My friend Darlene and I go to the nursing home twice a month to worship and share the love of Christ with the residents there.
People have come and gone from this ministry. Many of them stopped coming because of discouragement. When there's not many people who show up to listen to your music and message it's easy to feel discouraged. When your focus is on numbers and not solely on sharing the love of Christ it is easy to be misled.
But when you take your eyes off of yourself and keep them fixed on The Lord, you are able to stand firm through the ups and downs of life and ministry.
On a good day we have two or three of the residents come and join us to worship. Some people would say that it's not worth going if there's only two people showing up...but God says differently.
In Matthew 18:20 Jesus says, "for where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."
Jame 1:27 says, "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this; to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world."
Galatians 6:2 "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
Philippians 2:4 "Let each of you look not only to his own interest, but also to the interests of others."
In other words...it is COMPLETELY worth taking the time out of my day to go and minister to these wonderful people! If we reach even one person PRAISE THE LORD! If I can ease the burden of a brother or sister in Christ, Praise the Lord!
Darlene is a great mentor to me. She constantly reminds me and those around her that what we are doing is for the Lord. She reminds us that God is in control and that He is faithful.
We got to the cafeteria to set up before we went to visit with people and there was no one there. She asked me if I was discouraged because of that. I said no, because I know that what we are doing is right and good.
God rewarded us today! We had many people come in and listen throughout our time there. Some of them sat for a while. Some of them visited with us. One man grabbed his guitar so we could play together. It was his first time playing since his open heart surgery 6 months ago (pictured below). I sang to Ida in her room and watched her smile as we sang and prayed for her.
In other words...it is COMPLETELY worth taking the time out of my day to go and minister to these wonderful people! If we reach even one person PRAISE THE LORD! If I can ease the burden of a brother or sister in Christ, Praise the Lord!
Darlene is a great mentor to me. She constantly reminds me and those around her that what we are doing is for the Lord. She reminds us that God is in control and that He is faithful.
We got to the cafeteria to set up before we went to visit with people and there was no one there. She asked me if I was discouraged because of that. I said no, because I know that what we are doing is right and good.
God rewarded us today! We had many people come in and listen throughout our time there. Some of them sat for a while. Some of them visited with us. One man grabbed his guitar so we could play together. It was his first time playing since his open heart surgery 6 months ago (pictured below). I sang to Ida in her room and watched her smile as we sang and prayed for her.
When you're obedient to what God has called you to do, He is ALWAYS faithful...and He is able to work in ways you wouldn't have imagined.
God is good!
Hello Ally. Though we are in to second month of 2015 yet let me wish you a very blessed, spiritfilled, purpose driven and a Christ centered New year. I am so blessed to know you through your profile on the blogger and I am also glad to stop by your blog post and was so blessed and encouraged by your post " Be Obedient". I am in the Pastoral ministry for last 35yrs in the great city of Mumbai, India a ci ty with great contrast where richest of rich and the poorest of poor live. We reach out to the poorest of poor with the love of Christ to bring healing to the broken hearted. We also encourage young people as well as adults from the west to come to Mumbai on a short / long term missions trip to work with us in the slums of Mumbai during their vacation time. We would love to have you come to Mumbai with your friends to work with us during your vacation time. I am sure you will have a very life changing experience. My email id is: dhwankhede(at)gmail(dot)com and my name is Diwakar Wankhede. Looking forward to hear from you very soon. God's richest blessings on you.
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