Nursing Home Update - September 2018

Barnsdall/Skiatook

Residents waiting, excited, and expecting from the Lord. It was also good to see a husband of a new resident come in and stay for the service. God loves us so much He says in His Word, "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ." (2 Cor. 1:20) We got very, very excited about that. Praise the Lord.

Muskogee/Muskogee

There were a lot of amens and alleluias this morning. It's very difficult to know or understand what is happening in the lives of residents. This morning it was easy to see that the residents believed in a living and loving God who cares for them. Whatever their situation they trust Him. We rejoiced in Him. His name is Jesus.

Sapulpa/Stillwater

I know I may sound like a broken record but; we had another great service. This facility opened the first of this year and has been adding residents ever since. Every time I come, the group gets bigger. We raised our hands and our voices to the Lord as we gave Him praise. We are rededicating ourselves to Him because He is so good!

Broken Arrow/Vinita

We had another wonderful time singing praises to our Lord. This morning was so nice we sat outside in the courtyard. I was in memory care and we sang all of the hymns without song sheets. In other words - by memory.

Muskogee/McAlester

We are learning that to receive from God takes action on our part. We are to be doers of the Word and not hearers only. Even though every promise from God is "Yes" to the believer, we must learn how to receive. This morning, in Muskogee, there were many residents who were anxious to learn how to receive from God. God's part is to give. Our part is to receive. We must learn to be good receivers.

Claremore/Nowata

We had an amazing time In The Lord this morning. I set up in a different part of the building. So, some of the residents I new and some I had not met before. This is a memory care facility. That creates some unique situations to deal with. There was a real sense of praise and worship this morning. after the service the activities worker said she saw residents talking and singing who had not done anything like that for a long time. God is so good!

Pryor/Grove

This morning I was reminded of the variety of people you find in nursing care facilities. To the extreme, some of the residents needed full time physical care, Some needed full time mental care, and others needed both. The Word of God ministers to all of them because He goes to the heart. As we started to sing, I thought to myself, it's a good thing the Lord said to make a joyful noise because we were sure doing that! Then, what started as a random beginning turned into a very personal one-on-one ministry. We continue to Strengthen The Saved & Save The Lost everywhere we go.

Stigler/Quinton

There is one thing that really stood out today. There is a young man who is living in one of the nursing homes I visited today. He was on the local high school football team just a few years ago. I'm not clear about the accident he was in however it resulted in him not having the use of his legs. He is in a wheel chair. (I have visited with him over the last year.) I had not seen him for a few months so when I saw him today I noticed a change. His upper body was much more muscular. I asked him what he was doing. He said, "I'm doing 200 push-ups in the morning and another 200 push-up in the evening." He said, "It's a miracle. I'm never giving up on God because I know He's not giving up on me." I asked him if he could feel his legs. (I new that he had no feeling before.) He said, "Yes, the feeling is coming back. I'm in the middle of a miracle."

It's people like that that inspire me. They know their God. And, in the tough times they do not quit.

Muskogee/Muskogee

 It's very common for a nursing home resident to go to a hospital and then return to a different nursing home. It is all dependent on the type of care they need after the hospital visit. This morning that scenario happened again. As we started our morning service a resident came into the room whom I recognized from another facility. I new she had gone to the hospital but had not seen her since. It was like old home week. Relationships are very important. It's comforting to know someone cares. We are stretching across eastern Oklahoma and making a difference in peoples lives. We are Strengthening The Saved & Saving The Lost.

Muskogee/Wilburton

This morning was very interesting. As I entered the facility the residents were finishing up their exercises. Then they were told to move to the dinning area for snacks. (That part was a little unusual because they usually stayed in the same place for service.) Once we all realized what had happened I said, "How about if I just set up in the dinning area and have a service during their snack time." Snack time is bigger than Bingo. It was the largest service I've had yet at this facility. I think we'll do this again.

Tulsa/Bartlesville

It is a thrill to realize that over time we have developed tremendous credibility with the Word of God. Residents, staff, and family get excited when we show up. This morning there were some family members who new me and were excited that I would be ministering to their loved one. Throughout the service we raised our hands and shouted a little bit because God's Word is sooooo Goooood! Here is a promise we looked at. Matt 7:7 "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" All of God's promises are YES to the believer! At the close it was time to rededicate ourselves to the Lord.

Eufaula/Holdenville

It's always a joy to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to those who are lonely. James 1:27 says, "External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need" AMP

God the Father always likes to see His kids caring for those who cannot care for themselves. That is what we find in nursing care facilities. This morning the activities director went over and above to bring residents into the service. Many of us raised our hands to the Lord as we worshiped Him.

Warner/Fort Gibson

This morning it was very obvious most of the residents did not have the ability to communicate effectively. Some were younger who had been born with birth defects. Others had a variety of issues such as strokes, tumors, etc. It was also very noticeable that they were vary lonely. The Bible says, lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. So, that's what I did. We focused on many of the well known hymns and laid hands on the sick. A song comes to mind, "Rise and be healed in the name of Jesus. . ."

Tahlequah/Stilwell

We are starting the month off with a bang. As residents were gathering we sang - Are You Washed In The Blood?

I asked that question because if you are washed in the blood of the Lamb, if you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then every promise God has ever made is YES to YOU! So then, here is a promise we looked at in Matthew. Matt 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: We have a part to play - ask, seek, knock. When we do our part, God is always faithful to do His part.

There was a lot of happy shouting going on this morning! Praise The Lord!