Chaplain Dr. Paul Spence

An Independent Chaplain Serving Long Term Care Facilities For More Than 29 Years

"Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth." "O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help." --Psalm 71.9,12.

OCTOBER 12th; LORD'S Day (Sunday); 2025.

THIS WEEK'S SERMON. Isaiah 40.1,2.

THIS WEEK'S HYMN. “It Is Well With My Soul” by Mr. Horatio Spafford (1828-1888). Mr. Spafford was a Lawyer, Businessman, and Sunday School Teacher who lived in Chicago, Illinois. This Hymn was written in 1873 immediately after Mr. Spafford's four beloved Daughters perished at sea.

THIS WEEK'S REPORT. 1. Several Residents will be having surgeries this week. Please pray for all of them. Some are concerned. 2. Contrary to expectation, one Lady has remarkably improved. She has suffered with a health problem for years. It has now lifted and left. Let us help this Lady with our own Thanksgivings relating to this matter. 3. Several new Residents are still coming to the Church Services in their Care Facilities. Remember them in Prayer. 4. Yet pray for many Residents who never come to the Church Services. Some hope they see them some day. 5. A Lady is concerned for her ten children. 6. A Lady will be having many guests this week. 7. After singing “At The Cross” in one of the Care Facilities last week, a Resident remarked that she objected to the use of the word “worm.” “For such a worm as I.” Yet Dr. Spence kindly pointed out that the holy Psalmist used the same word for himself in Psalm 22. And the Apostle Paul abounded in such debasing descriptions of himself as “the least of the saints” and “the chief of sinners.” In the Gospel Scheme of Salvation, such expressions are not extravagant. They exactly speak the Truth. And they perfectly fit us. We come to JESUS as sinners. True Christians never forget how THE LORD remembered us “in our low estate.” This they shall sing for all eternity. At the end of the Church Service, a Gentleman asked Dr. Spence: “Won't you please come back tomorrow?” 8. In one of the Care Facility Church Services last week, a Lady was happy to have her sister finally attend the Sermon. This Lady has been speaking with her sister about attending since late Spring. The sister came. Afterward, she specially spoke of the Sermon—said her sister loves and speaks of the Church Services—and that she herself will be back next week. Pray for all these people in this important time in their lives. Proverbs 3.5,6 says: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” *In This Week's Report, the names of the people have been withheld to protect their privacy. Nevertheless, the Thanksgivings and Prayer Requests are real and actual.

THIS WEEK'S QUOTATION. Hebrews 5.7 says in part: “When Jesus had offered up prayers and supplications.” In his admirable Exposition Of Hebrews, Dr. John Owen (1616-1683) says of these Words: “All Prayer may be referred unto two heads, either for that which is good, or for the keeping off and turning away of that which is evil. The latter sort only are here intended.” Which agrees with THE LORD'S Prayer. “Deliver us from evil.”

DO YOU WANT A BIBLE? Would you like a copy of the faithful King James Version Scriptures? Dr. Spence has two types. 1. There are used Bibles. These dear Books were read by different Residents in the Care Facilities. Before these Residents passed away, they gave their Bibles to Dr. Spence. They wanted Dr. Spence to distribute the Bibles in the Care Facilities. In these more recent years, these are the Bibles Dr. Spence has mainly given out. Many have been happy with them. Some of these Bibles are worn. Others are in good condition. Some are little New Testaments. Others are complete Bibles. Nevertheless, all contain the Word of GOD. 2. There are new Bibles and New Testaments. 3. There are the Psalms in Braille. If you or someone you know would use any of these, please contact us. The Books and postage are free. Revelation 1.3 says: "Blessed is he that readeth." Revelation 22.7 adds a second direction. "Blessed is he that keepeth the Sayings of this Book." In Rev. David Brainerd's last days of life, when the Scripture was read to him, he exclaimed: "O that lovely Book!"