Friends

It can't be Friday already! Where does our time go? Hopefully your time was blessed spending time with God!

Visiting our friends Saturday morning is always a treat. It is a reminder to me, how blessed we are to have each other. We had not see Robert in several weeks, but he came out of his apartment. He is struggling with multiple health problems but continues to bless us with his prayers. We have two ladies who have moved inside. Michelle blessed us by sharing some of her story with us. Oglivie camp was feeling no pain that morning. One of the guys came over to me and said, sorry mr brian for being this way. Life is hard. Some resort to means to make life tolerable. We continue to pray for them and allow the Spirit of the Living God to take control of their lives. Smokey has moved. They have transferred him to a rehab facility on Irving Place, Highland Place. He is in room 104. He has a direct phone number 318 841-8752. His other leg is beginning to swell, which is concerning.

Tuesday evening, Brother George led the men's fellowship as we read from  Romans 14.

Thursday evening was busy. St Luke's Medical van joined us for the evening. Brother George and a Methodist pastor from England led chapel. Z and Ms Abbie had prepared a feast, The Market and clothing room was full of activity. Z found eggs from the Food Bank, so the Market was trying to give away eggs and not breaking them in the process! We had two big groups helping us all out, a blessed evening.

This Sunday, we will have our first Mitzvay Day! Friends from a local Jewish temple will be at the center helping out. Come and join in on the fun, Sunday 10 -12.

Several weeks ago, Ms Sarah shared a story in chapel. In Luke 5 verse 17 - 26, is the story about the paralyzed man and his friends trying to see Jesus. You remember the story, the friends couldn't get close to Jesus, so they went on the roof and lowered their friend through the ceiling. Jesus was so impressed with the friends, He forgave their sins, as well as healing the paralyzed man. A nice story. Sarah visiting her Aunt in the hospital, said her Aunt was troubled by the story, made her sad?

Sarah, asked why does this story make you sad? Her Aunt said, this paralyzed man had 4 friends who went out of their way to help their friend. I don't have any friends who would do that for me? Sarah says to the community in chapel, Common Ground is your group of friends!

Life is hard, especially when you are living a life in poverty. You don't seem to get any breaks. God has created a community where our community can catch some breaks from life when needed through all of you. It maybe showing up on a Saturday morning under a bridge, listening, smiling. Helping to feed the little ones at our meal on Thursdays. Preparing a meal. Helping through reading a book to a child. Helping shop for groceries the community wants.

Common Ground is a community made of friends who will lower through the roof a friend to see Jesus. Common Ground is a community is more concerned about others than themselves. Common Ground is about lvoe not love. Common Ground is you allowing Jesus to work in and through you to build His Kingdom! Amen!

Have a great week. God is busy, join in on the fun!

Hearts

It's been a couple of weeks since we last emailed?! I was not feeling well last week and just couldn't get anything going to share with you. Feeling better this week, so watch out!

Lots happening in our community. Isn't that a sign of God being busy? We celebrated Tuesday week of Giving for Good. A local foundation asking for the community to support the non profits of the Shreveport Bossier area. Thanks to a lot of hard work, Bryce and Lisa led the way as we achieved our goal of $20000 to fund summer camp and then some! Common Ground had the fourth largest contributions of all the non profits! Thank you God. 

Our camps continue to decline as Joey and Jerry have moved inside. Moving inside is great, now we just need furniture?! Smokey continues his recovery at the VA. Last week was his birthday. So Smokey being Smokey, bought ice cream and cookies and distributed it all out to the patients and nurses on the 8th floor! He would appreciate a quick visit from you all if you have a chance, 8th floor, room 24.

The men of the community met Tuesday evening to talk about Luke 19, Zacchaeus, the tax collector. Through the actions of Zacchaeus, his house was blessed, is ours?

Lisa and the Board met Wednesday evening to discuss upcoming events.

With the threat of rain Thursday evening, our numbers were small. But that didn't stop us from having a spirit led worship in chapel. Then we all enjoyed our meal and made our way to the Market and clothing room. The highlight of the evening for me, was the appearance of one of our long time family members, Dr Phil. He was on his way to the east coast to help one of his sons move, so he stopped by to say Hi! He is about to graduate and then see what God has in store for him in the next chapter of his journey.

Day of Caring is happening today. We will have folks at the center today helping out. We would love to see you there, come if you can.

Sunday is Mom's Day! Happy Mother's Day to all our moms out there. You are special to us and our community. Thank you for all you do with little or no recognition for your labors of lvoe!

Zacchaeus was a wealthy man, being a head tax collector. You would think, he did want for much if anything? But when he heard Jesus was coming, he climbed a tree to get a view of Jesus. Jesus was so impressed by his actions, Jesus told Zacchaeus, "Today salvation has come to this house"  .  .  .

Two thoughts came to mind while we were talking about this story. When Jesus sees Zacchaeus in the tree, Jesus tells Zacchaeus to come down immediately. He did and then Zacchaeus says to Jesus, Look Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount. I doesn't take long for a heart to change when they find Jesus! Our jobs as we move along our paths, is to lead others to Jesus. It is not our jobs to change their hearts, we can't. Real change in the community will come when hearts are changed.

Zacchaeus, showed his faith by climbing up a tree to see Jesus. Jesus sees our actions, hears our voices, listens to our prayers. If we are sincere, if our actions are of God, not ourselves, if our voices are for others, if our prayers are for our brothers and sisters, then Jesus will bless us. Jesus wants to bless us, it's up to us!  Amen!

Hope we get to see you today or next week around the center. Have a blessed week, God is good!