miracles

Thankful for Volunteers

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments

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 Easter Miracle

/ pastorpete51 / 14 Comments 
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 KJV

I asked my friends at Life Care Center this week to think about what the greatest miracle in the Bible was. Was it the Red Sea crossing, multiplying Bread or raising Lazarus from the dead? Now those are amazing, but the foundation of our entire faith is based on the miracle of Easter morning. And yet for me, the greatest miracle of all is not just that Jesus came, died and rose from the dead. The miracle is that He loved me and gave Himself for me. Why would He do that? Why would He even be interested, much less willing to die in my place? The love of God is both the greatest mystery and the greatest miracle, and this is my testimony of how I found Him, or rather, of how He found me.

The Greatest Miracle

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David. Matthew 20:30 KJV

The healing of these blind men is one of the best loved stories of answered prayer. We chuckle when we hear how these blind men shouted so loudly that people standing by told them to be quiet because we like to think of shouting our needs to God and find him listening. We love the fact that when Jesus stopped and called them to come, those same nay-sayers ended up saying, “Cheer up! He’s calling you!” Most of all we love the fact that when they got to Jesus He completely healed them. But we miss the second miracle that happened that afternoon because, for us once prayers it seems like it is time to move on. But Jesus is interested in far more than simply giving us what we ask, so let’s take a look at what happens next.

So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him. Matthew 20:30 KJV

Maybe this morning you are seeking God with an even more urgent request than healing. It could be you are devastated over a broken marriage, a drug addicted child, or the death of a loved one. Be encouraged that God is listening and don’t give up seeking him even if others tell you that it’s no use. But in the press of urgency for God’s help in crisis, we must remember that God has even more than healing, deliverance and comfort available. HIs greatest miracle of all is the grace of a transformed life that will follow Jesus on the road!