Nursing Home Update - August 2018

Okemah/Wewoka

What a great morning to preach the Gospel. (I guess every morning is a good morning to preach the Gospel.) I got a little extra preach on me this morning and we certainly did shout for a while. The Bible is such Good News it's easy to shout about it. Residents and staff were in the service this morning. Hands were in the air as we said, "Every promise that God has ever made is yes to me because I am a believer."

Barnsdall/Skiatook

It is wonderful to see, day after day, lives being transformed by the Word of God. This morning the room was full again and ready to hear the Word. We lifted our voices and our hands as we worshiped our Lord and Savior. The Bible says, Every promise God has ever made is YES to the believer. This is one of the reasons the new covenant is better than the old covenant. Every promise? Yes, every promise! 2 Cor. 1:20 We shouted about that for a while :)

Muskogee/Muskogee

Eastgate Village is one of my favorite care facilities. The staff is extremely helpful bringing in residents to the service. We are bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to a group of people who can no longer go to church. We are bringing the church to them. We raised our hands and our voices in praise to God. At the close of the service many residents called out to make sure I was coming back. They love to hear the Word. This is a nation of people who are behind closed doors. They are young, old, and a variety of backgrounds but all have one thing in common. They all need full-time care. This is the nation we are called too.

Sapulpa/Stillwater

Beacon Ridge in Sapulpa is growing. They have received their approvals from the state and are adding more residents to the facility. We nearly doubled the residents from last month. It is an honor to minister to these residents and staff.
I am now sitting in a McDonald's in Stillwater getting ready for an afternoon service. As I was sitting here the verse that came to mind was Jesus leaving the 99 and going after the 1. People are priceless in the eyes of the Lord. He will spare no expense to bring His children back into His family. Yes Lord, My partners and I want to be a part of that!

Pryor/Grove

I'm beginning to see some response from residents who have not responded before. That's exciting. Even in situations where the doctors say, "There is no hope. There is no medical answer." There is an answer in God's Word.

Tulsa/Pawnee

It's Monday and the start of another great week. There are some verses in the Bible that I call "Game Changers". We've been looking at one of them now for a few week. 2 Cor. 1:20, the part of the verse that says, "Every promises God has ever made is YES in Christ." We had residents that became very emotional as they heard that verse. All of the things that could have been - but they didn't know. Life in Christ is hug. Bigger than we can comprehend. Nothing compares to life in Christ. Absolutely nothing! We closed singing "Standing On The Promises Of God."

Henryetta/Okmulgee

Good News in a nursing home is few and far between. To bring Good News on a consistent basis is even more rare. It's like water in the desert. Residents, staff, and family are thrilled to hear there is Good News. There is a good answer to any question they might have.

2 Cor. 1:20 Every promise God has ever made is yes in Christ. NIV

Muskogee/McAlester

We raised our hands and our voices this morning as we continued to study the promises of God. The Bible says in 2 Cor. 1:20, "Every promise God has ever made is yes in Christ." Now that is something to shout about!

Claremore/Nowata

It's a thrill to watch and hear residents singing songs of the church. Especial when they are classified as memory care residents. Family members where here this morning and were excited to see their  moms and dads singing hymns by heart. In between the songs I would interject the powerful Word of God. We continue to Strengthen The Saved & Save The Lost in a variety of nursing care venues throughout eastern Oklahoma.

Tulsa/Bartlesville

The Word of God has tremendous power in it's pages. The Word can produce faith. When faith is used it can change/produce anything you need.

There are times when I am not sure what to say about the service I have just been in. I feel like many times I am repeating myself from service to service. Then, I was reminded of the power in the Word. Even when there are not any "wild" or noticeable manifestations of God's power, when His Word is preached there is tremendous power made available to those who are hearing. Never underestimate the power of God's Word.

Wagoner/Sallisaw

We had a wonderful time this morning. Seemed like everyone wanted to sing. So we did. The whole time. It was a wonderful time in the presence of the Lord.

Stigler/Quinton

I have been coming to the Stigler nursing home since 2010. Every time I come it's a joy. I am always thrilled to watch people get excited about their relationship with Jesus. Many residents, staff, and friends are in situations that need a miracle. Our God is a miracle working God. 2 Cor. 1:20 says, Every promise God has ever made is yes to the believer. Praise the Lord!

Muskogee/Muskogee

I always want to know I'm being effective for the Lord. Several years ago I said to the Lord, "Put me in situations and circumstances where I can be used the most to further your kingdom." This morning, as I entered the nursing home, staff came out of their offices thanking me for coming. They said, they needed to hear some Good News this morning. I told them I had the best news they could ever hear. Residents, staff, and family gathered as we looked into the Word. I opened my Bible to 2 Cor. 1:20, "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. (NIV)  Every promise God has ever made is "Yes" in Him? It doesn't get any better than that. We all had to shout for a while!

Muskogee/Wilburton

This morning as I was reading scripture I heard, "You must be Baptist." Then I heard someone else say, "You must be Methodist." It's the Bible that brings us together. When you focus on the Bible it doesn't much matter what the name is over the door. Just preach the Word. We all come from a variety of backgrounds but it's the Bible that brings us to Christ. Many of the divisions between the denominations go away when you simply preach the Word.

Tahlequah/Stilwell

Tahlequah:
We had a great time this morning. Even though I was not on the schedule this month the residents told the staff, "It's the first Tuesday of the month and Pastor Paul will be here at 10." The room was full when I showed up. I began to minister on the promises of God. As I did several residents began to cry. They heard me say, "Every promise God has ever made is yes in Christ." Residents, in general, are desperate for answers. God has given but we must also learn how to receive. God is so incredibly good!

Stilwell:
Just a note. It seem 2 Cor. 1:19-20 is just to good to be true. Residents are looking at me like "That can't be in the Bible." But it is! EVERY PROMISES GOD HAS EVER MADE IS YES IN HIM.

Jenks/Chandler

I think this morning was quit possible the largest group we've had to date. We are focusing on the promises of God this month. The bible says, every promise God has ever made is "Yes" in Christ. Wow! it takes a while for that to soak in. Every promise? Yes, every promise. God has given. We need to learn how to receive. Hands were in the air as we praised our wonderful Lord. Many residents asked for prayer during and after the service. Praise the Lord. Now it's off to Chandler.

Muskogee/Tahlequah

Every facility I minister in; there is something special about that place. It was wonderful in Muskogee this morning. We are looking at 2 Cor. 1:19-20 which says, every promise God has ever made is "yes" for the believer. That is an amazing statement! So, you could say, the Giver has already given. We need to learn to be good receivers. When your car radio is not picking up a station, you don't blame the radio station. You work on the radio. Likewise, when we are not receiving from God we shouldn't blame God but work on ourselves. There are more than 3,000 promises in the Word and they are all "Yes" to those who believe.

Warner/Fort Gibson

Warner:
This month we are dwelling on 2 Corinthians 1: 19-20
"For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” 20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God."
I know I have read this many times before but this time it hit me like never before.

EVERY PROMISE GOD HAS EVER MADE IS YES TO ME, IN CHRIST!

We are camping right there. We raised our hands in praise to our wonderful Lord and Savior.

Fort Gibson:
Occasionally there are times when scheduling falls apart. This afternoon was one of those times. First of all, it's the very first day of the month and the activities director has been sick at home for a few days. Last months calendar was still up on the wall so those that were here didn't know what to do. They devised an activity for the afternoon not knowing what the regular schedule was. I've learned through the years to handle this a little better than I have in the past. I will be back and everything will be just fine.