Baruch Senior Ministries

12/19/2025

"Blessed & Approved" - A Devotional by Chaplain Joan Cornelison

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life. (James 1:12 NIV)

“All sunshine makes for a desert” (Arab Proverb). Have you ever thought of life this way? That too much of anything, even a good thing, may not necessarily be beneficial for anyone? It is natural to want things to go our way all the time, but we must admit that life does not always work like that. Real life is much more complex. Sometimes tough times come. Relationships are damaged. Financial worries plague us. Change interrupts our best laid plans. These challenges are good when they help us develop healthy coping skills.

Concerning trials, Jesus says, “In this world, you will have trouble” (John 16:33a), and then He adds, “Take heart. I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b). Jesus reminds us that He has already won our battles. By trusting Him and leaning on Him, by believing in His promises for us, and by persevering in His truth, we will get through any trial and achieve the crown of eternal life. These times of testing serve to mature our faith.

Therefore, consider yourself blessed as you go through trials. It is in these seasons that your faith is nurtured and shaped by God himself. God’s Word assures us that once proved, your harvest will ripen, and your reward will be waiting. What a wonderful promise for anyone going through unexpected hardship right now. Your reward for obeying God is the crown of life. Every trial eventually ends. My prayer for you is that you will persevere and let God give you His strength for the journey as He shapes you into the person you are meant to be.

12/15/2025

Our Christmas festivities continue! Our residents and staff are having a blast with their community's Christmas events and parties! Thank you to all our staff who make this Christmas season so special for our residents!

12/12/2025

"From 'Blah' to Blessing" - A Devotional by Chaplain Joan Cornelison

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13 NIV)

Have you ever experienced Monday morning blues? These are days when crushing fatigue, dreariness, or mental fog leave us wondering if we are ever going to make it. Sometimes this feeling can become the theme of our lives. We glance in the mirror and all we can see is ‘small, wretched me,’ rather than the masterpiece God created.

In this age of relativity, meaning is often determined by personal context: How I feel, what I think and so on. Paul reminds us that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength, even on a foggy Monday morning. His starting points are not personal feelings or personal ability. Paul’s starting point is God’s Word and God’s ability. He reminds us to have confidence in the Lordship of Jesus Christ over our lives. He testifies that no matter how he “feels,” he can trust in Christ’s strength in every life situation. If Paul can do this, so can we. Yes, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

How are you feeling today, about your life, marriage, parenting, work, finances, the future, and so on? What does God’s Word say about your situation? Consider this, despite their “blahs,’ the likes of Paul, Abraham, Moses, David, and Sarah achieved great things and experienced miracles through God’s Word, and you can too. Put your trust in His Word no matter how impossible your situation may appear and watch Him turn your ‘blah’ into a blessing. To quote someone else, “Let your test be your testimony.” Yes, it is true, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. May His grace be sufficient for you today and every day and may His Word fill your heart with abundant faith, assurance, blessing, and peace.

12/10/2025

Staying warm on these cold, snowy days with some fun, festive activities!

12/05/2025

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

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1 NIV)

This is a familiar verse. We have spoken it, heard it, and read it in the Bible. God is our refuge, and He is strong. But what does this mean that God is our very present help. We find in Genesis 3, that God was in the Garden with Adam and Eve when they sinned. In Exodus 40:34 we read that “the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” Leviticus 9:23-24 tells us that “Moses and Aaron then went into the tent of meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. Fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown." In these scriptures we see God’s presence in disobedience, in His glory, and in fire!

The Spirit of God is the presence of God bringing refuge and strength to the people of God. Matthew 18:20 reads, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them” and Hebrews 13:5 reads, “I will never leave you nor forsake you."

God was physically present among His twelve disciples as they were fishing for fish and for humankind, preaching God’s love, healing the sick, and casting out demons. God’s Presence was with them when Jesus broke bread with tax collectors and walked on water. In the Garden of Gethsemane, God’s Presence was among the Roman soldiers as they arrested Jesus.

We may not see Jesus physically, yet His presence is very real. Are you looking for His presence? He is with you.

12/05/2025

12/02/2025

Watch this video to learn more about the impact of The Lifetime Promise and consider making a donation for Giving Tuesday! Click the link below to donate: https://bit.ly/3UVYG3t

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

12/02/2025

Celebrate Giving Tuesday this year with a tax-deductible donation to Baruch Senior Ministries' Lifetime Promise! The Lifetime Promise fund ensures that our residents will never be asked to leave due to personal financial circumstances. When they choose a Baruch community, they have chosen a home for a lifetime. Simply scan the QR code or click the link below to donate. Thank you for your consideration and support!

https://bit.ly/3UVYG3t

12/01/2025

In Psalm 62 David says, “My soul, rest quietly in God alone, for my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress. I will not be disturbed. My salvation and my honor depend on God, my strong rock. My refuge is in God. Trust in him at all times, you people. Pour out your hearts before him. God is a refuge for us.”

In Psalm 62 David says, “My soul, rest quietly in God alone, for my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress. I will not be disturbed. My salvation and my honor depend on God, my strong rock. My refuge is in God. Trust in him at all times, […]

12/01/2025

Happy 107th Birthday, Marie! 🥳

Celebrating Marie at 107 years young!

11/28/2025

"Barriers Along the Way" - A Devotional by Chaplain Karen Henderlong

Then he [Jesus] told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear. (Matthew 13: 3-9 NIV)

One way to learn from scripture is to look at it creatively, imagining yourself in the situation. When have you felt like you were in a rocky or thorny place? What was it like? When have you felt “pecked?” What blocks you from seeing and experiencing God?

A few years ago, there was a great solar eclipse in the United States. In centuries past, an eclipse could be scary as it blocked the sun, and everything turned dark. But times when the sun has been blocked have also led to great growth. During eclipses, scientists have learned about the shape of the earth, the sun’s corona, earth’s atmosphere, and the size of the moon to name a few.

Rocky, thorny, bird-pecking times in life can be painful, especially when our sense of God is blocked. Even so, they too can be opportunities for growth if we remain spiritually open. Ask God for help to learn from your circumstances and to have what you need to grow during difficult times.

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from Baruch Senior Ministries to you! Thank you for your support of our mission to honor God by serving people as they age! We are grateful for every resident, staff member, and family member who walks through our communities' doors and we are grateful for our opportunity to serve.