This will be a Mother’s Day unlike any other at Nursing Homes around the nation. No special family visits, no taking mom out to eat or even bringing her flowers. In our community we will be able to do a drive by parade (Thank God the weather is nice). We will have signs to wave and we’ll honk our horns to honor all those moms now in isolation for almost two months. Here is a short video I made this week to send into the various homes where I used to be able to visit. God bless all of you moms out there. This is your special day!
singing
Our Hope of Heaven
As we are ploughing through this sixth week of Corona related shutdown here in Florida I thought that today it might be a good idea to focus on joy. God has not called us to worry, to live in depression or in fear. He has given us instead a hope that is not only eternal but it is also filled with joy.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4 ESV
When I was doing my nursing home ministry up till this shutdown I found that some of the residents’ favorite songs were about heaven They often not only listened but the sang along, smiled and swayed back and forth in their wheel chairs in time to the music. Here are a few of those songs; including When the Roll is called up Yonder; When we All Get to Heaven and Mansion Over the Hilltop. We know that if we follow Jesus He has promised to lead us home to His Father’s house in Heaven! Have a blessed day everyone!
My Father’s World
Then pray like this: Our Father in Heaven Hallowed Be Your name Your kingdom come Your will be done On earth as it is in Heaven Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Matthew 6:9-13 ESV
The hymn, “This is My Father’s World” was written as a poem by Maltbie Babcock and wasn’t set to music until 15 years after his death. If we were to step back we would also see it as a reflection of the Lord’s Prayer. Throughout our current Corona virus crisis this reminds me that in the middle of uncertainty; God never changes. “This is my Father’s world and to my listening ear.” The first unchangeable truth this song gives us is that, no matter what happens in this world our Father in Heaven is listening but during our time of enforced idleness we might ask, “Are we listening for His voice?”
Secondly; even though God is in charge He gives us a part to play. We are to pray; “Your kingdom come Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Just as the birds raise their carols in the second verse, our opportunity in this crisis is to praise God as our creator and worship Him in a way that brings heaven’s rule to our own little patch of ground.
Then we must trust Him even when our world seems dark. “And when the wrong seems oft so strong.” When we are unable to provide for ourselves as we are accustomed we learn to ask Him to give our daily bread. When we lose patience or fail under pressure; He promises that if only we ask that He will forgive us as we are forgiving of those around us.
“This is my Father’s world, the battle is not done.” Last of all when temptation calls we must depend on God’s help to lead us away and when we are surrounded by our enemies; He promises to deliver us by His cross! “Jesus who died will be satisfied; and earth and heaven be one.”
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