Nursing Home Ministry

Coming As We Are

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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

This is the video version of my post from yesterday where I shared about my dad’s beauty shop. I do the video because once a week I prepare a devotional newsletter which I send in to two different nursing homes where I once visited and this video gives them some music to go along with their lesson. The newsletter version is usually shorter than what I post here because it all has to fit on one page in print large enough for my dear friends to read. I pray that you will also be blessed as I share a few songs along with the thought for the week. “Come to Jesus; just as you are” He is calling and waiting for you.

Here in the Tampa Bay area it is “Florida cold” but our family up North is having tons of fun shoveling white stuff which we don’t miss a bit! Have a blessed Tuesday wherever you are!

This is from our son’s house up north of Philly

Standing By Night

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Come bless the Lord all you servants of the Lord. Who stand by night in the house of the Lord! Psalms 134:1 ESV

Seeing our precious seniors braving the chilly afternoon to sing and pray was such an encouragement. Here is a video clip of our meeting along with two of the most classic songs of all time on praise. All Creatures of our God and King and The Doxology have echoed down through the centuries through times far more perilous than ours and serve as an example and encouragement. Let’s stand by night together and no matter what we face be sure to Bless the Lord!

All creatures of our God and King

All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing
Oh, praise Him! Alleluia!

Thou burning sun with golden beam,
Thou silver moon with softer gleam,
O praise Him, O praise Him, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Thou rushing wind that art so strong, 
Ye clouds that sail in heav’n along,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thou rising morn in praise rejoice, 
Ye lights of evening, find a voice,
O sing ye, O sing ye, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

And ev’ryone, with tender heart, 
Forgiving others, take your part,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
Sing praise and cast on God your care,
O sing ye, O sing ye, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

 Let all things their Creator bless, 
and worship God in humbleness,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
To God all thanks and praise belong!
Join in the everlasting song:
O praise Him, O praise Him, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Lyric poem by Saint Francis of Assisi 1225 (Canticle of the Sun)

William Draper paraphrase and music 1901

Come Bless the Lord

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Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,
    who stand by night in the house of the Lord! Psalm 134:1

What can I say about today’s monthly outdoor worship at Sunshine Christian Retirement Village? It was cold (by Florida standards) and we were old! The breezy not quite 60 degree weather had us shivering between hymns – but God showed up! We sang, heard each other’s prayer requests and heard from the word. At the beginning of this New Year it seemed wholly appropriate to begin by singing A Mighty Fortress is Our God. Between chattering teeth, Luther’s classic hymn reminded us that opposition to the church is not unusual, in fact it has been standard operating procedure throughout the centuries.

Then we began the praise chorus from Psalm 134, “Come Bless the Lord.” In order to understand what the Psalmist wrote it is important to know that these servants were specifically chosen from the family of Asaph and their duty was both to guard and to give praise to the Lord in the temple both day and night. In this Psalm these musicians and guards had their duties at night, so maybe you could think of them as third shift worshipers!

Are you going through a dark third shift night in your life? Maybe during this time, God is giving you the opportunity to be one of his special servants who stand by night. Maybe your praise in the nighttime seasons gives God the opportunity to show others His grace and glory in a world that so desperately needs the light of the love of Jesus Christ. If you have not heard this little chorus I have posted a fun link to listen to. It is one of my favorites. God bless you and have a blessed Lord’s day as you stand both day and night in the house of the Lord!

Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord! May the Lord bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth! Psalm 134: 2-3