In the last few weeks five residents at the Mitchell Care Center have passed away. Some were saved and others I am not sure. The nursing Home staff are remarkable people with a very special job, i.e. caring for those who can no longer care for themselves. It can be rewarding but also very trying. Some residents who passed away have lived there many years. Residents can become very dear to staff members and their death can be hard to endure. Staff members must follow up with family, (if there is family), the funeral home and a number of other details including preparing the room for the next resident. In addition to that, staff members must return to work day after day with their special friend gone. They deserve a lot of appreciation.
One of those residents, Jack, who passed away came regularly to the Bible Studies. He had lost his voice so it was hard to converse with him but it was clear he was a faithful Christian. In time I began to learn about what he had suffered in his old age. His wife passed away in 2020. Shortly after, his step sons put him in the care center and abandoned him. They sold his house including his Bibles. He had no family and no Scripture. No friends ever came to visit. He never complained until one day he told the Social Activities Director how lonely he was. She came directly to me to let me know. Then he opened up with all his pain. I spent much extra time with him and bought a new Bible for him. The last day I was with him he was in and out of sleep. It seemed to help him to have someone setting with him. With his oxygen level and 5 liters I knew he had little time left. Since his passing I have followed up with his roomate who is also a believer and is bedfast. He told me how much Jack had ministered to him even though he was suffering so much himself. At the judgement seat of Christ Jack will receive his eternal honor and reward. (I Corinthians 3:11-14)
DVD distrubution: Last news letter I mentioned I had been distributing the DVD “Is Genesis History.” And that one maintainence man was so excited to get it. He has since confided in me how afraid he is for His childen with the world in the mess it is. I have loaned to him a David Jeremiah series on “The God You May Not Know” and have given him contact information for a couple of churches in his area that are faithful to the Lord. We have exchanged contact information and he wants to meet together for further instruction. Please pray for that follow up. I have also had a special opportunity to share the same DVD with several pastors as a tool for their churches.
VBS This summer: I will be helping our local church with VBS. I will be Joseph the Carpenter and lead the children through building a toy sheep the way Joseph would have with limited tools, etc. The purpose of that part of the VBS is to help the children grasp what life was like for Jesus when he was a child.
My old computer went bad. I was able to get a new one and all the data transferred. But wow! What a test of one’s ability to endure change moving from windows 7 to 11! Others have told me they had the same experience.
Here is a look at my back yard from the last newsletter to now. April’s flowers always come up and are sweet reminders of her loving care of our yard and home.
Your loving support enables me to continue reaching out for the Savior. I always wish I could reach more people and win more to Christ. But I do believe He works in the hearts of people in many ways I cannot see. At other times He allows me to see what He is doing. One Lady in housekeeping read my review for the nursing home that I wrote concerning the dedication and professionalism of the house keeping staff. She said they seldom hear any compliments or appreciation and greatly appreciated my review. Thank you for helping me help them and others.
God Save America
When the Israelites returned from captivity in Babylon, they began to rebuild the foundation of the temple. (Ezra 3) Some rejoiced and some wept. Those who had not seen Solomon’s temple rejoiced that the temple was being restored. Those older people who had seen Solomon’s temple wept because the new temple was going to be so small and would lack the splendor of the Old.
It may be with mixed emotions that we approach our next Independence Day celebration. Our beloved nation is more than worth celebrating. But with so much evil and corruption in American culture today it makes one want to weep.
When the Declaration of Independence was being debated the congress was about to give up. That meant the thirteen colonies would become thirteen individual nations. Benjamin Franklin pulled things together.
“How has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings?. . . I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth; that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? I . . . believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel.”
The second paragraph of the Declaration states “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” The next phrase explains what being “created equal” means. “That they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, (rights that cannot be legally taken away by any earthly power) that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. (The pursuit of happiness is a general phrase explaining human freedom within the moral limitations of his Creator).
This coming Independence Day let us rejoice in the wonderful God who created us and also let us thank Him for the wonderful nation He gave us. Just as America could not rise without His aid, neither will it live without His saving grace. God Save America!
