Memory Care

Have You Invited Jesus for Thanksgiving?

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And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Mark 10:47 ESV

The story behind the writing of the hymn, “Pass Me Not” is both interesting and complicated. It all began one day when the now famous hymn writer, Fanny Crosby, went to speak at a prison. As she passed between the cell blocks, she heard one of the prisoners calling out, “O Lord, please don’t pass me by.” This led Fanny to sit down soon afterward and pen the familiar words, “Pass me not oh gentle Savior, hear my humble cry!” These were almost word for word the cry of the blind beggar named Bartimaeus who we meet in Mark’s gospel. Bartimaeus was sitting by the side of the road as Jesus began to pass and he cried out with both desperation and faith. Desperation, because he knew that only Jesus could help, and faith because he believed that He would. But even beyond the Biblical application, we can find even another layer of meaning, when we realize that, Fanny Crosby, just like Bartimaeus had been blind most of her life.

But as we sang together today at Sunshine Memory Care, I was struck by the fact that my friends there, were not singing these words in desperation or sadness, but with faith and joy. Next week is Thanksgiving and few of these precious people will have any family to sit down with, and the piece of turkey with a bit of gravy on their lunch menu is all the celebrating they will get to do. But God knows every one of them by name. He has the hairs of their heads all numbered and if no one else will sit down with them, they know that Jesus will, if they simply invite Him in! If Jesus remembers them, He also remembers you. In all the busyness of your holiday season, remember to slow and then invite Jesus into your heart for Thanksgiving! It is an invitation He will never refuse!

Thankful for Volunteers

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We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 1 Thessalonians 1:2 ESV

This week I was especially thankful for the small but faithful group of volunteers who work with me in our nursing home ministry. What happens every so often is that there ends up being four straight days of meetings at the different facilities that we serve. Though I do dearly love my friends in long term care, these weeks would be almost an unbearable burden were it not for people who come alongside to serve. Those meetings began on Thursday morning in a memory care unit, where I am usually full of energy and joy. But by Friday, I was delighted that our good friends, the Hysons, not only came to help serve communion, and then Sue shared a wonderful message with the group. On Saturday at Sunshine Village, another volunteer named Donna, shared her testimony, while another made coffee and brought in cookies for our fellowship after the meeting. Finally at the Sunday afternoon meeting, a couple comes faithfully every two weeks to serve communion, hand out song sheets before the meeting and distribute our newsletters afterward. As I look back over this past year, I am both thankful and amazed to see how God has been building us together as a team, so that together we can better share the love of Jesus and offer people an extension of the ministry of our local church.

Do you have a nursing home outreach at the church you attend? Volunteering might feel intimidating, but there are many different ways to serve. One man has been doing the graphic art for our newsletter and others help us by writing. Some serve communion and others give a brief devotional talk. This week I am posting Donna’s testimony about the way God worked miracles in her family, after her great grandson was diagnosed with leukemia. Donna is not a professional speaker, but her heartfelt story points to our God who does amazing things through the lives of ordinary people like you and me. I pray that you will be encouraged and open for how God wants to work through your life. Stay tuned for tips on organizing a holiday program, in my next post. Have a great week everybody!

My Friend Jerry

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I cannot show you Jerry’s real photo because he lives in a memory care facility, but this smiling gentleman’s picture is close enough. I met Jerry a few months ago when he began coming to our Thursday hymn singing time. Today there was such a crowd of wheel chairs gathered around me, that when Jerry’s son came to visit, he could not even get close to his dad. Finally towards the end of our session one of the nurses managed to manuveur Jerry out of the crowd, and his son Greg gently guided him outside to the porch to sit and talk. On my way out as I passed by I paused to say hello and introduce myself.

Greg looked up at me with a smile and remarked, “You know I was really surprised to hear him singing with you. I can’t ever remember him singing those songs before!”

“Well he sings every week with us now.” I told him as I shook their hands to say goodbye. That little conversation this morning reminded me why I do what I do (besides that Jesus called me to go). There are so many Jerry’s and Nancy’s and Mary’s and Jim’s, who are waiting for someone to sing to them. In those places, there are some who had once put God off to the side, or even locked Him out of their lives for years, but now long to hear of Jesus and His love. They discover a hunger for heaven and the good news is that God still has a seat at His banqueting table reserved for anyone who will come. It is never too late to come to Jesus.

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new!