Baruch Senior Ministries

05/01/2026

"You Are Worth It" - A Devotional by Chaplain Joan Cornelison

…you are more valuable than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:31 NIV)

When Jesus sent His twelve disciples out into the world, He gave them a series of instructions, among them, “do not worry” (Matthew 10:31). But we humans like to worry about the unknown. We like to meddle, and we like to try to fix things on our own. Many of us find it difficult to trust, and yet God calls us to trust Him because we are valuable to Him.

Consider the current real estate market. The price of homes has skyrocketed, as potential homebuyers try to outbid each other. You may have wondered, “Are these homes even worth the price?” This is an important but tricky question, because considering the reality of the real estate market environment, a house, in the end, is worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

In like manner, we were sinners, helpless and condemned, set aside for judgment and punishment---worthless. But God was willing to purchase our salvation. Noting that we were incapable of paying for our sin, He paid the ultimate price, giving up Jesus’ life in exchange for our lives. Now by His grace, we are worth what God was willing to pay for us---the blood of His Son. The world might sometimes wonder, “Am I worth it?” You may even wrestle with this question yourself. And God’s response would be an affirmative and resounding, “Yes, you are worth it! You are worth every drop of blood my Son shed on that Cross.” This is Good News. Stop doubting yourself. You are worth it because God has ordained it! If He cares about the sparrows, how much more does He care about you? Take time today to reflect on this truth; you are worth it. You are worth more than many sparrows.

04/29/2026

Deciding whether your loved one can safely continue living on their own is rarely clear-cut. Some days, things might feel fine, but small incidents or changes can be signs that they need extra support. It can be challenging to discern, and families often struggle to tell a temporary rough patch from real safety concerns....Click the link below to continue reading!

Is it safe for seniors to live alone? When should you broach the topic of when to move to assisted living? Baruch Senior Ministries is here with answers.

04/24/2026

"Thriving in God's Peace" - A Devotional by Chaplain Val VandeHaar

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8 NIV)

Peace does not come easily in this life. If we do not have peace, we do not have sleep. Our verse assures us that we will both lie down and sleep when we dwell in the safety of the Lord.

We read Psalm 4 as an expression of David’s confidence and trust in the Lord. David is running for his life while being pursued by his conniving and manipulative son Absalom (2 Samuel 15)! I would imagine David was afraid and yet, because of his close relationship with the Lord, he let go of his fear and focused on the Lord. David begins by asking for God’s grace (vs. 1) and urging his enemies to stop rebelling against God (vs. 2). David is assured that, as a faithful servant, God hears when he calls to Him (vs.3). Then David says, ‘do not sin’, think about what you are doing, search your heart, offer righteous sacrifices (this means do not repay evil for evil, rather offer a blessing) and trust in the Lord (a key word to peace and safety). David seeks God’s face shining in favor (vs.6) causing David’s heart to be filled with joy, like the joy of an abundant harvest of grain and new wine! At last, with David’s strong trust in the Lord, he was able to both lie down and sleep, not toss and turn, dwelling in the safety of the Lord!

Tonight, when you lay your head down, remember, God is taking care of everything. Trust Him! Be confident in Him, for you are dwelling in the safety of His presence.

04/22/2026

Many of our residents love to spend time outdoors as they enjoy the sunshine, gardening, and nature that surround our communities. From raised garden beds to fish-filled ponds, there is so much to celebrate and be thankful for on this Earth Day!

04/20/2026

What a special moment! ❤

04/17/2026

"Get Up and Go" - A Devotional by Chaplain Joan Cornelison

Jesus got up and went with Him, and so did His disciples. (Matthew 9: 18-19 NIV)

I received a text recently that began thus, “I know how busy you are, but I was wondering if…” In an instant, conviction hit me. I thought, “Hmm! Is that the vibe I am emitting to the world?” My friend needed my time but was hesitant to ask for it because she felt she might be bothering me. How terrible, and yet, if we are honest, how often have we uttered the phrase, “I am so busy.”

I was inadvertently putting up ‘Stop!’ signs rather than ‘Welcome!’ signs in my daily interactions with others. In contrast, when Jairus interrupted Jesus to ask Him to help his sick daughter, Jesus welcomed the interruption; Jesus got up and went with him. He moved towards a father in desperate need. Jairus approached Jesus without hesitation, possibly because Jesus’ ‘sign’ said, “Welcome!” Despite the responsibilities before Him, Jesus welcomed Jairus’ interruption. He was not ‘too busy.’ Similarly, He is never too busy for us; He is always available and near when we call.

In a world where people need your time, are you open to interruptions or are you ‘too busy?’ Will you welcome the interruptions that come your way today? Will you get up and go? Jesus got up and went to Jairus’ side. He got up and went to Mary and Martha’s house. He got up and went to Calvary for you and for me. Now He beckons us to get up and go as the Holy Spirit enables us to attend to His will and purposes. As you attend to His people, God will attend to you. So let us encourage one another today.

04/13/2026

Our wonderful residents are in the midst of enjoying some fun spring activities! From painting to gardening and trips to local attractions, our communities offer activities that enrich the lives of our residents!

04/10/2026

"Trustworthy God" - A Devotional by Chaplain Joan Cornelison

God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? (Numbers 23:19 NIV)

If you live long enough, you will discover that human beings will lie, they will renege on promises, and they will let you down; but, God will never lie, He keeps His promises and will never let you down. Those who desire to experience His overwhelming goodness must learn to walk by faith and trust in what they cannot see. They must continually summon the strength to leap into the arms of an unfathomable God who is constant and true and will never fail them.

This God has already proven His commitment toward us who believe by sending His One and only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from our sins and eternal death. What is it that can be more difficult than this? What can be more proof of His love and devotion toward us? If you are currently facing a situation that seems impossible, think on this, “God is not a man, that he should lie.” This trustworthy and ever-faithful God says to you and me, “Call on me in the day of trouble; and I will deliver you” (Psalm 50).

So, today, call upon His name and remind yourself that He is the God who makes the blind to see, who makes the lame to walk, who sets the prisoner free, who rescues some from the fiery furnace, and who saves others from the lions' den; His promises for you, are true! You can count on Him even when you do not understand or see Him in your situation. Simply trust in His character and in His unchanging Word and then be patient and wait for Him.

❤️

04/05/2026

Happy Easter! Hallelujah! He is Risen!

"They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!"". - Luke 24:2-6

04/03/2026

"God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8

Have a blessed Good Friday!

04/03/2026

"Where is the Light?" - A Devotional by Chaplain Val VandeHaar

Again, Jesus spoke to them saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 NIV)

Have you ever put something in a good place and later forgot where you put it? At my house, this means we can never find a flashlight when we need one! This is so frustrating! But, when we find the flashlight, we are excited because now we can see where we are going by following the light.

In Jesus' day, it was sometimes hard for the people to see the light. The Roman government was persecuting Christians, the Pharisees wanted people to live by the law, and there were divisions within the church. The Jews and Gentiles were not accepting of one another. And the words Jesus spoke and the miracles He performed created great unrest among the people. Jesus' first miracle He turned water into wine at a wedding in Cana; He performed miracles on the Sabbath Day, much to the chagrin of the Pharisees; He used a whip for clearing the moneychangers and animals out of the temple; He told Nicodemus, a grown man, to be born again; He healed the sick and raised Lazarus from the dead. Jesus told the people He was the Truth, the Bread of Life and the Living Water. The people felt confused and afraid.

It is sometimes hard for us today to see the light of Jesus with all that is happening in our lives and in this world. God’s Word reminds us that those who follow Jesus will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life. Let the light of Jesus show you the way today and every day.

❤️

04/01/2026

"Jesus took up his cross and let himself be crucified, once for all, so that our old selves could be crucified, set apart from sin, and made new through Him—to take on the self-sacrificial life of Christ in place of our old sinful ways when we fully embrace His offer of grace and mercy...."

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We all understand the need to set some things apart; we actually do it with a lot of things. When we wash our clothes, we set them apart by colors, or at least my mother told me we should. We tend to set apart our vegetables from our meat on a plate. We set apart […]