Hope you all have survived the summer week. Here in this area, it has been hot, dry and exhausting. You step outside and your shirt is wringing wet. Saw the weather report for next week this morning and more of the same to come! It has tried to rain, but you have to be on the right side of the street for it to happen? Oh well, the joys in living in the south! In a few months, when it gets cooler, we will say, can't wait until the summer months get here and we can have some warmer weather?!
We can get our review of the week started by our Saturday visits with our friends. Good visits, good times talking to the guys. Gus joined us and invited them to join him in the Friendship Room later on that afternoon. We changed up our visits a little by not going directly to the Hamilton stop. Just as I was returning home, Terry Strain calls. She got a phone call from Ms Evelyn, who is the matriarch of the downtown area. Ms Evelyn was waiting for us at the Hamilton stop! Man, I felt bad, but shows we have started something that some have become depended on. Another gentleman at another stop told me, he looks forward to our stops each week. Can't wait to see us and visit with us. He said we are such a blessing to his friends. So how do we stop going? What's the answer?
Another story from last week, I forgot to mention and one that typifies our community. One of our friends needed my truck for hauling furniture to his apartment. Unfortunately mr brian made a ton of excuses and our friend said I will call Mr Scott. He did and it took two day to finish hauling the furniture! Talking about getting your shirt wet, Mr Scott was drenched! Mr Scott, without hesitation, stops what he is doing and helps out a friend. Mr Scott, shops, hauls, orders, drives, visits our friends every week and without fan fare, with out notoriety. He is example of those of you who do the work behind the scenes and never get the recognition you deserve. Thank you so much for being such loyal and faithful servants.
Saturday afternoon, the Friendship Room came to life. Gus has worked hard all summer long and with the help of Hat, Joey and others, it was filled with lvoe. Great stories we heard about their experiences with several of our friends, spending time reading, playing games, watching TV, washing clothes and getting out of the heat. One of the stories, is example of what our community is all about, is Hat and Gus are now helping two of our young men learn to read and prepare them to pass their GED tests. When you become involved in community you begin to learn, to understand, to be a part of their lives. There is such tragedy in their lives of hurt, anger, mistrust, they have no one to help them out of their despair other than us. We are not offering a fancy program with requirements and strategies. We are just there, sitting around a table, playing a game, reading a book, helping their minds explore new and exciting things. Thank you folks for being willing to be in community.
Early Monday afternoon, I was picking up our new tile for the chapel floor, arrived at the center to find children running everywhere. I began to notice, they were in groups, with colored neckerchiefs, going to different places? To the front porch of the Bright House, to the garden with Ms Patty, to the side of the building in the shade, running inside to the fellowship hall. All having a great time. The interns were putting on the summer camp's version of the Amazing Race! It was awesome to see the children and interns having a great time. With the close of summer camp coming up this week, what a summer it has been.
Tuesday and Wednesday, our community had the privilege of Ms Emily's youth group from First Methodist join us. They painted, cleaned, straightened in the mornings and then helped out with camp in the afternoons. Great experience in developing relationships between both groups. I guess it was pay back, but several of our interns spent Wednesday evening in an over nighter with Ms Emily's group at First Methodist. We have been blessed this summer with special young people and they will be sorely missed when they leave us.
Tuesday evening, I sneaked into a meeting with John, Tania and our plumber, Jim Bevel. Jim and his company continues to be such a blessing to our community. Even though Ms Lisa has received funds for plumbing work in the center, Jim has never taken a dime for all the work he has done. And Tuesday as they were discussing plans for our new kitchen, Jim says, God is good. I just obtained a new vent hood, I just got a new dishwasher, I have these steel tables, we need to use here! I was trying to be diplomatic and not jump up and down, but inside I was screaming God is good, God is good! Amazing things are happening and continue to happen!
Wednesday for our supper, we changed up our pattern of doing things a little. We asked the folks, once they finished their meal, to go through the clothing room first and then go by and get their grocery bags and then head out the door. We opened the food pantry room as soon as we started our meal allowing folks to come and go as they pleased. Allison was in the food pantry room and everything seem to flow much better. We had the blessing of having some youth, their pastor and the pastor of Clearview Church join us for our meal. They got their early enough to help pack the grocery bags, then helped us serve and then helped with the clean up. Great group of young people, hoping we will see more of them. Also on Wednesday, Ms Lisa had our first "Ask the Lawyer" session for the community. There were a few takers and I think more will come as they become more familiar with our community.
Thursday evening, we had leftovers. Not a big fan of leftovers but Momma T was not there due to Weekend of the Cross activities, so we were stuck! Beth, Charley, Hat, Dr Phil, William, and James endured the meal. Lauren joined us as we started reading Chapter 5 of Acts. More reading about the Spirit. The first part was about, what would happen to you if you lie to the Holy Spirit. God being God, offers you to come clean if you make mistakes, but He will judge you if you continue to lie or your heart is not in the right place. We read about how the Holy Spirit could not be silenced, even to a point where the disciples were transformed from a jail cell to the court yard sharing the Good News. And then we read one of Dr Phil's favorite passages, 38 & 39, if the work is of man it will come to nothing, but if it is of God you can't overthrow it. God is bigger than any of us and if He wants it to happen it will.
I reflected back over that last night and early this morning. I met with a new friend from a church in Bossier, who is bringing a mens group to us to help out. I was talking and showing him around and saying, it is happening, maybe not as fast as mr brian wants it but it is happening. This gentleman spoke up and said, you have come a long way in just a year! I stopped talking and started thinking, wow, it has just been a year! I had not realized that or even thought about that! It has just been a year, we were given the building. We are now feeding, teaching, learning, cooking, laughing, praying in a building that did not exist a year ago! mr brian wants things to happen yesterday, but God is providing a place for us in His time and man is His timing awesome!
Also, I get the feeling, we need to take a breath, maybe slow down, appreciate from where we have come from, appreciate God's amazing blessings for our community. Listen to each other, get to know our neighbors. Maybe when groups ask what can we do for us, maybe say, come walk with us, meet our neighbors? I don't know what is in store for us, but if it is of God, then amazing things will happen. God's way will not be over thrown. His Kingdom will be glorified. Wouldn't it be awesome for our community to be a part of this? Wow!
Don't forget, Friday (today) and Saturday, we will be hosting a feeding site for the Weekend of the Cross participants. Mr Tom will have all the food and drink, we just need to come and help serve it. The children will be hot and tired, so the more we can do for them, it will be appreciated. They should be arriving around noon on both days. It won't take long to serve and clean up, maybe an hour at the most, so come if you can. The children and their leaders will appreciate it.
Prayer concerns. Lomax and his grandparents. Lomax has been spending most of his time with them this week. I have not talked to Lomax, but those that have, said his grand father is not doing well. Lomax, please let us know if there something we can do for you.
Ms Sarah asked for prayers for all who are involved with Weekend of the Cross. This is a weekend of youth from all over the state, that comes here to paint, clean up houses around Shreveport. Ms Sarah asked for prayers of safety and health as the youth do all of this out in the hot summer temperatures. Prayers for Ms Sarah who is one of the leaders this year and to Momma T who is one of the site leaders.
Prayers for Beth as she struggles with life issues. Prayers for Charley as he begins preparation of another Kairos weekend in September. And a praise report, William is 3 weeks sober and feeling good. Prayers for Gus as he travels back home, in preparation of moving to Longview.
Thank you all for being such loyal and faithful servants. You all have such unique and special gifts and helping others is what you all are about. May we continue to be about God and not about ourselves and enjoy the many blessings God will bring to us. A special lvoe to you all, you deserve it. Amen and Amen!
We can get our review of the week started by our Saturday visits with our friends. Good visits, good times talking to the guys. Gus joined us and invited them to join him in the Friendship Room later on that afternoon. We changed up our visits a little by not going directly to the Hamilton stop. Just as I was returning home, Terry Strain calls. She got a phone call from Ms Evelyn, who is the matriarch of the downtown area. Ms Evelyn was waiting for us at the Hamilton stop! Man, I felt bad, but shows we have started something that some have become depended on. Another gentleman at another stop told me, he looks forward to our stops each week. Can't wait to see us and visit with us. He said we are such a blessing to his friends. So how do we stop going? What's the answer?
Another story from last week, I forgot to mention and one that typifies our community. One of our friends needed my truck for hauling furniture to his apartment. Unfortunately mr brian made a ton of excuses and our friend said I will call Mr Scott. He did and it took two day to finish hauling the furniture! Talking about getting your shirt wet, Mr Scott was drenched! Mr Scott, without hesitation, stops what he is doing and helps out a friend. Mr Scott, shops, hauls, orders, drives, visits our friends every week and without fan fare, with out notoriety. He is example of those of you who do the work behind the scenes and never get the recognition you deserve. Thank you so much for being such loyal and faithful servants.
Saturday afternoon, the Friendship Room came to life. Gus has worked hard all summer long and with the help of Hat, Joey and others, it was filled with lvoe. Great stories we heard about their experiences with several of our friends, spending time reading, playing games, watching TV, washing clothes and getting out of the heat. One of the stories, is example of what our community is all about, is Hat and Gus are now helping two of our young men learn to read and prepare them to pass their GED tests. When you become involved in community you begin to learn, to understand, to be a part of their lives. There is such tragedy in their lives of hurt, anger, mistrust, they have no one to help them out of their despair other than us. We are not offering a fancy program with requirements and strategies. We are just there, sitting around a table, playing a game, reading a book, helping their minds explore new and exciting things. Thank you folks for being willing to be in community.
Early Monday afternoon, I was picking up our new tile for the chapel floor, arrived at the center to find children running everywhere. I began to notice, they were in groups, with colored neckerchiefs, going to different places? To the front porch of the Bright House, to the garden with Ms Patty, to the side of the building in the shade, running inside to the fellowship hall. All having a great time. The interns were putting on the summer camp's version of the Amazing Race! It was awesome to see the children and interns having a great time. With the close of summer camp coming up this week, what a summer it has been.
Tuesday and Wednesday, our community had the privilege of Ms Emily's youth group from First Methodist join us. They painted, cleaned, straightened in the mornings and then helped out with camp in the afternoons. Great experience in developing relationships between both groups. I guess it was pay back, but several of our interns spent Wednesday evening in an over nighter with Ms Emily's group at First Methodist. We have been blessed this summer with special young people and they will be sorely missed when they leave us.
Tuesday evening, I sneaked into a meeting with John, Tania and our plumber, Jim Bevel. Jim and his company continues to be such a blessing to our community. Even though Ms Lisa has received funds for plumbing work in the center, Jim has never taken a dime for all the work he has done. And Tuesday as they were discussing plans for our new kitchen, Jim says, God is good. I just obtained a new vent hood, I just got a new dishwasher, I have these steel tables, we need to use here! I was trying to be diplomatic and not jump up and down, but inside I was screaming God is good, God is good! Amazing things are happening and continue to happen!
Wednesday for our supper, we changed up our pattern of doing things a little. We asked the folks, once they finished their meal, to go through the clothing room first and then go by and get their grocery bags and then head out the door. We opened the food pantry room as soon as we started our meal allowing folks to come and go as they pleased. Allison was in the food pantry room and everything seem to flow much better. We had the blessing of having some youth, their pastor and the pastor of Clearview Church join us for our meal. They got their early enough to help pack the grocery bags, then helped us serve and then helped with the clean up. Great group of young people, hoping we will see more of them. Also on Wednesday, Ms Lisa had our first "Ask the Lawyer" session for the community. There were a few takers and I think more will come as they become more familiar with our community.
Thursday evening, we had leftovers. Not a big fan of leftovers but Momma T was not there due to Weekend of the Cross activities, so we were stuck! Beth, Charley, Hat, Dr Phil, William, and James endured the meal. Lauren joined us as we started reading Chapter 5 of Acts. More reading about the Spirit. The first part was about, what would happen to you if you lie to the Holy Spirit. God being God, offers you to come clean if you make mistakes, but He will judge you if you continue to lie or your heart is not in the right place. We read about how the Holy Spirit could not be silenced, even to a point where the disciples were transformed from a jail cell to the court yard sharing the Good News. And then we read one of Dr Phil's favorite passages, 38 & 39, if the work is of man it will come to nothing, but if it is of God you can't overthrow it. God is bigger than any of us and if He wants it to happen it will.
I reflected back over that last night and early this morning. I met with a new friend from a church in Bossier, who is bringing a mens group to us to help out. I was talking and showing him around and saying, it is happening, maybe not as fast as mr brian wants it but it is happening. This gentleman spoke up and said, you have come a long way in just a year! I stopped talking and started thinking, wow, it has just been a year! I had not realized that or even thought about that! It has just been a year, we were given the building. We are now feeding, teaching, learning, cooking, laughing, praying in a building that did not exist a year ago! mr brian wants things to happen yesterday, but God is providing a place for us in His time and man is His timing awesome!
Also, I get the feeling, we need to take a breath, maybe slow down, appreciate from where we have come from, appreciate God's amazing blessings for our community. Listen to each other, get to know our neighbors. Maybe when groups ask what can we do for us, maybe say, come walk with us, meet our neighbors? I don't know what is in store for us, but if it is of God, then amazing things will happen. God's way will not be over thrown. His Kingdom will be glorified. Wouldn't it be awesome for our community to be a part of this? Wow!
Don't forget, Friday (today) and Saturday, we will be hosting a feeding site for the Weekend of the Cross participants. Mr Tom will have all the food and drink, we just need to come and help serve it. The children will be hot and tired, so the more we can do for them, it will be appreciated. They should be arriving around noon on both days. It won't take long to serve and clean up, maybe an hour at the most, so come if you can. The children and their leaders will appreciate it.
Prayer concerns. Lomax and his grandparents. Lomax has been spending most of his time with them this week. I have not talked to Lomax, but those that have, said his grand father is not doing well. Lomax, please let us know if there something we can do for you.
Ms Sarah asked for prayers for all who are involved with Weekend of the Cross. This is a weekend of youth from all over the state, that comes here to paint, clean up houses around Shreveport. Ms Sarah asked for prayers of safety and health as the youth do all of this out in the hot summer temperatures. Prayers for Ms Sarah who is one of the leaders this year and to Momma T who is one of the site leaders.
Prayers for Beth as she struggles with life issues. Prayers for Charley as he begins preparation of another Kairos weekend in September. And a praise report, William is 3 weeks sober and feeling good. Prayers for Gus as he travels back home, in preparation of moving to Longview.
Thank you all for being such loyal and faithful servants. You all have such unique and special gifts and helping others is what you all are about. May we continue to be about God and not about ourselves and enjoy the many blessings God will bring to us. A special lvoe to you all, you deserve it. Amen and Amen!
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