Never Abandoned

“My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” Psalm 22:1

I know that all of Psalm 22 is a picture of the cross, but as I listened to it today on the Bible app, I also began to wonder what was happening in King David’s life when he wrote it. Was David running from Saul, being attacked by his own son Absalom or involved in some unrecorded battle? Though we don’t know exactly his circumstances, it made me realize that when Jesus said, “Take up your cross and follow me,” it will mean that, just like David, there will be times when we will pass through circumstances just as challenging to our faith.

But unlike our Lord, who truly was forsaken as He bore our sins, though it may feel as if God has forgotten us, that it is not so. Jesus has promised that He will be with us, through thick and thin all the way, even to the end of the world. Are you facing failure in your career? Abandonment by a spouse? Rejection by a parent? Have received the diagnosis you feared from the doctor? Jesus has not, nor will He ever forsake us, but when we humbly call out to Him, He will come. Though the lyrics of the song, “Little Talk With Jesus,” are often sung lightheartedly with smiles, let’s read them carefully this morning and make them our prayer. God is listening; God cares, and He will make things right and make us whole, when we cry out to Him in our prayer.

"I may have doubts and fears
My eyes be filled with tears
Jesus is a friend whi
Watches day and night
I go to Him in prayer
He takes my every care
And just a little talk
With Jesus makes it right!"

Cleavant Derricks

Let Us Have a Little Talk

Just a Little Talk with Jesus” is part of a series that we record live at the nursing homes that we visit. “Why do we make these videos?” some of you ask. That is a great question! After all The Gaither Vocal Band harmonizes better and Alan Jackson plays way better, as well as an endless array of gospel quartets. But these videos are made to encourage you to reach out and share the joy of worship in the challenging surroundings where our brothers and sisters live at the nursing home. Sometimes nurses walk in front of the camera, you can hear the clatter of plates in the kitchen and one of our dear sisters is making sounds because she cannot communicate, but she listens and enjoys the music. Yet, despite all the issues, people gather every week, the staff makes a great effort to bring as many as possible in for our meetings and people are reminded that Jesus has not forgotten them. Yes, I pray that you will be blessed by our songs, but I also pray that you might answer the call of God to share the hope we have in Jesus in nursing homes in your own community.

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Matthew 25:40 KJV


For those interested in learning more about Nursing Home Ministry, “Walking With Lambs” is our most complete resource and tells the personal stories of many of the friends I have made over thirty years serving in long term care facilities as well as in home visitation ministry. I have included a number of photos of my precious friends, to help you put faces and smiles, with the concept of Nursing Home Outreach.