2C+23&version=NIV

Isaiah 6:3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+6%3A3&version=NIV

Isaiah 8:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+8%3A16&version=NIV

 Isaiah 46:4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+46%3A4&version=NLT

Isaiah 50:4-5 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+50%3A4-5&version=NIV

Isaiah 55:11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+55%3A11&version=NIV

James 1:4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A4&version=NIV

James 1:5 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A5&version=NIV

James 1:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A17&version=NIV

James 1:27 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A27&version=NIV

James 2:8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2%3A8&version=NIV

James 2:22 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2%3A22&version=NIV

James 2:24 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2%3A24&version=NIV

James 2:26 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2%3A26&version=NIV

James 3:3-12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+3%3A3-12&version=NIV

James 3:8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+3%3A8&version=NIV

James 3:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+3%3A17&version=NIV

James 4:14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+4%3A14&version=NIV

James 5:14-16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+5%3A14-16&version=NIV

Jeremiah 17:9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+17%3A9&version=NIV

Jeremiah 23:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+23%3A16&version=NIV

Jeremiah 23:29 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+23%3A29&version=NIV

Jeremiah 29:13; Deuteronomy 4:29 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+29%3A13%3B+Deuteronomy+4%3A29&version=NIV

Job 5:26 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+5%3A26&version=NIV

Job 12:12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+12%3A12&version=NIV

Job 12:13 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+12%3A13&version=NIV

Joel 2:12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joel+2%3A12&version=NIV

Joel 2:32 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joel+2%3A32&version=NIV 

John 1:1 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A1&version=NIV

John 1:10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A10&version=NIV

John 2:14-17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+2%3A14-17&version=NIV

John 3:3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A3&version=NIV

John 3:6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A6&version=NIV

John 3:15 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A15&version=NIV

​John 3:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A16&version=NIV

John 3:30 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A30&version=NIV

John 4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4&version=NIV

John 4:7-26 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4%3A7-26&version=NIV

John 4:24 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4%3A24&version=NIV

John 4:34 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4%3A34&version=NIV

John 4:35 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4%3A35&version=NIV

John 5:39-40 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+5%3A39-40&version=NIV

John 6:37 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A37&version=NIV

John 7:7; 15:18-19 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+7%3A7%3B+15%3A18-19&version=NIV

John 8:23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+8%3A23&version=NIV

John 8:31 ESV - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+8%3A31&version=ESV

John 10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+10&version=NIV

John 10:3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+10%3A3&version=NIV

John 10:4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+10%3A4&version=NIV
 
John 11:35 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+11%3A35&version=NIV

John 13:36-38 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+13%3A36-38&version=NIV

John 13:37 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+13%3A37&version=NIV

John 13:38 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+13%3A38&version=NIV

John 14:1-2, 4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A1-2%2C+4&version=NIV

John 14:1-3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A1-3&version=NIV

John 14:13 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A13&version=NIV

John 14:14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A14&version=NIV

John 14:15 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A15&version=NIV

John 14:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A16&version=NIV

John 14:21 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A21&version=NIV

John 14:26 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A26&version=NIV

John 14:26; 17:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A26%3B+17%3A17&version=NIV

John 15:13 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15%3A13&version=NIV

John 15:15 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15%3A15&version=NIV

John 16:33 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+16%3A33&version=NIV

John 17:3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+17%3A3&version=NIV

John 17:4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+17%3A4&version=NIV

John 17:13-19 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+17%3A13-19&version=NIV

John 17:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+17%3A17&version=NIV

John 19:30 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+19%3A30&version=NIV

John 20:31 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+21%3A24&version=NIV

John 21:15-19 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+21%3A15-19&version=NIV

John 21:18-19 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+21%3A18-19&version=NIV

John 21:20 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+21%3A20&version=NIV

John 21:22 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+21%3A22&version=NIV

Jonah 2 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jonah+2&version=NIV

Joshua 1:8 NLT - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+1%3A8&version=NLT

Joshua 14:8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+14%3A8&version=NIV

 Joshua 14:11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+14%3A11&version=NIV

Leviticus 10:3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+10%3A3&version=NIV

Leviticus 19:32 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+19%3A32&version=NIV

Luke 2:43-50 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+2%3A43-50&version=NIV

 Luke 4:1-13 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+4%3A1-13&version=NIV

Luke 8:18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+8%3A18&version=NIV

Luke 9:23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+9%3A23&version=NIV

Luke 10:34 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+10%3A34&version=NIV

Luke 11:1 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+11%3A1&version=NIV

Luke 11:9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+11%3A9&version=NIV

Luke 16:19-31 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+16%3A19-31&version=NIV

Luke 23:34 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+23%3A34&version=NIV

Luke 23:45 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+23%3A45&version=NIV

Luke 24:13-35 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A13-35&version=NIV

Luke 24:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A17&version=NIV

Luke 24:27 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A27&version=NIV

Luke 24:30-31 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A30-31&version=NIV

Luke 24:36-38 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A36-38&version=NIV

Luke 24:36; John 20:19, 26 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A36%3B+John+20%3A19%2C+26&version=NIV

Malachi 3:8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi+3%3A8&version=NIV

Mark 1:22 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+1%3A22&version=NIV

Mark 3:13-15 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+3%3A13-15&version=NIV

Mark 10:47-49 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+10%3A47-49&version=NIV

Matthew 4:1-11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+4%3A1-11&version=NIV

Matthew 4:2–11- https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+4%3A2%E2%80%9311&version=NIV

Matthew 4:4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+4%3A4&version=NIV

Matthew 5-7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5-7&version=NIV

Matthew 5:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A16&version=NIV

Matthew 5:44 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A44&version=NIV

Matthew 6:1, 5, 16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A1%2C+5%2C+16&version=NIV

Matthew 6:7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A7&version=NIV

Matthew 6:12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A12&version=NIV

Matthew 6:14-15 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=+Matthew+6%3A14-15&version=NIV

Matthew 6:25, 32-33 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A25%2C+32-33&version=NIV

Matthew 6:31-33 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A31-33&version=NIV

Matthew 6:33 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A33&version=NIV

Matthew 7:21 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7%3A21&version=NIV

Matthew 7:21-23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7%3A21-23&version=NIV

Matthew 7:21-27 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7%3A21-27&version=NIV

Matthew 7:22-23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7%3A22-23&version=NIV

Matthew 7:23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7%3A23&version=NIV

Matthew 7:24 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7%3A24&version=NIV

Matthew 7:24, 26 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7%3A24%2C+26&version=NIV

Matthew 7:24-27 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7%3A24-27&version=NIV

Matthew 7:26 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7%3A26&version=NIV

Matthew 7:27 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7%3A27&version=NIV

Matthew 9:36 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+9%3A36&version=NIV

Matthew 10:37–39; 19:22; John 12:25 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+10%3A37%E2%80%9339%3B+19%3A22%3B+John+12%3A25&version=NIV

Matthew 11:28-29 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+11%3A28-29&version=NIV

Matthew 12:36-37 ESV - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+12%3A36-37&version=ESV

Matthew 13:54; Mark 6:2 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13%3A54%3B+Mark+6%3A2&version=NIV

Matthew 16:18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+16%3A18&version=NIV

Matthew 21:12-13 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+21%3A12-13&version=NIV

Matthew 22:34-40 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22%3A34-40&version=NIV

Matthew 22:37 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2022%3A36-40&version=NIV

Matthew 22:37–38 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22%3A37%E2%80%9338&version=NIV

Matthew 22:37-39 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22%3A37-39&version=NIV

Matthew 22:39 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22%3A39&version=NIV

Matthew 22:39; Leviticus 19:18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22%3A39%29%3B+Leviticus+19%3A18&version=NIV

Matthew 24:35 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+24%3A35&version=NIV

Matthew 25:21, 23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A21%2C+23&version=NIV

Matthew 25:26 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A26&version=NIV

Philippians 1:3, 6-7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A3%2C+6-7&version=NIV

Philippians 1:9-11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A9-11&version=NIV

Philippians 1:23-26 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A23-26&version=NIV

Philippians 2:5 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A5&version=NIV

Philippians 2:12-13 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A12-13&version=NIV

Philippians 3:13-14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A13-14&version=NIV

Philippians 3:14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A14&version=NIV

Philippians 3:21 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A21&version=NIV

Philippians 4:11-12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A11-12&version=NIV

 Philippians 4:9 NLT - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A9&version=NLT

Proverbs 1:7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+1%3A7&version=NIV

Proverbs 3:5 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+3%3A5&version=NIV

Proverbs 4:6-7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+4%3A6-7&version=NIV

Proverbs 4:20-22 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+4%3A20-22&version=NIV

Proverbs 10:11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+10%3A11&version=NIV

Proverbs 10:20-21 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+10%3A20-21&version=NIV

Proverbs 15:23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+15%3A23&version=NIV

Proverbs 16:2 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+16%3A2&version=NIV

Proverbs 16:31 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+16%3A31&version=NIV

Proverbs 17:6 ESV - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+17%3A6&version=ESV

Proverbs 17:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+17%3A17&version=NIV

Proverbs 21:23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+21%3A23&version=NIV

Proverbs 23:26 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+23%3A26&version=NIV

Proverbs 25:11 NASB - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+25%3A11&version=NASB

Psalm 19:1 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+19%3A1&version=NIV

Psalm 23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=+Psalm+23&version=NIV

Psalm 23:4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=+Psalm+23%3A4&version=NIV

Psalm 23:6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+23%3A6&version=NIV

Psalm 25:15 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+25%3A15&version=NIV

Psalm 27:4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+27%3A4&version=NIV

Psalm 31:5 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+31%3A5&version=NIV

Psalm 31:15 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+31%3A15&version=NIV

Psalm 40:6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+40%3A6&version=NIV

Psalm 42:11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+42%3A11&version=NIV

Psalm 46:10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+46%3A10&version=NIV 

Psalm 71 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+71&version=NIV

Psalm 71:9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+71%3A9&version=NIV

Psalm 71:15, 24 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+71%3A15%2C+24&version=NIV

Psalm 71:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+71%3A17&version=NIV

Psalm 71:18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+71%3A18&version=NIV

Psalm 71:20 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+71%3A20&version=NIV

Psalm 73:26 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+73%3A26&version=NIV

Psalm 86:11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+86%3A11&version=NIV

Psalm 90 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+90&version=NIV

Psalm 90:2 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+90%3A2&version=NIV

Psalm 90:6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+90%3A6&version=NIV

 Psalm 90:10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+90%3A10&version=NIV

Psalm 90:12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+90%3A12&version=NIV

Psalm 90:14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+90%3A14&version=NIV

Psalm 90:15 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+90%3A15&version=NIV

Psalm 91:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+91%3A16&version=NIV

Psalm 90:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+90%3A17&version=NIV

 Psalm 92:14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+92%3A14&version=NIV

Psalm 112:6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+112%3A6&version=NIV

Psalm 115:8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+115%3A8&version=NIV

Psalm 119:1-4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A1-4&version=NIV

Psalm 119:11 ESV - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A11&version=ESV

Psalm 119:34 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A34&version=NIV

Psalm 119:72 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A72&version=NIV

Psalm 119:103 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A103&version=NIV

Psalm 119:105 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A105&version=NIV

Psalm 138:1 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+138%3A1&version=NIV

Psalm 139:13, 16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+139%3A13%2C+16&version=NIV

Psalm 139:23-24 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+139%3A23-24&version=NIV

Psalm 143:5 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+143%3A5&version=NIV

Psalm 146:9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+146%3A9&version=NIV

Psalm 147:3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+147%3A3&version=NIV

Revelation 2:4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+2%3A4&version=NIV

Revelation 5:8, 14:2, 14; 15:2 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+5%3A8%2C+14%3A2%2C+14%3B+15%3A2&version=NIV

Revelation 20:15 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+20%3A15&version=NIV

Revelation 21:3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+21%3A3&version=NIV

Revelation 21:4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+21%3A4&version=NIV

Revelation 21:4-5 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+21%3A4-5&version=NIV

Romans 1:22–23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+1%3A22%E2%80%9323&version=NIV

Romans 4:21 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+4%3A21&version=NIV

Romans 5:3-4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5%3A3-4&version=NIV

Romans 5:5 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5%3A5&version=NIV

Romans 6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+6&version=NIV

Romans 6:13 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+6%3A13&version=NIV

Romans 6:23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+6%3A23&version=NIV

Romans 8:18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A18&version=NIV

Romans 8:20-21 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A20-21&version=NIV

Romans 8:24-25 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A24-25&version=NIV

Romans 8:27 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A27&version=NIV

Romans 8:28 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A28&version=NIV

Romans 8:28-30 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A28-30&version=NIV
 
Romans 8:29 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A29&version=NIV

Romans 8:31, 35 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A31%2C+35&version=NIV

Romans 8:31-39 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A31-39&version=NIV

Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A34%3B+Hebrews+7%3A25&version=NIV

Romans 8:38 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A38&version=NIV

Romans 8:38-39 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A38-39&version=NIV

Romans 10:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+10%3A17&version=NIV

Romans 12:1 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A1&version=NIV

Romans 12:11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A11&version=NIV

Romans 12:12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A12&version=NIV

Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+13%3A9%3B+Galatians+5%3A14&version=NIV

Romans 15:4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+15%3A4&version=NIV

Romans 15:5 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+15%3A5&version=NIV

Romans 15:13 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+15%3A13&version=NIV

Romans 15:20 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+15%3A20&version=NIV

Romans 16:7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+16%3A7&version=NIV

Song of Songs 2:10-12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Song+of+Songs+2%3A10-12&version=NIV

Titus 2:2-3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Titus+2%3A2-3&version=NIV

Zechariah 8:4-5 NLT - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah+8%3A4-5&version=NLT
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