Hope-Full Living

Arms crossed and mouth pouted, she glared defiantly. She wanted her sister’s present rather than her own. She didn’t care that her parents carefully chose her gift based on her age and interests. The only thing that mattered in her five-year- old mind was her sister’s gift. How often do our reactions mirror those of an ungrateful child? We overlook God’s love and plan for us as unique individuals...

Life is directed by many plans — plans for me, from authority, parents, and teachers, the list is endless. We seem to be pulled in different directions. The question arises, which is the best for me? What if I choose the wrong path, and what are the consequences? What should I do? First, we need to have confidence and faith in the individuals we go to for assistance and direction. Whoever we go to...

When I spoke at my brother’s funeral, I described gifts he had given me over our lifetime together: gerbils, turtles, a Frankenstein wastebasket. All of these were memorable, but the best gift he had given me was encouragement through many frank discussions of our faith in Jesus. I had thought we would have a couple more decades to build memories before Jesus called him or me home. I was wrong. It...

My grandchildren love when I tell them stories. They want to hear them over and over until they can recite every word themselves. Stories are intriguing, memorable, can teach valuable lessons, and increase curiosity. As older adults, we have many stories to share of the wonders and miracles of God experienced throughout our lives. These personal testimonies of Jesus intrigue our friends and family...

The other day I was looking through the books of a retired schoolteacher. I opened his old Bible and discovered that he precisely marked certain verses of Scripture. He marked familiar passages such as John 3:16, but I noticed that he also marked some passages that weren’t so familiar, such as 2 Timothy 3:15, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved ... rightly handling the word of...

We often encourage others in faith, inviting someone to a Bible class or sharing ways in which God blessed us with his peace. With those who are troubled about sin, we share the good news of the forgiveness we have in Jesus. Encouragement is a two-way street. Our own faith grows stronger as we see the Lord lift up others in difficult circumstances. Watching them grow in faith, we grow stronger as...

When God moved us to a new church, I asked him to show me where he wanted me to serve. As time passed, I felt my heart drawn to our pastors’ wives — those amazing women who minister to their husbands and the church in so many ways with so little support. I started looking for ways to thank them; shared encouraging verses or brought them goodies from my kitchen or garden. I invited them to lunch an...

The words on my coffee mug this morning are, “In a World Full of Grinches — Be a Cindy Lou Who!” In “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” the beloved tale by Dr. Seuss, the endearing character, Cindy Lou Who, refuses to let the Grinch ruin her love of Christmas. With the holidays now behind us, we’re in the season of winter. We can settle into the darker days and months with gloomy thoughts or choose...

Little Susan came running into her house after school waving a sheet of paper. Her mother was bent over the counter preparing dinner. “Mommy, Mommy, guess what!” she shouted excitedly. Without looking up, her mother responded, “What?” Susan repeated, “Mommy, Mommy, guess what!” Again, her mother asked, “What?” “Mommy, you’re not listening.” Still looking down, her mother said. “Oh, I’m listening,...

God’s purpose for marriage, based on Christ’s love for the church (Ephesians 5:28-33) becomes our purpose for our own marriage and passing it on to our grandchildren. During last summer’s celebration of our 60th wedding anniversary, still very much “in love” and thankful for God’s love through Jesus, we attended the wedding of a grandson and his beautiful bride in Kansas City. When they asked if t...

My friend, Melanie, has invited young women into her home for the past two years for meals and short Bible study lessons. Over a hot breakfast every Thursday morning they engage in lively conversation while they learn how to make biscuits, organize a kitchen, and cultivate Christian friendships. My neighbor, Wayne, joins a group of men at a fast-food restaurant every Friday morning. After a devoti...

A wise confirmation pastor assigned students to read one of the gospels with an adult. Our grandson chose the Gospel of Luke, inviting his grandfather to be the adult. They met every weekday, reading the text aloud, listening to Luke AND to each other. They reimagined the biblical scenes, discovering details and nuances that were new to them. The Spirit that Luke repeatedly calls attention to was...

Samuel was working in the temple helping the aged priest, Eli. One night, the Lord called to Samuel three times. Thinking it was Eli calling him, each time, Samuel went to the elderly priest. After the third time, Eli recognized that it was God calling Samuel and he told the boy to listen to what the Lord was saying. In the morning, when they awoke, Samuel relayed the message that Eli’s house will...

Conspiracies, political division, racial unrest, riots, violence, mass murders. What’s a Christian doing in such a time as this? Long ago, evil Haman tricked King Ahasuerus into ordering the death of the Jews in Persia. When Queen Esther heard, she trembled — should she risk her own life and position to confront the king on her people’s behalf? Cousin Mordecai advised, “And who knows whether you h...

“Lord, how can you use this? How can I help others who feel isolated, frustrated, and overwhelmed?” That was the cry of my heart after almost twenty years as a caregiver for my husband. I knew God had used our circumstances to help us and could also use them to help others. I had written articles, devotions, and poems, but the gnawing feeling of something more continued. Finally, someone suggested...

“I am getting old.” I like to say, “You’re not old, just vintage.” The years make us wiser. We can listen, encourage, help, advise, but most important, we can equip others to lead and live a Christ-centered life. At seven I lost my dad. God sent me our pastor to show and mentor me with encouragement, help, direction, and to lead me to live a Christ-centered life. God didn’t make a mistake about ol...

I just saw a cartoon from New Yorker Magazine (Instagram) by @maggiejanelarson. It said, “I talk to myself because I listen.” It struck me as funny! Could it be that cellphones intrude on our conversations? Are we too busy to spend time and be present for each other? Even if it feels as though no one else is listening, we are assured by God that he hears our cry (Psalm 40:1), he knows our every th...

While camping recently in the Rockies, I saw many animals, including a huge elk posing majestically in the road and a deer and fawn prancing across a hillside. These wild animals were praising their Creator simply by doing what he created them to do. We, too, can praise God by doing what he designed us to do, even when our lives are limited. We praise God when we remember, with gratitude, his magn...

At the end of my first year of teaching, I encouraged my nine-year-old students to continue to develop and use their God-given talents. On a small piece of paper, I wrote a personal message for each child. I rolled these notes into little scrolls and tied them with ribbons. Many years later, a young woman approached me, opened her purse and pulled out her scroll! She thanked me for encouraging her...

With age, our bodies slow down. It takes longer for me to do things I used to do easily. Just because life gets smaller due to growing limitations, our prayers can still be full. Jesus teaches us that even our tiniest task can be a prayerful offering to God, for the sake of salvation. Everything we do; everything we experience — physically, emotionally, and mentally — is ours to give to God. No sp...

During my eighth-grade confirmation class, I decided I wanted to be a pastor. I thought that, not only would it be the best, but possibly, the only way I could serve the Lord. It turns out that I was wrong. Some of the greatest servants of God that I know are not church workers. They are janitors, assembly line workers, moms, and dads. We are all created in Christ Jesus to serve! If we weren’t, Go...

What is the definition of a good listener? We, as seniors, often listen to our neighbors or our grandchildren. They seek our counsel on personal concerns or maybe on problems they’re having in school. But what qualifies us to be good listeners? Perhaps a better question would be — what qualifies us to be wise listeners? Let’s see how Scripture defines a wise listener. Psalm 34:11, “Come, O childre...

Who do you listen to? In confirmation class, it was pretty much a given that whatever we asked our pastor, his response was something like “Turn to John 1:1.” It’s good to know where to look for answers. When tempted, the world advises, “Just do what feels good.” When in despair, the world says, “God doesn’t love you.” Ask the world, “Who is God?” and it scoffs, “There is no God!” Believers know w...

Those Magi. We don’t know how many, their origin, their gender, their age. But we know that they were wise. Wisdom often comes with years of experience, so they surely might be classified like us, as “seniors.” They saw something new in the sky and wanted to journey to find out more. Off they went in the search with joy in their hearts. After visiting Herod, they set out for Bethlehem. When seeing...

Some years ago, Jerry Molnar, a 9/11 survivor, spoke at our church. He told me that he was going to put the plaque that we gave him next to the plaque that was given to him by the people on the 79th floor of the World Trade Center. They recognized him as the spiritual leader of the floor. He obviously went against the norm. Through all the tragedies that Jerry went through, he could have very easi...