Nursing Home Update - June 2017

Broken Arrow

I am so thankful I can be a part of these peoples lives. During a time when they may feel like they have no pastor, I can be there for them. We raised our hands and our voices to the Lord in praise. (It's wonderful to watch them experience His presence.) Then, we looked at how important it is to abide in Him. The Bible says, If we abide in Him, and His Words abide in us, we can ask what we will and it shall be done. I find that after a service like this the residents don't want to leave. They want more. God is so good!

Now I'm off to Pawnee, "Strengthening The Saved - Saving The Lost."

Inola

I think this has been the third time I've been in Inola. We continue to grow. With each service there has been more residents in attendance. This mornings service reminded me of watching birds at a bird feeder - some have landed, some are hovering, and others are here and there watching from afar. I believe they will all be landing soon. We did have a great time. Inola is a great facility.

Okemah

Wow, this morning was great. The residents were certainly ready to praise the Lord. I also think it was good that Ann and I took a little brake over the weekend. We got away and just chilled for a couple of days. I didn't realize how much I needed that. (So far this month I've traveled 2,600 miles and ministered 32 times.) I love it, but I guess it's good to take a break once in a while. Anyway enough of me. We had residents and staff in the meeting. Hands were in the air as we sang. And then, others heard the music from down the halls and came in. It just seemed like the Spirit of God caused a cool breeze to flow throughout the facility. It was wonderful. God is so good!

Barnsdall

We had another wonderful service in Barnsdall. As a traveling minister, the one thing I look at in a nursing home is - Do they honor the Lord? The Barnsdall nursing home is very high on the list when it come to honoring God. The Bible says, "for them that honor Me I will honor." 1 Sam. 2:30

We lifted our hands and our voices to the Lord in praise and worship. Then, we looked into the Word and saw the importance of abiding in Him. He said, I am the vine, you are the branches. If you abide in me you will bear much fruit. As Christians we want to see the Kingdom of God grow and increase. The life is in the vine. Abide in Him!

Muskogee

I am thrilled at how many different ways the same message can be preached. The Lord knows what needs to be said at each facility. This afternoon was quit different from this morning. At the close of this afternoons service I began talking about death. I said, "We are running a race. In the Olympics many of the Olympians have been working their whole life to run in that final race. The closer they get to the finish line, the harder they will push." Then I said, "I just turned 65 but that doesn't mean I'm backing off. That just means I'm getting closer to the finish line. I need to set my pace and run to the end. This is not a sprint. This is a marathon." This kind of talk gives purpose to those in nursing care facilities. Something that I heard many years ago; "As long as I am breathing, God still has a plan and a purpose for my life." We continue to: Strengthen The Saved - Save The Lost.

Muskogee

We continue to grow at this facility. I mean growing in numbers and growing spiritually. The staff is very good at bringing in the residents. I really appreciate that because I can't do that all on my own. (Ps. 34:7 says, "His angel guards those who honor the Lord and rescues them from danger.") I'm not sure we realize how important it is to honor the Lord. Those who honor the Lord by helping with these services will be guarded and protected from danger. I've noticed that those who honor the Lord are happier and healthier. Here is a good bit of advise - ALWAYS HONOR THE LORD.

Claremore

We had fun this morning. I asked the residents if it was okay to have fun. They had a gleam in their eyes letting me know it was okay. We sang the hymns we normally sing but we sure did have fun doing it. So many times their day-to-day life is not very much fun. Today we changed that. (Prov. 17:22 "A merry heart does good, like medicine,") So, I guess you could say we took a lot of medicine this morning.

Pryor

We stirred up the goodness of God this morning. The more we sang about the goodness of God, and the more I talked about the Goodness of God, the happier we got. After I packed up and was ready to leave I noticed many of the residents telling each other stories of the goodness of God in their lives. (I think were developing a bunch of preachers. That's a good thing. :) Now, it's on to Jay.

Stillwater

There were some very disturbed residents this afternoon in Stillwater. They seemed to be very confused about who they were and where they were supposed to be. It looked like work for the Holy Ghost. I started some music and then we started to sing. The old blood songs are very powerful. After a few songs, that lifted up the name of Jesus, things began to change for the better. The crying and yelling stopped and we were actually singing the hymns in harmony. Before the service I could not reason with many of the residents. After the service we carrying on normal conversations as if there was never anything wrong. I told the activities director, "I believe I'm giving them back to you in better shape than I got them." She said they had been having trouble with them all day long. It is the power of God and it is wonderful thing to watch.

Strengthening The Saved - Saving The Lost

Tulsa

There are residents who have a heart for God but do not have a chance to worship corporately. We can all worship individually however it is a different experience, a different anointing, to worship with others. That corporate experience is what I am bringing into the nursing homes. This morning I want to thank Lori, the activities director, for bringing residents in to the service. With out the activities directors help it would be difficult to have significant meetings. Several years ago the Lord said, Give them a service they remember including hymns and relevant topics from the Word. We had a great time together this morning. After the service several asked for prayer. Now, it's on to Stillwater.

Henryetta

I met some brothers and sisters I didn't know I had. This was my first service in Henryetta. We had a great time. The staff is very nice and the facilities are great. We lifted our hands to the Lord. Then, we saw that abiding in the Word is a prerequisite to answered prayer (John 15:5,7). The residents got excited when they realized they could pray the promises of God expecting an answer. Now it's on to McAlester. We continue to travel: Strengthening The Saved - Saving The Lost.

Muskogee

It was a wild time this morning. I think just about anything that could happen in a service happened this morning. There was singing, shouting, testifying, then extremely loud screaming during the special music, Sickness and throwing up during the message. These things happen in real life and we answered the problems with the Word. This is a nursing home and things like that happen. (Generally not all at once.) All in all we had a tremendous service. People were blessed. We are learning how to abide in Him. Without Him we can do nothing but with Him all things are possible.

We are on the road: Strengthening The Saved - Saving The Lost

Wilburton

It was so good to be in Wilburton this afternoon. There are residents in these smaller towns that need to hear some good news. I can't think of anything better than a God who loves you. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except by Me." Sometimes we here this and say this without taking it very seriously. This is very serious. We saw some tears this afternoon and some decisions for Christ. Several years ago I said to the Lord, "I want to help you build your kingdom." We are doing just that in nursing care facilities all throughout eastern Oklahoma. We are: Strengthening The Saved - Saving The Lost.

Muskogee

Behind these doors are some very precious people. Many of them have lost much of their memory. As we began to sing some of the old hymns you could see them "wake up". I know I have said this before but it's still amazing to watch. God is so good. Music and the Word, what a great combination. This morning I met many new friends. Not only friends but family. Because of so many faithful partners they will not be forgotten.

Bartlesville

When I stepped in the door this afternoon the room was full. (We are growing in Bartlesville.) So many of the residents are thankful we are continuing this service. I say "we" because there are many supporters to this ministry that make these services possible. Because I am doing this full-time there are many daily expenses, that we all incur, that must be met. I may stand in front of the residents and minister but I remind them often there are many people behind me that make this ministry work. I have never asked for money of anyone. The Lord said right from the beginning, "Do what I ask you to do and the supporters will be there." We are so blessed as we realize that the Lord blesses those who give. It is the operation of seed time and harvest found all throughout the Bible. "Give and it shall be given unto you". Not only do our supporters give to this ministry but then we give tithes and offerings off of their giving. It literally becomes a double blessing. All of the effort of finances, time, miles, and messages translate into changed lives for the kingdom of God. This is the only "church" many of these residents have. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Tulsa

As I entered the facility this morning, I was handed a Hawaiian leis by one of the residents. (Every time I come she has something for me. I think it's her "offering".) So, I wore it through the service. These people are real givers.

We raised our hands to the Lord and worshiped in song for quite a while. Then, we started to look at the basics of faith. As Christians, He is the vine, we are the branched. We must learn to abide in Him. I was asked, "How do you abide?" That's a good question. I think that's coming next.

Sallisaw

I am so honored to minister in nursing care facilities. It is what the Lord has called me to do. This afternoon a resident thanked me for coming. She was very depressed. But, the service brought her back into the knowledge of who she was in Christ. Jesus said, (my paraphrase) "I am the vine, you are the branches. If you abide in Me and my Words abide in you. You can still bear much fruit. Even when your older and living in a nursing home."

As long as we are breathing, God still has a plan and a purpose for our lives. Our focus continues to be: Strengthening The Saved - saving The Lost.

Wagoner

The more we magnified the Lord, the more response I heard from the residents. At the first it was very quite. By the end of the service I was hearing a lot of amens. I can imagine the isolation and loneliness that comes from a nursing home can cause various degrees of depression. The Word of God can release that. There can be joy unspeakable and full of glory In Him. At the close of the service we were anxious rededicated ourselves to Him.

Stigler/Quinton

It's been an eventful day. I find that because I am in so many nursing care facilities, when residents move from one to another, I generally see them in their new facility. Today a resident was quite upset that he was being moved. (I first met him in Tahlequah. Then he was in Eufaula. Then he was in Quinton. Now he's moving to Stigler. I am in all those facilities.) I held him by the shoulders and told him I would see him in Stigler. He lit up and said, "Really? Are you there too?" I said, "I sure am. You can't get rid of me that easy." I have become "Pastor" to many, many residents. It is an honor and a responsibility that I do not take lightly. We continue to Strengthen The Save - Save The Lost.

Muskogee

We should never tire of faith. The Bible says, "It's impossible to please God without faith." Ministering in the nursing homes, we are going back to the basics of faith. This afternoon we hardly new where to stop. There were many questions about faith. It helped me to understand where they were in their faith walk. We will pick it up next time. These people are hungry.

Muskogee

I am always thrilled with this facility. All of the residents that want to come to the service have been helped into the meeting room. And, there is always a mountain dew waiting for me!

The residents were excited today. It didn't take them very long to shout and raise their hands to the Lord. We are going back to the basics of Faith. You just can't build a good house without a solid foundation.

Warner

I met a man this morning who's son was shot and killed earlier this year. He has been having quit a difficult time ever since then. He spent some time in a hospital and now he is in a nursing care facility. After we introduced ourselves to each other I noticed my message took a real turn. It was obviously for him, even though it ministered to everyone there. I noticed him holding back tears as God ministered to him giving him a peace that passes all understanding.

I had no idea the variety of situations and circumstances I would meet when I started traveling to nursing care facilities. No matter what our position is in life or where we find ourselves it is very important to be willing to be used of God. Be willing to be His hands, His feet, His voice. Now I'm off to Fort Gibson.

Stilwell

This afternoon we had a resident sleeping on a couch in the room we were meeting in. We set up and started to sing. (In the past this resident had shone signs of major memory loss.) We sang several songs before she woke up. Songs like: What can wash away my sins, - Oh, the blood of Jesus, - Are you washed in the blood, etc. She opened her eyes, and with a big smile on her face she began to testify of the wonderful love of God. The staff in the room was amazed. They said they had never heard her talk that way before. One of them said, "If I hadn't heard it for myself I never would have believed it."

Tahlequah

The residents decided we needed to be in a larger room. We are now meeting in the dining hall. It is much larger than where we were. This gives us opportunity to grow again. Hands were raised as we began to praise the Lord. We discussed what it means to "abide" in Christ, "If you abide in Me and My Words abide in you, then ask what you will . . ." After the service there were many who asked for prayer related to healings. So, I went around the room and laid hands of every resident who requested it. GOD IS GOOD

Glenpool

This morning there were a lot of residents in geri chairs. More than normal. Many of them could hear what was going on but not able to respond. Gospel music is an amazing tool to use at times like these. We sang several gospel songs and they began responding to the Word. (Always sing Songs that line up with the Word of God. Some of them do not.) As they began to respond to the music I moved to the message. We are looking at the basics of faith. At the close of the service residents were raising their hands to rededicate themselves to the Lord. At the beginning of the service they were not responding at all. God is so incredibly good. The Bible says, "I am the vine, you are the branches. If you abide in me and my words abide in you. . ." We are learning to abide. Praise the Lord!

Holdenville

Holdenville has some very special people. It is also a facility that does not get very many visitors. This afternoon we spent a lot of time singing praises to our Lord. It had a very calming affect on the residents. A peace and calm was very helpful and necessary. God is always so good.

Eufaula

This is a facility I have been in since 2010. There have been many changes in residents and staff since then. There are some residents who are still here. When they come into the room we both light up. It's so good to see each other. We have become family. There are others who are new. This morning there were 2 new residents with their families. As we sang the hymns some of the family members cried. (I learned after the service they were so thankful we were there.) They asked for pray for these major transitions in their lives. It is a blessing to be there and help them through these difficult times. God is a good God and really does want the best for all of us. Jesus said, "I am come that you might have life and have it more abundantly." Let's cooperate with Him.

We are on the road: Strengthening The Saved - Saving The Lost

Tahlequah

We had a good sized group this afternoon. As I looked over the group I realized that none of the residents that I started with back in 2009 were around. It is a gradual process but over time I find myself ministering to a completely different group. I am aware of many residents who have gone on to glory as a result of preaching. The bible says, "How can they hear without a preacher." We need those who preach and we need those who send. I just want to take this time to say Thank You to my supporters. You are touching many lives.

Muskogee

The Brentwood nursing home in Muskogee is a great way to start the month. The residents and staff are always ready to praise the Lord. New residents are always encouraged to come and increase in their faith. We sang many of the old hymns like "Standing On The Promises.". Then, we looked at "Aspects Of Faith." Like I said, "Just because I've had a steak before doesn't mean I'm not going to have another." Faith is like that - you can't get to much faith.