Month: October 2017

Hope of Heaven

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I see myself at heaven’s door

I can hear its hinges creak

Around its frame a light shines out

As it opens before the King

 

What have you brought He asks

From the life you lived on earth?

Oh not a lot I sadly say

As I struggle to begin

Light at Night

Well, there were the mission’s trips

And every day I prayed

And regularly I read your word

And all the tithes I gave

 

When I stopped – he paused and gently said

That’s not why angels sing

Those were not from your deepest heart

But just temporary things

 

But the forgiveness you gave your parents

When their divorce left you alone

And the love you shared with strangers

When you opened up your home

And the tears of repentance that you wept

And your confession in the dark

These are the things that I truly treasure

And for these there is a crown

 

 

 

Getting ready for Christmas

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It isn’t too early to plan a Christmas outreach for your local nursing home. Here are some practical insights to help you get started!

pastorpete51's avatarWalking With Lambs

“I’ll Be Home For Christmas” was recorded by Bing Crosby in 1943 as a tribute to soldiers overseas during World War II, and has become a holiday classic. Nursing home residents are a bit like soldiers, but most of them will never be home for Christmas.  The statistics say that 60% of nursing home residents in the U.S. do not receive a single visit from a family member in an entire year. There is no more important time to plan a special program than at the holidays. Christmas, Thanksgiving, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day each are opportunities to show God’s love through visiting people who are alone. Small gifts are wonderful, but the greatest gift we have to offer is our presence.

For those unfamiliar with nursing home ministry early October may seem a bit early to begin planing a Christmas program. But after having worked for 20 years of…

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When in Doubt

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When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
Matthew 28:17 NKJV

I love the honesty of God’s word. It never airbrushes over the faults or weaknesses of His people. Try to imagine seeing Jesus with your own eyes after the resurrection. You are listening to His voice, seeing the marks of nails in His hands and yet there remain some doubts. Jesus knows! He is not fooled by our outward religiosity. He sees into our hidden and most intimate thoughts and yet, He accepts us. Instead of rebuking the doubters in the crowd He simply put out a call for action. Doubts or no doubts, here is what needs to be done; “Go into all the world and…” That call still echoes in our 21st century world. We do have our doubts but our faith asks the question “What will we do today?”.