One of the favorite things our friends at Life Care Center love to do during worship is to lift up their hands in praise. Baptists, Catholics and Presbyterians are all joining in to lift those hands up in the name of Jesus. We who live in the comfort of our own homes, have a lot to learn about worship from them. We can just jump in our car to go to church but sometimes might rather sleep in or go to the beach. But they push only get around in wheelchairs, they eagerly push themselves up the hall and with big smiles on their faces join us for the Friday service. Why not join in with us? Let’s give God thanks for today and lift up your hands in His name!
Worship
The Holy Ghost Gun!
Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Psalm 63:3 KJV
We love singing the song “Thy Lovingkindness” at Life Care center. This Friday, when we got to the chorus, it was a delight to see some of the ladies smiling and lifting up their hands in rhythm to the music. When we sing those words, I am reminded of our neighborhood back in Scranton. On our block, the police were sometimes pretty busy and at least once we even saw them pull out a gun to arrest someone. They began by saying, “Show me your hands!” My friend from Bible college sometimes used to say that when God was trying to get our attention, He would pull out “The Holy Ghost gun!” and point it at our hearts, until we lovingly surrender to Him! I hope you will enjoy singing this old worship song along with us today. Have a blessed weekend everyone!
Thy Lovingkindness
Is better than life
Thy Lovingkindness
Is better than life
My lips shall praise Thee
Thus will I bless Thee
I will lift up
My hands unto Thy name!
I will lift up
My hands unto Thy name
I will lift up
My hands unto Thy name
My lips shall praise Thee
Thus will I bless Thee
I will lift up
My hands unto Thy name!
Thy Lovingkindness by Hugh Mitchell 1956
Where Shepherds Knelt to Worship
Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? James 2:5 ESV
With our culture’s emphasis on success, the American dream and racing towards our goals, it is easy to lose sight of what really matters. But once a week God gives me a refresher course on the economics of what He values, in the memory care wing of Sunshine Christian Home. There I have the distinct privilege of meeting with a group of very special people. These friends of mine have lost everything that society says is important: their homes, their friends, their health, and maybe most precious of all, their memories. Not even in India have I met people poorer in the things of this world, and yet, every week they encourage my heart, by the richness of their faith. Though it may take a few minutes for them to focus, once they look up, I am greeted with smiles as big and beautiful as you will ever see in church. In today’s verse, the Apostle James points to people just like these friends of mine and asks, “Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world, to be rich in faith?”
By stripping away all the external signs of wealth, they are left with the eternal riches that only God can give. They are rich in faith, because when everything they have depended on all their lives was taken, they found that God was still on their side. There in that tiny room we sing about the kingdom that waits on the other side of the door and the promises of God that stand forever. There the Savior draws close as He once did in a stable where He lay His head on hay, and cattle lowed, and shepherds knelt to worship!
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