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Robert Hotchkin

Paulette Reed is a powerful preacher, prophetic minister, encourager, administrator and author. She has been an ordained minister for 15 years and is a full-time revivalist/evangelist. Her passion is to share the love of Christ and unite people to the inexplicable love of our Heavenly Father, exhorting them to arise and shine!  She is an accurate prophetess the Lord has raised up to bring hope and healing to thousands. In this months devotional, Paulette shares a “now” word on how God is raising up an army of powerful seniors in this day and hour as we prepare for the greatest harvest of souls known to humankind.

Memories of Honor

Having served in home hospice and health care many years ago, I learned to love seniors … and now I am one. I remember being in awe of the amazing wisdom and insight that flowed out of them, which I knew could only have been acquired by the process of time. Sometimes I would sit with them for hours as we looked through old photographs. I learned to listen, trying to be like a sponge soaking up years of knowledge. The experiences of the Great Depression, the attack on Pearl Harbor, and World War II, along with the imposing of the draft in which thirty-four million men registered, ten million of which served with the military, were beyond what I could even imagine. There were no idle hands, and the resilience and tenacity was amazing.

And I remember my own sweet mama, now 89 years old, telling me stories of how the entire community would shut down for a few days when someone passed away in her farming community. No one in the neighborhood would even consider not showing their last respects, even when blizzards dumped 27 inches of snow with 50-80 mph winds following.

In her youth, most funerals were held right in the homes of the deceased. With her German dialect, Mama often shared how caravans of horses and buggies would line up at the grieving family’s residence together, loaded with fresh milk, eggs, homemade breads, chicken, beef, and many other items that would help the family cope with their sorrow.

In the weeks that followed a funeral, the men in the community often took their horses and farm equipment into the fields of a deceased farmer in order to reap the harvest for the widow and her family. No wages were ever involved – the community always served out of love and respect. Times have changed.

Fast Forward

Today we live in a much faster-paced world, and we’ve moved from horse and buggies to vehicles that can take us from city to city or continent to continent in a fraction of the time. Don’t get me wrong – I am thrilled about the acceleration. I love and admire young people, and I truly enjoy talking (or texting) with them. I take every opportunity I can to speak at college campuses or youth groups because their dreams are big, the synergy is amazing, and young people make me feel … well, young. I want my ceiling to be the floor for the younger generation; in fact, I pray they soar much higher than I could even dream, as they reach the world with the gospel.

I will say, however, that it concerns me to see young people who are raised up into challenging positions too quickly, because there is so much that can only be learned through the course of time. Proverbs 16:31 reminds us, “A gray head is a crown of glory; it is found in the way of righteousness.” The truth is that no matter how much we pour into the next generation – and we need to pour all we can into them – some lessons in life will only come through time and experience.

It is interesting that the word found in Proverbs 16:31 can be rendered as “attached by action, as walking on a journey.” A silver head, which is a crown of glory, can only come by walking on a journey, by putting our bodies into action for decades, not just weeks or months. I don’t know how God is going to work everything out, but I know He has a plan from beginning to end. I also know that we cannot go over or under the fire of God; we must go through it at some time.

Nuggets of Gold

Recently I was pondering what I’ve “attached by action, as walking on a journey” in my 61 years of life, and I compiled a long list, letting it flow from my heart. Of course the list was not exhaustive, but I wish I could bottle what God has taught me over the years and give it to thousands of people – but the truth is that I cannot. However, I pray that even a glimpse at just 35 of the most important lessons the Lord has taught me can be tools in your spiritual toolbox as the generations, both young and old, fight the good fight of faith and walk arm-in-arm with shields locked.

  1. Always be the one who says thank you.
  2. WWJD (What would Jesus do) is an amazing acronym by which to live.
  3. We really are what we eat.
  4. Read the Bible every day – it’s a living Word.
  5. Faith without works is dead.
  6. Love must always be our greatest aim.
  7. If we stop learning, then we stop growing.
  8. There’s no expiration date on the callings of God.
  9. Listening is an art; master it.
  10. Say I’m sorry quickly and forgive even quicker.
  11. Do it afraid.
  12. Balance, balance, balance – work, play, and rest.
  13. Demons flee at the name of Jesus.
  14. If we don’t work, then we don’t eat.
  15. Never give up – try and try again.
  16. Never compromise, because honesty is everything.
  17. Make a bucket list – dream big.
  18. Start strong and finish stronger.
  19. Don’t whine.
  20. Look for fun in all that you do – the Kingdom of God is joy.
  21. Respect cannot be demanded – only earned.
  22. We will never have what we do not honor.
  23. Daily walks are the fountain of youth.
  24. Without a vision the people will perish.
  25. Restoration and blessings are perpetual.
  26. Christlikeness is a process.
  27. Take the axe to the root without hesitation.
  28. Discipline saves our lives.
  29. Don’t miss God’s still small voice.
  30. In a world filled with mediocrity, be excellent.
  31. It really is better to give than to receive.
  32. Peace is foundational for Christianity.
  33. God is holy and good; live to please Him.
  34. The joy of the Lord is our strength – lose our joy and we lose our strength.
  35. Always empower – never enable.

Well, there’s a starting point. If we pass on the batons that our elders have given to us, then our ceilings really can be the floor of the younger generations. Sure, time will teach many lessons but in an accelerated world, impartation of seniors’ hard-fought truths and nuggets of wisdom are crucial for that growth process.

Champions Are Made

According to forecasts by the Census Bureau, in America alone the population over age 65 will grow from 34 million to 53 million by the year 2020. And the over-85 population will nearly double to seven million. As we move into our glory years, let’s cling to the promises of God and be refreshed in His presence as our youth is renewed like that of an eagle. Don’t forget, “As your days, so your strength shall be” (Deut. 33:25).

Listen, friends: God is raising up an army of powerful seniors in this day and hour as we prepare for the greatest harvest of souls known to humankind. Take care of yourselves, study to show yourselves approved, and be ready in and out of season. Wear your crown of splendor and glory well, for it is found in the way of righteousness (Proverbs 16:31). God is about to breathe on the dry bones that have been scattered in the valley, and a trained army will arise to do great exploits in His mighty name.

How wonderful to know that the Lord is cheering us on as we proclaim His power to a new generation and His mighty miracles to all who come after us (Psalm 71:18). I am a senior and proud of it! How about you?

We salute seniors today on behalf of the body of Christ. We honor you! Thank you for making the way for thousands of others to follow, because we know there was pain in the offering. We love you for it!

 Prayer Directives

  1. Benjamin Franklin once said, “Those who love deeply never grow old; they may die of old age, but they die young.” If we can be remembered for one thing, may it be that we loved well. May it be said that we let love be our greatest aim (1 Corinthians 14:1).
  2. We honor our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit and cooperate with Almighty God as He promises to renew our lives and sustain us in old age (Ruth 4:15).
  3. We are excited to bear fruit and be refired with the passion and promises of God!
    But the godly will flourish like palm trees
    and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.
    For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house.
    They flourish in the courts of our God.
    Even in old age they will still produce fruit;they will remain vital and green.
    They will declare, “The Lord is just!
    He is my rock!
    There is no evil in him!” (Psalm 92:12–15 NLT)
  4. We honor one another as we wear a crown of glory, which is only obtained by walking along a righteous path (Proverbs 16:31).
  5. The advancing of the Kingdom of God does not stop and neither shall we. The psalmist declared: “Now that I am old and my hair is gray, don’t leave me, God. I must tell the next generation about your power and greatness. God, your goodness reaches far above the skies. You have done wonderful things. God, there is no one like you” (Psalm 71:18 –19 ERV).
  6. We stand in the gap as the Lord unites generations of families, both biological and spiritual. Malachi prophesied that God would “turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents” (Malachi 4:6 NIV).
  7. We will humble ourselves, pray, and live in perpetual restoration and blessing, as the Lord restores all things during this day and hour:Now it’s time to change your ways! Turn to face God so he can wipe away your sins, pour out showers of blessing to refresh you, and send you the Messiah he prepared for you, namely, Jesus. For the time being he must remain out of sight in heaven until everything is restored to order again just the way God, through the preaching of his holy prophets of old, said it would be. Moses, for instance, said, “Your God will raise up for you a prophet just like me from your family. Listen to every word he speaks to you. Every last living soul who refuses to listen to that prophet will be wiped out from the people.” (Acts 3:19–21 MSG)

Want More? Then May We Suggest:

A Powerful Force

A POWERFUL FORCEfrom Paulette Reed
This book invited you to enter into a walk of LOVE that will fulfill, enlighten, and empower your life. LOVE will be ignited in you and will powerfully impact you.

The Glory Years

THE GLORY YEARSBook from Joyce Euren
Are you in the senior stage of life? Author Joyce Euren invites you to make these the best, most exciting and rewarding years of your life – not only as the golden years, but also as The Glory Years.

She writes, “Being a senior does not mean that we need to sit back and watch the world go by. Most of the time, in our senior years we are finally able to do some of the things we longed to do all of our lives. What is your dream? Do you think you are too old? Too tired? Too sick? … A new perspective on what your years ahead can offer will help you overcome and live well.”

Extreme Decrees

EXTREME DECREES FOR EXTREME TIMES Devotional Book by Patricia King, Bart & Kim Hadaway, Robert Hotchkin and Paulette Reed.
A Prophetic Journal to Encourage You in Challenging Times.

We at Patricia King Ministries thank you for your prayers, partnership, and financial support. May you be richly and abundantly blessed. And remember, God loves you with an everlasting love!

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