Vitality For Today
Worship
When It's Twilight Time
30 Worship Services For Retirement Settings
Meditation Music: "God Of Grace And God Of Glory"
(May be sung as a solo to emphasize its message)
Words Of Encouragement from Philippians 3:13-15
Paul wrote: "This one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind
and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the
goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.
Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if
you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to
you. Only let us hold fast to what we have attained."
A Prayer:
Gracious and loving God, we, as your children, have come here
to worship, to seek encouragement for living our days to their
fullest, and to dedicate ourselves anew to living vital and
meaningful lives. Enable us to rise above our worries and fears,
to look forward to your daily blessings, and to the joy of having
a part in the kingdom of heaven. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Hymn: "Just When I Need Him Most"
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NRSV)
We do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting
away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For
this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal
weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what
can be seen, but at what cannot be seen: for what can be seen is
temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.
Sermon: "Vitality For Today"
What a wonderful thought! "Even though our outer nature is
wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day."
There are a considerable number of people, who, though in their
90s, are still living vital, lively, and creative lives. Those
who see Willard Scott on television, are privileged each day to
get a glimpse of numerous people celebrating life for a hundred
and more years, some of them still active in the use of their
talents and wisdom. The important thing is don't lose heart --
remain vital in your thinking and activities.
Healthy attitude is essential to meaningful life in every
circumstance of our being. Inner desire is necessary for playing
the game of life well. It is especially valuable when we need to
perform under conditions of physical limitations.
It is a wonderful thing to know that God adds vitality to our
lives by the presence of his Spirit within us! All of us need to
be aware of something extra by which to live, and to increase
meaningfulness in the midst of our daily experiences. Vitality
for today is urgent for all of us.
It has been generally understood that human life matures in
seven-year cycles. This is reasonably true for most of us, with
some variation. At about age 35 we begin to notice that we are
experiencing some noticeable changes in physical performance, and
that many of the things that mattered in youth and early
adulthood are less important now. We begin to consider the
needful economies of life, including provision for the later
years of our lives. Personal maturity, spiritual fitness, and
summary achievement begin to take on new meanings for us. We may
even begin to consider what people will think and say of us when
we have arrived at retirement, or finished our course of life.
It is important that each and all of us, as we grow older,
make sure that our inner nature is being renewed every day.
Concern for things that endure is essential to our well-being. It
is good for each of us to ask himself or herself, "If this were
the last day of my life, would I know that all is well with my
soul? Have I intentionally renewed my inner being so that my
earthly state matches the nature of life eternal?"
It is so easy for us to take life for granted, to let things
slide along, and to put off that which ultimately matters most.
Daily renewal of the spiritual self prepares us to face the
factors of life with confidence. It also prepares us to deal with
the unexpected, the critical moments, and the undesired
conditions in which we may find ourselves involved.
It is needful that we regularly or frequently pray,
establishing continual communication with God as our Friend as
well as our Divine Counselor and Helper. William Hinson, in A
Place to Dig, has said, "Prayer is not productive of some kind of
magical power. Prayer is like the rudder on the end of the
windmill. It keeps us open to the power that comes from God
through the Spirit who wills to dwell within us."
Because we practice spiritual disciplines, a devout
relationship with God, and a loving relationship with our fellow-
beings, does not assure us that we will have no rough places in
our lives. It does give us confidence that we will be better able
to deal with them. Paul said, "I can do all things through him
who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)
Our spiritual awareness and knowledge should be increasing by
inverse ratio to our physical aging processes, else we are not
exercising our natural endowments to accrue wisdom,
understanding, and insight in relation to our human experience.
There is a measure of truth in the television advertisement that
had a lady saying, "I'm not getting older; I'm getting better
every day."
We all will do well to remember, "Do not lose heart. Even
though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is
being renewed day by day." This becomes vitality for today.
An Ascription Of Praise: from 1 Peter 5-11
The God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory
in Christ, will himself restore, establish, and strengthen you.
To him be dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
(May be sung as a solo to emphasize its message)
Words Of Encouragement from Philippians 3:13-15
Paul wrote: "This one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind
and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the
goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.
Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if
you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to
you. Only let us hold fast to what we have attained."
A Prayer:
Gracious and loving God, we, as your children, have come here
to worship, to seek encouragement for living our days to their
fullest, and to dedicate ourselves anew to living vital and
meaningful lives. Enable us to rise above our worries and fears,
to look forward to your daily blessings, and to the joy of having
a part in the kingdom of heaven. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Hymn: "Just When I Need Him Most"
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NRSV)
We do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting
away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For
this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal
weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what
can be seen, but at what cannot be seen: for what can be seen is
temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.
Sermon: "Vitality For Today"
What a wonderful thought! "Even though our outer nature is
wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day."
There are a considerable number of people, who, though in their
90s, are still living vital, lively, and creative lives. Those
who see Willard Scott on television, are privileged each day to
get a glimpse of numerous people celebrating life for a hundred
and more years, some of them still active in the use of their
talents and wisdom. The important thing is don't lose heart --
remain vital in your thinking and activities.
Healthy attitude is essential to meaningful life in every
circumstance of our being. Inner desire is necessary for playing
the game of life well. It is especially valuable when we need to
perform under conditions of physical limitations.
It is a wonderful thing to know that God adds vitality to our
lives by the presence of his Spirit within us! All of us need to
be aware of something extra by which to live, and to increase
meaningfulness in the midst of our daily experiences. Vitality
for today is urgent for all of us.
It has been generally understood that human life matures in
seven-year cycles. This is reasonably true for most of us, with
some variation. At about age 35 we begin to notice that we are
experiencing some noticeable changes in physical performance, and
that many of the things that mattered in youth and early
adulthood are less important now. We begin to consider the
needful economies of life, including provision for the later
years of our lives. Personal maturity, spiritual fitness, and
summary achievement begin to take on new meanings for us. We may
even begin to consider what people will think and say of us when
we have arrived at retirement, or finished our course of life.
It is important that each and all of us, as we grow older,
make sure that our inner nature is being renewed every day.
Concern for things that endure is essential to our well-being. It
is good for each of us to ask himself or herself, "If this were
the last day of my life, would I know that all is well with my
soul? Have I intentionally renewed my inner being so that my
earthly state matches the nature of life eternal?"
It is so easy for us to take life for granted, to let things
slide along, and to put off that which ultimately matters most.
Daily renewal of the spiritual self prepares us to face the
factors of life with confidence. It also prepares us to deal with
the unexpected, the critical moments, and the undesired
conditions in which we may find ourselves involved.
It is needful that we regularly or frequently pray,
establishing continual communication with God as our Friend as
well as our Divine Counselor and Helper. William Hinson, in A
Place to Dig, has said, "Prayer is not productive of some kind of
magical power. Prayer is like the rudder on the end of the
windmill. It keeps us open to the power that comes from God
through the Spirit who wills to dwell within us."
Because we practice spiritual disciplines, a devout
relationship with God, and a loving relationship with our fellow-
beings, does not assure us that we will have no rough places in
our lives. It does give us confidence that we will be better able
to deal with them. Paul said, "I can do all things through him
who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)
Our spiritual awareness and knowledge should be increasing by
inverse ratio to our physical aging processes, else we are not
exercising our natural endowments to accrue wisdom,
understanding, and insight in relation to our human experience.
There is a measure of truth in the television advertisement that
had a lady saying, "I'm not getting older; I'm getting better
every day."
We all will do well to remember, "Do not lose heart. Even
though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is
being renewed day by day." This becomes vitality for today.
An Ascription Of Praise: from 1 Peter 5-11
The God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory
in Christ, will himself restore, establish, and strengthen you.
To him be dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
