Nursing Home Ministry

My Father’s World

/ pastorpete51 / 9 Comments 
All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
 and he does according to his will among the host of heaven
 and among the inhabitants of the earth;
 and none can stay his hand
 or say to him, “What have you done?” Daniel 4:35 ESV

If we turn were to on television this morning, we might wonder if this really is God’s world. Daily we hear reports of terrible things being done in our own country, and wars and atrocities in abundance abroad. When Maltie Babcock wrote “This is My Father’s World”, in 1901, his own little part of the world really was at peace and his lyrics are simply a hymn of praise for the beauty he saw on his long walks in the countryside. But by the time music had been set to his words, in a Presbyterian Hymnal in 1915, Europe was at war. and then a German submarine sank the ocean liner, The Lusitania. Twelve hundred innocent passengers drowned, and America entered a war in which millions were killed, including more than 116,000 American soldiers. Where was God in the middle of all the mess? He was right where He had been all along, calling out to us from the cross of Jesus Christ, to come and yield our hearts to Him! He is not an elected official. His term never expires, He cannot be impeached or overthrown. And in the words of this precious hymn, “Though the wrong seems oft so strong; God is the ruler yet!” I hope you will find hope and comfort in the words of this hymn and that you will be encouraged to trust Him through whatever battle you are personally facing today.

This is My Father’s World


This is my Father’s world
and to my list’ning ears
All nature sings and round me rings
the music of the spheres
This is my Father’s world
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas
His hand these wonders wrought

This is my Father’s world
The birds their carols raise
The morning light, the lily white
declare their Maker’s praise
This is my Father’s world
He shines in all that’s fair
In the rustling grass I hear him pass
He speaks to me everywhere

This is my Father’s world
Oh, let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world
The battle is not done
Jesus who died shall be glorified
And earth and heav’n be one

Maltbie Babcock 1901

Songs in the Night

/ pastorpete51 / 6 Comments

But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night. Job 35:10

When we are in a battle with the enemy like Job was, usually we have no idea what is going on. The invisible forces of the air, like a relentless defensive line in football are always looking to tackle us for a loss. But, when we can’t think straight and sleep is difficult, my dad used to advise me, “Don’t just lie there Pete! Get up and change the channel!” Just as Job did, we need to discover that the worship of Heaven is not limited to the four walls of the church, and we don’t have to hold on for dear life till next week’s service. We can get up in the middle of the darkest night and tune in to the Jesus Channel. Like the verse in Zephaniah tells us:

The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 

God never leaves us alone. He is not only the God who sees us, but also the God who will sing with us on the darkest of nights. I hope you will enjoy our song session from Life Care Center of one of my favorite hymns - God Leads His Dear Children Along-

Some through the waters, and some through the flood
Some through the fire, but all through the blood
Some through great sorrows, but God gives a song
In the night season
And all the day long!

God Leads His Dear Children Along by George Young 1903

The Story of Two Parrots

/ pastorpete51 / 7 Comments 
Seek the Lord while he may be found;
 call upon him while he is near; Isaiah 55:6 ESV
If we have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, then we are on the way to be with Him in Heaven. But how we will get there are what our journey will be like is in large part up to us. Today's verse calls us to seek the Lord while He may be found. Jesus also told us, that if we seek, then we would find. Are we seeking to walk closer with Him? This week as we sang the hymn, "When We All Get to Heaven", I shared a story of helping a friend of ours to move. This lady had lots of animals, including a dog, three cats, two tanks of fish and two large birds which were either parrots or macaws (Maybe my bird loving readers can explain the difference for me). We saved those birds for the last trip, but their cages were so big that there was only enough space for one of them to ride up front with me. The other, I wedged in between the boxes in the back of my pickup, and then covered him with a thick blanket. The good news was that everyone made it safely to our friend's new apartment. The bad news was that the parrot (or macaw) in the back was terrified when he got there! Susan told us it took him a week to get back to normal! The question I have for you today, is "How do you want to get to heaven?" If your salvation is assured because you have received Christ as your Savior and Lord, then I am delighted. But as you journey along through life, how close you walk with Jesus will determine the joy you will experience and be able to share with others along the way. So how would you like to arrive in heaven? Do you want to ride up front with Jesus or be wedged in between the boxes in the back with a blanket over your cage? Just a thought as you start this new week and I hope you will enjoy our hymn singing at Sunshine Christian Village from this past Saturday. If we seek the Lord while He may be found, He will give us a far more blessed journey along the way!