Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. John 11:21
Most people have loved Mary because of her humility and worship, but the Bible tells us that Jesus also loved Martha. I think of Martha as the female version of Peter. She was always saying something! But aren’t you secretly glad that Martha said all those things and asked all the questions that the rest of us were too afraid to voice? Today’s video takes a deeper dive into Martha’s cry for help and how we need that in our lives. This also will give those who follow this blog a peek into our nursing home outreach. I am so thankful that other volunteers have come alongside to help so that we were able to serve communion this Friday. Also included is the classic hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross”. If you would like to know more about nursing home ministry, why not follow our YouTube channel? I hope that you have a blessed weekend!
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:1-2 KJV
While Jesus spoke these words things might have seemed a little chaotic for the disciples. They had just finished a Passover meal at which Jesus spoke of giving them his body and His blood, told them one of them would betray Him and then washed all their dirty feet! We cannot be sure of the exact scene, but as they listened, they were probably making their way through the dark streets of Jerusalem on their way towards the Garden of Gethsemane. As they walked, they would have been passing all kinds of homes – small homes overflowing with large families – rough looking hovels where the working poor slept and candlelit mansions of the wealthy merchants and the Pharisees. Jesus turned to the worried disciples saying, “Don’t let your heart be troubled. In my Father’s house are many mansions…and I am going to prepare a place for you!”
Questions whizzed through the disciples’ minds in a mixture of hope and puzzlement. “What kind of home? – How would they get there? – When would it all happen?” That same chaotic mixture of faith and puzzlement walks through the scene every week at the nursing homes where I visit. You will see in the video a nurse passing by the camera to check someone, hear the sounds of the intercom calling for people and people moving about and yet they sing. They sing, they smile, and they believe. Their faith lifts me every week as I get the chance to share a half hour of worship with friends who I will meet one day on the other side. There we will have all our hair, nothing will hurt and no one will sit in wheelchairs. Instead, we will find out just what the mansion that Jesus has prepared will be like and we will get to live in it forever with our blessed Lord Jesus Christ!
Almost ten years ago, after several decades of volunteering in nursing homes I wrote my first book on the subject. This is a bit of a specialized area, and no commercial publishing house was interested (understandably) so with the help of coworkers, my pastor and friends we published “Would You Do It For One?” through Kindle Direct Publishing. With various tweaks over the years and a few follow up volumes I thought I had preserved to the best of my ability the many experiences and lessons I had learned. Though I often floundered through the months and years of ministry, I came to depend more and more on God, as well as learn from plenty of mistakes!
The years from 2015-19 felt like smooth sailing, and then the Covid-19 pandemic came along and turned everything on its head. Thankfully after 15 months of complete shutdown, one by one the facilities reopened, but to a brand-new world, where much has changed. Though I procrastinated and listed lots of good excuses about why I shouldn’t write anything more, God continued to stir my heart, to get off my duff and get started on a new volume! So recently I began work on a new book and I would so appreciate your prayers for God’s inspiration, organization and grace. In the meantime, just in time for Mother’s Day, I am offering for free an eBook version of my 30-day devotional written for people living in long-term care as well as those still living home, with the assistance of friends and family. 31 Days of Hope will be available for free starting on Sunday (Mother’s Day) and the promotion will run through Tuesday of next week. (Just in case you are busy honoring a mom tomorrow!) There is also a Large Print Soft Cover Available. Have a Happy Mother’s Day to all you Mothers, both biological and spiritual and a blessed weekend to all.
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