Nursing Home Update - April 2018

Barnsdall/Fairfax

Barnsdall is always a very special place. They have a very sincere and simple love for the Lord. Today we started meeting in the front room simple because it is a bigger room and we need more space. We can hold more people. It's wonderful. We lifted our voices and our hands to the Lord. Then, we looked into the Word to see the goodness of God.

Muskogee/Muskogee

It's been a great day. Two services, one in a nursing home and another in an assisted living facility. We are looking at the secret to live. 1) Come into the family of God through Jesus Christ. 2) Do whatever Jesus told us to do. We had a lot of "pressing in" today. A lot of residents growing in the Lord. We are becoming doers of the Word and not hearers only.

Sapulpa/Stillwater

This is the second time I have been to Beacon Ridge. It is a new start senior mental health unit. I love to watch the Word of God work and heal every part of our being - spirit, soul, and body. I am seeing more and more mental health units being established. When I see one, I'm going in. God is bigger the mental health issues.

Broken Arrow/Vinita

What a blessing! I walked into Prairie House this morning wondering if I could help them with our nursing home ministry. (This facility has been on my heart for the last few months.) I was welcomed with open arms, given a tour, and then asked if I could provide a service on the spot. It was wonderful. I will be here the 4th Tuesday of each month at 10am.

Okemah/Wewoka

It seems that credibility comes with time, faithfulness, and the God kind of love. A resident was waiting for me at the door. As I got close, she punched in the code and opened the door for me. many people, both staff and family, brought residents in. Then, one of the cooks came in and asked for some song sheets. She said, "We can't come in but we'd like to sing along." And so the service begins. We raised our voices and our hands to the Lord. Then, we opened our hearts and let Him come in. God is so good!

Henryetta/Okmulgee

It is always great to see residents pressing into God. Their hands are in the air. They are singing as loud as they can. And, they have smiles on their faces with their eyes closed. Wow, we just kept singing for a while. Then, we looked at 3 keys to life. 1) Come into the Family of God. 2) Be filled with the Spirit of God. 3) What ever He says to do, do it! Strengthening The Saved - Saving The Lost is a passion of mine. Now it's on to Okmulgee.

Muskogee/McAlester

Muskogee
The loving power of God was present in the service this morning. The room filled, we shouted, clapped our hands, and sang praises to our loving Lord. Looking around, you new you were in a nursing home. But, the response to the Word was amazing. We are strengthening the saved and saving the lost everywhere we go. Now it's on to McAlester.

McAlester
It was just like an old time gospel sing this afternoon. We had the largest crowd so far - family, friends, residents, and staff. What a great time. Afterwards, and on the way out, I heard thank you's all the way to the car.

Claremore/Nowata

I was in an Alzheimer facility this morning. There are so many here who love the Lord. As we sang the hymns their memories were jogged. They began to talk about things that they had not thought of for a while. Music, hymns, and the power of God is a wonderful combination. We continue to Strengthen The Saved - Save The Lost

Pryor/Jay

We had an amazing time in Pryor. (There were extra nurses in the facility and I hear they were in training. So, I told the residents to train them well. They smiled and thought that was a good idea.) Many times small steps, in relationships, can be huge in nursing home settings. That's what happened this morning. We are building relationships to further the kingdom of God. (Some of the nurses in training saw the residents in a different setting. They had not seen the residents praising the Lord before.)

Muskogee/Muskogee

As I looked around the room this morning I was reminded how these services touch more than residents. There is medical staff who work full-time in the nursing homes. But, there is also medical staff who travel and come in for specific residents. (I see them throughout my travels in more than one place.) Then there is family and friends who come to visit. There was a mix of all these people in this mornings service. We are blessed to touch so many lives. This morning we saw several rededicate themselves to the Lord.

Muskogee/Wilburton

When the staff are on board with the ministry, what a difference it makes. Many residents are not able physically and/or mentally to come to the service without a little help. Others are in their rooms and don't even realize I am there. When the staff takes the time to bring the people in, Wow. In Muskogee we have started meeting in a front room with the help of the staff. There is much more ministry taking place. Our hands were in the air and we were praising the Lord. We had one of the largest groups we've had here. Now it's on to Wilburton and 2 service back-to-back. It's a great day!

Tulsa/Bartlesville

Tulsa was my first stop today. This nursing home is off the corner of 61st & Sheridan. It's one of the largest in the area. We've moved to the front room because it's the biggest room they have. We have the opportunity to minister to many people. I'm ministering on the theme - The Secret To Life.
Ann and I were able to spend some time with my mom over the weekend. After overcoming many physical and emotional struggles my mom reminded me of her secret to life. She is always telling me how busy she is and how much she has to do. She has made the choice to spend much of her time studying the Word and in prayer - Her secret to life. So, her are my points to the nursing homes but also to all those who are reading this. 1) Jesus said, Ye Must Be Born Again. 2) Be filled with the Spirit - ye shall receive power. 3) He will guide you into all truth. 4) His yoke is easy and His burden is light. 5) What ever He says to do, do it.
We had a great service. At the close we sang - Standing On The Promises. Before we started to sing, one of the residents shouted out, "Let's Go!" It reminded me that standing in faith, on the Word, requires action. We are to be doers of the Word and not hearers only.

Wagoner/Sallisaw

It's good to be back on the circuit. There are many residents, family, and staff who need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ and His promises. We did just that this morning. My theme was, "The Secret To Life." After the service many of the residents made comments about not being able to go to church and how glad they were that I came. We are touching lives in 25 counties throughout eastern Oklahoma - Strengthening The Saved - Saving The Lost.

Warner/Fort Gibson

It has been an amazing morning. There are several things that happened this morning but I'm going to focus on just one. There was a woman who was wheeled into the meeting. She has been coming for several months. She is in a geri chair. I would describe her as being in an open coma. Her eyes are open but never any response at all. As we sing I usually put my hands on everyone in the room pleading the blood of Jesus and believing the healing power of God is flowing through their bodies. This morning I kept being drawn to her. Every time I walked by her I would touch her and speak to her as though she could hear me. After the service was over I got close to her face and said, "I am assuming you can hear me. If you can, blink your eyes faster." She did! Then I asked her to smile. I could tell she was trying. Now I'm starting to cry for joy. I told her I would be back and I would like to work with her more. I asked her if that would be okay? Her mouth moved. I had never seen her do any of this before. So, I put my ear close to her mouth and asked her again If she would like me to work with her. She said, "ya." I will be forever great-full to God for putting me in these situations and allowing me to witness His power. This woman is alive and well on the inside. God's healing anointing can heal her body. But, we must utilize our faith.

Tahlequah/Stilwell

This morning was a great morning. Many came in looking for help of some kind or another. Well, we know the one who can help when no one else can. He is the way-maker. He can make a way where there seems to be no way. It fit right in with what I've been talking about - righteousness. Because we are in right standing with God, we can go to Him in the name of Jesus. He will hear and answer our prayers. As I continued to pray with them you could feel the tension leave the room. Praise the Lord!

Jenks/Chandler

Many times when there is a change in activities directors the activities schedule gets lost. That's what happened this morning. I was not on the schedule. However, when I walked in, the residents new me. "Pastor Paul is here!", was heard throughout the facility. It didn't take long to round everybody up and we had a great service. It's so rewarding to see the smiles and to hear them sing as we gather together. This service is something very special to them. At the close of the service, many asked for prayer for themselves and for their families. We continue to: Strengthen The Saved - Save The Lost.