The Gardens

Assisted Living Community

THAT YOU MAY BE HEALED

Leave a Comment

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” James 5:16

I suspect that most people do not understand the power of confession. We would rather carry around our guilt, keeping it hidden from everyone, than to admit our guilt to anyone. When the unconfessed guilt has weakened and sickened us, we would still rather pay someone to listen to us, who we will never see again, than to confess to a family member or friend.

The Psalmist expresses it this way. “When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer (Psalm 32:3-4).”

James tells us in our opening text that healing will not come until we confess it to someone and pray together about it. Do you remember when your children were young and they would confess things to you they had done? After praying together you celebrated the confession and rejoiced with a strengthened bond of love and new joy. Why do we delay the healing process? Why do we prolong the suffering?

Relationships change between parents and children as we all grow older. Old un-confessed sins of the parent, or of the child, or both, may still gnaw at us and may be the reason for today’s emotional and physical pain. But now, it is more difficult than ever to confess the wrong.

Is it possible that your parent or your child needs to confess a wrong? Perhaps either the adult child or the ageing parent could help the other with a simple question offered carefully and lovingly. “Is there anything you always wanted to tell me that you haven’t been able to tell?” Or, “Is there anything in our past that still troubles you today?” If confession comes, take it together to God in prayer, and be prepared to be as full of grace and forgiveness as God always is. Let the healing begin.

HAVE PATIENCE!!!

Leave a Comment

“The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it” (Arnold H. Glasgow). I so agree. Patience is an indispensable ingredient of a peaceful, happy life. Imagine the mistakes which would not have happened had you been more patient. Think of the unnecessary anguish you have suffered because you lacked patience. How many friends or family members have you driven crazy or driven away because you had too little patience? What better life and more intense joy could you have gained had you been more patient?

One day I will have more patience. I can’t wait! Patience is essential to the character of every believer in Jesus.

Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit (Ecclesiastes 7:8).

It is how we wait for the Lord (Psalm 40:1).

It is what love is (1 Corinthians 13:4).

It is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5).

It is how we walk in a worthy manner (Ephesians 4:2).

It is a goal of the power we receive for holy living (Colossians 1:11).

It is how we should be to everyone (1 Thessalonians 5:14).

It is the key to endurance (1 Peter 2:20).

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” If we pay close attention to nature, we see amazing illustrations of this virtue. It is as if God ordered all of his creation in a way to teach us one simple lesson, “Good things come to those who wait.”

Did you ever sing this children’s song?

Have patience, have patience.
Don’t be in such a hurry.
When you get impatient, you only start to worry.
Remember, remember that God is patient, too
And think of all the times when others have to wait for you.

“Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary” (Isaiah 40:31).

Norman Drummond, Chaplain

ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE

Leave a Comment

Someone once said of the twenty-third Psalm, “what the nightingale is among birds, that is this divine ode among the Psalms, for it has sung sweetly in the ear of many a mourner in his night of weeping, and has bidden him hope for a morning of joy.”

We don’t know David’s age when he wrote this Psalm but it sounds as if written out of a long and mature relationship with the Lord. Anyone who has lived life long knowing the Lord can relate to David’s words. David tells us how God has guided, comforted and restored his soul, along green pastures and still waters, on paths of righteousness, and through dark and dangerous valleys. He recalls God’s provision of an overflowing cup, special anointing, and a banquet even while surrounded by enemy.

The last line expresses his confident expectation of God’s continued care. Because The Lord is my shepherd! Because of all I have experienced in my relationship with Him! “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Charles Spurgeon wrote, “These twin guardian angels will always be with me at my back and my beck. . . . Goodness supplies our needs, and mercy blots out our sins.” The Psalmist is certain that God’s care will not change through the rest of his life, and into his eternity where he and we will dwell in our everlasting home.

The twenty-third Psalm reminds us of the peace, comfort, strength, and rest enjoyed by those who follow the Shepherd. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:27-30) Our response to Jesus’ words can be like those of David’s. Because of our Lord’s love expressed by His death on the cross, His power demonstrated by his resurrection from the dead, and His promise to those who follow Him, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Chaplain Norman Drummond