[Membersandfriends] Thursday, September 09, 2004

Wed Sep 8 22:01:48 PDT 2004

The Upper Room Daily Devotional -- E-mail Edition
Brought to You by Upper Room Ministries
Thursday, September 09, 2004

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How Did We Meet?

As Upper Room Ministries prepares to celebrate 70 years of ministry (1935-2005), we want to know "How Did We Meet?" When did you first come in contact with THE UPPER ROOOM daily devotional guide? Tell us your stories:
http://www.upperroom.org/devotional/stories.asp

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NEVER TOO OLD
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Genesis 18:1-15 (NRSV)

The LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, "My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on--since you have come to your servant." So they said, "Do as you have said." And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes." Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate. 

They said to him, "Where is your wife Sarah?" And he said, "There, in the tent." Then one said, "I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?" The LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, and say, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?' Is anything too wonderful for the LORD? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son." But Sarah denied, saying, "I did not laugh"; for she was afraid. He said, "Oh yes, you did laugh."

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The LORD asked Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Can I really have a child when I am so old?'"
- Genesis 18:13 (TEV)
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FOR most of my life, I have been a wife, mother, and homemaker.  At the age of 65 I felt old, useless, and depressed.  I needed to have a purpose and to feel useful again, but what could I do?   Who would hire a 65-year-old homemaker without any job experience?

The Bible reveals that age is never a barrier to our being used by God.  Noah was an old man when he built the ark.  Sarah was 90 and Abraham 100 when Isaac was born.  Moses was 80 and Aaron 83 when they defied Pharaoh and demanded their people be released.

I'm sure I will never build an ark or give birth when I am 90.  However, there are many things that I can do.  I can pray and encourage others and lift up their spirits with cards, letters, and phone calls.  With God's help, I can be an effective witness for Jesus Christ.

I am not too old.  I now have a mission and a purpose for the rest of my life.

Prayer:  Dear God, use us this day.  Lead us into situations where we can serve you.  Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Each of us has a purpose, and God needs what we uniquely have to give.

-- Donna L. Willliams (Pennsylvania, U.S.A.)

PRAYER FOCUS: Someone feeling useless

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RELATED READING ...

For some people life is more rewarding after retirement!  Through 74 inspiring meditations, I NEVER FOUND THAT ROCKING CHAIR reveals retirement as a time of deepening spirituality.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/desc.asp?ep_id=30&item_id=12523

PLEASE SHARE THIS MINISTRY with a friend. Invite them to sign up for the free E-Mail Devotional by visiting: http://www.upperroom.org/devotional/email/.

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The scripture quotation is from the NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION of the Bible, copyright (c) 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.