The Price of the Gospel

I am thankful that God has opened a new door this week in a memory care wing of a faculty we have been visiting for a while. For those of you who think this is a pointless exercise I would like to encourage you to get involved if you can. Alzheimer’s and dementia effect a small but significant portion of our nursing home community residents. But while memories become spotty the value of the person remains unchanged to our Heavenly Father. We have discovered that love and music in combination can communicate quite effectively the love of Christ!

 

Nursing Home Christmas

This was my first Christmas at Life Care Center since we just moved three months ago to Florida. What a blessing it has been to get involved right away in this community. Our small team went in and sang for two groups of residents today. Of course the Hipaa laws prohibit us from showing any of the people you can hear them singing. One of the highlights was a 104 year old resident who joined us in singing Silent Night! May this little abbreviated version of our visit be a blessing to you tonight. After all Christmas is all about God coming to visit those others have forgotten!

Thankful for the Years

“ Lord , make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. Psalms 39:4 NKJV

For 23 years it has been my great privilege to lead the chapel services at Allied. What began as a visit to a friend blossomed into meetings in three different wards every week. Each group was unique in its needs, pace and personality. The Alzheimer’s day room was usually packed, lively and yes unpredictable! But they loved music and often sang along, tapped their feet or at least smiled. Today they each made farewell cards I will treasure always. The respiratory ward was just a small meeting yet it was like meeting with family and I often shared my most personal feelings there. The general population was the place where God taught me how to share His word honestly and simply in 12 minutes! I have measured those years in my mind 1000 times and I wouldn’t want to have missed a single day. I have learned that 1 day in God’s house is more valuable than 1000 anywhere else on earth!