Love Notes Newsletter #67 - Happy New Year 2009

"Love Notes" Newsletter #67 - Happy New Year 2009

Dear Friends and MinistryPartners, Sandy and I want to wish you all a very happy and prosperous New Year! We are going to be the Leaders of NC Kairos Torch # 2 to be heldat a youth development center in Butner on May 1-3, 2009. We are in the process of calling a team of 25-30 people from local churches and will hold five training sessions stating Feb. 28. Please help us in prayer. Also, please continue to pray for our twins, Adam & Matt, as they deal with progressing Muscular Dystrophy. They hope to start new jobs soon that will be physically less challenging.

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As we enter into this New Year, we suggest that it is time to raise the bar in your ministry activities at the nursing homes. During the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas, many friends, relatives, and volunteer groups make special visits and presentations. Now that the holiday activity has ceased, it is now more important than ever to come along side the residents and be their "Faithful Friends". You will find some Christian New Years Resources at Annie's New Year Page.

Valentines Day, February 14, 2009, is an ideal time to show the residents how much both you and God love them. Visit our Valentines Day Page.

There you will find several examples of Devotionals and Cards that can be printed and handed out, as well as links to other useful websites. Make sure to read your group "The Father's Love Letter."

Sinceit is Super Bowl XLIII time, try this Devotional on God's Super Bowl at yournext meeting. Print some extra copies to hand out during your presentation.

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We would like to highlight some happenings from our web site this past month.

1.) We are helping a young man in Michigan make a nursing home ministry presentation at his church. He plans to start a group like Faithful Friends.

2.) We have been requested by someone at a nearby church in Raleigh to help them in developing a Nursing Home Ministry.

3.) We received this encouraging message from our December Drawing Winner:

I have been recovering from brain surgery and have not been able to check my e-mail. It was a nice surprise this morning to find this waiting for me. I have a deep love for the elderly. I used to be an Activity Directorin a Nursing Home and it is my prayer that God is going to open a door that I will be able to do that again soon.
I took a break to become a stay at home Mom when my second son was born almost 15 years ago now. I was planning to return to work when he started school, however God had other plans for me. He blessed me with my third son. I have had several health problems that has prevented be from returning to work. Most recently I have been suffering with seizures that prevented me from driving.My Church has a nursing home ministry on Thursdays and a couple of ladies worked out transportation for me to get there. I really have missed working with them.I have always loved the elderly so much. They are the sweetest people and so easy to love. They have so much to offer if people would only take the time to listen. I have so many sweet memories that I will always will cherish of the many people that has crossed my path in working ina nursing home.
As I am typing this. I hear a voice that is telling me "you see, you see I told you so." By this I mean that I have been praying that I would be healed through my surgery and that God will open a door for me to return to work and let me use my love for the elderly.Your e-mailgave me a faith uplift. God is so GOOD! Maybe this is his way of talking to me!
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Be sure to enter our January Monthly Drawing.We have had only 8 entries to date andwill be adding a DVD about Martin Luther as a bonus to our subscribers. You may enter on our Home Page:

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Be sure to watch the shot video on our home page about Clowning at the Nursing Home.

Here is a great devotional on the aging process that we found on Our Daily Bread.

Here is one from The Upper Room that may be useful.

Looking for a Hymn? Try the Hymnary Web Site.

Here is a New Years Hymn form the Cyberhymnal.

'Love Notes" Newsletter #68 - March 2009 - Happy Easter

DearFriends andMinistryPartners, Sandy and I are so thankful for all your thoughts and prayers. Please continue to pray for our Kairos Torch Ministry. We have just finished our first Team Meeting with the 25 Volunteers that God has provided. Also, please pray that many of senior friends will find salvation during this Easter Season. Our twin sons continue to struggle with the onset of Muscular Dystrophy.

As webegin the Lenten Season and approach Palm Sunday and then Easter Sunday, we would like to encourage you to use this special time to focus the attention of the residents on the Cross of Jesus Christ.
Our Easter Season Web Page has information and resources for Lent, Palm Sunday, and Easter Sunday.

The residents will certainly appreciate a service with elements of the rich Christian Tradition in which they were raised. Consider bringing in a large wooden cross and giving out fresh palm items on Palm Sunday.

Wehave added two Good Friday Handouts that were supplied by Tom McCormick. You can print them out at:

This is an appropriate time to consider using a Christian Hymn as the basis of a short Easter Sermon. Check out our Special Web Page to help you in this regard. You may want to consider using the hymn "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross".

We suggest that you utilize the book The Final Week of Jesus by Max Lucado in your program

Make sure to register for our February Drawing. As of today, there have beenonly five entries. Just go to our home pagesign up. As always, our "Love Notes" subscribers receive an extra resource, which for February will be a New Hard Cover copy of the Large Print KJV Seniors Devotional Bible. ( a $60 Value!) We will extend the Drawing to Midnight March 3rd.

Our January Drawing Winner was Rick Helms and here is the information he shared.

"From Sept 2008 thru December 9th 2008 I have had to have 4 heart procedures, which includes a triple-by-pass, a heart attack and then 2 stints. All during this time God was telling me to start a nursing home ministry at a local nursing home. Since then God has blessed me beyond words. I\'ve seen 2 people saved, assisted in sending three people home to meet the Lord; and several opportunities to teach and learn from the elderly. One thing the nursing home has done is to make me more appreciative of live, and that life more abundantly is through loving and not money. When you notified me about my winning January prizes the first thought that came to mind was another opportunity to serve and give my nursing home more. I will share these item with my little family at the home. Please continue to pray for my ministry, and that God will keep providing opportunities to serve Him.

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We would like to highlight Our Favorite Evangelistic Resources, many of which can be printed and handed out during one of your services.

Our all time favorite is "I Stand at the Door and Knock."

"Love Notes" Newsletter #69 - Happy Easter 2009

DearFriends andMinistryPartners,

Sandy and I are so thankful for all your thoughts and prayers for our Florida friends daughter, Kristin, who went to be with the Lord on Sunday at 7:10 PM. She had several days of comfort and peace with her family, dog,and friends at a Hospice facility near her home. Please continue to pray for her family as they go through this difficult time. More information is at:

We ask that you also continue to pray for our twin sons battle with Muscular Dystrophy and for the upcoming Kairos Torch Retreat to be held at CA Dillon Youth Development Center in Butner,NC on May 1-3. We have been helping to prepare 25 team members for this walk of faith.

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We again want to emphasize using this special time to focus on the salvation that comes from Christ alone. We have updated our Easter Season Web Page which has information and resources for Lent, Palm Sunday, and Easter Sunday.

Our prayer is that many seniors will receive salvation through Christ during this special time.

We would like to highlight Our Favorite Evangelistic Resources, many of which can be printed and handed out during one of your services.

Our all time favorite is "I Stand at the Door and Knock."

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Review this Devotion on the Hymn "And Could it be."

Take a look at these Hymn Devotionals:

And these appropriate Daily Bread Devotionals:

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You might want to include "The Final Week of Jesus" by Max Lucado in your program

We would also like to call your attention to a new DVD that should be useful in a Bible Study for the residents. It is "Mature Hearts - Scriptural Promises for Our Beloved Seniors" by Sandy Dunbar. We will be adding this resource to our April and May Drawings. More information is at:

"Love Notes" Newsletter #69 - Happy Easter 2009

DearFriends andMinistryPartners,

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Our prayer is that many seniors will receive salvation through Christ during this special time.

We would like to highlight Our Favorite Evangelistic Resources, many of which can be printed and handed out during one of your services.

Our all time favorite is "I Stand at the Door and Knock."

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Review this Devotion on the Hymn "And Could it be."

Take a look at these Hymn Devotionals:

And these appropriate Daily Bread Devotionals:

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You might want to include "The Final Week of Jesus" by Max Lucado in your program. It is available at:

"Love Notes" Newsletter #70 - May 2009

Dear Friends and Ministry Partners,
As Spring is emerging this year inRaleigh, we stand in awe of God's Beauty and Presence. Although we miss our 23 year stay in Florida, the Lord is continuing to make it abundantly clear that this is where he wants to use us. Please continue to pray forthe Kairos Torch Retreat that Sandy and I are leading starting tomorrow at 4 PM and going until 5 PM on Sunday. 25 volunteers will be ministering to twenty young men at nearby CA Dillon Youth Development Center
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The 58th Annual National Day of Prayer will take place Thursday, May 7, 2009. Millions will unite in prayer as thousands of events will take place from coast to coast. Please visit our special web page for ideas and resources.

The theme for this year is "Prayer... America's Hope" and is based on the verse from Psalm 33:22 which states: "May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you."
Beth Moore will join Shirley Dobson to lead the nation in prayer as the 2009 Honorary Chairman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force.
Please visit the Official National Day of Prayer Web Site.

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Mothers Day will be celebrated this year on May 10th. We will be celebrating Mother's Day in both our own homes and families, and also during our regular visits to the nursing homes. We have highlighted National Nursing Home Week, which begins on Mother's Day and continues for 7 days. Since a majority of the residents we visit are mothers, it is an ideal time to honor them and make them the focus our attention.
Traditionally, Proverbs 31 is the chapter in the Bible most often quoted at this time. Visit our new Mothers Day Celebration Page for devotions, links, and resources you may find useful in your presentations.Memorial Day is celebrated this year on May 25.

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National Nursing Home Week will be celebrated this year on May 10-16, 2009. This is a great time to start planning some activities during this period. Please visit our Special Web Page that has a link to the official web site for this holiday. You will find many suggestions and links to help celebrate this special time both with the residents and in your community.

Also, during the prior week, May 3rd-10th, the Hugs for Health Foundation is celebrating National Hug Holiday Week. The focus is on the health of residents in nursing homes, most of whom could use a good hug. Their official Web Page is at:

Be a "Hugger for Jesus" during your next visit.
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We would like to share our Memorial Day Page which has some Online Resources that may be helpful in a Memorial Day Presentation

At most facilities we have visited, there are usually a few residents who have served in the Armed Forces. Also, there are many of us who have lost friends and family in the active duty of serving our country. This is a great time to remember how we obtained the freedom to worship our Lord today and to pray for those brave souls who are still protecting that right. Bring small flags for the residents and tap into their huge reserve of prayer power.
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"Love Notes" Newsletter #71 - May / June 2009

Dear Friends and Ministry Partners,

Summer has arrived and Sandy and I are as busy as ever. Last weekend, we were honored to attend our grandaughter Emily's Pre-School Graduation and her annual Ballet recital. We continue to mentor young men at CA Dillon Youth Development Center, and Larry has been active in helping with the Men's Ministry at our Church. Of course, the nursing home ministry still remains near and dear to our hearts. Larry will attending the annual CFCCM Meeting in Ridgefield, NC from September 29th to October 2nd.

We have an urgent prayer request for a special friend in VA named George, who is battling prostrate Cancer. On Friday, June 12th, he goes for an evaluation by a new facility. Please join us in prayerthat the staffwill make an accuratediagnosis and determine an effective courseof treatment. Also, please pray for a fast and complete recovery.

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This year we were again both blessed and humbled to be interviewed on radio during National Nursing Home Week. George Carden of UNI News interviewed us over the phone. He then sends selected portions of the interview to a large number of Christian Radio Stations.

We sent news releases to many local media and our church, andour church secretary published itin our Sunday Worship Folder. We urge you to use this special day and National Grandparents Day to promote nursing home ministry and your local group.

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Father's Day is celebrated the third Sunday in June each year. We would like to share some Online Resources on our Father's Day Page that may be helpful in a presentation.

At most facilities we have visited, we have not found there to be a large number of fathers. Because of this, we suggest that you review the Text Version of a Father's Love Letter and use all or part of it in your presentation. It is a love letter from your heavenly Father and should have a powerful effect on the residents.

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The Fourth of July is a great time to celebrate our country, our heritage, and our freedom. We would like to share some Online Resources that may be helpful in a presentation.

At most facilities we have visited, there are usually a few residents who have served in the Armed Forces. Bring small flags for the residents, play and sing lots of patriotic songs, and use their huge reserve of prayer power to pray for our nation. You may find some additional resources on our September 11 Tribute Page.