Chaplain’s Corner

10 Aug Hope in Suffering

To say that the entire world is suffering right now is not an understatement.  Hundreds of thousands have been affected in various ways by the pandemic that has taken over life as we know it.  The future will look different for some because of what is happening across the globe right now.  That is the reality.

Uncertainty, anxiety, and fear have the potential to overwhelm us every day, if we let them.  Those are natural feelings and we cannot pretend like they don’t exist.  But if we stop there and allow them to rule over us, we are letting the enemy gain a foothold in our life.  This enemy will use every opportunity to steal, kill, and destroy, and fear is one of his favorite tools.

So what if instead we take to heart the Bible’s teaching on fear?  “Fear not.”  What if we live knowing that we are not alone in any of this.  What if we choose to “lean not on our own understanding” or our own strength (Proverbs 3:5), but into the One who has already overcome (John 16:33)?

And what if we instead embraced the hardships of life as an opportunity to grow and know Jesus better?  Is it possible we could even become more like him along the way?  That is the opportunity we’re facing right now.

Paul wrote in his letter to the Church in Rome, “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hears through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”  -Romans 5:3-5

 

15 Jun Hope While Grieving

Because grief is a human experience, no one is immune.  It doesn’t respect people and can strike at any time.  It’s not something any of us want to experience, but we’ll all have to endure it at some point in our lives.  We experience grief when someone we love dies, when our dream doesn’t materialize, and when we move from one season to the next in our lives.  And we often grieve when we look back on the things that could have been:  Experiences we never got to have; people we didn’t get to love; dreams we failed to accomplish…

Nobody wants to grieve, but everybody has to.  If we don’t grieve, we’ll be stuck in the same sadness for the rest of our lives, hoping and praying that the loss we feel, can somehow be replaced.

The shortest verse in Scripture is found in John’s Gospel and it simply says, “Jesus wept.”  John 11:35.  This comes after Jesus was told that his dear friend Lazarus died.  Was He grieving the loss of his friend?  Was He being empathetic toward Mary and Martha, Lazarus’ sisters?  We may never fully understand the full context, but we can be assured that our Lord was compassionate and experienced sadness while He walked the earth.  This two-word verse seems to give us permission to grieve.  After all, our Lord and Savior did, and He knew the outcome of the story.

04 Jan Happy New Year!

The Chaplain team at High Desert Hospice would like to wish you Happy New Year.  We pray that 2021 will be a year filled with hope, blessing and great expectation!

We pray that you take many opportunities to breathe deeply and enjoy the sunrise!

 

14 Dec An Advent Blessing

As we find ourselves in the midst of this unusual Advent season, I am reminded of a few things.  The four weeks of Advent are thematically focused around Hope, Peace, Love and Joy, with some variation depending on denominational tradition.

These four words have never felt so important to me, or never more necessary for our society.  It seems that they are easily lost when we focus on the current circumstances impacting our world.  However, I want to encourage you (and myself) that they are more tangible and more accessible now than perhaps ever before.  If you’re like me, sometimes you need to wander a bit in a desolate land before being able to see what is really important in life.  It’s then we can rearrange priorities and evaluate where, or in what, we’ve placed value.

As you read this blessing I pray that you can look inward and take inventory of what is truly important in your life.

May the Lord bless you and keep you,

May He guide and protect you and those you love,

May His bright countenance shine upon you and fill you with warmth in this season of His coming,

May His Hope replace despair,

May His Peace replace the chaos and tension of the day,

May His Love find and fill you in your darkest moments,

And may His Joy be your strength-as well as the choice you make above all the emotions weighing you down.

And may this Christmas season be filled with the expectation of the abundance that is yours!

God bless you all!

Merry Christmas!

 

19 Nov Hopelessness – A Life Lesson?

Hopelessness plagues most of us at some point or another.  It isn’t reserved for a select few, especially given the days in which we’re now living.  So where do we go to find hope when our world is shrouded in darkness, despair and disillusionment?  I find that leaning on Scripture has helped me tremendously.   I’m also finding that there may some lesson(s) to be learned in this season.

Hopelessness is often born out of difficulties, defeats and discouragement.  In this season of pandemic, lock-down, and restriction, it’s no wonder why more and more of us are struggling to find hope.  I heard one Psychologist say that, “Depression is covering our society like a thick blanket.”  Yet, while these things are painful, there are seasons in our lives when the Lord uses our suffering to strengthen, stretch and grow our faith.  He allows us to be stripped of our self-sufficiency.  We begin to see where our trust or hope has, perhaps, been misplaced.

We should not run from these difficulties.  Avoiding trials shouldn’t always be our focus.  There may be something that the Lord wants to teach us, or show us about ourselves.  There may be a new perspective or something gained on the other side of this mountain that will produce in us a better life than we could’ve ever imagined-if you embrace the lesson and don’t resist the pain of growth.

Jesus said in His sermon on the mount, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for they shall see God.”  Matthew 5:3.  There is something special about being “poor in spirit.”  When we realize that we are in need we are more prone to seek help from outside of ourselves (which is honestly the best practice).  Those who are spiritually broken will be blessed because they will see God in ways unlike most others.  We can embrace brokenness in our lives, as an opportunity to be reminded of our need for God.

Scripture promises that the Lord remains close to those who are broken and He gives them His strength and support like never before.  Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is near to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”  

As you approach a new day, week, or month…  I encourage you to ask the Lord to be near to you, and ask Him what lesson He is trying to teach you.  Is there something He wants you to know?  Is there a deeper level of trust He wants you to attain?  He’s there, listening, waiting for you to call upon Him.  Don’t delay.

 

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…”

Hebrews 6:19

29 Jun Meet Chaplain John Ambrose

Welcome to Chaplain’s Corner. As your Chaplain team, we are greatly delighted to serve you in any way we can. Periodically, we like to introduce you to some folks from the team. Today we would like to introduce you to one of our Chaplains, John Ambrose.

Chaplain John Ambrose comes to High Desert Hospice with a varied background. A New York native, John left the Empire State in 1968 to enlist into the service; the United States Air Force. It was during this time that God began drawing him in to a different kind of service. “My whole life changed!” John often says looking back. “A season of God’s favor.” It was during this time that John met Nora, his loving wife and partner of over 40 years. In the midst of raising three beautiful girls, they were instrumental in planting a local church here in Albuquerque. John received his ordination through Vineyard Ministries and his Honorable Air Force Retirement of 20 years came quickly. John and Nora soon thereafter developed a viable children’s ministry and lead worship for the Vineyard Church and Gods Kingdom. Through those heart-forming years John and Nora were both bi-vocational. During this growing season, a shared dream became reality and Desert Light Christian Church was born. They are still amazed that God would have used them to start and plant a church. It was transformational, deepening their relationship with the Lord and each other.
Following God’s call, the baton was passed and the Church was handed over to another Pastor. It was then that John moved into the retail world for 20years. “It was a very unsatisfying time, a dry time for my soul.” There had to be more—and more is what God had in store. In the middle of Grand-parenting and guitar playing, God met John in a very unique way by drawing him to High Desert Hospice. “Never would I have thought that He could use me in this way. I continue to be humbled as I am challenged daily in service for His kingdom.” We are glad to have John on our team of Chaplains. His love for people of all backgrounds is an inspiration.

04 May An Answer for Fear

On behalf of your High Desert Hospice Chaplain Team, I want to reach out and let you all know that we are praying for you in this chaotic season.

Fear seems to be the order of the day, and it can be overwhelming to say the least. This contagion is threatening all of us, and is already affecting many of our personal lives. I’m not talking about COVID-19. I’m speaking of the fear that it is producing—and being propagated by every newscast, podcast, social media outlet, etc… We are being inundated every moment of the day. Now, I’m not saying that we don’t need to be prepared and keep ourselves aware of what’s happening, I’m simply suggesting that there is a reason for great hope and a source of true peace in the midst of the most perilous of times.

In our devotional time this morning, we were led to Psalm 91. As my wife and I have been praying for our family, friends and coworkers over the past several days, we have felt like the Lord has been leading us to pray through several portions of Scripture; Today’s seemed particularly appropriate. Psalm 91 is a Psalm expressing confidence in God’s protection. It is filled with promises that are available for those who put their trust in him. I encourage you to read on.

Psalm 91
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely He will save you from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the Lord, who is my refuge—
10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For He will command His angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone,
13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because He Loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

It is important to understand that this Psalm, and the promises within, do not guarantee an escape from trouble. It simply creates the expectation of the Lord’s goodness and gives us hope in the fact that the Lord watches over us. It is also important to note that while, in the context of Scripture, God’s love for us is unconditional, sometimes to receive the benefits of His love, there are conditions. In this case specifically, it states in verse 9, “If you make the Lord your refuge…” and in verse 14, “…I will rescue those who love me… “ and, “…those who trust in my name.”

God loves us! All of us! He loves you, He loves me. His word is filled with comfort and hope. He is a God that desires relationship with us. He wants us to come to him with our hearts open, ready to receive all He has for us. He is big enough to handle our fear, our anger and even our doubt. It doesn’t mean we won’t experience sorrow, grief or trials. It does mean that, when we do, we have someone to turn to that we can trust! Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world.”

In the days ahead we hope to share with you several more of these promises from God’s word. Our purpose is to give you hope and peace. There is real comfort available in this turbulent time. Our hope is that, as you have the opportunity to read through them, you will hear the voice of a loving Father calling out to you to take his hand, step into relationship with Him, and trust Him!

We’re standing with you!

Your Chaplain Team!

02 May To Our High Desert Family

On behalf of your Chaplain Team, I want to welcome you to “Chaplain’s Corner”. We pray you all are well and finding the strength and encouragement necessary to sustain you in these unusual times.

I was thinking about a story that I heard some time ago. There was a little boy that lived across the street from an older gentlemen whose wife had just passed away. The little boy decided to go visit the gentleman. A little while later the little boy’s mother looked out her front window to see her son sitting on the lap of the older man out on his front porch. The older man was weeping. Upon returning home, the little boy was asked by his mother, “What did you say to that man?” The little boy replied, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.”

I think that, in many ways, that’s our role as a hospice organization. Of course our goal is to preserve and maintain dignity of life and give support to our patients and their families, but many times the best thing we can do is just listen, lend a hand, or even help them “cry.”

It doesn’t matter which discipline you represent. Whether you’re an RN, CNA, SW, Chaplain, Office-Manager, or even an MD; our call extends beyond our license or credentials, into that of loving and caring for humanity. You may never know the full impact, or the mark you make on someone’s life. You may never know the importance of that smile, kind word, or that warm embrace you give to a family member (taking all “social distancing” regulations into consideration of course).

When you go the extra mile for someone, it has an exponential affect that only that patient or family may feel. It makes what we “do” worth “doing”. We get an opportunity to invest in others that many do not get in other occupations. I want to encourage you today to keep up the great work. You have a unique gift. It’s YOU. You’re the only one who can be you. So, be the best you possible.

Encouragement From The Scriptures

Psalm 121

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—
Where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
The Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let our foot slip—
He who watches over you will not slumber;
4 Indeed, He who watches over Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord watches over you—
The Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 The sun will not harm you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
He will watch over your life;
8 The Lord will watch over your coming and going
Both now and forevermore.

01 May Take Heart