NO, NEVER ALONE

“I PROMISED”

ALEDA J MARSHALL

COPYRIGHTS

All Scripture quotations unless otherwise indicated are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV), PUBLIC DOMAIN

.

Scriptures marked as "(THE MESSAGE)" are Scripture quotations from THE MESSAGE. Copyright (c) by Eugene H.Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Italics in Scripture notations indicate the author’s added emphasis.

Details in some anecdotes and stories have been changed to protect the identities of the persons involved

David Roper, Our Daily Bread®, © 2003 by RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

HOLOCAUST TIMELINE Nazi Euthanasia, The History Place All Rights Reserved Copyright © 1997

Rick Warren, THE PUPOSE DRIVEN LIFE, Zondervan Publishing Company Copyright © 2003 Rick Warren, All right reserved.

Leighton Ford, Good News is for Sharing, David C. Cook Publishing Company, Published: January 9, 1977 ISBN - 10:0891910832, ISBN - 13:9780891910831. All right reserved.

Copyright © 2010 Author Name

All rights reserved.

ISBN:

ISBN-13:978-1475111101

ISBN-10: 147511110X

I DEDICATED THIS BOOK

TO MY

GRANDMOTHER,

TO MY

MOTHER,

AND

TO MY

CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN

WHO REMINDED ME

WHAT MY

GRANDMOTHER AND MOTHER

TAUGHT ME.

I ALSO DEDICATE THIS BOOK

TO MY

PASTOR AND HIS WIFE

(they know who they are)

WHO HAVE BEEN MY

EARTHLY ROCKS AND MODELS OF CHRIST.

ULTIMATELY, I DEDICATE THIS BOOK

TO MY

GOD

HE HAS NEVER GIVEN UP ON ME

AND

HE HAS NEVER LEFT ME

NOR

FORSAKEN ME

NO, NEVER ALONE

“I PROMISED”

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

TRACTS/BOOKLETS

HE AND ME FROM A TO Z

IS ANYONE OUT THERE?

ARE YOU READY FOR THE BATTLE?

WHAT DID YOU SAY?

WHAT HAVE YOU LOST?

ALEDA J MARSHALL

ACKNOWLEGEMENT

This has been a long journey, but not as long as for some expressed in this book. However, as you read each chapter of this book, it will become apparent that in the short period of time that much of this book encapsulates, there are many that God has placed in my path to walk with me, all or part of the way. It is to those fellow sojourners that I would want, here and now, to give full acknowledgement and my special thanks.

A few names come immediately to mind – Jo Ann Benedetto, Bill and Jane James, Florence Taylor Brown, Lars Marell, Milton Wilcox, and Danielle Etshman. As each year of this journey progressed, God gave me each of you to encourage, support and pray for me.

Like you, I read a little here, hear a little sermon there, and absorb HIS Word to the extent of my listening and obedience. God has hanging in eternity my custom woven tapestry that represents my life. HIS lessons and messages to me are finely woven into each stitch of that tapestry. The few years of stitching and weaving represented in this book are a small illustration of the thirty plus years of foundational stitching that has already transpired from the point of accepting Christ as my personal Savior.

The stitches of such represent not only the WORD of GOD, but other Christian authors who have walked or are still walking before me. Such honored sojourners on this summarized list includes such authors as, A. W. Tozer, Watchman Nee, J I Packer, Bill Gothard, Chuck Swindoll, James Dobson, Dan Betzer, Rick Warren, etc.

Beside this brief reference of influential authors, other stitches were designed studying the Word with the help of various same or other Christian authors, and Bibles studies. And I cannot forget the labor intensive stitches fashioned in the hands of God through my various acts of willful disobedience.

My hope is that as each one sees the expression of their imprints on my life as expressed in this book, they will be blessed to know that the seeds they planted in my heart are bearing fruit in and through this book for the Lord Jesus Christ. To God be the glory! Satan intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so HE could use me to save the lives of many people, for such a time as this.

NO, NEVER ALONE

“I PROMISED”

TABLE OF CONTENT

INTRODUCTION …..….…..……..………....... 10

1. HEM CLINGING ……...…….…..….…..…..... 21

(I’M TAKING YOU AT YOUR WORD)

2. SITTING AT THE FEET OF JESUS.……..… 27

(SENIOR TEA TIME)

3. SPROUTS IN THE ASHES…..……….……… 37

(HOLY GROUND)

4. DRIVEN BY HIS PURPOSE..……..…..…….. 43

(SKETCHES ON HIS CANVAS)

5. ON A MISSION ……………………..….…...... 49

(WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?)

6. IS THAT ME? ….…..……………..…….......... 55

(WHERE TO BEGIN? - DO UNTO OTHERS!)

7. STEPPING OUT IN FAITH ….…….……...... 60

(DO YOU KNOW I AM THIRSTY?)

8 LOOK WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE! ….. 67

(IT JUST TAKES ONE TO VISIT ONE!)

CHALLENGE……………….……………........ 74

NO, NEVER ALONE

HOW MANY TIMES DISCOURAGED,

WE SINK BESIDE THE WAY;

ABOUT US ALL IS DARKNESS,

WE HARDLY DARE TO PRAY;

THEN FROM THE MISTS AND SHADOWS,

THE SWEETEST VOICE E'ER KNOWN,

SAYS, "CHILD, AM I NOT WITH THEE,

NEVER TO LEAVE THEE ALONE?"

REFRAIN:

NO, NEVER ALONE! NO, NEVER ALONE!

HE PROMISED NEVER TO LEAVE ME,

NEVER TO LEAVE ME ALONE!

NO, NEVER ALONE! NO, NEVER ALONE!

HE PROMISED NEVER TO LEAVE ME,

NEVER TO LEAVE ME ALONE!

O SOUL, HAST THOU FORGOTTEN,

THE TENDER WORD AND SWEET,

OF HIM WHO LEFT BEHIND HIM

THE PRINT OF BLEEDING FEET?

"I NEVER WILL FORSAKE THEE,

O CHILD SO WEARY GROWN;

REMEMBER, I HAVE PROMISED,

NEVER TO LEAVE THEE ALONE?"

TAKE COURAGE, WAYWORN PILGRIM,

THO' MISTS AND SHADOWS HIDE

THE FACE OF HIM THOU LOVEST,

HE'S EVER AT THY SIDE;

REACH OUT THY HAND AND FIND HIM,

AND LO, THE CLOUDS HAVE FLOWN;

HE SMILES ON THEE WHO PROMISED,

NEVER TO LEAVE THEE ALONE;

Author Unknown

Composer Unknown

5IN THE SAME HOUR CAME FORTH FINGERS OF A MAN'S HAND, AND WROTE OVER AGAINST THE CANDLESTICK UPON THE PLASTER OF THE WALL OF THE KING'S PALACE: AND THE KING SAW THE PART OF THE HAND THAT WROTE. 6THEN THE KING'S COUNTENANCE WAS CHANGED, AND HIS THOUGHTS TROUBLED HIM, SO THAT THE JOINTS OF HIS LOINS WERE LOOSED, AND HIS KNEES SMOTE ONE AGAINST ANOTHER.

7THE KING CRIED ALOUD TO BRING IN THE ASTROLOGERS, THE CHALDEANS, AND THE SOOTHSAYERS. AND THE KING SPAKE, AND SAID TO THE WISE MEN OF BABYLON, WHOSOEVER SHALL READ THIS WRITING, AND SHEW ME THE INTERPRETATION THEREOF, SHALL BE CLOTHED WITH SCARLET, AND HAVE A CHAIN OF GOLD ABOUT HIS NECK, AND SHALL BE THE THIRD RULER IN THE KINGDOM. 8THEN CAME IN ALL THE KING'S WISE MEN: BUT THEY COULD NOT READ THE WRITING, NOR MAKE KNOWN TO THE KING THE INTERPRETATION THEREOF.

DANIEL 5:5-8

INTRODUCTION

With everyone living so much longer, and spare body parts becoming more prevalent, have you considered what your life will be like in those GOLDEN YEARS? Is the HANDWRITING ON THE WALL? Like it or not, most of us will end up somewhere in our GOLDEN YEARS. Let us be realistic and look in the mirror a moment.

Think about the fact that someday your children will be grandparents. They will be off visiting their children and grandchildren, for many, if not, all the holidays. Or possibly, your children have died before you, and there are no grandchildren to concern themselves with your affairs. You once had brothers and sisters, but they have already departed before you. And where will you be? You may be left behind in a nursing home with strangers, strangers who will become your new revolving family.

After all, if you were with the family for those special occasions, you would just slow down all the fun. Think of how long it will take your family to get you and your wheelchair from the car to the house where the family is gathering.

You would probably not be able to hear half of what is being said with all the distortion in your hearing aid. And whether you believe it or not, if you cannot remember, everyone there will have more than likely heard all of your stories 100 times already.

It will take you forever to get to the dinner table, and oh, how embarrassing it will be to drop half of your food all over your new blouse or sweater, with the other half making a mess on the floor below. And yes, bathroom duty. I think you have enough of an image of future events.

Their busy lives have left you behind, often alone. As you look around a bunch of strangers, your new family, in your adult daycare or nursing home, barely able to see, you pray, “Where are You Jesus? Was I not faithful? DOES ANYONE CARE?” As tears begin to stream down your face, you ask, “HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN ME, GOD?”

Later in bed you think, “I don’t remember, have I pushed the alert button for the nurse? Will anyone come and check on me? I would like to use the bathroom. I can’t roll over. I think my bedsores are starting to bleed. If I get out of bed, I may lose my balance and fall. Does anyone care about me anymore? Am I just taking up space? I don’t remember, have I pushed the alert button for the nurse?”

We gain insight when we listen to those who have gone before and who know more than we do—insight we miss when our pride stands in the way. We're able to learn from others when we humble ourselves and acknowledge how little we know. Willingness to learn is a mark of those who are truly wise. Proverbs 1:5 says that "a wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel." Let's ask questions of those who've spent their lives seeking God's wisdom. (David Roper, Our Daily Bread®, © 2003 by RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.)

Will you plant a seed in your GARDEN OF LIFE today, an eternal seed that will reap a bountiful harvest in tomorrow’s GARDEN OF LIFE? Will you visit a senior and let the AGAPE love of Christ reap a tenfold, fiftyfold, hundred fold harvest? IT TAKES ONE TO VISIT ONE!

We can each plant the AGAPE seeds of the love of Christ in our personal gardens today, a planting that will reap a bountiful harvest of AGAPE love tomorrow, reproduced in the next generation of gardens, our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. WE CAN ALL DO THIS!

The seeds you plant in the life of a senior today, whether mobile or in nursing home care, may be the harvest you reap in your garden tomorrow! God has not forgotten THE FORGOTTEN. This is HIS promise:

6SOWETH SPARINGLY SHALL REAP ALSO SPARINGLY; SOWETH BOUNTIFULLY SHALL REAP ALSO BOUNTIFULLY

9(…DISPERSED ABROAD; HE HATH GIVEN TO THE POOR: HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS REMAINETH FOR EVER.

10 …HE THAT MINISTERETH SEED TO THE SOWER BOTH MINISTER BREAD FOR YOUR FOOD, AND MULTIPLY YOUR SEED SOWN, AND INCREASE THE FRUITS OF YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS;) …

12FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THIS SERVICE NOT ONLY SUPPLIETH THE WANT OF THE SAINTS, BUT IS ABUNDANT ALSO BY MANY THANKSGIVINGS UNTO GOD;

2 Corinthians 9:6, 9, 10, 12

Nazi Euthanasia

In October of 1939 amid the turmoil of the outbreak of war Hitler ordered widespread "mercy killing" of the sick and disabled.

Code named "Aktion T 4," the Nazi euthanasia program to eliminate "life unworthy of life" at first focused on newborns and very young children. Midwives and doctors were required to register children up to age three who showed symptoms of mental retardation, physical deformity, or other symptoms included on a questionnaire from the Reich Health Ministry.

A decision on whether to allow the child to live was then made by three medical experts solely on the basis of the questionnaire, without any examination and without reading any medical records.

Each expert placed a + mark in red pencil or - mark in blue pencil under the term "treatment" on a special form. A red plus mark meant a decision to kill the child. A blue minus sign meant a decision against killing. Three plus symbols resulted in a euthanasia warrant being issued and the transfer of the child to a 'Children's Specialty Department' for death by injection or gradual starvation.

The decision had to be unanimous. In cases where the decision was not unanimous the child was kept under observation and another attempt would be made to get a unanimous decision.

The Nazi euthanasia program quickly expanded to include older disabled children and adults. Hitler's decree of October, 1939, typed on his personal stationary, enlarged "the authority of certain physicians to be designated by name in such manner that persons who, according to human judgment, are incurable can, upon a most careful diagnosis of their condition of sickness, be accorded a mercy death."

Questionnaires were then distributed to mental institutions, hospitals and other institutions caring for the chronically ill.

Patients had to be reported if they suffered from schizophrenia, epilepsy, senile disorders, therapy resistant paralysis and syphilitic diseases, retardation, encephalitis, Huntington's chorea and other neurological conditions, also those who had been continuously in institutions for at least 5 years, or were criminally insane, or did not possess German citizenship or were not of German or related blood, including Jews, Negroes, and Gypsies.

A total of six killing centers were established including the well-known psychiatric clinic at Hadamar. The euthanasia program was eventually headed by an SS man named Christian Wirth, a notorious brute with the nickname 'the savage Christian.'

At Brandenburg, a former prison was converted into a killing center where the first Nazi experimental gassings took place. The gas chambers were disguised as shower rooms, but were actually hermetically sealed chambers connected by pipes to cylinders of carbon monoxide. Patients were generally drugged before being led naked into the gas chamber. Each killing center included a crematorium where the bodies were taken for disposal. Families were then falsely told the cause of death was medical such as heart failure or pneumonia.

But the huge increase in the death rate for the disabled combined with the very obvious plumes of odorous smoke over the killing centers aroused suspicion and fear. At Hadamar, for example, local children even taunted arriving busloads of patients by saying "here comes some more to be gassed."

On August 3, 1941, a Catholic Bishop, Clemens von Galen, delivered a sermon in Münster Cathedral attacking the Nazi euthanasia program calling it "plain murder." The sermon sent a shockwave through the Nazi leadership by publicly condemning the program and urged German Catholics to "withdraw ourselves and our faithful from their (Nazi) influence so that we may not be contaminated by their thinking and their ungodly behavior."

As a result, on August 23, Hitler suspended Aktion T4, which had accounted for nearly a hundred thousand deaths by this time.

The Nazis retaliated against the Bishop by beheading three parish priests who had distributed his sermon, but left the Bishop unharmed to avoid making him into a martyr.

However, the Nazi euthanasia program quietly continued, but without the widespread gassings. Drugs and starvation were used instead and doctors were encouraged to decide in favor of death whenever euthanasia was being considered.

The use of gas chambers at the euthanasia killing centers ultimately served as training centers for the SS. They used the technical knowledge and experience gained during the euthanasia program to construct huge killing centers at Auschwitz, Treblinka and other concentration camps in an attempt to exterminate the entire Jewish population of Europe. SS personnel from the euthanasia killing centers, notably Wirth, Franz Reichleitner and Franz Stangl later commanded extermination camps.

Hitler Signs an Order Authorizing Involuntary Euthanasia in Germany, October 1939

Germany had been the site of an increasing number of measures taken in the name of "racial purity" since the Nazis assumed power in 1933, including forced sterilization of those with physical and/or mental handicaps, and the murder of infants with similar handicaps (in both cases, the primary targets were not Jews, but so-called "Aryans," or non-Jewish Germans). Now in 1939, under the cover of war, the program was to be expanded to include murdering handicapped adults. Since Hitler would issue no law legalizing such forced "euthanasia," and since physicians would hesitate or refuse to take part in the killing unless they had written protection from later prosecution, Hitler was persuaded to sign this document on his personal stationery (German-language version also available) instructing his assistants Philipp Bouhler and Dr. Karl Brandt to initiate the program. The document was signed in October 1939, but backdated to 1 September, the date of the beginning of World War II. For further information, see Henry Friedlander, The Origins of Nazi Genocide: From Euthanasia to the Final Solution. (Chapel Hill, N.C.: University of North Carolina Press, 1995), p. 67.

ADOLF HITLER

Berlin, 1 September 1939

Reichsleiter Bouhler and

Dr. med. Brandt

are instructed to broaden the powers of physicians designated by name, who will decide whether those who have - as far as can be humanly determined - incurable illnesses can, after the most careful evaluation, be granted a mercy death.

/signed/ Adolf Hitler

Copyright © 1997 The History Place All Rights Reserved

CHAPTER 1

HEM CLINGING

(I’M TAKING YOU AT YOUR WORD)

The synapsis in my brain began to spark, as I reflected on how it came to be that I am ministering at this particular neighborhood nursing home, OR BETTER YET, AT ANY NURSING HOME AT ALL. Although I have walked with the Lord for over 35 years now, the short period of time that much of this book encapsulates has provided me with tremendous lessons and victories. You see, some of those years prior, had some wayward walking. Hence, what has been revealed on this latest route has been created through the saving grace of my LORD, JESUS CHRIST, provided through the abundant mercy of my ABBA FATHER.

A small glimpse into the execution of the intricate making of each stitch in this particular section of God’s woven tapestry of my life is represented here. Specifically, a small expression of the breaking, melting and molding, that caused me to walk into this particular neighborhood nursing home.

One of the most significant breakings occurred as a result of my willful disobedience. Unwilling to take my children into the inner city from the suburbs so that I might finish my education after my divorce in 1987, I chose to leave them with their father. This heart wrenching decision provided them with the same beds, same house, same church, same neighborhood, same everything, but no mom.

The years following the divorce, my graduation from the University of Minnesota and subsequent move to Fort Myers, Florida in 1989, did not embrace my children as I had expected they would. Without words, many may understand the pain related to such a separation. I had been a stay at home mom and my children had rarely left my side. The children’s early lives were spent primarily in church, and those related activities. They were homeschooled the first years of their education.

In 1997, my son moved in with me, as my career as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) was flourishing in Florida. Some of our discussions included my anticipated degree of involvement in the lives of my future grandchildren. Based on fond memories of my relationship with my grandmother, and my son’s expectation of a built in babysitter for him and his wife, left no doubt in my mind that I would be an intricate part of this yet to come family structure.

Through a serious of events, my son re-dedicated his life to the Lord. As he became actively involved in our local church in Fort Myers, I relocated to Orlando, Florida, chasing yet another, career opportunity. However, by July 2003, I quit that job and moved back to a house I owned in Cape Coral, across the river from Fort Myers. The house needed updating in order to sell it. I needed to simplify my life. I was going through menopause and nothing seemed right. I had lost my purpose.

My church, my son and my condo were in Fort Myers and I wanted to re-focus on what mattered. I wanted to begin the journey of restoration of some of what had been lost in the divorce: relationships, family, commitment, accountability, and my close relationship with God. God had blessed me with the “desires of my heart”, but I was left with “leanness of soul”.

My extended family lives in Canada, where I was raised, as the eldest of eight children. My grandmother was my sanctuary, my respite in the storm of a somewhat chaotic house. Although I came to the United States in 1973, when I was 20 years of age, my granny and I remained very close until she passed at the age of one hundred years in 2000.

My son met his wife while they were both ministering at church and they were married in early 2005. Things were looking up. Not only did the Cape Coral house sell in 2006 and I moved back into the condo, but I was blessed with a grandson. This grandma, a/k/a, NANA “M”, was enjoying weekly visits with her new “little man” while anticipating the birth of a second grandchild.

Maybe my necessity to be there for my grandchildren was the memory of my grandmother’s significance in my life. Maybe the necessity to be there for my grandchildren was longed for to fill the void that was left raw from the divorce and subsequent separation from my children.

However, after the birth of a beautiful baby girl in 2007, in the midst of confusion, a misunderstanding occurred that literally brought me to my knees. I was no longer allowed to communicate with or see my son, his wife or my grandchildren. What would/could I do now?

I had enough years of experience with God to know that wresting with Him would not result in my win. I knew the results of any angry temper tantrum on my part would not be in my best interest. Been there, done that. The only thing I could do, take HIM, GOD, at HIS Word! HEM CLINGING.

My pastor was taking us through The Beatitudes, one sermon in 2008, and he read:

"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.” Matthew 5:4 THE MESSAGE

Yes, I was ripped apart, but I was going to take HIM, GOD, at HIS Word! HEM CLINGING.

I became immersed in the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. What did Jesus say/do? As time progressed and I began to gain some feeling, I began compiling verses on HE and me. AFFIRMATIONS, if I may, a Bible verse or two for each letter of the alphabet. After all, it was HE and ME! I was being “embraced by the One most dear to” me. And so was birthed, “HE and ME from A to Z”, the first little Bible booklet or tract in a series of tracts that I did not know were to come.

Oh merciful God, I’M TAKING YOU AT YOUR WORD!

BE MERCIFUL UNTO ME, O GOD, BE MERCIFUL UNTO ME: FOR MY SOUL TRUSTETH IN THEE: YEA, IN THE SHADOW OF THY WINGS WILL I MAKE MY REFUGE, UNTIL THESE CALAMITIES BE OVERPAST.

Psalm 57:1

CHAPTER 2

SITTING AT THE FEET OF JESUS

(SENIOR TEA TIME)

As days turned to weeks, then to months, I began questioning my next step. What do you want me to do Lord? I determined that from now on, I would purpose for HIS will, not my will. I have had a Canada phase, where I was raised, a marriage phase, a radical rebellious phase or two, a career phase. What had I not done?

I was entering a new commitment phase, and I wanted it all for Him. If I may, my utmost, for MY Highest! To sum it up, I was done chasing, thank you. I must be about my Father’s business. Nothing else matters. It was time to do what Jesus said in accomplishing the GREAT COMMISSION.

18AND JESUS CAME AND SPAKE UNTO THEM, SAYING, ALL POWER IS GIVEN UNTO ME IN HEAVEN AND IN EARTH. 19GO YE THEREFORE, AND TEACH ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST: 20TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU: AND, LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD. AMEN.

Matthew 28:18-20 (emphasis supplied)

The handles on the doors of various volunteering opportunities contemplated and pursued for different Christian ministry organizations, did not turn when I tried to open them. One day in desperation, I said, “God, what would you have me do?” I sensed Him say, “OPEN YOUR FRONT DOOR”.

When I opened the door, I saw condos in rows in my neighborhood. From owning my condo for twenty plus years, I knew many of the neighbors. Primarily, the condos were filled with seniors at various stages of the aging process. Some I knew and some I had not yet met. The family humorously said, “It will be easy to put her in a nursing home. She is half way there already”.

So, HEM CLINGING, and slowly becoming re-lit through the Word of God, I purposed to get reacquainted with the neighbors I knew and introduce myself to those I did not know. Baking cupcakes, cookies and other sweet offerings became the door opener to the re-acquaintance of those I already knew and an introduction to the neighbors I had not yet met.

Armed with the affirmations from God’s Word compiled in “HE and ME from A to Z”, the first Bible tract that included an invitation to receive Jesus Christ as one’s Lord and Savior, I baked and visited and listened, and baked and visited and drank tea and listened again. I even had the opportunity to pray with a few souls. And so it went, HE and me and a cup of tea, some sweets for the tummy and some sweet Words of God for the soul. And so I continued to bake and visit and drink more tea, and listen and pray and distribute more tracts.

I began to feel like Mary, SITTING AT THE FEET OF JESUS, as opposed to Martha, dashing about conquering the world as I had spent so much of my life. I guess I was trying to prove what, to I do not know who back then, myself probably. What was my worth, my purpose now?

And here I sat, listening to the words of my senior neighbors: their lives, their pains, their joys, their struggles, their concerns, SENIOR TEA TIME. And here I sat, listening to the Words of Jesus continuing through Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. I was sitting, not racing. I was listening, not planning and organizing my next move. What an honor and a privilege. And the reality of 2 Corinthians 1:4 took on new meaning,

WHO COMFORTETH US IN ALL OUR TRIBULATION, THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO COMFORT THEM WHICH ARE IN ANY TROUBLE, BY THE COMFORT WHEREWITH WE OURSELVES ARE COMFORTED OF GOD.

As a result of my personal pursuits, I could empathize to some degree with what many of my neighbors were feeling: lonely, forgotten, misunderstood, etc. I knew the pain of children not calling, not wanting to have anything to do with you. I was hearing this same pain, expressed in the words and tears of those at whose feet I was sitting, who have walked before me. And the listening wisdom of this period birthed a second little Bible booklet or tract titled, “IS ANYONE OUT THERE?”.

This little book is dedicated to those who are sitting, too achy to move about; it’s a chore for them just to walk to the kitchen. This booklet is dedicated to those who are so lonely, their families rarely call.

This booklet is dedicated to those who are so bored, the television programs they are watching are either all re-runs or full of things no one should watch; as the moments of their lives, what is left of them, pass by. This little book is dedicated to those who feel old, decrepit, taking up space, wondering who cares about them and their life experiences.

God showed me that David felt the same way when he cried out to God in Psalm 71: 9, 12, and 18:

9CAST ME NOT OFF IN THE TIME OF OLD AGE; FORSAKE ME NOT WHEN MY STRENGTH FAILETH. ... 12O GOD, BE NOT FAR FROM ME: O MY GOD, MAKE HASTE FOR MY HELP. … 18NOW ALSO WHEN I AM OLD AND GREYHEADED, O GOD, FORSAKE ME NOT; UNTIL I HAVE SHEWED THY STRENGTH UNTO THIS GENERATION, AND THY POWER TO EVERY ONE THAT IS TO COME.

And seeing and hearing how many of these seniors were feeling, God lead me to Psalm 142:1-4:

1I CRIED UNTO THE LORD WITH MY VOICE; WITH MY VOICE UNTO THE LORD DID I MAKE MY SUPPLICATION. 2I POURED OUT MY COMPLAINT BEFORE HIM; I SHEWED BEFORE HIM MY TROUBLE. 3WHEN MY SPIRIT WAS OVERWHELMED WITHIN ME, THEN THOU KNEWEST MY PATH. IN THE WAY WHEREIN I WALKED HAVE THEY PRIVILY LAID A SNARE FOR ME. 4I LOOKED ON MY RIGHT HAND, AND BEHELD, BUT THERE WAS NO MAN THAT WOULD KNOW ME: REFUGE FAILED ME; NO MAN CARED FOR MY SOUL.

Many of these seniors had begun to give up hope. As I continued to study and compile this tract, I found myself reading Jeremiah 33:3:

CALL UNTO ME, AND I WILL ANSWER THEE, AND SHOW THEE GREAT AND MIGHTY THINGS, WHICH THOU KNOWEST NOT.

Then I was directed to the encouraging Word found in Isaiah 41:10, and read:

FEAR THOU NOT; FOR I AM WITH THEE: BE NOT DISMAYED; FOR I AM THY GOD: I WILL STRENGTHEN THEE; YEA, I WILL HELP THEE; YEA, I WILL UPHOLD THEE WITH THE RIGHT HAND OF MY RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Remembering my own pain and the comfort I found in I Peter 5:7,

CASTING ALL YOUR CARE UPON HIM; FOR HE CARETH FOR YOU.

And then the comfort and strength overflowed as I read in Psalm142:5-7

5I CRIED UNTO THEE, O LORD: I SAID, THOU ART MY REFUGE AND MY PORTION IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING.

6ATTEND UNTO MY CRY; FOR I AM BROUGHT VERY LOW: DELIVER ME FROM MY PERSECUTORS; FOR THEY ARE STRONGER THAN I.

7BRING MY SOUL OUT OF PRISON, THAT I MAY PRAISE THY NAME: THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL COMPASS ME ABOUT; FOR THOU SHALT DEAL BOUNTIFULLY WITH ME.

There is was in Psalm 73:23-28! What God will do if we only ask HIM. What HE was doing for me:

NEVERTHELESS I AM CONTINUALLY WITH THEE: THOU HAST HOLDEN ME BY MY RIGHT HAND. 24THOU SHALT GUIDE ME WITH THY COUNSEL, AND AFTERWARD RECEIVE ME TO GLORY. 25WHOM HAVE I IN HEAVEN BUT THEE? AND THERE IS NONE UPON EARTH THAT I DESIRE BESIDE THEE.

26MY FLESH AND MY HEART FAILETH: BUT GOD IS THE STRENGTH OF MY HEART, AND MY PORTION FOR EVER. 27FOR, LO, THEY THAT ARE FAR FROM THEE SHALL PERISH: THOU HAST DESTROYED ALL THEM THAT GO A WHORING FROM THEE. 28BUT IT IS GOOD FOR ME TO DRAW NEAR TO GOD: I HAVE PUT MY TRUST IN THE LORD GOD, THAT I MAY DECLARE ALL THY WORKS.

Despair? I no longer think so. Hope? Most definitely!

TO WHOM GOD WOULD MAKE KNOWN WHAT IS THE RICHES OF THE GLORY OF THIS MYSTERY …; WHICH IS CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY: Colossians 1:27

15THEREFORE, BRETHREN, STAND FAST, AND HOLD THE TRADITIONS WHICH YE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT, WHETHER BY WORD, OR OUR EPISTLE.

16NOW OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF, AND GOD, EVEN OUR FATHER, WHICH HATH LOVED US, AND HATH GIVEN US EVERLASTING CONSOLATION AND GOOD HOPE THROUGH GRACE,

17COMFORT YOUR HEARTS, AND STABLISH YOU IN EVERY GOOD WORD AND WORK.

2 Thessalonians 2:15-17 (emphasis supplied)

CHAPTER 3

SPROUTS IN THE ASHES

(HOLY GROUND)

It was becoming more evident as I listen to the more experienced around me that sprouts were popping through the ashes of my life. Yes, SPROUTS IN THE ASHES! I was beginning to catch a glimpse of a larger vision God had for me. I had been waiting and watching as a child does when they plant their first garden.

When were those seeds going to burst through the soil? HOPE for me, my BLESSED ASSURANCE. I still had value, purpose. I believed this! “HEM CLINGING” was doing what HIS WORD said it would do. I believed FAITH was starting to bloom, in the AGAPE LOVE of HIS garden for me.

NOW FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR, THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN. Hebrews 11:1

SO THEN FAITH COMETH BY HEARING, AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD. Romans 10:17

Throughout all these pursuits, I became more acquainted with some of the seniors sitting around me in the early service at church. While considering whether to go forward and print the first tract, “He and ME from A to Z”, I had one senior couple, review my mocked-up version. After all, God’s Word says:

WITHOUT COUNSEL PURPOSES ARE DISAPPOINTED: BUT IN THE MULTITUDE OF COUNSELLORS THEY ARE ESTABLISHED.

Proverbs 15:22

They were very encouraging. That gave me pause, especially when they offered a donation toward some of the first printing costs. The refuge dumping of some of my past through the renewal of my mind in God’s Word, allowed me to recognize and receive this affirmation from God. Was I finally headed in the right direction?

Our Jesus is so gentle. I am sure there were other affirmations, but sometimes in HIS gentleness, and my sinfulness, I miss them. However, HIS faithfulness may allow me to walk into a wall on occasion, in order to receive HIS gentle message. As supporters of the Gospel to this day, this couple continues to follow and pray for and with me, as I travel down this purposeful path of obedience.

Another senior lady who often sat alone in the same section of the church also loved the tract after her brief assessment. The tract was basically a compilation of Scriptures. What’s not to like about that! In fact, when I presented this little tract of larger print Bible verses, full of affirmations, she pulled out of her purse, a stack of 3 x 5 recipe cards. There, tightly bound with a rubber band, she had hand written Bible verses, her affirmations, from her God. She carried them everywhere she went, the hair dresser, doctors’ offices, claiming the Word of God and HIS power in her life. She was praying without ceasing.

What an anointing and a divine appointment this lady became in my life. God used her to further prepare my heart for HIS divine purpose. You see, she was very ill, and yet, she knew that her God would use her for HIS Kingdom, as HE expects to use EACH of us, until HE takes the last breath from our bodies.

As our friendship grew, it became apparent that this friend was being called home, HEAVENLY HOME. The hospital had released her home and she was surrounded by her family in anticipation of her passing. Not wanting to impose on the family, I was reluctant to visit. However, I would call her daughter for an update and my ailing friend would insist that I come over to visit.

Looking for another avenue for an opportunity to reach the lost for Christ and to distribute the two tracts God had me compile thus far, I had started volunteering at hospice, providing caregiver relief. This relief provides a patient’s spouse, family member, etc., a break from the caretaking of their ailing loved ones for such matters as grocery shopping, a walk in the park, etc. My friend was now under hospice care and I was familiar with some of what they were using to comfort her.

The most “amazing thing happened” to me. In my fumbling attempt to provide her comfort, read Scriptures, sing hymns, or as the Lord led, I found her to be ministering to me. On each of my visits, she would have her Bible open to a particular passage she wanted me to read. She loved to sing, a beautiful voice, next to my joyful noise, and we would sing hymns together.

I may only stay half an hour or so, but even as she was failing and barely able to sing with her oxygen, she still tried to praise her LORD and still would point to a passage she had prepared for us to read. I was watching a saint die. I had visited the sick and dying before, but I had never watched a saint die. The peace, the joy and the love of the Lord’s presence was in that room. I was walking on HOLY GROUND.

I have since communicated with her daughter advising her of this book and the impact her mother had on my life and ministry. I wrote:

“She inspired and ministered to me on her death bed. She made room for me, even when she had her family around. I did not understand it then, but I understand it now and want you to know that she was one of my teachers that God used to inspire me on this spiritual journey and this ministry. Thank you for sharing her with me. Blessings.”

In reviewing my notes, I must have communicated a similar message to the family twice. The first message was sent via e-mail from her daughter, several months after her death. It reads as follows:

“Thank you Aleda for being there for mom. You were such a blessing to her in the "good" times as well as the "rough" times. She looked forward to you coming to see her, singing to her and your prayers.”

The second exchange took place several months before publishing this book. She writes:

“Aleda, thanks for sharing that with me. You were such a blessing to my mother, she lite up when she heard from you. The Lord is using you, I am sure you are a blessing to all those He has you ministering to, if they get half as much out of it as my mother did, it is all worth it. God Bless you!”

Both responses are similar, and speak to the quality of this little friend’s relationship with her God. With her last dying breath, she was used by her God, as she was teaching me, as HIS Word says:

3THE AGED WOMEN LIKEWISE, THAT THEY BE IN BEHAVIOUR AS BECOMETH HOLINESS ….TEACHERS OF GOOD THINGS; 4THAT THEY MAY TEACH THE YOUNG WOMEN ….

Titus 2:3-4

She passed the day after mother’s day. Thank you, Lord, for giving her children the blessing of that mother’s day. Thank you, Lord, for sharing her with me. By the way, those recipe cards of hand written Bible verses are now being carried by her granddaughter. My little friend continues to minister the Word of her God even after her death. That is a legacy we should all purpose to bequeath to those we leave behind. HOLY GROUND!

CHAPTER 4

DRIVEN BY HIS PURPOSE

(SKETCHES ON HIS CANVAS)

In my visits and discussions with the neighborhood seniors, it became apparent that not only homebound, but mobile seniors are invisible in their respective communities. Local malls around the country are full of laughing teenagers, lovebirds and small children of varying heights.

Occasionally you will find a lonely senior sitting in the corner of the mall, sipping a soda or drinking a cup of coffee, simply INVISIBLE to the world at large. Oh, the world pays attention if they are not moving fast enough. Just try to walk or drive behind some of those seniors in South West Florida. They get plenty of attention then, howbeit, the wrong kind.

As I began to see more clearly SKETCHES ON HIS CANVAS of my life, a deeper mission, a multifaceted vision was stirring in me. A new responsibility to provide comfort, companionship, compassion, healing, prayer, and solace for senior women, whether mobile or shut in, with dignity, honor, and humility demonstrated through the agape love that comes from God.

How had my experience and business savvy prepared me for this, God? Remember, I am a CPA. In my flesh, I could probably figure this out based on my strengths of the flesh, but I wanted to do this God’s way. The way God had stitched it on my tapestry before the beginning of time.

Remember, HEM CLINGING, HIS WAY, DRIVEN BY HIS PURPOSE. And I remembered:

THEREFORE I TAKE PLEASURE IN INFIRMITIES, IN REPROACHES, IN NECESSITIES, IN PERSECUTIONS, IN DISTRESSES FOR CHRIST'S SAKE: FOR WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN AM I STRONG.

2 Corinthians 12:10 (emphasis supplied)

It was becoming more apparent that there was a metamorphosis occurring in this former accountant’s life. A layer of compassion was emerging. A layer that once was callously covered by a not so sympathetic layer that often redirected those with maladies to her mother, the nurse. Oh, I had compassion for the ills of my children, but no one else.

My mother told me a funny story about my medical inclinations at the age of four. Apparently she had sliced her finger while preparing a meal. At the sight of all that blood, I found it necessary to excuse myself from the situation and step outside to distract my thoughts.

Now, I was sitting with hospice patients, providing caregiver relief. I had watched a saint preparing to meet her ABBA FATHER. I have extended hospice volunteering to sit with end of life patients, many who had no family.

How does one with a negative predisposition to anything medically related go from tax forms and auditing, and consulting and management, to coming alongside and encouraging the elderly in the community, THE FORGOTTEN? By a merciful, patient God Who is breaking, melting and molding me into HIS image. By a merciful, patient God Who never gives up on HIS workmanship!

BEING CONFIDENT OF THIS VERY THING, THAT HE WHICH HATH BEGUN A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL PERFORM IT UNTIL THE DAY OF JESUS CHRIST:

Philippians 1:6 (emphasis supplied)

Knowing that by stepping out in faith, the enemy would scatter some weed seeds of fear, discouragement, confusion, just out and out lies, in my now, blooming garden, I decided to revisit Ephesians 6. When my children were little, the Armor of God and Armor Dressing became part of our daily routine.

I conducted and compiled an extensive study on the Armor and whose battle it really is. Using the compilation, I started a senior Bible study on the topic in my community, but there was not much interest. However, one faithful neighbor and I endeavored to complete it.

Soon was birthed a third little booklet or tract comprising some of the Bible verses to support the importance of each piece of the armor as we, but more specifically, I, at this point, prepare daily for HIS purpose in my life. The title of this little Bible booklet or tract: “ARE YOU READY FOR THE BATTLE?”.

As I recall dressing in the ARMOR with my small children, these Scriptures daily reinforced the importance of my preparation, dressing in my protective gear for the battle. Standing, if I may, and claiming my position of VICTORY IN CHRIST, against the enemy, knowing:

NO WEAPON THAT IS FORMED AGAINST THEE SHALL PROSPER; AND EVERY TONGUE THAT SHALL RISE AGAINST THEE IN JUDGMENT THOU SHALT CONDEMN. THIS IS THE HERITAGE OF THE SERVANTS OF THE LORD, Isaiah 54:17

Declaring this victory chant and continuing to seek Godly Wisdom, I browsed my personal library of Christian books. Some of the books I had read earlier and had carried around for years. In evaluating what to keep and what to pass on, I found a book by Leighton Ford – Good News is for Sharing.

As I revisited this book, like Paul, it was as if the scales had fallen off my eyes, as I read and I paraphrase:

Jesus was born in a BORROWED stable, preached from a BORROWED boat, road into Jerusalem on a BORROWED donkey, ate the Last Supper in a BORROWED upper room, and was buried in a BORROWED tomb.

Well that says it all, doesn’t it? BORROWED! Jesus did not accumulate all this stuff that I seemed to have hoarded by chasing the American Dream. I continue to share this new revelation of mine with almost everyone I have met since, whether they are or are not seeking to be DRIVEN BY HIS PURPOSE. So simple, yet so profound, after all:

FOR WE BROUGHT NOTHING INTO THIS WORLD, AND IT IS CERTAIN WE CAN CARRY NOTHING OUT.

1 Timothy 6:7

Some of the books in the bookcase I had not yet read as they recently were given to me. One such book was THE PUPOSE DRIVEN LIFE by Rick Warren. I read, as assigned, one chapter reading for each of 40 days. Then I began to meditate on a chapter a week for the next 40 weeks. Why had God created me? Was I still headed in the right direction?

The Scriptural references revealed a simple road map with simple directions. However, it was important that I continued HEM CLINGING to remain on the right trail and understand the directions. I had no idea what God had planned for me next as I was catching glimpses of the SKETCHES ON HIS CANVAS!

CHAPTER 5

ON A MISSION

(WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?)

After the earthquake in Haiti in January 2010, there were so many needs. Many of the refugees were fleeing to the Dominican Republic. In June of that same year, a team of 100 Christian medical personnel, pastors, translators and OTHER volunteers, was to leave for the Dominican Republic for ten days to establish temporary mobile medical day clinics.

The surprise God planned for me at the end of the 40 weeks of meditation on HIS Word, determining HIS PURPOSE was a medical mission’s trip. ON A MISSION! Obviously, I fell into the OTHER volunteer category. I had no medical skills, no Spanish language skills, only ordained in the school of hard knocks by my heavenly ABBA FATHER. ONLY?

Did the vision change Lord? I didn’t see this on that canvas of my life wherein I caught glimpses, God? Am I going to be a foreign missionary now? I had been visiting some of my neighbors who were sick at the hospitals or rehabilitating in nursing homes. I was driving other neighbors to doctor’s appointments and shopping. I was purposing to be alert to DIVINE appointments, handing out whichever of the three tracts God had given me where applicable to the situation.

With my check list of mission trip necessities in hand, an “S O S” was sent out to my new support group, family if I may, of senior neighbors and church friends. WE HAVE A MISSION! SENIOR PATROL, WE NEED TO MOBILIZE! We have an opportunity to cram into two suitcases whatever the Lord provides to leave behind for those with greater needs than any of us could fathom.

And then, the most “amazing thing happened”. You would have thought that each of these senior friends was going on the trip. Well, come to think of it, they were. They were going through me. With their marching orders in hand, God provided a fanny pack, disinfectant, rain gear: plastic poncho, umbrella, check; sun protection: sunblock, sunglasses, long sleeve shirts, etc., check! A WATERPROOF CAMERA, OKAY!

I received male trousers, shirts, shoes and belts (do you think I will be questioned by customs?). I also received similar items for the ladies. Someone had a collection of beanie babies that they partially parted with to give to the children. Someone even gave me two suitcases that they no longer needed that I could leave behind. Everything I would wear or was taking with me was going to be left behind. I almost forgot to remember to keep something to wear back home on the plane.

Once we arrived, our team disembarked for the hotel wherein we received some very specific instructions. Do not drink the tap water and very carefully shower in your hotel rooms. Apparently, the ground water is polluted. DO NOT USE THE TAP WATER TO BRUSH YOUR TEETH. Easier said than done.

Then the next morning, off we went. Driving up mountains and through valleys and over some, one would consider to be, washed out roads, we set up mobile medical day clinics in all sorts of hygienic conditions. Did I tell you I am a bit of a germ-a-phobic? After a day of ministry, many team members prefer to refresh themselves in the highly chlorinated hotel swimming pool as opposed to in room showers.

My assignment for the trip was transporter. Job description: escorting patrons from our makeshift entrance gates into the clinics, station to station through the maze of check in (weight/height/blood pressure), to the doctor, or dentist or optician, then on to the pharmacy, prayer room, gift room, back to pharmacy and then to the exit gates. I was developing a relationship with people I could not speak to, other than a language cheat sheet with some basic Spanish words, to include medical terms. I’m from Canada. I know some French.

I looked into the eyes of those coming through the gates, my assignments. They were dressed in their best clothes, had arrived early, stood in long lines in the heat, and I may be the only Jesus they may ever see. And the Holy Spirit reminded me:

NOW THEN WE ARE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST,

2 Corinthians 5:20 (emphasis supplied)

And in yet another instance, “an amazing thing happened”. It was hot, there were a lot of people, and there were even more germs. Lord, I need help. And I was reminded, WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?

“AND HE SAID UNTO ME, MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR THEE: FOR MY STRENGTH IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS. MOST GLADLY THEREFORE WILL I RATHER GLORY IN MY INFIRMITIES, THAT THE POWER OF CHRIST MAY REST UPON ME”. 2 Corinthians 12:9

And so, letting HIS power rest upon me in my weakness, I let HIS light shine! I wanted each person I interacted with to want to know my Jesus. I wanted to be HIS love displayed to them so that they would want my Jesus, because HE loves me, and HE loves them.

I smiled, not only with my mouth, but with my eyes, with my face, and with whatever form of non-spoken communication I could release through me. Christ in me! I was Christ’s Ambassador. I held hands, I hugged, and I made them laugh as I hysterically tried to talk to them in their own language from my cheat sheet. I am telling you this, not to blow my own horn. I am telling you this because some of the younger OTHER workers on the trip saw this behavior. The power of Christ through the Holy Spirit was resting on me.

Letting HIS light shine can be contagious, you know! It was the first day of ministry, and others were commenting, and beginning to take note. Behaviors were changing. It was no longer them versus us. We were Christ’s Ambassadors, the family of GOD on HIS mission for HIS purpose.

As a humorous side note, I was escorting a little boy and his parent to the exit gate on my first day. The little one was nurtured by a very attentive father who had arrived with his ailing son in tow on a motor bike, a primary means of transportation in the area. Through our body language and my fumbling, mumbling discourse, I had developed a bit of a bound with this little fella.

As we reached the exit gate, one of the medical professional communicated something in Spanish to the father wherein I heard the word “impetigo”. As I hugged the little boy and waved good bye, I turned, thinking, hmmm. I thought I remembered something related to children school maladies about “impetigo” being highly contagious! I later asked the medical team. Yes, he had “impetigo”. Laughing, I thought, “Do you think I should have known that?” The moral of the story, through the grace of God, I am no longer a germ–a-phobic, and, I did not get “impetigo”. WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?

CHAPTER 6

IS THAT ME?

(WHERE TO BEGIN? - DO UNTO OTHERS!)

As I reflect over each chapter, I see more clearly how each is representative of a stitch that God had woven together into my tapestry of life before the beginning of time. In Chapter 1, HEM CLINGING, I pondered how it came to be that God had me at this particular neighborhood nursing home. I recalled supporting one my neighbor ladies through three different body part replacement surgeries. After her last surgery, she rehabilitated at this particular neighborhood nursing home.

The church I attended conducts a pastoral facilities care outreach group service here at the nursing home, on Tuesday mornings. I encouraged my neighbor to attend one of their services. The service was then conducted by a senior Christian couple I was acquainted with from Sunday school. During my neighbor’s rehabilitation, I would visit and sometimes we would attend these services together.

I gradually became familiar with some of the resident attendees and began to remember their names. Based on suggestions from this church couple who lead the service, I started to help the facility staff shuttle some on the patients from their rooms to the activities room for the services. As I looked around, I began thinking to myself, IS THAT ME?

That is how I met the facility’s Activities Director. Based on my observations, the facilities church service was in very capable, God loving hands. However, I wondered about those patients who could not leave their beds, their rooms. Who was visiting them?

Through my discussions with the Activities Director, it became apparent that there was a need for one-on-one visitation. This stirring in my Spirit prompted many questions in my mind:

How does one go about conducting one-on-one visits?

Were there really those without family, without anyone visiting?

Who cares about these forgotten souls?

Do they know Jesus?

As I looked into the mirror of my conceivable future circumstances, and came face to face with those around me, I thought again, IS THAT ME? As it currently stood with my family relations, at that time, I did not see anyone coming to visit me. My extended family all live in Canada. Maybe a neighbor or two, but realistically, they will probably have departed already.

Maybe I will be reconciled with my children, but maybe not. Possibly the grandkids will come and visit. However, they really do not know who I am at this point and who knows what the future has in store.

And so HEM CLINGING and more DRIVEN BY HIS PURPOSE than ever before, I looked at my mortality and remembered God’s Word to say:

AND AS YE WOULD THAT MEN SHOULD DO TO YOU, DO YE ALSO TO THEM LIKEWISE. Luke 6:31

Initially, the Activities Director assigned me four mostly forgotten souls that had minimal contact with the outside world. Muddling my way through my initial encounters, I found an opportunity with some to read greeting cards received from family and friends over the last year or so. If they had a Bible, I would read it or read from one of the tracts God had me prepare. Sometimes I ask about family pictures near the bed. Mostly they slept peacefully like babies. However, it was astonishing how vexed these sweet souls became when required to take their medication, have a shower or get dressed.

One lady I was assigned is six months younger than I am. She had a stroke. Our daughters and granddaughters are the same age. We, more I, have much to take about. We grew up in the same era, and have similar memories on schooling, music and fades. However, her speech is somewhat impeded and her responses have delays due to her medication.

And then the most, “amazing thing happened”. Walking to the nursing home one evening, shortly after starting this visitation ministry, I was expressing my helplessness to the Lord, my lack of medical, social, and ministerial experience, if you will. Do I sound like Moses?

And I sensed the Lord, with HIS gentle prod, encourage me to begin saying the LORD’s PRAYER aloud with the patients. And so, as I went to each room as if to tuck each one in that night, the greatest blessings began to take place.

When I took each one by the hand, and asked each if they wanted to say the Lord’s Prayer together, three out of four, agreed. As I slowly began praying, OUR FATHER, the small voices would pray either in unison or follow along after I prayed each line.

I had prayed quietly by their beds before, but did not always have clarity, communication or confidence that anyone more than me was praying at that time. In addition, I did not know the state of each one’s relationship with the SAVIOR.

As I left the facility that night, I had greater peace that each of my current charges new something about JESUS. I knew that in spite of mental confusion and lack of clarity, their spirits had communicated with God Almighty, our ABBA FATHER. I also knew that God had not forgotten, THE FORGOTTEN. HE died for each of us.

My God had sent me to express HIS love to them. WHERE TO BEGIN? - DO UNTO OTHERS! HIS WORD never changes, for HE hath said:

I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE. Hebrews 13:5

I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD. AMEN. Matthew 28:20

1THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD GOD IS UPON ME; BECAUSE THE LORD HATH ANOINTED ME TO PREACH GOOD TIDINGS UNTO THE MEEK; HE HATH SENT ME TO BIND UP THE BROKENHEARTED, TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES, AND THE OPENING OF THE PRISON TO THEM THAT ARE BOUND; 2 …; TO COMFORT ALL THAT MOURN; 3TO APPOINT UNTO THEM THAT MOURN IN ZION, TO GIVE UNTO THEM BEAUTY FOR ASHES, THE OIL OF JOY FOR MOURNING, THE GARMENT OF PRAISE FOR THE SPIRIT OF HEAVINESS; THAT THEY MIGHT BE CALLED TREES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, THE PLANTING OF THE LORD, THAT HE MIGHT BE GLORIFIED.

Isaiah 61:1-3

CHAPTER 7

STEPPING OUT IN FAITH

(DO YOU KNOW I AM THIRSTY?)

As I launched on this visitation mission before Thanksgiving that year, “another amazing thing happened”! My son called and through a series of interactions, he and his wife invited me to meet them and the children for Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant we had enjoyed once before for the same holiday.

There were several reserved group sittings through the course of the day. With great anticipation, I joined my son, his bride and my precious grandchildren to include my step granddaughter, outside the restaurant as we awaited our turn. It was truly a treasure, a gift from God, another step in the healing process, interacting with the family. The SPROUTS in the ASHES were continuing to bloom with a little more vibrancy in their color.

As I looked around, I saw a long line of seniors also awaiting their seating and my heart went pitter patter. Please do not misunderstand this. The event of being with my family was the “desire of my heart” that day. But God had created a new love in my heart, a love where I no longer had “leanness of soul”. My heart was also with the seniors, and feeling like a small child, I wanted to go and play with them, too.

As a new year began at the nursing home, a shift occurred. The Activities Director abruptly left. Upon my inquiry of the Facility’s Administrator as to my reporting requirements as a volunteer, I was informed that I would report to her, in the interim. She also said, rather curtly, that I may visit with whomever, whenever, to talk about whatever, as often as I wanted, to whomever would receive me. Say it any way you want, there are 95 residents in this facility, and I HAVE A MISSION, STEPPING OUT IN FAITH, Glory Alleluia!

With each new visit and new introduction to another resident, God dropped clues for me as to additional forms of support and prayer, I may offer. The need to fulfill such a simple task as offering and/or giving someone a drink of water was readily apparent. Oftentimes the residents may not be able to reach their water cup, or they may not have the dexterity and/or cognitive reasoning to grasp the cup and take a sip.

Saying the LORD’s PRAYER with the residence continues to be a blessing. Many of the dementia and Alzheimer’s patients recollect and verbalize the LORD’s PRAYER, as I take their hands, sometimes kneeling next to their wheelchairs, letting the Spirit of God perform HIS perfect work.

If it is not too hot, I push their wheelchair outside as we venture out for a grand explore on our imaginary nature trail, often singing “JESUS LOVES ME”, or “HE’s GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS” or, well, I think you get the picture. We pick flowers from the garden and talk about the colors and texture.

We talk about the Poinciana trees with their small leaves and gigantic seed pods, their large reddish orange flowers in season and their sprawling outstretched branches reminding us of the ARMS of JESUS. Once in a while we will try to listen to the song of a bird, easier said than done, if you can’t hear very well. We may see the scattering of a squirrel, see how full the bird feeder is, or just take a deep breath of FRESH AIR.

And now, twice a week, unless there is a special occasion, I visit over 40 residents, my new family of friends. I spent my last birthday party there. We had party hats, gift bags and sugar free cake with candles. What a great present to myself.

With my son and his wife and grandkids visiting the other grandparents in California this last Christmas, I was privileged enough to spend Christmas day visiting my new friends. Many residents’ families were off visiting their children and grandchildren, also. Other residents had no family at all. I had the best Christmas as Santa’s little elf, distributing gifts.

None of this would have been possible without the supportive actions and offerings of my mobile SENIOR PATROL. Did I mention I no longer have a car? So whatever does not fit in my yellow bag, filled with nursing home ministry supplies, carried in my bicycle basket, must be transported with the help of the SENIOR PATROL. Yes, for both my birthday and Christmas, they were busy shuttling the goodies and me to and fro.

One less mobile neighbor lady made decorative picture boxes for some of the barren walls as Christmas gifts. I found some magnetic bracelets/necklaces that were easy to wear without the fuss of clasps. Others were given small teddy bears, something to cuddle and love. I spent a month wrapping and preparing for the event.

Later that day, the mobile senior lady friend who had shuttled me bearing all kinds of gifts to the nursing home earlier that Christmas morning, took me out for Christmas dinner. Her family also lived a distance away. What a cheer to both our spirits. The day was a gift from God, a blessing in disguise.

As each day has unfolded on this journey here, many small miracles have occurred, like the realization, DO YOU KNOW I AM THIRSTY? And more realization will produce more miracles to come, more miracles as we express HIS love through us to the FORGOTTEN. Those miracles will be the result of someone offering a drink of water, encouraging others in knowing, HE PROMISED:

I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE. Hebrews 13:5;

I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD. Matthew 28: 20

NO, NEVER ALONE!

CHAPTER 8

LOOK WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE!

(IT JUST TAKES ONE TO VISIT ONE!)

That heart ache in the midst of confusion. That misunderstanding that literally brought me to my knees. LOOK WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE!

In Chapter 1, I became immersed in the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. What did Jesus say/do? I compiled verses on HE and me, AFFIRMATIONS, a Bible verse or two for each letter of the alphabet. It was HE and ME! I was being “embraced by the One most dear to” me. I took HIM, GOD, at HIS Word! HEM CLINGING. And so was birthed, “HE and ME from A to Z”, the first Bible booklet or tract in a series of tracts that I did not know were to come. I’M TAKING YOU AT YOUR WORD!

Prompted by God, I opened my front door, as described in Chapter 2. HEM CLINGING and slowly becoming re-lit through God’s Word, I visited with neighbors. Baking cupcakes, cookies and other sweet offerings became the door opener to re-acquaintances and an introduction to those neighbors I did not know. Armed with “HE and ME from A to Z”, the first Bible booklet or tract that included an invitation to receive Jesus Christ as one’s Lord and Savior, I baked and visited, listened and drank tea, and listened again and even prayed with a few souls. I began to feel like Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus, as opposed to Martha, dashing about conquering the world. SITTING AT THE FEET OF JESUS. Empathizing with how lonely, forgotten, and misunderstood many felt, I was relating to the pain of children not calling, not wanting to have anything to do with you. And the listening wisdom of this period birthed a second Bible tract titled, “IS ANYONE OUT THERE?” Despair? NO. Hope? Most definitely! SENIOR TEA TIME!

Chapter 3 found me looking for another avenue to reach the lost for Christ, opportunities to distribute the two topical Bible booklets God had me compile thus far, I started volunteering at hospice, providing caregiver relief. As SPROUTS IN THE ASHES began to emerge, my dear church friend who was under hospice care taught me some very important spiritual lessons. In my fumbling attempt to provide her comfort, read Scriptures, sing hymns, or as the Lord led, I found her ministering to me. On each of my visits, she would have her Bible open to a particular passage she wanted me to read and we would sing hymns together. I had visited the sick and dying before, but I had never watched a saint die. Oh, the peace, the joy and the love of the Lord’s presence that was in that room. I was walking on HOLY GROUND.

As I began to see more clearly SKETCHES ON HIS CANVAS of my life, in Chapter 4, a deeper mission, a multifaceted vision was stirring in me. I began to see that not only homebound, but mobile seniors are invisible in many ways in their respective communities also. I was now being DRIVEN BY HIS PURPOSE. A new responsibility to provide comfort, companionship, compassion, healing, prayer, and solace for senior women, whether mobile or shut in, with dignity, honor, and humility demonstrated through the agape love that comes from God. A metamorphosis was occurring as I was providing caregiver relief and sitting with hospice patients, watching a saint preparing to meet her ABBA FATHER. Hospice volunteering has extended to sit with end of life patients, many who had no family, as well as coming alongside and encouraging the elderly in my community, THE FORGOTTEN? A merciful, patient God was breaking, melting and molding me to HIS image. A God Who never gives up on HIS workmanship! I revisited Ephesians 6, and a third tract was birthed: “ARE YOU READY FOR THE BATTLE”. My reading challenged me to several truths: Jesus BORROWED, Jesus did not accumulate stuff. The second challenge was to be DRIVEN BY HIS PURPOSE. God had a plan for me and I was catching glimpses of the SKETCHES ON HIS CANVAS!

To my surprise in Chapter 5, God’s plan for me at the end of those 40 weeks of meditation was a ten day medical mission’s trip. ON A MISSION! I was an “OTHER” volunteer, having no medical skills, no Spanish language skills, only ordained in the school of hard knocks by my heavenly FATHER. So, my new family of senior neighbors and church friends, the SENIOR PATROL mobilized for A MISSION! They were going on this trip through me. They had a short term purpose and my purpose was coming into focus. And even more so, as the mobile clinics started in the Dominican Republic and the people came and I saw my short term purpose. My purpose was to let HIS light shine! And so, I smiled, not only with my mouth, but with my eyes, with my face, and with whatever form of non-spoken communication, I PRAY, God released through me. Christ in me! I was Christ’s Ambassador. Seeing the contagion of letting HIS light shine! We, the team, were Christ’s Ambassadors, the family of GOD on HIS mission for HIS purpose. WHY? Because I questioned in my heart, WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? And the miraculous gift to me, returning home, a healed germ-a-phobic.

I found myself divinely planted in Chapter 6 at the neighborhood nursing home, asking myself: IS THAT ME? Witnessing how an Almighty God, in my helplessness, was guiding me to express HIS love to those around me, prompting me first with the LORD’s PRAYER, revealing to me that HE had not forgotten, THE FORGOTTEN. HE had died for each of us. Our God had sent me to express HIS love to them. Remembering when questioning, WHERE TO BEGIN? - DO UNTO OTHERS!

Finally we saw in Chapter 7, how God opened the door and allow me to visit with whomever, whenever, to talk about whatever, as often as I wanted, to whomever would receive me. With 95 residents in this facility, I HAVE A MISSION, Glory Alleluia! STEPPING OUT IN FAITH, with each new visit and introduction to another resident, God dropped clues as to how I may support, assist and pray with each, a simple task of offering and/or giving someone a drink of water. And, no longer a germ-a-phobic, I was healed by God. As you can see, there are so many other simple needs that can be fulfilled by not only me, but each of God’s children. IT JUST TAKES ONE TO VISIT ONE! And as a bonus, God has reunited me with the family, a treasure, a gift from God, another step in the healing process. And as I continue to interact with my family, the blooms of those SPROUTS IN THE ASHES now have a more vibrant color. As each day has unfolded on this journey here, many small miracles have occurred. The realization, DO YOU KNOW I AM THIRSTY? This realization will produce more miracles to come. More miracles as we express HIS love through us to the FORGOTTEN. Those miracles, the result of someone offering a drink of water, encouraging others in knowing, HE PROMISED:

I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE. Hebrews 13:5;

I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD. Matthew 28: 20

NO, NEVER ALONE!

What a journey! You see, as Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery to get rid of him, for evil against him, and as Satan put a divide in my family for evil against us, OUR ALMIGHTY GOD meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day:

BUT AS FOR YOU, YE THOUGHT EVIL AGAINST ME; BUT GOD MEANT IT UNTO GOOD, TO BRING TO PASS, AS IT IS THIS DAY, TO SAVE MUCH PEOPLE ALIVE. Genesis 50:20

How many people beside me have been or will be impacted by my personal events, TO SAVE MUCH PEOPLE ALIVE. To save me, alive!

2MY BRETHREN, COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YE FALL INTO DIVERS TEMPTATIONS; 3KNOWING THIS, THAT THE TRYING OF YOUR FAITH WORKETH PATIENCE. 4BUT LET PATIENCE HAVE HER PERFECT WORK, THAT YE MAY BE PERFECT AND ENTIRE, WANTING NOTHING. James 1:2-4

I also know and have come more firmly to believe Romans 8:28:

AND WE KNOW THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD, TO THEM WHO ARE THE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.

What if I had made other choices? What if I had not been, HEM CLINGING? What if I was not SITTING AT THE FEET OF JESUS? Where would the SPROUTS IN THE ASHES be? What if I was not DRIVEN BY PURPOSE or ON A MISSION? What if I had not asked, “IS THAT ME?” What if I had not STEP OUT IN FAITH?

What a journey, and we have only just begun! Our God still promises today in Hebrews 13:5, I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE and in Matthew 28: 20, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD.

IT JUST TAKES ONE TO VISIT ONE!

NO, NEVER ALONE

“I PROMISED”

WILL YOU BE

MY EYES, MY EARS,

MY HANDS, MY ARMS,

MY HEART,

TODAY?

WILL YOU LOVE AS I HAVE LOVED YOU?

CHALLENGE

INASMUCH AS YE DID IT NOT TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE, YE DID IT NOT TO ME. Matthew 25:45

With the upside down triangle of the surplus, aged, baby boomers, the disconnection of the families, geographically and emotionally, daycares for the elderly and nursing homes bursting at the seams, trying to make a profit while paring costs through staff reduction, hence reduced attention to individual needs, who will be there for THE FORGOTTEN, those who have gone before us? Will you be JESUS’ AMBASSADOR FOR THE FORGOTTEN CHILDREN OF GOD AND THOSE WHO STILL HAVE NOT YET MET HIM?

I visit several Alzheimer’s and dementia patients at various stages of their respective diseases. As I have expressed to you before, I am at a loss ministering here, but for the grace of GOD. There are a few patients that immediately upon seeing me, begin to express their unabashed love for me, “I love you,” they will say, eyes wide open, with the innocence of a child, tears stream down their face, with joy, or I am sure, with many conflicting internal signals for them.

Before I leave home, and as I journey to the nursing home, I pray and ask God to let me be whatever HE desires for me to be that day. Let me be YOUR love overflowing to the forgotten. Help me to be YOUR expression of Who you are, Lord. Help me to be YOU.

And one day while still praying at home, I sensed the LORD whisper to me, “Aleda, I have sent to you, these friends at the nursing home, to be MY eyes of love to you, to be MY hands of love to you, to be MY arms of love to you, to be MY heart of love to you, yes, to you. I am telling you, Aleda, that I love you, through them.”

And now when I receive those expressions of love, shared with me from the residence, the tears, the words, the kisses, the hugs, I know that I am receiving those expressions of love from my Lord, Jesus Christ. In those teary eyes, I now see the eyes of Jesus. Jesus, saying, “I love you. I have not forgotten you either, Aleda.”

Ministering after that initial revelation was almost impossible, and humbling. I was in HIS presence as I looked into the aging eyes of my assignments. Today it is not quite as impressing as I move from patient to patient, but it is always there. I smile as I see HIS eyes, feel HIS presence with me, and aside from a few escaping tears, I manage to restrain the floodgates.

One 91 year old gentleman I often visit would be conducting revival tent meetings in the halls and rooms of the nursing home, if the Lord through the healing of his heart, would allow it. The Spirit is willing but the body is weak!

And with the amplification required for him to hear anything, the entire wing of the nursing home gets the Lord’s message loud and clear as he listens to his favorite preachers on the radio or somebody gives him the latest CD on the End Times.

I left a business card with him hoping to make a connection with one of his pastor friends on a particular matter. Several months passed without such a connection, but another connection occurred that I did not anticipate, my 91 year old friend called one evening.

Very politely he asked if I minded that he called in the evenings before retiring so that we might come together before the Lord in prayer. I do not believe it is a good practice to receive calls at home from the nursing home, unless you have been designated an advocate or have made other commitments. However in this case, I reluctantly agreed, knowing that at his age, with almost daily resuscitation, this would not last forever.

And every evening, the phone rings at about 7 pm. With his telephone amplified we discuss the events of the day: was he revived again and hence spent the day resting, or was he preaching the Gospel to whichever divine appointment crossed his path. If he is tired, I will pray, and vice versa, if the day has been unusually busy.

As we pray, we thank the Lord, remembering that neither one of us are promised tomorrow. This could be our last communication before entering HIS Kingdom. And then it is NIGHTY NIGHT. I’m going to miss those calls.

Let Christ break down the barriers of fear and the unknown related to ministering to our senior neighbors whether mobile or homebound, in the hospitals or at a nursing home. Would you let Jesus’ light shine?

I know you can smile, not only with your mouth, but with your eyes, with your face, with whatever form of non-spoken communication, you can express the grace of God. Remember, Christ in you! You are Christ’s Ambassador, letting HIS light shine, being contagious, DRIVEN BY HIS PURPOSE, because you have a purpose?

How about motivating your senior neighbors to a cause, to a purpose? My neighbors, with the help of a few Sunday school classes, a church school class and a Christian ladies club, hand wrote 2200 cards and sent them to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan from Christmas 2010 to Christmas 2011 to include thank you notes for Easter and Thanksgiving.

Challenge and motivate your homebound or mobile senior neighbors today. Grant them the respect, dignity, value, worth, and honor for their life lessons, many children of God, full of life experiences, WISDOM.

Let me challenged you personally, your Sunday school class, your ladies Bible study, your single’s ministry, your Christian women group, your senior’s ministry, your community etc. Through the power of God let us be motivated together through a challenge from the pulpit, one-on-one training visits, short group training sessions, or whatever your group of inspired Ambassadors chooses to use to assume this challenge.

DO YOU QUALIFY? CAN YOU:

•  give someone a drink of water

•  move a tray closer so someone can reach their water glass

•  sit by a bed, listen

•  pray the Lord’s Prayer

•  smile, touch, look into someone’s eyes

•  clean eye glasses

•  read a church bulletin, a book, the BIBLE, greeting cards

•  talk about family pictures and articles on someone’s wall, photo albums

•  walk outside – breath the fresh air, enjoy nature (birds, squirrels, birdfeeders), pick flowers, sing songs (bring extra sunglasses)

•  sing childhood songs, Christian songs, hymns

•  put a picture or decorate walls (nursing home standards)

•  paint finger nails while visiting

•  alert the nursing staff when assistance is needed (they may not be aware)

•  talk about a picture or art on the wall of the facility (pretend you are touring a gallery)

•  visit as a friend for lunch or dinner in the dining room

•  speak up when you notice that hearing aids, eye glasses, or denture appear to be missing and ensure the facility replaces such items

•  be an advocate

•  bring in CD’s with classical music or hymns to listen to together

•  remember birthdays, holidays

•  bring gifts, sweets, sugar-free cookies

•  write cards to family and friends – organize a mailing system

All simple things that one person can do for one person for 5 -30 minutes, once a week. Maybe you do not think that you are capable of one-on-one visits. You can still contact your local nursing home’s Activity Director or Volunteer Coordinator and get involved initially with group activities. Maybe once you are comfortable, you can migrate into one-on-one visits as you become more familiar.

WILL YOU WALK WITH A CHRISTIAN BROTHER OR SISTER TODAY AS THEY PREPARE TO ENTER THE GATES OF HEAVEN?

IT JUST TAKES ONE TO VISIT ONE!

NO, NEVER ALONE!

34THEN SHALL THE KING SAY UNTO THEM ON HIS RIGHT HAND, COME, YE BLESSED OF MY FATHER, INHERIT THE KINGDOM PREPARED FOR YOU FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD:

35FOR I WAS AN HUNGRED, AND YE GAVE ME MEAT: I WAS THIRSTY, AND YE GAVE ME DRINK: I WAS A STRANGER, AND YE TOOK ME IN:

36NAKED, AND YE CLOTHED ME: I WAS SICK, AND YE VISITED ME: I WAS IN PRISON, AND YE CAME UNTO ME.

37THEN SHALL THE RIGHTEOUS ANSWER HIM, SAYING, LORD, WHEN SAW WE THEE AN HUNGRED, AND FED THEE? OR THIRSTY, AND GAVE THEE DRINK? 38WHEN SAW WE THEE A STRANGER, AND TOOK THEE IN? OR NAKED, AND CLOTHED THEE? 39OR WHEN SAW WE THEE SICK, OR IN PRISON, AND CAME UNTO THEE?

40AND THE KING SHALL ANSWER AND SAY UNTO THEM, VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, INASMUCH AS YE HAVE DONE IT UNTO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE MY BRETHREN, YE HAVE DONE IT UNTO ME. MATTHEW 25:34-40

I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE. Hebrews 13:5;

I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD. Matthew 28: 20

CAN YOU EXPRESS GOD’S AGAPE LOVE?

God expresses His love to us through His Holy Spirit.

We receive God’s Holy Spirit after we ask Jesus to forgive us for ALL of our sins, after we receive HIS free gift of mercy and allow HIM to be in control of our lives.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Would you like to ask Jesus to forgive you for ALL of your sins? Pray with me now:

Lord, I am a sinner. I have done things my way and have made a bit of a mess of things. I want to receive your free gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ. I want Your everlasting life. I confess All of my sins to you. I am truly sorry. I can no longer do this on my own. Please forgive me for ALL of my sins. Please come into my life and take over. Please lead and guide me.

Thank you Lord that your Word says that if I confess my sins, you are faithful to forgive me my sins and cleanse me from All unrighteousness. Thank you Lord, for your mercy. Thank you that I am now your child.

And now the Agape love of God can be expressed through you. As His child, this love is expressed through those who have received Christ as their Savior. It is that expression of HIS Agape love through us, His children that can reach out and touch all those around us. Will you be His eyes, His ears, His hands, His arms, His heart, for someone forgotten today?

I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE. Hebrews 13:5;

I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD. Matthew 28: 20

NO, NEVER ALONE!

IT JUST TAKES ONE TO VISIT ONE!

ALEDA J MARSHALL has a Masters of Accounting degree from Nova Southeastern University. As a CPA, she provided tax audit defense and refund opportunities as well as written technical tax law and regulatory responses. She began writing and compiling Bibles tracts in 2008. Aleda accepted Jesus Christ as her LORD and SAVIOR in 1976. It has been a bumpy road, but her God promised to never leave her and never to forsake her. HE promised that HE started a good work in her, and HE will complete it. When not riding her bicycle and visiting the nursing home, Aleda can be found compiling a new Bible tract, assisting and visiting her less able neighbors, or working with the homeless and street ministry. Her favorite endeavor remains the Word of God, studying it and hiding it in her heart, letting her God cover her with His feathers, and taking refuge under HIS wings which is presently in Fort Myers, Florida.