Aging Faithfully

Aging Faithfully
Author: Alice Fryling
Publisher: NavPress
Total Pages: 193
Release: 2021-11
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 1641583592

Would you like to grow in life-giving ways as you age? Do you have the courage to let go of former ways of thinking to receive God's love and life in new ways? As we age, we experience the loss of physical stamina, independence, and career fulfillment. Yet within each of these losses is a holy invitation to grow. God calls us to let go of our need for accomplishment and embrace the gift of fruitfulness so that we might be transformed in this final season of our lives. In Aging Faithfully, spiritual director Alice Fryling explores how to navigate the journey of retirement, lifestyle changes, and new limitations. In this season of life, we are invited to hold both grief and hope, to acknowledge ways of thinking that no longer represent who we are, and to receive peace in the midst of our fears. We all age differently, and God calls each of us to new spiritual birth as we mature. When we embrace the aging process, we grow closer to God and experience his grace as he renews us from within. Whether you are approaching the beginning, middle, or end of your senior years, you are invited. Come and be transformed. Aging Faithfully includes questions for group discussion and suggestions for personal meditation.

Aging Faithfully

Aging Faithfully
Author: Missy Buchanan
Publisher: Upper Room Books
Total Pages: 73
Release: 2011-07-01
Genre: Family & Relationships
ISBN: 0835811514

Aging is part of God's plan, says author Missy Buchanan—and it's a gift, not punishment. Buchanan reminds us that aging is a matter of perspective—if we fix our eyes on negative images of growing old, we will miss the treasures right before us. But when we focus on God, we will discover an abiding joy that comes only with a long life. Aging Faithfully is divided into four weekly themes: Accepting the Challenges of Aging Finding God's Purpose in Aging Overcoming the Temptations of Aging Discovering the Joys of Aging Each week contains daily Bible-based readings, scripture, prayers, and suggestions for practical application or deeper thought. At the back of the book you'll find reflection questions that can be used for group discussion or further individual exploration. Let each day's reading wash over you. Prepare your heart to discover what it means to age joyfully—and faithfully. A great resource for Sunday school classes and small groups! Also makes a great gift for homebound persons.

Aging with Grace

Aging with Grace
Author: Sharon W. Betters
Publisher: Crossway
Total Pages: 158
Release: 2021-01-25
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1433570106

Aging with Grace by the Power of the Gospel Whatever season of life you're in, God has equipped you to flourish—to live in the transforming power and beauty of his grace. As we age, we can easily lose sight of this message as cultural ideals glorifying youth take center stage. In this book, Sharon W. Betters and Susan Hunt offer present-day and biblical examples of women who rediscovered gospel-rooted joy later in their lives. Equipped with a biblical view of aging, Aging with Grace will help you encounter afresh the gospel that "is big enough, good enough, and powerful enough to make every season of life significant and glorious."

The Wonder Years

The Wonder Years
Author: Leslie Leyland Fields
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Total Pages: 246
Release: 2018-04-24
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0825445221

Women past a certain age often feel like they are fading into the background of life. The nest is emptying, limitations are increasing, and fear about aging and the years ahead grow. Even women of faith can feel a waning sense of value, regardless of biblical examples of godly women yielding fruit long after their youth is gone. But despite a youth-obsessed culture, the truth is that the second half of life can often be the richest. It's time to stop dreading and start embracing the wonder of life after 40. Here, well-known women of faith from 40 to 85 tackle these anxieties head-on and upend them with humor, sass, and spiritual wisdom. These compelling and poignant first-person stories are from amazing and respected authors including: Lauren F. Winner Joni Eareckson Tada Elisa Morgan Madeleine L'Engle Kay Warren These women provide much-needed role models--not for aging gracefully but for doing so honestly, faithfully, and with eyes open to wonder and deep theology along the way. Each essay provides insight into God's perspective on these later years, reminding readers that it's possible to serve the kingdom of God and His people even better with a little extra life experience to guide you. The Wonder Years is an inspiring and unforgettable guide to making these years the most fruitful and abundant of your life.

Growing Old in Christ

Growing Old in Christ
Author: Stanley Hauerwas
Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Total Pages: 324
Release: 2003-06-20
Genre: Family & Relationships
ISBN: 9780802846075

One of the hallmarks of contemporary culture is its attitude toward aging and the elderly. Youth and productivity are celebrated in today's society, while the elderly are increasingly marginalized. This not only poses difficulties for old people but is also a loss for the young and middle-agers, who could learn much from the elderly, including what it means to grow old (and die) "in Christ." Growing Old in Christ presents the first serious theological reflection ever on what it means to grow old, particularly in our culture and particularly as a Christian. In a full-orbed discussion of the subject, eighteen first-rate Christian thinkers survey biblical and historical perspectives on aging, look at aging in the modern world, and describe the "Christian practice of growing old." Along the way they address many timely issues, including the medicalization of aging, the debate over physician-assisted suicide, and the importance of friendships both among the elderly and between the elderly and the young. Weighty enough to instruct theologians, ethicists, and professional caregivers yet accessible enough for pastors and general readers, this book will benefit anyone seeking faith-based insight into growing old. Contributors: David Aers David Cloutier Rowan A. Greer Stanley Hauerwas Judith C. Hays Richard B. Hays Shaun C. Henson L. Gregory Jones Susan Pendleton Jones Patricia Beattie Jung D. Stephen Long M. Therese Lysaught David Matzko McCarthy Keith G. Meador Charles Pinches Joel James Shuman Carole Bailey Stoneking Laura Yordy

From Dry Bones to Living Hope

From Dry Bones to Living Hope
Author: Missy Buchanan
Publisher: Upper Room Books
Total Pages: 77
Release: 2021-10-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0835819787

Though the shadow side of aging is a reality, author Missy Buchanan brings spiritual light and nourishment to people in the later years of life. Older adults struggle with chronic pain and diminished physical abilities. They contend with losses that pile up like the dry bones in the prophet Ezekiel's vision—the loss of loved ones and friends, the loss of their home and belongings, the loss of independence, and the loss of purpose. In a culture that values youth more than age, older adults often feel forgotten and without purpose. Each chapter of From Dry Bones to Living Hope opens with an intimate, prayerful lament to God from the perspective of the older adult who longs for spiritual renewal and purpose. The authentic voice of lament establishes credibility with older readers who yearn for others to empathize with their struggles. The second part of each chapter, "Cultivating Hope," guides them to God's perspective on aging and specific actions they can take that lead to hope and joy.

Mirror for the Soul

Mirror for the Soul
Author: Alice Fryling
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
Total Pages: 206
Release: 2017-07-07
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0830890920

The Enneagram is like a mirror, reflecting dimensions of ourselves that are sometimes hard to see. In this helpful guide, spiritual director and Enneagram teacher Alice Fryling offers an introduction to each number of the Enneagram, with questions and meditations to lead you into deeper self-awareness and reveal how you can experience God's love more abundantly.

How to Grow Old

How to Grow Old
Author: Marcus Tullius Cicero
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Total Pages: 215
Release: 2016-03-29
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 1400880394

Timeless wisdom on growing old gracefully from one of ancient Rome's greatest philosophers Worried that old age will inevitably mean losing your libido, your health, and possibly your marbles too? Well, Cicero has some good news for you. In How to Grow Old, the great Roman orator and statesman eloquently describes how you can make the second half of life the best part of all—and why you might discover that reading and gardening are actually far more pleasurable than sex ever was. Filled with timeless wisdom and practical guidance, Cicero's brief, charming classic—written in 44 BC and originally titled On Old Age—has delighted and inspired readers, from Saint Augustine to Thomas Jefferson, for more than two thousand years. Presented here in a lively new translation with an informative new introduction and the original Latin on facing pages, the book directly addresses the greatest fears of growing older and persuasively argues why these worries are greatly exaggerated—or altogether mistaken. Montaigne said Cicero's book "gives one an appetite for growing old." The American founding father John Adams read it repeatedly in his later years. And today its lessons are more relevant than ever in a world obsessed with the futile pursuit of youth.

Aging Gracefully

Aging Gracefully
Author: Tim Challies
Publisher: Cruciform Quick
Total Pages: 50
Release: 2018-06
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9781941114421

Greater age brings greater sorrow but also greater joy, especially to those who are in Christ. As we grow older, the Bible instructs us to age gracefully, wisely, and resolutely to the glory of God. To do this we must age in Christ and for Christ. What does that look like? What can we be doing now to ensure we finish this race strong?