It has been given a bad rap, but I’m just crazy about it, particularly as a tool to help.

When I choose to let my guard down to a level at which I am comfortable, I find that people are almost always helped.  At those times, I don’t tell them what I believe; instead I tell them what I doubt.  Eight times out of ten they agree, usually accompanied with a sigh of relief.

Who in trouble wants to hear what I believe?  My stridently held beliefs can become destructive. They may only produce guilt because I set the bar too high particularly for myself.

It is my job to lighten the load on others by talking about my unbelief. 

And when I do, they invariably thank me, and begin to see some hope,

And when I see them the next day, they usually look calmer.

And the two of us wind up having a real relationship.

A relationship that is a little less vertical and a skoosh more horizontal.

 Chaplain Larry Limbaugh

Signature Healthcare of Gainesville

chaplain.gainesville@signaturehealthcarellc.com

Now That’s Fast

“How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.” James 4:14 (NLT)

We spin around the sun on this big blue ball at just over 67,000 miles per hour. Now that is fast!

Everything about this life is fast; fast food, fast oil changes, fast cars, fast-acting medicines, fast internet, fast trains, and fast planes. Rush, rush, rush is the beat of our life sometimes. The quote above from the book of James speaks to the temporariness of our lives. We really aren’t promised tomorrow. We only have today . . . and it is good to be reminded from time to time about the importance of making every day we have count.

I was made to realize again, how quickly my life could have ended recently on the way to work during one of our recent snows. My truck began to spin out of control on a sheet of ice and I had about 15 seconds to pray for help. Thank God he answered my quick prayer! I missed every hazard and came to rest in a ditch, unscathed. I quickly assessed my vehicle and then drove out of the ditch. It could have been a very different ending. It reminded me again that as we rush along in this journey that we must make every day count.

Make sure your friends and family know how much you care. Leave a legacy of good things. You never know when this fast life will be over. I hope you will make the best of your time. We ask God for all of these good things for all of us today. Amen.

Rev. Charles Thornburg, MAC, BAH, ASM Chaplain Development/Urban/ Post-Acute Chaplain Director 502-389-0366 Cthornburg@shccs.com

Pray Your Way and receive uplifting messages throughout the work week by texting Endless Hope to 24587

ACCESSIBLE

“Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there” Psalm 139:7-8 (NRSV)

In our faith, we believe that God’s Spirit is always around us, always accessible. That kind of accessibility is what makes God’s presence so comforting.

While we can’t be accessible to anyone else 24/7 the way God is, we can convey a more comforting, assuring presence by being as accessible as possible to those who need us. Accessibility means being available and also being mentally present when we are with someone.

Accessibility develops stronger connections than being nice or charismatic because what we do speaks more loudly than what we say.

Woody Allen said, “Eighty percent of success is showing up.”

Mark Mills, Chaplain / Director of Spirituality

Signature HealthCARE of Warren 2473 North Rd., NE Warren, OH 44483 (330)-372-2251

“Wait on the Lord and be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say on the Lord.” Psalm 27:14

Are you seeking guidance concerning some new opportunity that has arisen, or guidance to help you? I really like the encouragement that Charles Stanley gave in a recent devotion that says; “The process of seeking guidance is often slow, so we often must wait. Running ahead can be a mistake. The omniscient Sovereign of the universe acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. You who seek direction will receive; that’s a promise!”

“Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you. For each one who asks receives; and he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, if his son asks a loaf, will he give him a stone?” Matthew 7:7-9

Dear Lord, we ask that You help us to ask You, seek Your face and then wait for You to open the door that You want us to enter. Help us to never decide what is best for us before we ask You. Thank you. Amen

Prayers & Blessings,

Carol Harrison, CNA

Spirituality Pillar-Operations Director

HomeTown Segment Support

Signature Consulting Service, LLC

charrison@signaturehealthcarellc.com

Good folk have worried themselves into a case of the nervous fantods trying to figure out the path they are meant to take in life.

“What is God’s will for me?” we fretfully ask.

For the longest time, I couldn’t catch even a sighting of what I thought was my life path.  It was as scarce as a sit down interview with Big Foot.

Now it is as clear as a three D flat screen.

I see the plan for my life plainly now. 

You might want to take a pen and scribble this down; here is the answer.

Drum roll please.

“The obstacle is the way.”

The problems in our lives are the plan for our lives.

Simply name your biggest problem then put your life into fixing it for yourself and others.

 Chaplain Larry Limbaugh

Signature Healthcare of Gainesville

chaplain.gainesville@signaturehealthcarellc.com

SACRED SIX: TEAMWORK MESSAGE

1 Corinthians 12:18 – “But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.”

This is my favorite time of the year. Baseball is back. I am an avid Cincinnati Reds fan. I know, that we are not on top of the heap when it comes to winning, but at least right now we are in first place just like all the rest of the teams.

But the one reason I enjoy baseball is because it is the ultimate team sport. For a perfect double play to happen the shortstop and the second baseman have to work together to have a successful outcome. Or, when there is a play at the plate, the outfielder has to throw it perfectly to the relay person, who instantly has to turn and throw it to the catcher who then has to apply the tag to get the runner out.

Notice, the shortstop doesn’t say, “I’m tired Mr. Second Baseman. You come over here and protect my side of the field as well as your side of the field.” Or, the center fielder doesn’t hear from the left fielder or the right fielder at the same time, “We are going into the dugout and get a snack and you stay there and cover both of our sides of the field.” Each player, no matter what position they play, has to not only do their part, but also they need to help out each other.

The same can be said, at least I believe, when it comes to Managers helping nurses, nurses helping aides, aides helping housekeeping, housekeeping helping maintenance, maintenance helping dietary, and so on and so on. We all need to work together in order for our facility to run as an efficient and productive team.

So be willing to help each other. Work as a team. We are placed together, as a body, to work together fluently and productively. And if you need a good example, watch a baseball game, even if it is the Cincinnati Reds.

Chaplain Mark E. Brodbeck

Signature HealthCARE of Coshocton
100 S. Whitewoman Street
Coshocton, OH 43812
(740) 622-1220

Are We Online with GOD

Pray without ceasing, (1 Thessalonians 5:17)  

In our world today, most of us are very familiar with what it means to be “online”.  Oxford Dictionary defines the word “online” as such; “while so connected or under computer control”.

If we, as children of GOD, conduct our lives every day, “while so connected or under GOD’s control”, what a difference it would make in our lives. If we stay connected to the Holy Spirit, GOD’s internet, and never turn off our “Hotspot” we will be more prepared and our actions and reactions will be more loving, more thoughtful and more resourceful.

We have all experienced those frustrating moments when we lose our connection to the Internet………..or possibly we are one of those that only turn it on when we need to use it.                                  Sometimes that creates a real delay!

What a privilege it is to have continuous access to GOD. How do we do that? Through unceasing prayer. I think about my computer screen or my phone. If I turn away for a few seconds too long……………it shuts me down, locks my screen and disconnects me. Then I must log back in.

All that GOD requires is for us to be consistent in prayer. You ask the questions, “Oh, is that all? and “How can I possibly pray all the time?” Well, sometimes it is in our thoughts, other times it is on our lips. As long as our brain is running, we have the capability to be online with GOD. If we can make a conscious effort to pick up our phone continuously throughout the day to check our e-mail, FB, etc, then what excuse do we really have?

GOD is so good! He loves us so much! He longs for us to commune with Him. He is always there.  Aren’t we glad His internet never goes down!

Gina Bowden, Chaplain

Chautauqua Rehab & Nursing Center

chaplain.chautauqua@signaturehealthcarellc.com

Falling Madly In Love With God

“David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.” 1 Chronicles 28:20

Here is what I have recently discovered – a tip on how to fall back in love with God in one impossibly difficult step.

When I am afraid to confront fears . . . fears which usually in turn involve people . . . I sometimes turn sour. I’m not really sure why this is except perhaps that in my case, facing fear is exactly what God is calling me to do because he knows I need the most help with that very thing.

Of all the callings in the world, this seems to be the one that scares the bojangles out of me. But it is through that fear where I somehow come to see God better and to love God more for how He helps me through those fears. No matter how difficult, or how afraid I might be, he always manages to give me the exact amount of courage I need.

And so I swallow hard, nail my shoes to the sticking place, and face those monsters. And for that, I love him all the more.

Dive into your true fear and fall madly in love with God all over again.

Chaplain Larry Limbaugh

Signature Healthcare of Gainesville

chaplain.gainesville@signaturehealthcarellc.com

“David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.” 1 Chronicles 28:20 

Here is what I have recently discovered – a tip on how to fall back in love with God in one impossibly difficult step.

When I am afraid to confront fears . . . fears which usually in turn involve people . . . I sometimes turn sour. I’m not really sure why this is except perhaps that in my case, facing fear is exactly what God is calling me to do because he knows I need the most help with that very thing.

Of all the callings in the world, this seems to be the one that scares the bojangles out of me. But it is through that fear where I somehow come to see God better and to love God more for how He helps me through those fears. No matter how difficult, or how afraid I might be, he always manages to give me the exact amount of courage I need.

And so I swallow hard, nail my shoes to the sticking place, and face those monsters. And for that, I love him all the more.

Dive into your true fear and fall madly in love with God all over again.

Chaplain Larry Limbaugh
Signature Healthcare of Gainesville
chaplain.gainesville@signaturehealthcarellc.com

“There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.” 1 Samuel 2:2 KJV

Have you tried everything possible to solve a certain problem in your life? Someone may have given you the advice….

“Don’t leave any rock unturned!” You might feel as though you’ve been wading in waters searching for that perfect rock and just when you reached down to flip over the solution the waters rise and you feel as if you are going to drown.

If we could only learn to stop searching and turning over stones and start standing on the highest, most solid, and unique rock there is giving us leverage to see. Our problems wouldn’t look as murky and the solution would be much more clear.

God is the only rock that can never be turned over. He can never be moved in raging waters and is the only one that will never wear down or wash away. He is the most unique rock we’ll ever find. None other beside thee compares.

HE is the solution! Have a Tall Tuesday standing firm upon the Rock!

Melanie Kern
melmelkern89@gmail.com