Alzheimer's Support Ministry

Pastor: Rick McLean 818-909-5500 
At our last meeting...

The Watson family led us in a time of worship.  Pastor Rick challenged us to live the "One Anothers."  If we have a loving relationship with Christ, then we will be able to love others.  (Phil.2;3,4) 
Jesus showed the ultimate example of love because he was compassionate to the sick and down trodden, to women, and to the Samaritans.  Why should we live out the principles of love?   It is a great testimony to the world and glorifies  God.

 


 

Resources

  1. Cup and Glory free audio book  "I was reading my Bible this week and ran across a note I’d written in the margin.   It says, “Cup & Glory.”    It’s from the book, “The Cup and The Glory” by Greg Harris, (TMS Seminary prof.) The ‘cup’ of suffering is linked to the ‘glories’ to come, and this theme is traced through the Scriptures.  Dr. Harris was motivated to study this subject as a result of his own suffering.  I have jotted these two words multiple times over the years next to verses containing this theme.  Contrary to popular belief, it seems that the path to glory is laced with suffering, but the benefits are amazing." L.P. (You can download Chapters 1-4 for free here: Cup and Glory free audio book.
  2. Secrets to Endurance   "How can we be enduring people? How can we handle the trouble of life, the trials of life, the vicissitudes and struggles of life, the pain of life?  It's a crucial question. Trouble comes to all of us. The longer we live the more trouble we have. And not all of us endure it triumphantly but all of us have resources to be able to and those resources are unfolded to us in this great text that is before us."  John MacArthur's sermon on 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 audio or text version:  Secrets to Endurance  
  3. Elisabeth Elliot's dementia journey  (article at worldmag.com)  "Since the onset of dementia about a decade ago, the best-selling and widely known Christian author communicates mostly through slight hand gestures and facial expressions. For everything else, there’s Lars Gren, her husband of 34 years. He and two caregivers attend to her daily needs..."  for an update on her status, click here: Elisabeth Elliot


 

May the God who gives ENDURANCE and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Romans 15:5–7


"In my warm bed
I want to stay,
Wishing responsibility
would go away.
My husband sleeps on
calm and sweet,
I brace myself
the day to meet.

O Lord, give me strength
to do Thy will,
A love for You and others,
please instill.
I am likely
to want my own,
But let Your love
through me be shown.

Give me the strength
to always obey,
Even when tired
at the end of the day.
Provide the energy
to serve and give,
Reflecting a heart
where the Savior does live.

O Lord, give me strength
to speak with grace,
With words that fit
the time and place.
Prone to pride
and harshness of speech,
Help me to encourage
all I reach.

O Lord, fill me up
with pure love for You,
Honoring Your name
in all I do.
Fill me up with
the Fountain of Love,
So I flow
with grace from above.
"
Titus2minutes.com

ENDURANCE: It is the spirit which can bear things, not simply with resignation, but with blazing hope. It is the quality which keeps a man on his feet with his face to the wind. It is the virtue which can transmute the hardest trial into glory because beyond the pain it sees the goal.”
― Anonymous,  Endurance For The Journey




 

Perseverance Means
ENDURANCE
to the End

 

Perseverance means ENDURANCE
Regardless of the encumbrance.
You remain standing,
come what may,
Looking at Jesus Christ-
the Way.


It does not only mean starting
But continuing
to finishing
The Race of Grace
set before us,
That race that began
from the Cross

---Anon

Our Theme for MARCH is ENDURANCE.
 
 

Our NEXT MEETING IS:
Saturday, March 29th

9:00-11:00am
130 Room

 

 
We look forward to a devotional time around God's word, worship in song, and breakfast as a group.  Then we have a time of sharing for updates, needs and prayer time. Our Loved Ones are welcome to join us for all or part of the meeting but volunteers are available to assist them on a walk, on a walk or in the next room during the sharing time if desired.
 

 
A light breakfast with healthy options will be served.  If you would like to contribute, contact Sarah Dougherty at doughertyfam8@gmail.com   Thank you!
Giving Attention to Prayer
 

Sandy D. - I'm needing help at least 3x a week, 4 hrs/day, showering and dressing my mom.   I've been very fatigued and in some physical pain. I would appreciate prayers from the group in what options I have.

Laurie P. - Health issues including headaches, and blood pressure. 

Becky S. - Stent was added for artery blockage.  Needs rest, strength and medication balanced as she recovers. Praises for God's perfect timing and oversight.


"It is with a humbled desperation
Do I come to You
Seeking Your strength
to be mine
For I have none of my own left
With the silences in life
expectations and desires
not fulfilled by those around
so that Your fulfillment
and satisfaction would come
fully satisfying,
fully appreciated
of Your comfort, love, and hope

You have called me on this journey
to be faithful
to follow obediently
to trust You fully
because You are trust-worthy
You do not disappoint
You have ways in making
everything well
according to Your timing and plan

there are things in this world
that I do not understand
things I have yet to see
people that i do not understand
there are too many uncertainties
and uncontrolled elements
I would be too proud if I say
"I don't need You"
I would be too stupid
if I never asked for Your help

so I'm asking
for all contentment in You
for full submission to Your will
for wholly trust into Your plans
for my life
for peace
in falling into Your sovereignty

may my words and prayers
ever be true
may my heart
ever rest secure
in You"
Posted by Singing Tigger


In His Time"  by Stephen C. Weber
 
Father, You're a compassionate, all-powerful, on-time God. No need  in our life is overlooked, overwhelming, or overly difficult for You to meet. You use the good, the bad, and the complex matters that we sort through daily to test our faith and grow our ENDURANCE. These challenges that are continually before us compel us to look to the Scriptures for spiritual understanding and sustaining power. I will trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation, in the midst of the wait. My heart seeks after You, my Lord and my God, for You have cared for me all the days of my life and You will continue to do so, for You promise to never leave me nor forsake me. Amen.

used with permission:
http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/page/9/
 


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Joy in the Journey

a word from our Pastor...
John MacArthur 


By faith [Abraham] lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the  city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Heb. 11:9-10).

"Following God’s call isn’t always easy. He expects us to trust Him explicitly, yet doesn’t ask our advise on decisions that may impact us dramatically. He doesn’t tell us His specific plans at any given point in our lives. He doesn’t always shelter us from adversity. He tests our faith to produce ENDURANCE and spiritual maturity–tests that are sometimes painful. He makes some promises that we’ll never see fulfilled in this life."

Similarly, being heavenly minded gives you the patience to continue working for the Lord when things get tough. It’s the best cure I know for discouragement or spiritual fatigue. That’s why Paul says to set your mind “on the things above, not on the things that are on earth” (Col. 3:2). If your mind is set on heaven, you can ENDURE whatever happens here.

John MacArthur Archives- Focusing on Heaven

 

Run with Perseverance
Consume the Right Fuel

“… and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
HEBREWS 12:1

Running with perseverance sounds easy:  put one foot in front of the other and keep going.  But how do you keep going when the journey gets difficult?
I know myself as an athlete – as a starting pitcher – my ultimate desire was to throw a nine inning complete game.  In order to persevere through nine innings, I put myself through intense ENDURANCE training.  There were many days, weeks, and months of preparation to strengthen and build my body to a point where it could ENDURE.

Then on game day, my pregame meal was so important because I needed to consume the right combination of carbohydrates and protein that my body would need for an optimal performance.  In order for me to ENDURE, I needed to consume the right fuel.

On a much larger scale for me, running with perseverance through the journey of suffering required the same preparation and consumption of the right fuel in order for me to ENDURE emotionally and spiritually.  My fuel?  The Word of God.


For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us,
so that through ENDURANCE and the encouragement of the Scriptures
we might have hope.
ROMANS 15:4

The Scriptures supply the fuel for ENDURANCE through life.  The Word of God is more than ink on paper.  God speaks to us, changes us, and encourages us through it.
 
For the word of God is living and active.
HEBREW 4:12
 
As a young Christian, I was under the teaching of wonderful pastors in Southern California who taught the Word of God.  In those early years, I hungered for and devoured God’s Word.  I had no idea how the consumption of God’s Word would prepare and strengthen me for what was to come on my life journey.   I know I would not have been able to ENDURE without it.
The Word of God – Don’t journey through life without it!


If your law had not been my delight, I would h
ave perished in my affliction.
PSALM 119:92
 
On the journey with you,
Dave Dravecky


 

Participants in an Incredible Journey

With the Winter Olympics now behind us, we are left with reminders of incredible journeys of its participants.  I am left with the awesome reminder that I am, in a way, also a participant in a current journey of my own. 

Many times, I have been thrown out of my comfort zone to join those who are currently in the throws of what appear to be very uncomfortable circumstances that tax our ENDURANCE.

What has it taken me to bear and ENDURE in my journey?  I am still in training for that Grand Olympics.

Training for this grand event is an accumulation of life events that build stamina and ENDURANCE.  These smaller events, trial runs, practice, can be emotionally and physically exhausting.  Yet they are an expected part of training if we are to reach that final goal.

ENDURANCE is what we have to go through in life if we are going to get through it.

The assumption is that life is hard and there is the eminent danger of growing weary and falling away. Hebrews 3:14  "We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first."  Matt.24:13 "But he who stands firm to the end will be saved."

Hebrews 12:1-4  " Let us fix our eyes on the author and perfecter of our faith."
There is a saying that is true "When the going gets tough, the tough get going."  Keeping it all together and buckling down for the long haul, holding on tight as the dramas of life toss us from one event to another.  The Greek word for ENDURANCE, "hupomeno" is an abiding under  or bearing up courageously with patience.

What exactly is ENDURANCE then?   It is correlated with physical activity, to run, to ENDURE hardship Heb.12.  It's the defense of this Grand Olympic life's events.

It is standing firm without giving in while all odds are coming at you.
It is using strength to continue despite pain and fatigue.  It is the ability to maintain our pace throughout life so we have ENDURANCE to finish.  We have been sent to start a race by God and he expects us to finish that race.
How does he expect us to run this race?  How does he expect us to pace ourselves?  What kind of training and preparations are needed?

We run this race with the strength that God supplies, Eph.6:10.  So lets be reminded to put out great effort to ENDURE to the end.

"It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy." Rom.916    Our ability to ENDURE is a gift from God.  Our ability to serve is by the strength he provides,  I Pet.4:11.

It can be very emotionally and physically exhausting caring for ourselves and a loved one.  The need to refuel daily is a necessity.  Daily prayer keeps our hearts and minds open and toned.  Daily reading of God's Word helps us to remember God's goal for us.

Life, being, the ultimate challenge is an arduous journey and we need all the spiritual strength we can get.

We need to keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher, if we are to run with ENDURANCE.   He knows the way.  He sets the pace.
"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm, let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." I Cor.15:58

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."  Gal.6:9


 

----rJs----


 

 

 
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