Giv'em Heaven in 2011!

As we start the New Year, one thing is very clear...Jesus has never failed us! So I would like to challenge us as we enter January to have a new view based on His reviewthat will enable us to preview incredible answers that folks need to understand in their lives.

 

I believe a good definition of failure is to succeed at something that doesn’t matter! I was also told once that seniors can be labeled as “used-to-be’s” or “has-beens”.  May I share from my heart to yours a simple acrostic that may keep you from thinking you are a “use-to-be” and instead realize that you are a “special key” in God’s plan for 2011?

 

• See the future!  With our eyes opened from the past, we have assurance that He holds the future. He always has and will!  Folks, He has consistently grown our faith. Now, this is good, because Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him...” Remember it has been through faith that we have found our strength, peace, hope and, in time, answers that we cried out for. Is that not just what the world needs this year? Seniors, with Christ we know how to see the future with peace, encouragement and assurance! God is in control.  There’s no panic in heaven, only plans! The problems that were over our heads, were always under His feet, and will be in 2011. Remember that, dear friends. 

 

• Engage! Be ready to develop others. Don’t be a “used-to-be”, but instead start sharing the “special key” of your experience with the Lord. We are God’s simple people (I Corinthians 1:226-28) with His special power (vs. 30) and sovereign purpose (vs. 29). We have to be ready to engage and leave the rest up to Him!  Remember “Great is Thy Faithfulness” is not just a song, but rather our life’s story.  So, just tell it like it is! It just might be that “special key” for a life in desperate need.  

• Reinvent Continuously!  We may be flexible and faithful in accordance with His Word and our experience. Hebrews 11:1 says “Faith is the substance of things hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” Friends, we have seen many things, but there will be so many ahead that we haven’t seen.  This is exciting both for us and those we may encourage. There will never be a problem that He cannot unravel so be pliable and useable. Then wait and see what the Lord will do!

 

• Value results!  Do we not continuously thank God for the results of His interventions into our lives and the relationship He has given us as a part of His family? What did we learn from those results and relationships? These answers will become the building blocks upon which we may continuously reinvent and engage to assist and encourage those God brings across our paths in 2011.

• Embody the values! When we prayerfully embody what we have learned in helping others, we enable ourselves to grow and be even more usable by God. In the words of the youngster “It just gets gooder and gooder”. Terrible English, but a fact that we seniors know! He always does His part but, we must do ours!

 

Yes, we are His “special keys” and the secret is to be ready to SERVE! Serve to see the future through His eyes, engage others to help them see His faithfulness, re-invent continuously to grow even more flexible and faithful, value His results in our lives to love Him more and understand how to love others, and become humble deep in our hearts that we may be able to embody more and more of Him! Everyday with Jesus is sweeter than the day before, filled with things we can never ignore and with His power answers and joy we may implore!

 

Hey fellow seniors...Let’s “Give’m Heaven in 2011’!  

 

—Joe Schofield
Associate Pastor/Senior Adults, Prestonwood Baptist Church