Nursing Home Ministry

Blessing the Lord – Even in the Chaos

/ pastorpete51 / 3 Comments

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1 NKJV

A day at Life Care Center is always interesting. Nurses come in and ask residents if they had their meds, someone always get a call on their cell phone, or the lunch ladies walk through pushing their carts. It can feel chaotic at times, but in the middle of busyness, God also gives us a sense of His joy and peace, especially as we worship. The key is to look away from the chaos and simply bless the Lord in the middle of whatever is happening. I hope you will be blessed and join in with our residents as we lift up our hands and bless the Lord at all times, even when chaos tries to creep in!

The Longer I Serve Him

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments 
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 ESV



Even as a young person, I always kind of liked this song, though it really was neither my style nor my story at the time. I kind of figured it had been written by one of the old fuddy-duddys at some church far away and long ago, but it did have a sweet feeling to it. Recently when I began singing it for the residents at various of the nursing homes which I visit, I began looking into the origins of the composition and was shocked to discover that it had been written by Bill and Gloria Gaither before they even turned thirty!


That is the way it is with God’s inspiration. He shares His riches with those whom He likes, and they have a timeless appeal, precisely because the music comes from Him. I hope you will be touched and blessed by my simple rendering of the Gaither’s classic, “The Longer I Serve Him The Sweeter He Grows”. I also pray that as you embark upon the challenges, difficulties and adventures of the New year, that you will discover how sweet and great a blessing it is to be serving Jesus no matter what your age!

Go! Tell it on the Mountain!

/ pastorpete51 / 5 Comments

And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:15 NIV

I will bet that you have never heard the above verse read during a Christmas service. But what the shepherds did after going down to see baby Jesus in the manger, is exactly what this scripture is all about! Those shepherds didn’t need an evangelism course; they simply couldn’t wait to tell everyone that night in Bethlehem that “Jesus Christ is born!” This anonymous hymn sung in many African American churches during the middle 1800’s was eventually published and arranged by John Wesley Work Jr. in 1901. Though its words and melody are simple it is deservedly as well-loved as “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”, written by another Wesley (Charles). I do hope you will enjoy listening to our precious residents singing along and that perhaps you will join in and “Go tell it on the mountain!”