Greater Wausau Christian Services

05/26/2025

Heavenly Father, thank You for the precious gift of freedom, the freedom to worship, to speak, and to live according to our conscience.
On this Memorial Day, we remember with deep gratitude the brave men and women who gave their lives so that we might enjoy these liberties. Their sacrifice reflects the love of Christ, who laid down His life so that we might be eternally free. Help us use our freedom wisely, to serve others, seek justice, and reflect Your light in a world longing for peace. Comfort the families who have lost loved ones in service, and remind them that their sacrifice was not in vain.
May we live each day with thankfulness and courage, honoring both their memory and Your grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

05/03/2025

One of the things we do at GWCS is support you in your ministry to the elderly whether it be a family member or a friend.

A few helpful tips while with your senior family member or friend.

Be unflinching. It's hard not to allow something to affect you when you're with an elderly person. When you're with an elderly person prepare yourself for anything. It could be something as little as something odd they say to something physical in their appearance or behavior. Try not to respond given they have good care. Keep a normal face, or even a smile if possible.

Body language counts. Try not to sit on the end of your chair. Facial expressions matter. Be relaxed. Nod in a positive manner. Sometimes the person you're with may say odd things. That's OK. You don't have to correct them. Keep eye contact as much as possible. Don't cross your arms but rather lean in and show them you're listening. Listen and add some affirmation along with it once in a while saying things like "yes" and "right".

Elderly people fight depression. Give them ample time in a visit. Thirty to forty-five minutes may be enough, but I also stayed with my mom for an hour whenever possible. On holidays (especially her birthday or my parents' anniversary) I stayed longer (and of course Christmas and Easter).

This may all seem like common sense, but every once in a while, we tend to lose our common sense because we are in a rush or worried about something. Pray before every visit and ask the Lord to bless your time together. Its will be good for you, too.

05/03/2025

Prayer for the Elderly:

Father of all, thank You for the life, experiences, and wisdom of our elderly loved ones. Be their strength and inspiration. May You bless them unceasingly. May You be their consolation and joy in every trial and pain. Keep them in the shelter of Your unfading love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen

04/22/2025

For Easter meditation...
Text: Luke 24:1–12
"On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared.
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 puzzling over this, suddenly two men in radiant apparel stood beside them.
As the women bowed their faces to the ground in terror, the two men asked them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you while He was still in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.’”
Then they remembered His words.
When they returned from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the others.
It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles.
But their words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women.
Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb.
And after bending down and seeing only the linen cloths, he went away, wondering to himself what had happened."

Christ is risen!

What’s does the resurrection mean to elderly Christians. That’s a silly question. The older you get the more you need to hear that there’s hope lying ahead of you. That’s what the resurrection is for the elderly. Its hope when there doesn’t seem to be much hope, or anything of wonder and joy for tomorrow. So let the elderly in your life know the wonder and joy of our Lord’s resurrection!
Here’ something you can share with them.
What’s the first thing Jesus takes in His almighty hand after His resurrection? It might just surprise you! It's not food or water. It's not a washcloth or soap. It's not a cell phone or a TV remote.
The first thing Jesus takes in His strong, risen hand after His resurrection is His burial clothing.
The Bible says, Peter ran to the tomb, looked inside and saw the linen cloths (of His burial) by themselves. Jesus takes off his burial clothing and leaves the tomb. He’s alive and quite well! It's more than likely the first thing He touched after His resurrection!
Jesus said it more than twice, “I shall die and on the third day rise!” But it fell on deaf ears because there was no understanding. Didn’t matter. Jesus knew what He was doing. He didn’t live, die and rise for His gain. It was for you and others!
He has defeated our NUMBER ONE enemy. The Bible says, "'Your right hand, the Lord is glorious in power. Your Right Hand, O lord shatters the enemy.'" Who is that enemy? I quote the Bible again on this, “The Last Enemy is Death!”
He is the Lord of life. In His Hand the FIRST THING He holds is the LINEN CLOTH used to bury the dead. He places it where it can’t be missed by Peter. It is for him a sign and symbol of death’s defeat.
Buriel clothing and all things used to bury the dead for that matter are now subject to the rule of Christ who is full of love and mercy. Christ is Lord over it all (vaults, coffins, palls even our tears and fears). Nothing “of the dead” is stronger than His resurrection. Let your elderly family and friends know this in all you say and do. It will mean the world to them.
He was raised on the third day never die again. This is what the angels are talking about to the women at the tomb. They said… “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here but has risen. Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise." These angels were reminding the women of the promises of Jesus. It's as if He were saying, “This is all the hand of the Lord at work.”
Let us be like those faithful and wise women sharing the joy of the resurrection with the disciples and others! People near to hear this so doubt and fear might be driven out and away from their lives.
Death does not have the final say. The son of God does. Buriel clothing may have been the FIRST THING the Hand of Jesus touched after His resurrection. Upon our resurrection we won’t have anything of death to place in our hand. Instead, our hand will be in His hand. How do I know? Because in His hand is the entire World because of His love for us. That means those hands that rule over death will take our hand and lead us home int the world to come.
Christ is risen! AMEN!!!

04/15/2025

Prayer for Tuesday or Holy Week:

On Tuesday of Holy Week Jesus "cursed" of a barren fig tree. It soon withered because it had no fruit. It became an example for His disciples about faith and prayer. Matthew 21:21-22, "Jesus said unto them, 'Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer believing, ye shall receive.'”

So, we pray, knowing God hears and answers all prayer.

For the Morning:
Father God, You promised a Messiah and He came, just as You said. I now trust I can count on all Your blessings. Make me ever faithful in your grace and love that I may not fall into any kind of false religion. But help me to confess my sinful condition and grow in my trust in Your salvation for me. Strengthen my family, and neighbors. Increase our faith and boldness to proclaim the truth of Jesus to the world. In His Name, we pray, Amen.
For the Evening:

Father God, as my day ends, I recall the cross and the obedience Jesus demonstrated at Calvary. I fall so far short in our attempts at obedience but because of Jesus, I can confess my sins and know You are faithful to forgive. Tonight, I rest in that faithful forgiveness and thank you, again, for your plan of redemption. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

04/08/2025

In our prayers and daily routines, we need to remember those imprisoned.

Is this a verse referring to those justly imprisoned, or falsely imprisoned? Remember Paul and many other servants of God were falsely imprisoned for the sake of the Gospel. My first inclination is based in justice. It must be those falsely imprisoned? I mean, why pray for those justly imprisoned? Then I must ask myself, "Does everyone need prayer?" Then I must ask myself, "Will prayer change things?" The answer to both is "Yes". Our Christian duty is to pray for all. Our Christian duty is to believe that prayer matters. It first changes us, then it changes others. God be with you!

04/08/2025

Matthew 25: 23 - "His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’"

Thank you for calling me to participate into Your field of labor, O Father in heaven. Assist me, I pray, with the help of the Holy Spirit to best utilize my time, resources and talents to advance your everlasting kingdom this day. Please receive me as a fragrant offering for your divine use. Forgive my sins and grant me a clean heart to this end. Strengthen my faith in Christ that all I do would be pleasing to you. In Jesus name I pray. AMEN.

04/01/2025

If you see an elderly person.

If you see and elderly person, don't just pass by. Stop and offer a kind word.
If you see an elderly person speak to God and say a prayer for their loneliness or confusion.
If you see an elderly person, try to see what they see.
If you see an elderly person, remember this Bible verse from Job 12, "Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long-life bring understanding?"
If you see an elderly person ponder your years and know the love and need we all have for the Lord for life is fleeting but the love of the Lord endures forever.
If you see an elderly person, remember that some pain is too deep to express with words.
If you see an elderly person, remember they probably have a family just like your own and they could just as well be your parent, grandparent or great grandparent.

"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." Isaiah 46: 4

04/01/2025

Prayer of the Week
Gracious Lord, You call us to love one another as You have loved us. Open my eyes to the needs of those around me especially those of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Grant me a heart that is quick to serve. Whether through giving, encouraging, or simply being present for someone who is hurting, help me to reflect Your kindness and compassion. May my acts of charity be done not for recognition but as a response to Your love. Use me, Lord, to be Your hands and feet in this world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

12/16/2024

Another session of The Joseph Project kicks off next month:

09/17/2024

See the latest impact numbers from our organization.

Liz Everson4 days ago1 min readLives Touched Update - SeptemberBy Ray Slatton"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”1 Corinthians 15:58Elder Care ...