Aging Gracefully

LAP

Love

Attention

Purpose

Problems the Elderly face

Ecclesiastes 12:1–8 NKJV

Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them”: While the sun and the light, The moon and the stars, Are not darkened, And the clouds do not return after the rain; In the day when the keepers of the house tremble, And the strong men bow down; When the grinders cease because they are few, And those that look through the windows grow dim; When the doors are shut in the streets, And the sound of grinding is low; When one rises up at the sound of a bird, And all the daughters of music are brought low. Also they are afraid of height, And of terrors in the way; When the almond tree blossoms, The grasshopper is a burden, And desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home, And the mourners go about the streets. Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it. “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “All is vanity.”

Same age spiritually - eternal beings - our souls are forever

Living in God’s Grace is experienced by every Believing, Born-Again Christian’s life.

The devil’s weapons used against us are:

Physical death, terminal illnesses, diseases.

Fear and anxiety-stress, are results of satan’s attacks upon all people.

Solomon in the opening verse says to remember the days of your youth, because as we mature and grow older we experience all of the following hardships: Loneliness, limited mobility, poor vision, hearing impairment, dull senses we call memory loss. We trade our cars for walkers and wheelchairs. Our spouses have left us here alone to face some of life’s greatest challenges when we get old.

We have low incomes because we cannot work or earn a living any longer. Some cannot afford to buy food or medications, some cannot afford air conditioning in their homes or apartments.

Many elderly people have been forgotten by their families who rarely visit them.

Ask: So how does God give His Grace to older people?

The answer is: Jesus Christ.

The secret to living a blessed life is trusting in Jesus for His Grace & Mercy - His Life Support.

I went to OSU in 1997 and became a certified Administrator for retirement homes. I have several years experience taking care of senior adults. I know and understand all of their problems that they face in this life.

This message today came to me in a dream about a person who I’ve loved all my life. My Grandmother, Olie Magee.

She suffered a crippling stroke when I was a small child. Her struggle in life became my inspiration & motivation to help people. God did His part by calling me into this Gospel Ministry.

While in Nashville on vacation last week, I had an encounter with a man of God who I had never met in my Life. He told me that I had a church member who was blessed and that her story was God’s story for aging people. The man told me to tell her story so here it is.

A young girl from Missouri raised in a town near the Mississippi river banks, who found her way to Oklahoma to work on warplanes manufactured in Tulsa. She is celebrating her 98 birthday this past Monday. She is here with us today.

So How does God bless Senior Adults?

I. Love

2. Attention

3. Purpose

Love is contagious, infectious, so spread a little love around.

Deuteronomy 6:1–9 NKJV

“Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the Lord your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess, that you may fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as the Lord God of your fathers has promised you—‘a land flowing with milk and honey.’ “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Jesus affirmed these truths when he was asked which OT law was the greatest in the NT in

Matthew 22:37–40 NKJV

Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

A. The question is before us, How much do you Love God today? If you love someone a whole lot then you spend a lot of time with them. I have a Preacher buddy in Wichita, Ks. who’s wife Ramona is very ill in the hospital, they’ve been together over 60 years, never been separated until now.

Love God and receive His blessings of a prosperous, long, fruitful life.

Some will say, but Bro. Randy, I’m blessed right now, and that may be so, but are you happy with your life?

There are no answers for human suffering, but God is with us in the struggle.

II. Blessings of Grace are given when we give God Attention.

A. Jesus and His Church are a priority.

In visitation for VBS next week, I met a lot of folks who have give up on God. They have quit giving Him the attention that He deserves.

If Bro. Terry quits giving attention to Marietta, she will have a hard time making it. Attention is caring for something that you love.

Some people love doing things, going places, spending time for themselves, not paying any Attention to God or the Church that He died for.

The Church is in spiritual draught because people are not giving Attention to it.

Spiritual conditions are very ripe for an anti-christ to set-up shop on this earth, because people have abandoned God and His Church.

III. We are Blessed when our lives have Purpose.

People ask preachers, why did God put me here on this earth to suffer?

Job begged the Question, why was I ever born?

Life must have a purpose.

The motivation to live comes from having a purpose. The danger is in our culture now, parents are confusing their small children with gender-crossing behavior.

Purpose in life is stated in the bible that man should leave his father and mother and joined together with his wife[female,she] in Holy Matrimony.

Satan has lied to people about who they are as a person, and what their true purpose and calling in life really is.

Gay, homosexual and lesbian relations are an abomination in God’s created world and universe. Their relationships are not Holy and Hell awaits them. No, they are not saved.

They don’t live with God’s purpose carried out in their lives on a daily basis.

Purpose is intentionally serving Jesus Christ and trusting in Him.

A Purpose driven church is described as Christians’ who are living a purpose driven life of Jesus Christ.

If you feel that today that your life has no purpose or lacks meaning and fulfillment, then simply ask yourself this question, How much of my life is purposely directed to and for God?

Conclusion: This message today is not complete without asking all who are watching or listening, Are You Saved?

Are you Blessed with God’s Grace? Reread the verses in Eccl.

Baptism, Membership, Rededication.