It’s been said that the act of asking for help and openly receiving it is one of the hardest things to do, yet this act is so essential to our well-being in life.  Just think for a moment how many times you have helped someone, and you know that without your help, the result would have been, at best, bad, and, at worst, disastrous for that person.  You should feel humbled and thankful that your contribution at the moment, whether emotionally, financially, or physically, aided in such a favorable outcome. 

However, what if you hadn’t known about this person’s need?  What if no one asked for your help?  How would you feel, knowing that your friends or family suffered because they didn’t have your help?  And you failed to help them, not because you withheld your assistance, but because they wouldn’t ask for it, thus,  you had no idea that they needed you. 

Some feel that to ask for help is a sign of weakness, as though needing help communicates inferiority to others.  Others may not ask for help when they need it because they have no way to return the favor.  In the American South, we have successfully elevated the idea of the self-made person to the point that we now boast, “I got this,” in the face of terminal illness, emotional breakdown, spiritual trial, and a host of other personal hardships, all the while reluctant to ask for a little help.  Some will say, “I take it to the Lord in prayer.” And to that, I reply, ‘Hallelujah, of course, you should make your requests known to God.”  However, don’t forget that God instructs us to share our burdens (needs) with each other. 

Galatians 6:2 (ESV)
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

We all need a little help, and sometimes a lot, now and then.  It requires humility to ask for help, and no one likes feeling vulnerable.  And yet, we are all very vulnerable, living in great need every day.  We need God to grant us our next breath.  I will have whatever financial means God grants me to have.  If I have a need, He will provide.  If I have plenty, it’s because He gave it.  He superintends it all and designs both want and plenty for my good and His glory. 

I guess Job did have the best perspective on the matter.  He said, “The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord.”  However, there are times when “we have not, because we ask not.”  And it’s in those times that I really what to encourage us to reach out to those around us.  And when we are in need, and someone comes along and offers to help, consider this:  “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father…” (James 1:17 NLT) That means when help comes, and it makes a difference, then it came from above. 

So, if your friend has the means to help, and you know they would want to help, then allow them the joy of being God’s ambassador of grace.  And in due time, you, too, will get the opportunity to serve God and love your friend in a similar way.  Because remember, we need each other.  That’s why God us placed in families, among friends, and at work together, as we work at HealthKeeperz.  People need us every day, and we need them—and God strengthens us for both. 

Helping us help each other is how we will care for all people for the glory of God.

Yours in Christ,
Chaplain James Chavis
 

HealthKeeperz is opening two new offices this summer, serving the rural communities of Robeson and Hertford Counties through the state of North Carolina’s Community Alternatives Program (CAP), a service of NC Medicaid.
 
The offices, located in Lumberton and Ahoskie, will serve hundreds of patients with integrated case management services to ensure patients are safe and receive quality home healthcare and medical equipment as needed. To meet patient needs in accordance with the company’s high standards of care excellence, HealthKeeperz has added 18 new case manager positions—three in Ahoskie and 15 in Lumberton.
 
The Community Alternatives Program is a wonderful alternative for many North Carolinians seeking to avoid placement in nursing homes. HealthKeeperz is dedicated to using the CAP program to help seniors maintain their dignity, lead more active lifestyles, and enjoy the safety and comfort of their own homes.
 
The state of North Carolina designates one case management entity per county, and each agency works with local hospitals and care providers to identify eligible patients. In administering the CAP program across seven North Carolina counties, case managers, who are social workers, work within NC Medicaid-specified budgets to ensure that patients are safe and are receiving services they need.
 
With the addition of the two new offices, the geographic footprint of the company’s CAP offices and the number of social workers serving hundreds of patients on an ongoing basis are truly impressive. Here’s a breakdown of the company’s current impact on North Carolina’s rural, aging population:
 

• Robeson County: 15 case managers serving over 500 patients.
• Hertford County: three case managers serving over 125 patients.
• Northeastern NC (Serving Perquimans, Pasquotank, Camden, and Currituck Counties): three case managers serving nearly 100 patients.
• Scotland County: five case managers serving nearly 150 patients.
• Anson County: three case managers serving nearly 80 patients.
• Alexander County: three case managers serving nearly 100 patients.

 
 
According to HealthKeeperz President Tim Brooks, the CAP program has grown from a small part of what HealthKeeperz does to a key element of company’s business.  “Over the last four years, CAP has become central to our business at HealthKeeperz,” he explained. “We are always looking for opportunities to be the agency of choice for the home health needs of rural North Carolinians.”
 
CAP case managers usually follow a routine with patients, with face-to-face visits complemented by phone calls with each patient. If the patient has a new need for medical equipment, healthcare, or even personal care, the case manager will source the appropriate solution within budget. The program even allows for services like adult day care, as well as home improvements like adding wheelchair-accessible ramps. Each case manager builds great relationships with patients and their families, and the relationships can often last for years.
 
For Brooks, serving rural communities is not only a point of pride, but central to the company’s mission to care for all for the glory of God. “A few years ago, the state was looking for a provider for the four northeastern NC counties,” he said. “We responded to NC Medicaid’s request for proposals, and I later found out we were the only agency statewide that responded. I had to put my faith in God that this would work for our business.”
 
“But we tend to do really well in rural areas,” Brooks continued. “God’s hand is on this work, and our Barnabas Culture has now extended to areas of the state quite far from our headquarters. Going rural doesn’t scare us, but our main concern is replicating our culture. Early on, we went up to Elizabeth City to meet with the newly-hired case managers, and we asked them if they could build our culture in northeastern NC.  Each of them took this challenge to heart, and I’m convinced they are as close to the heart of HealthKeeperz as any office we have. Validation of my feelings here happened, as Hortensia Ray Alston-Hayes was nominated for a Barnabas Award last year by her Elizabeth City teammates, and she went on to win the Super Barnabas Award for 2018.”
 
HealthKeeperz is excited by the possibilities of impacting lives of more patients in Hertford and Robeson Counties, all for God’s glory. “These opportunities are where the sovereignty of God has placed us to do well,” explained Brooks. “Our company is from a rural area, and we understand what it’s like to live in these places of high poverty and what that means to people. Even though many of the places where we work are poor, they often have the greatest needs. We, in turn, can do great work, build our Barnabas Culture to care for those at HealthKeeperz who do this hard work every day, and be a God-honoring company in all that we do. Profits aren’t enough—we have to constantly expand what we do, how we care for others for the glory of God as we develop our people and grow our revenues.”
 
For more information on the Community Alternatives Program where you live, contact HealthKeeperz today.
 

Last month, we took a moment to “check our connection” with Jesus in the gospel of John, Chapter 15.  In that devotion, we said, “fruitfulness and joy in life come from the practice of dependent prayer.”  Moreover, in our closing, we looked forward to the rest of that section to John 15, verses 12-17.  Here they are.

John 15:12–17 (English Standard Version)
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

I know what you’re thinking.  To command someone to love another feels coerced, forced, or manipulating.  However, remember Jesus and other Bible writers often use commands as a way of saying ‘since a is true then b is true.’  So it is in this text. 

Jesus has already established that love for one another is in the disciples because of their abiding in the vine of Jesus (verses 1-11), and so it is only natural that they do(take action) love one another.  The question then remaining is, how does this love manifest itself?  Read verse 13 again. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”  Wow!  Because we are reading this from the vantage point of 2000 years after these events, we can see that Jesus is calling his disciples to love one another in the same way that he loved them when he went to the cross of Calvary and laid down his life for his friends.  In verse 16 Jesus tells his disciples that he chose them for this very purpose, that this type of sacrificial love for one another is what it means to bear fruit by being possessing an intimate relationship with him.  Jesus has chosen and empowered his disciples for the labor of loving one another.

So then, what does all this mean for us at HealthKeeperz?  It at least suggests that when we say we intend to care for all people for the glory of God, this caring will manifest itself in some sacrificial act and we will be empowered by the very Author of love.  To say it another way, when it is our goal to love one another as Christ Jesus has loved us we will have the resources of heaven at our full disposal to accomplish this glorious mission because the power to do so flows directly from Jesus as we cultivate our intimate connection with Him through prayer.

May the Holy Spirit strengthen us in our endeavor of caring for all people for the glory of God.

Yours in Christ,
Chaplain James Chavis
 

The Barnabas Awards began a few years ago, designed by our leadership team to have our employees select the people who, on a quarterly and annual basis, inspire them to be their best by living the values of our Barnabas Culture.
 
Barnabas, a disciple of Jesus Christ, serves as an example of many attributes necessary for HealthKeeperz to operate as a strong, vibrant, Christ-honoring organization. Our approach to providing the highest standard of community-based health care services to the people of North Carolina, defined as our Barnabas Culture, seeks to promote and recognize HealthKeeperz team members who have served our company, our patients, and our people by being a Barnabas. 
 
Colleagues recognized at our quarterly and annual Barnabas Awards contribute to the HealthKeeperz mission of caring for all people for the glory of God. The ultimate goal of the Barnabas Culture at HealthKeeperz is to build a community of caregivers who are caring, selfless, humble, and encourage their teammates.
 
In this series, Portraits of Barnabas, we are highlighting the winners of the award. In the last few months, we’ve honored Janet Locklear of our hospice services division, Timmie Stultz of home medical equipment, community health educator Tito Massol, and Hortensia Ray Alston-Hayes of our northeastern NC office. Today, let’s enjoy a look at the life and work of hospice’s Kayla Johnson, winner of a our first quarterly Barnabas Award for 2018.
 
Winning a Barnabas Award is often a shock for the humble folks selected for this honor, and Kayla is no exception. “I was shocked when I found out that I won,” she said, “but I was grateful. It makes me feel appreciated and that my hard work doesn’t go unnoticed by my teammates and the company.”
 
Kayla is part of the outstanding hospice team, consistently recognized for its excellence in caring for patients and their families facing what for many is the toughest time in life, that time just before death. “Our bond is what makes us special as a hospice team, as well as the love that we share for our patients,” said Kayla. “Our team is more like a family than a group of co-workers. We all have good days and bad days, but we are always there to support each other, no matter what.”
 
And that “no matter what” can be quite daunting to face, day-in, day-out. “Different people relate to different situations in different ways,” she explained, when asked about why some folks on the team may need an uplift some days, while others may need it on other days. “Right now, we have a baby on hospice. That can be especially difficult on those of us who are parents or grandparents. Other times, you might  care for a patient your same age, and that can have a really heavy effect on you.”
 
To care for all hospice patients and their families for the glory of God takes a lot of prayer, according to Johnson:  “Every morning we have a call and pray with one of our chaplains, James Chavis and Bob Bulls. We always pray for our patients, our family, and our team, and if someone is out sick, we pray for them and then check in with them and care for their needs, even if it’s an encouraging phone call or text.”
 
To Kayla, the best part of working at HealthKeeperz is the opportunity to serve others. “Working with our patients and their families is so rewarding, as we are able to be there for them during a difficult time in their lives,” she explained. “Every touch matters.”

Let’s take a look at what her teammates at HealthKeeperz had to say about Kayla and her work.
 
Humble:   “Kayla has gone far above and beyond the call of a social worker,” said one of her hospice teammates. “Recently, hospice had a patient die, and the husband was left all alone, with no children or siblings there for him. Kayla took it upon herself to comfort him and follow him to the funeral home to make sure the arrangements were taken care of correctly. She knew that he had a form of dementia, and she wanted to make sure he was able to communicate with them.”
 
Selfless:  In helping the husband struggling with dementia, Kayla spent more than three-and-a-half hours with him to help him deal with the loss of his wife, and all of the decisions he needed to make in the aftermath.
 
Caring:  One of her teammates says that “there is no doubt that Kayla Johnson cares deeply for others, and I believe she does so for the glory of God.”
 
Encouraging:  Kayla’s positivity and genuine personality help others to stay strong. “Kayla will brighten up your day with that genuine smile she carries on her face, any time you come in contact with her. I just believe that in all she does she shows Barnabas characteristics.”
 
The HealthKeeperz family would like to again congratulate Kayla Johnson, an example of the generosity of spirit that brings out the best in all of us at HealthKeeperz. We are so proud of her positive contribution to the lives of her teammates and patients every day.
 
Stay tuned to learn more about our other previous Barnabas Award winners in the coming months.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Have you ever felt like you are just going through the motions, as though your body is on auto-pilot?  It knows the routine of the day and night, and you just do it. 

You feel completely detached from the people around you.  You are present, but you’re not there.  Perhaps it's worrying from work, stressors in life, or maybe it’s fears about the future.  These and a host of other concerns can leave us feeling lifeless.  Whatever the reason is for this disconnect, the pathway to a solution begins with “checking your connection.” 

I have found time and time again that the problems and concerns of life only throw me off balance when I take my eyes off the One who steadies it all.  That One is Jesus Christ.  I have a saying that goes, “See God rightly, live life rightly.”  Here’s what I mean: when I believe the truth about who God is, what He has accomplished in my redemption, and how He is at work for good in my life, I will not only enjoy the peace of Christ which surpasses all human peace, but I will also flourish despite the circumstances.

In the gospel of John, chapter fifteen and verses 1 through 11, Jesus teaches us how this is possible:

John 15:1–11 (ESV)
15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Here, Jesus uses the imagery of a vine, likely a grapevine, to describe how fruitfulness and joy in life come from the practice of dependent prayer.  In verse 2, Jesus says that fruitful branches are pruned so that they produce more fruit.  Verse 3 speaks of the word or teaching of Jesus as the pruning tool that God the Father, the pruner, uses.  Abiding in Christ, or maintaining a connection with Christ, is the way that fruitfulness happens according to verse 4. 

Moreover, verse 7 gives us a picture of what how this connection looks.  It’s prayer!  A life lived in dependent prayer.  When Jesus says, “. . . ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. . .”  This is an act of prayer.  We need not be fearful of asking for “anything,” because when we are in intimate fellowship with God through Christ, the Holy Spirit will aid us in asking for what is in line with the will of God.

Now, lest we miss the point, allow me to point out that our peace of mind and joyful fruitfulness in Christ is not the end goal.  Those are promises that come with this intimate connection.  The end goal is the glory of God, which is the result of our fruitfulness and also the assurance that we are Christ’s disciples.  That is glory upon glory and blessing upon blessing. 

And yet there is still one more question.  Ultimately, how will this life-giving connection to Jesus affect us?  We will love as Jesus has loved. 

Well, that’s verses 12 through 17 and, God-willing, we will bask in their riches in next month’s devotion.

Yours in Christ,
Chaplain James Chavis

The week of May 6-12, 2018 marks an annual celebration of some of our favorite caregivers. National Nurses Week is a time to honor those who give so much of themselves every day to care for others.
 
Nurses serve in many capacities throughout the health care system. Many work in hospitals, while others work in medical clinics and even in our schools. Everywhere you look, there’s a nurse, there to take care of us. At HealthKeeperz, our nurses perform yet another function. They provide care in the most intimate setting possible, in the homes of our patients. And they do so with consistent emphasis on quality, while putting the patient’s needs first.
 
Let’s take a look at the impact that our nurses make at HealthKeeperz. During the 2017 calendar year, HealthKeeperz nurses provided 49,075 home visits—that’s 134 times every day where our outstanding team of nurses was able to provide in-home care with comfort and dignity.
 
Whether home health, hospice, or CAP Case Management visits, HealthKeeperz nurses demonstrate the ability to work with a high degree of skill and care. HealthKeeperz nurses care for patients who are on the mend following surgery, who need help managing diabetes or heart disease, or who may be focusing on quality of life as the end of life approaches. Whatever the case, you can count on a caring, compassionate, and competent HealthKeeperz nurse.
 
Thank you to all of the registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nursing assistants who have made it their aim to care for others. We are especially thankful for all of those who provide care while representing HealthKeeperz. Most of all, thanks to all of you who help our company pursue its mission, caring for others for the glory of God.  

HealthKeeperz has a mission.  It is to “Care for all people for the glory of God.”  The foundational principles or, as we call them, core values are: Be Compassionate, Pursue Excellence, Take Ownership, and Put Family First. 

These core values are the bedrock that undergirds everything that we do at HealthKeeperz.  But to go from core values to fulfilling our mission, there must be some action.  And that’s where our vision statement comes into play.  Our vision statement reads this way:
HealthKeeperz will be a community of caregivers who deliver value as measured by:
 

• Wise Stewardship
• Business Growth
• Excellent outcomes and patient satisfaction
• Culture of Encouragement

 
Let’s consider this first link in the bridge from core values to fulfilling our mission.  Wise Stewardship.
 
According to Merriam-Webster, stewardship is “the conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially: the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care.”  To be entrusted with something communicates that there is an obligation to do something with whatever we are given.  And to be employed at HealthKeeperz is to be entrusted with the mission of HealthKeeperz.  It is assumed that when we say yes to working with HealthKeeperz that we are saying yes to pursuing the mission of HealthKeeperz by standing on our core values and striving to execute the vision of HealthKeeperz faithfully.  And we do this in part by practicing wise stewardship. 
 
Although at first, it may seem like a daunting task, we can take heart because God has created us with an innate ability to steward wisely.
 
This is seen in Genesis 1:27 (ESV):
27  So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
And in Genesis 1:28 (ESV):
28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
 
Being made in the image God gave Adam and Eve the natural ability to rule the earth and subdue in the same way that God would.  Then, wise stewardship at HealthKeeperz is carefully and responsibly managing our resources, time, and money in the same way that God does.  But wise stewardship for us is not a list of do’s and don’ts like, don’t waste supplies, don’t fudge your timesheet, or be frugal with your budget.  These right practices are a given or even elementary.  Our visionary action to be wise stewards is about pursuing something spectacular and glorious by unleashing the wise, creative visionary that God has designed us to be.  Setting and managing budgets; finding new ways to conserve; increasing efficiency; all of this happens for the purpose of fueling our growing passion for caring for all people.  Wise stewardship in our daily operations gives us more resources for the mission.  This is the wisdom from above that allows us to steward well here below.
 
For the glory of God and the good of His people,
Chaplain James Chavis

Just a few years ago, HealthKeeperz launched the Barnabas Awards program, designed by our leadership team to have our employees select the people who, on a quarterly and annual basis, inspire them to be their best by living the values of our Barnabas Culture.
 
Barnabas, a disciple of Jesus Christ, serves as a Biblical example of the many attributes necessary for HealthKeeperz to operate as a strong, vibrant, Christ-honoring organization. Our approach to providing the highest standard of community-based health care services to the people of North Carolina, defined as our Barnabas Culture, seeks to promote and recognize HealthKeeperz team members who have served our company, our patients, and our people by being a Barnabas. 
 
Colleagues recognized quarterly, as well as at our annual Barnabas Awards banquet contribute to the HealthKeeperz mission of caring for all people for the glory of God. The ultimate goal of the Barnabas Culture at HealthKeeperz is to build a community of caregivers who are caring, selfless, humble, and encourage their teammates.
 
In this series, Portraits of Barnabas, we are highlighting the winners of the award. In the last few months, we’ve honored Janet Locklear of our hospice services division, Timmie Stultz of home medical equipment, and community health educator Tito Massol. In addition, we learned about 2018 Super Barnabas Winner Hortensia Ray Alston-Hayes of our northeastern NC office, as well as 2017 quarterly winner Crystal Strickland.
 
Today, let’s enjoy a look at the life and work of Cara Hammonds winner of a quarterly Barnabas Award in the third quarter of 2017. Cara, like our other cherished Barnabas Award winners, exemplifies our mission and values on a daily basis as she goes about her work in our customer service department.
 
Caring:  “From the first time I met Cara,” shared one of her teammates, “I could tell that she was a young lady with a loving heart. When she talks, you can hear and see in her face the love she has for both her family and her work family. Whenever there’s a special event or someone is feeling down, she always wants to be there for that person, doing something for them to make their day brighter.
 
Another nominating teammate explained, “Cara has one of the biggest hearts of anyone I know. She goes out of her way to help others.”
 
Selfless:  If Cara Hammonds is consistent at anything, it’s selflessness. According to one of her teammates, “Cara exhibits selflessness on a daily basis. She is one to make you laugh, just being herself. Cara always wants to help out in any way possible—it can be just listening to a coworker or donating money to a cause. You can definitely tell when she’s not there, because her positivity and personality is so missed. Another teammate shared how Cara is continuously putting others first:  “Cara is always giving to others. She loves to see others happy and will do whatever it takes to make that happen.”
 
Humble:  Cara is a very humble person, according to those who know her best. “She goes about her day helping everyone on her team and everyone she encounters,” shared a colleague. “Cara always has others’ best interests at heart. Whenever something impacts her personal life, her first thought is always her team, not wanting to let them down or put more of a burden on them.”
 
Encouraging:  Positivity rules the day when Cara Hammonds is involved. “Cara exhibits the same outlook day-in, day-out,” shared a friend at HealthKeeperz. “When there’s an idea for an event, she says ‘come on, y’all, that sounds fun!’ in her southern twang. Cara enjoys bringing the team together, not only in her own department, but the whole building.” And another teammate pointed out that “Cara is the most encouraging person you’ll ever meet. She has the most bubbly personality and knows how to brighten everyone’s day. There are no bad days around Cara—she inspires everyone she meets.”
 
People like Cara Hammonds, who exemplify the power of positivity and putting others first, are the reason we have a special company at HealthKeeperz. Our work can be very tough on everyone involved, caregivers, families, and patients alike. It takes special people like Cara Hammonds to set the example, challenging all of us to give our best as we care for all for the glory of God each day.
 
Stay tuned to learn more about our other previous Barnabas Award winners in the coming months.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The Barnabas Awards began a couple of years ago, designed by our leadership team to have our employees select the people who, on a quarterly and annual basis, inspire them to be their best by living the values of our Barnabas Culture.
 
Barnabas, a disciple of Jesus Christ, serves as an example of many attributes necessary for HealthKeeperz to operate as a strong, vibrant, Christ-honoring organization. Our approach to providing the highest standard of community-based health care services to the people of North Carolina, defined as our Barnabas Culture, seeks to promote and recognize HealthKeeperz team members who have served our company, our patients, and our people by being a Barnabas. 
 
Colleagues recognized at our quarterly and annual Barnabas Awards contribute to the HealthKeeperz mission of caring for all people for the glory of God. The ultimate goal of the Barnabas Culture at HealthKeeperz is to build a community of caregivers who are caring, selfless, humble, and encourage their teammates.
 
In this series, Portraits of Barnabas, we are highlighting the winners of the award. In the last few months, we’ve honored Janet Locklear of our hospice services division, Timmie Stultz of home medical equipment, and community health educator Tito Massol.  
 
Today, let’s enjoy a look at the life and work of Hortensia Ray Alston-Hayes, named winner of a Barnabas Award in the fourth quarter of 2017, as well as our annual “Super Barnabas” Award in 2018, at our recent Barnabas Awards Banquet. Hortensia, like our other cherished Barnabas Award winners, lives our mission and values on a daily basis in her work as a CAP social worker in our northeastern NC office in Elizabeth City.
 
Caring:  According to her co-workers at HealthKeeperz, Hortensia is a deeply caring person who, without fail, sends birthday cards and sympathy cards to all of the clients of the northeastern NC office. One of her teammates said, “She always puts others’ needs before hers, even if it means staying late or working through her own lunch just to listen and advise others.”
 
Selfless:  In one of the ultimate acts of selflessness we’ve seen among many at HealthKeeperz, Hortensia recently discovered that a deceased client’s son didn’t have a suit to wear to his mother’s funeral. According to her teammate, Hortensia gave the client’s son a selection of her late husband’s suits, so that he would have something nice to wear to the funeral and church.
 
Humble:  One teammate said that she often “hears about the blessings that Hortensia’s care bestows on others from THEM, not from her.” And while clients, their families, and co-workers value her expertise, Hortensia “never acts like anyone is imposing on her or is interrupting her workflow.” Truly, she lives with a servant’s heart.
 
Encouraging:  Hortensia is one of those folks who realizes that even with a great team at HealthKeeperz, we often rely on community partners to do our jobs well. Never taking these partners for granted, one of her teammates noted that Hortensia “paid to have cupcakes made for all of the area DSS Medicaid workers, hand-delivering them with a letter saying how much we appreciated their assistance at HealthKeeperz CAP.  She constantly promotes HealthKeeperz and our CAP program in the community, while inviting other entities in to explain their services and encourage CAP referrals.”
 
The HealthKeeperz family would like to again congratulate Hortensia Ray Alston-Hayes, winner of our Super Barnabas Award for 2018.  She’s had a huge impact on our company and those of us who have had the privilege of working with her, as we share the love of the Barnabas Culture with our clients, patients, and families.
 
Stay tuned to learn more about previous Barnabas Award winners in the coming months.
 
 
 
 

If you attend Christian worship services regularly or even occasionally, then you are probably familiar with the event in the Gospels, where Jesus is undergoing crucifixion on a cross between two criminals also being crucified. 
 
The crucifixion may be the most familiar scene in the Bible for people who attend church regularly and even for those who don’t.  Perhaps the reason for this is the tremendous measure of grace and forgiveness that Jesus communicates to one of the criminals.  This criminal enters the story mocking and castigating Jesus for His extraordinary claims of being “Son of God.”  Other recipients of grace and mercy is a group of mockers made up of Gentile Roman soldiers, Jewish religious leaders, and likely a host of regular Joes and Janes like you and me. 
 
If you haven’t read this account of the crucifixion of Jesus in its entirety, I encourage you to stop and read it now.  Turn to the book of Luke, chapter 23.  Begin reading at verse 26 and read through the end.  Then, come back and finish reading this post. 
 
For our purposes in this devotion, I want to highlight the magnitude of grace extended by Jesus and bask in the goodness of God that beams through the darkness of that “good” Friday.
 
In verse 34 Jesus petitions His Father to “. . . forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  “Them,” who could have been us, are the soldiers who are crucifying Him; the leaders who falsified statements about Him; the men, women, boys, and girls that cried out for His death; and all of those who stood by agreeing in silence.  It is on behalf of these guilty criminals of sin that the innocent Lord of Glory petitions His Father.  “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  Considering that it was the Divine Crucified One who gave them the next breath to hurl their insults and strength to swing the mallet that drove the spikes, can we not look at this scene and see the streams of mercy (not getting what you deserve) and grace (getting what you don’t deserve) flowing down to this rabble bunch.  They had neither the heart nor mind to ask for forgiveness, so Jesus asks for them. 
 
My friends, God is good! 
 
At some point during this horrendous event, something changes in the heart and mind of one of the criminals being crucified.  Verse 40 says that one criminal rebuked the other for his continued mocking of the Lord. Luke goes on to record that he also owns his condemnation as being just, pronounced Jesus as innocent, and then petitioned Jesus for grace on behalf of himself.  In essence, this guilty sinner says to Jesus, “You are the King of Heaven, please remember me when your kingdom is established.”  And Jesus responds similarly, “Since you recognize me as your king, today I will bring you into my kingdom.”  This is how quickly one can go from sinner to saint.  Earlier in Jesus’ ministry, He told His disciples that whatever is conceived in the heart will find its way to the mouth.  This criminal was doing just that.  Grace and mercy have shattered the hardened heart of this man, and now by simple faith, he believes and confesses Jesus is who He says He is. 
 
Yes, this was a good Friday. 
 
Why?  You may ask.  Because the penalty for sin is death, eternal punishment, and separation from the presence of God.  But thanks be to God, we read here in Luke not only of a king who has been wrongfully executed and prays for those who can’t pray for themselves, but also a Savior who bears the death, punishment, and separation in the place of those, who like this criminal, will exercise simple faith in Jesus Christ and be received into everlasting joy in the King’s Kingdom. 
 
This event known and recorded in human history as the crucifixion of Jesus is the centerpiece of time.  It is here that everything in history before this event was anticipating, and it is here that everything after this event bows and finds its place in the world.  It was not HealthKeeperz who first discovered that “caring for all people” glorified God, which is our mission.  God himself is the first caregiver.  John 3:16 says that God so loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes on Him will not perish, but will have everlasting life.    This is the prime example of “caring for all people.”
 
He is a good God and on the first “Good Friday” He demonstrated just how good He is.

For the glory of God alone,
Chaplain James Chavis, HealthKeeperz