Monday Aug 8, 2011 Never Alone

"Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you."

Good Monday morning, my dear brothers and sisters. Wow, Dolores and I went out to a church in the valley last night (Glenvale Church of God) and enjoyed a great night of Gospel music with singer Randy Simpson. What a great job for our Lord this man did, and besides being a great singer, he left a wonderful message and he is also very funny. Also he appeared before God dressed to please God. So many people have gone to that relaxed look, Randy was in his suit and tie, maybe I am old school, but I think he looked great and while there is nothing wrong with the relaxed look, well again, I am old school on this one. Prayers today for our President and really, folks, lay one on him, pray so hard that you sweat some and pray for his soul first. Pray for all our other leaders also. Please pray also for Vicki, and pray for her to get up and walk, push past the pain, and step out for God.

Never Alone: Hebrews 13:5b - "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you". (NIV)

You know, folks, as a pastor at a retirement home, I see a lot of seniors who seem to be all alone. Their spouse has passed on, their children do not stop by very often. While the staff at the Bridges is very, very good, I would think some of the folks as feeling alone. In fact I have had some of our flock tell me just that. Folks moving in have given up long time pets and just move in and seem so alone.

To tell people a scripture like the one above "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you" does not always cut it. Look, I know that God never leaves us, yet when Dolores was in the hospital the house, our home really felt empty. Even with six or seven of our dogs and a couple cats on the bed, and talking to God there was that alone feeling... I really hate an empty house so I can fully understand where some people are coming from at the Bridges when they talk to me about it.

Ok, out comes the old feet on the prayers again, I think my most used quote is from my long time singing and ministry partner Pamela Bower. Pam came up with the quote "put feet on your prayers."

So this week as I talk about being alone, I want you to think of how you might put feet on your prayers when it comes to being alone. At the Bridges I must say the staff is well trained to make people feel welcome and a fuss is made over those new folks moving in. And while my message this week will more than likely be on this subject, I will talk to our flock, those people that the Lord has trusted to me about putting feet on their prayers. Right now they do a good job, as about 50% of new move-ins are in church the first week. Now I admit I have a name problem, I have trouble remember names, I really do, but I try this with the new folks. Where was their home, and I try to relate to that, and where did they go to school, and so on and so forth. Now once they go into their apartments at the Bridges it might get lonely, so the object is to get them out and doing things.

Of course I want them in the Bible studies, and in church and the sing-a-longs, but they also have chances to play Bingo, and other games to keep the mind and body active. So how do you put feet on your prayers? Let's say you have neighbors that might be seniors or maybe not... Let's look at a couple that might have gone through a divorce and have children, think of how they might feel on the first weekend when the kids go to one parent and the other is alone. Maybe a good time for you to love your neighbor, take them a bite to eat and talk to them, pray with them... A senior who lives down the street and their mate dies, go and talk to them. You are getting the idea... Don't just pray for them, put those feet on your prayers and talk to them. Maybe it will help them not to feel so alone. Tomorrow maybe a tad about being alone in the crowd.

Dear Father, being alone is no fun, and while we can pray and we know You will never leave us, it sometimes does get lonely. So Lord, my prayer today is to teach us how to comfort others in Your name, let us follow in Your light, stand in for You, so to speak, as we talk to others. Please give us the words to say, and the love, pure love of God in our hearts for others. Yes, Lord, I do feel this is just a step in loving our neighbors, trying to keep them from being or feeling alone. And Lord, bless our president, our troops and the families of those troops and comfort the families who have lost loved ones. And Lord, bless this line, please, in the name of Jesus. And Lord, help me on this line for I struggle with words and spelling... Help me, Lord, I want to do it right for You. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Now go forth and put feet on your prayers and remember one of your blessings that you could share is just talking to others... so please share those blessings. Love ya, Pastor Dan.