Free To Live

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each
morning by eight o’clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved
perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.
His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.

As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.I love it,’ he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

Mr. Jones, you haven’t seen the room; just wait.’

‘That doesn’t have anything to do with it,’ he replied.
Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time.
Whether I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how the furniture is arranged.. it’s how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it.
‘It’s a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can
spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.

Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I’ll focus on the new day and
all the happy memories I’ve stored away.. Just for this time in my life.
Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you’ve put in.
So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank
account of memories!
Thank you for your part in filling my Memory Bank.
I am still depositing.
‘Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

You are not alone – For God is with you.
You are not defenseless – For God is your protector.
You are not inadequate – For God is your sufficiency.
You are not useless – For God has a purpose for your life.
You are not worthless – For God sent His Son to die for you.
You are not without hope – For God has a place prepared for you.
You are not unloved – For God loves you with an everlasting love.
You are not rejected, or abandoned – For God calls you His own.

“I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6 NLT

Devotional by Roy Lessin,

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….. Help why am I here?…. Who has locked the door? Why can’t i get out…

If you want to hear  this amazing true story, come along to Free To Live in St Andrew’s Church, High Street, Oakington Near Cambridge on …

Saturday October 2nd.  7.30pm

Hi Liesl, thank you for these words. They are so encouraging. I believe our God passionately wants to interact with us each hour of each day! I’m not sure He ever wants us to just ‘roll up’ to church, to His door, to His heart. We come to the throne room of God when we turn our hearts to Jesus. I have been reading the gospels a lot recently. In the parable of the seeds being sown on different types of ground – path, rocks, among thistle and on good soil, I have come to believe this is an illustration of our congregations. “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you”(Matthew 13:11,18-23). In each gathering of people, I think Jesus is saying there are 4 types of listeners to the Word. “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” As you suggest, all these listeners turn up to church, or the gathering with needs. How do we meet the needs of all these different types of listener? Clearly it is not only through the word, for Jesus tells us that for 3 out of 4 types of listener what they hear will disappear from thier minds in varying degrees of time. As I write this, I wonder that it can only be through the Gospel and love of Christ in ACTION and deeds. Jesus showed us the way by demonstrating His love in actions – healing, feeding, loving, accepting, eating with ’sinners’ and the sick, allowing Himself to be touched, moved, involved and going the extra mile even when it turned the ‘holy leaders’ and their followers against him. Do we dare to do the same? I hope so, and I believe Jesus hopes so more. I pray that God will breathe on these words by His Spirit, and take away those that are not of Him, and magnify those that are. In Jesus mighty, powerful and Sovereign name, Amen. Hallelieuah!

I have been thinking about churches lately, mine included, how easy it is to get into a format, a routine, a regularity, sameness, and we sometimes forget people come with needs, and they are struggling with various issues, financial, health, loneliness, anxieties, fears etc. and how easy it is to just include them into the system, and possibly not really meet their needs, feel their pain, empathise with them, They are seeking God, not theology, or rituals, or formats, or religiosity. I wonder do many round the country come to churches seeking something and realise they do not speak the language and leave without their needs being met, or even being told Jesus can meet their needs?

This sounds rather cynical I don’t mean it to be, but I am very aware that holding a meeting of praise and worship and a talk and short drama, coffee and prayer ministry, that those who have made an effort to come, are not wanting soul power, they are wanting Jesus Power, They are not interested in whether the music is professional, or the talk to be about something that doesn’t touch their heart, or prayer ministry which skates over the top and they leave not being “Heard”.

There is power in numbers and churches should get behind where God is working where His holy spirit is evident, and drop those things which have become “soul power”  but then Commitment is not something people  like to digest these days,

We are independent, doing things when we want.   God is never telling us to do masses of things, becoming over stretched and unable to commit, and loose the vision.

God knows our frame He wants His work to progress He wants to anoint it, He wants His power to be evident “signs and wonders will follow His word” He really is not interested in people who just roll up to a various list of things and speak the Christian lingo, walk away when it suits, and not be committed to it.

What is commitment?  Commitment is the key to unlocking doors and windows, and letting the light in to show how we can all lead a more focused life. We need to pray that the congregations around the country don’t fall short of this and hinder Gods power to work, with any lack of commitment.

Jail versus nursing homes

Food for thought:

Let’s put the seniors in jail, and the criminals in a nursing home.

This way the seniors would have access to showers, hobbies, and walks,
they’d receive unlimited free prescriptions, dental and medical
treatment, wheel chairs etc., and they’d receive money instead of paying
it out.

They would have constant video monitoring, so they could be helped
instantly, if they fell, or needed assistance.

Bedding would be washed twice a week, and all clothing would be ironed
and returned to them.

A guard would check on them every 20 minutes, and bring their meals and
snacks to their cell. They would have family visits in a suite built
for that purpose.

They would have access to a library, weight room,spiritual
counselling, pool, and education.

Simple clothing, shoes, slippers, P.J.’s and legal aid would be free,
on request.

Private, secure rooms for all, with an exercise outdoor yard, with
gardens.
Each senior could have a P.C. a T.V. radio, and daily phone calls.

There would be a board of directors, to hear complaints, and the guards
would have a code of conduct, that would be strictly adhered to.

The “criminals” would get cold food, be left all alone, and
unsupervised. lights off at 8pm, and showers once a week.
Live in a tiny room, and pay $5000.00 per month and have no hope of ever
getting out. Justice for all.

Makes Sense to me!