Facing the Seasons of Your Life
Enjoying a Life Blessed by God
Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life. Job 12:12 (HCSB)
I. Realize there will be struggles
Our lives last seventy years or, if we are strong, eighty years. Even the best of them are struggle and sorrow; indeed, they pass quickly and we fly away. Psalms 90:10 (HCSB)
I feel like my body has gotten totally out of shape, so I got my doctor's permission to join a fitness club and start exercising. I decided to take an aerobics class for seniors. I bent, twisted, gyrated, jumped up and down, and perspired for an hour. But, by the time I got my leotards on, the class was over.
Reporters interviewing a 104-year-old woman: "And what do you think is the best thing about being 104?" the reporter asked. She simply replied, "No peer pressure."
The nice thing about being senile is you can hide your own Easter eggs.
I've sure gotten old.! I've had two bypass surgeries, a hip replacement, new knees. Fought prostate cancer and diabetes. I'm half blind, can't hear anything quieter than a jet engine, take 40 different medications that make me dizzy, winded, and subject to blackouts. Have bouts with dementia. Have poor circulation; hardly feel my hands and feet anymore. Can't remember if I'm 85 or 92. Have lost all my friends. But, thank goodness, I still have my driver's license.
II. Trust the Lord to Provide and Deliver
A. Look to the Lord to be your constant companion
Do not cast me off in the time of old age; Do not forsake me when my strength fails. Psalms 71:9 (NASB77)
I will be the same until [your] old age, and I will bear [you] up when you turn gray. I have made [you] , and I will carry [you] ; I will bear and save [you] . Isaiah 46:4 (HCSB)
Billy Graham
Billy Graham is now 86 years old with Parkinson's disease.
In January 2000, leaders in Charlotte, North Carolina, invited their favorite son, Billy Graham, to a luncheon in his honor. Billy initially hesitated to accept the invitation because he struggles with Parkinson's disease. But the Charlotte leaders said, "We don't expect a major address. Just come and let us honor you."
So he agreed.
After wonderful things were said about him, Dr. Graham stepped to the rostrum, looked at the crowd, and said, "I'm reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist who this month has been honored by Time magazine as the Man of the Century. Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of every passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn't find his ticket, so he reached in his trouser pockets. It wasn't there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn't find it. Then he looked in the seat beside him. He still couldn't find it.
The conductor said, "Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I'm sure you bought a ticket. Don't worry about it."
Einstein nodded appreciatively. The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket.
The conductor rushed back and said, "Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don't worry, I know who you are. No problem. You don't need a ticket. I'm sure you bought one."
Einstein looked at him and said, "Young man, I too, know who I am. What I don't know is where I'm going.'"
Having said that Billy Graham continued, "See the suit I'm wearing? It's a brand new suit. My wife, my children, and my grandchildren are telling me I've gotten a little slovenly in my old age. I used to be a bit more fastidious. So I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon and one more occasion.
You know what that occasion is? This is the suit in which I'll be buried. But when you hear I'm dead, I don't want you to immediately remember the suit I'm wearing.
I want you to remember this: I not only know who I am ... I also know where I'm going."
B. Remember the testimonies of others.
12 So the Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the earlier. He owned 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. 13 He also had seven sons and three daughters. 14 He named his first [daughter] Jemimah, his second Keziah, and his third Keren-happuch. 15 No women as beautiful as Job's daughters could be found in all the land, and their father granted them an inheritance with their brothers. 16 Job lived 140 years after this and saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. 17 Then Job died, old and full of days. Job 42:12-17 (HCSB)
26 David son of Jesse was king over all Israel. 27 The length of his reign over Israel was 40 years; he reigned in Hebron for seven years and in Jerusalem for 33. 28 He died at a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor, and his son Solomon became king in his place. 1 Chron 29:26-28 (HCSB)
10 Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had requested this. 11 So God said to him, "Because you have requested this and did not ask for long life or riches for yourself, or the death of your enemies, but you asked discernment for yourself to understand justice, 12 I will therefore do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again. 13 In addition, I will give you what you did not ask for: both riches and honor, so that no man in any kingdom will be your equal during your entire life. 14 If you walk in My ways and keep My statutes and commandments just as your father David did, I will give you a long life." 1 Kings 3:10-14 (HCSB)
36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and was a widow for 84 years. She did not leave the temple complex, serving God night and day with fastings and prayers. 38 At that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and to speak about Him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke 2:36-38 (HCSB)
III. Live for the Lord while you can
Eccl 12:1 (HCSB) So remember your Creator in the days of your youth: Before the days of adversity come, and the years approach when you will say, "I have no delight in them";
Things Will Change!!!
1974: Long hair
2007 : Longing for hair
1974: Acid rock
2007: Acid reflux
1974: Tryin to look like Marlon Brando or Liz Taylor
2007: Trying NOT to look like Marlon Brando or Liz Taylor
1974: Going to a new, hip joint
2007: Receiving a new hip joint
1974: Rolling Stones
2007: Kidney Stones
1974: Being called into the principal's office
2007: Calling the principal's office
1974: Parents begging you to get your hair cut
2007: Children begging you to get their heads shaved
1974: Passing the drivers' test
2007: Passing the vision test
It's scary when you start making the same noises as your coffeemaker.
These days about half the stuff in my shopping cart says, "For fast relief."
IV. Grow wise with your years
A gray head is a crown of glory; It is found in the way of righteousness. Prov 16:31 (NASB77)
Well, you might say my problem is not gray hair. my problem is all those wrinkles. Then do what one wise lady said. just eat till the wrinkles fill out!
13 Happy is a man who finds wisdom and who acquires understanding, 14 for she is more profitable than silver, and her revenue is better than gold. 15 She is more precious than jewels; nothing you desire compares with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left, riches and honor. 17 Her ways are pleasant, and all her paths, peaceful. 18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who hold on to her are happy. Prov 3:13-18 (HCSB)
An elderly woman decided to prepare her will and told her preacher she had two final requests. First, she wanted to be cremated, and second, she wanted her ashes scattered over Wal-Mart. "Wal-Mart?" the preacher exclaimed. "Why Wal-Mart?" "Then I'll be sure my daughters visit me twice a week."
A. Honor your parents
Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. Ex 20:12 (HCSB)
B. Honor the Lord
The fear of the Lord prolongs life, (Lit Lord adds to days) Prov 10:27 (HCSB)
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 11 For by Wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. 12 If you are wise, you are wise for your own benefit; Prov 9:10-12 (HCSB)
Not everyone will honor the Lord, but don't let them stop you!
There was a little old lady, who every morning stepped onto her front porch, raised her arms to the sky, and shouted: "PRAISE THE LORD!"
One day an atheist moved into the house next door. He became irritated at the little old lady. Every morning he'd step onto his front porch after her and yell: "THERE IS NO LORD!"
Time passed with the two of them carrying on this way every day. One morning, in the middle of winter, the little old lady stepped onto her front porch and shouted: "PRAISE THE LORD! Please Lord, I have no food and I am starving, provide for me, oh Lord!
The next morning she stepped onto her porch and there were two huge bags of groceries sitting there. "PRAISE THE LORD!" she cried out "HE HAS PROVIDED GROCERIES FOR ME!"
The atheist neighbor jumped out of the bushes and shouted: "THERE IS NO LORD. I BOUGHT THOSE GROCERIES!!"
The little old lady threw her arms into the air and shouted: "PRAISE THE LORD! HE HAS PROVIDED ME WITH GROCERIES AND MADE THE DEVIL PAY FOR THEM!
C. Honor the Lord's commands.
1 My son, don't forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commands; 2 for they will bring you many days, a full life, and well-being. Prov 3:1-2 (HCSB)
11 Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 Who is the man who delights in life, loving a long life to enjoy what is good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech. 14 Turn away from evil and do what is good; seek peace and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry for help. Psalms 34:11-15 (HCSB)
10 For the one who wants to love life and to see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit, 11 and he must turn away from evil and do good. He must seek peace and pursue it, 12 because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are open to their request. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. 1 Peter 3:10-12 (HCSB)
V. Lessons of Life
There was an Indian Chief who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.
The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall. When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.
§ The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted.
§ The second son said no it was covered with green buds and full of promise.
§ The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen.
§ The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.
The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but only one season in the tree's life. He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up.
If you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, fulfillment of your fall.
§ Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest.
§ Don't judge life by one difficult season.
§ Persevere through the difficult patches and better times are sure to come some time
Live Simply.
Love Generously.
Care Deeply.
Speak Kindly.
Happiness keeps You Sweet,
Trials keep You Strong,
Sorrows keep You Human,
Failures keep You Humble,
Success keeps You Glowing.
Love keeps You Going.
