Like most speakers, one of my favorite groups are the senior citizens, not only are they one of the most appreciative audiences, but they lift your spirits right at the time you enter the room.
At the invitation of Jane Leland, director of senior adult ministries at Opelika First Baptist Church, I was honored to speak for her monthly luncheon. What made this time so special was the fact that Bob and I were in their midst for 11 years when he served as pastor there.
It thrilled my soul to get a hug from people we heard from through the years in the valleys and mountaintop experiences of our lives. Many in their own way ministered to us as we watched them in their walk through life. People of wisdom. I dare not mention names as I would leave some out. They all just have to know of my love.
Tremendous things are happening in that church with new pastor Steve Scoggins. His trademark is his Bible and you seldom see him without it — great preacher. Of course his best asset is his wife, Karen. She sings like a mockingbird and looks like a little doll.
Jane Leland had everything just perfect. Beats me how someone can be so organized in that kind of ministry and sit at the organ on Sunday and play like a concert organist. Opelika First is fortunate to have Jane in their midst.
Focus on the Lord
Enough bragging on the church staff, let me talk about the Lord.
Seems like every time I speak somewhere I get more out of it than the people I speak to.
Searching the Bible thoughts jump off the page. Thoughts that help me keep a good outlook on life. I love the portion of Scripture that tells how David experienced fear in his life. Fear is something that invades the life not only of seniors but all ages. From this fear one can go through serious times of depression, discouragement, dejection, the joy of life can be drained.
In the 42nd and 43rd chapters of Psalms we find Scriptures that speak of David’s plight and how he and the Lord worked things out.
Some things I was reminded of all over again about David.
He remembered what God had done for him in the past. How He had helped him.
This spoke to me as I remembered the times in my life I thought I could not make it and then I reflected back on how God had lifted me up from the bottomless pit and carried me. There was healing there.
David sang praises to God even when he was down. Now, I have found that hard to do, but doing it does help. Just thinking of how things could be worse and giving thanks for all that is good even in the midst of despair. You can find those things if you look hard enough.
Finding strength in God even when he could not see the distance. In the 43rd chapter, David is good about expressing this. I wish I were better about this point. I want answers now and a road map for the rest of my life. It does not work that way. I have to know that God is in charge and not live for the moment but rejoice in the fact that the answers are out there and in God’s own time He will direct us all.
David’s strength was in the Lord. Not a day goes by that the first thing I do in the morning is say, “This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.” Then I think to myself, “No, I won’t make it alone and won’t have to. It is Christ in me that gets me through life.” Christ in me — what a thought, and it works. It is real.
Christ-centered life
To put Christ at the center is the only way to arrange life in its proper order. That to me is truth for any age. I honestly feel that senior citizens in a church or community have so much to give. What benefits can come from their wisdom. Blessed are the churches who know this and provide every opportunity for them.
I came across some interesting statistics this week.
Today nearly 67 million American are over the age of 50. (I’m one of them.)
By 2040, when the last baby boomers reach retirement age, 25 percent of the American population will be over 65.
It is projected that senior adults in the United States will comprise 17.3 percent of the population in 2020.
David P. Gallagher has written a great book for workers with senior adults. That is where I gleaned some of my thoughts on David. The name of the book is “Senior Adult Ministry in the 21st Century.” Listed in the book are more statistics like above. The subtitle is “Step-by-Step Strategies for Reaching People over 50” — Group publishing company in Loveland,
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