Our journeys

We are at the start of the third month of this year. Is time flying or what? Hope your week has been a good one. Hope your blessings and challenges were met with God at your side.

Mr Scott led us on our visits. Turner is still at his camp but says he will be leaving in a week or so. Turner says he has a new place, but we don't know yet where it is. Hopefully he will let us know. We visited with Smokey and Leroy and was joined by Tim and Matt. It was strange not walking across the bridge and going under it to visit with Dale. Tim has moved Dale to their new camp. Dale was not feeling well, so we did not go to the camp. Tim asked for a new tent for Dale. I found one in our room and took it to the camp. Dale was sitting in his chair, coughing and not looking good. Hopefully in time, Tim can get things set up to where Dale can feel at home but right now it is hard. Tim has a regular job now and is looking at getting a small house so he can move Dale and himself into. Let's pray that happens.

This past Saturday and Sunday, Common Ground was part of Brookwood's Global Mission weekend. They invited ministries from their church, the city, the state and global to come together and share the passion each has with the congregation. We were in good hands Saturday night with Heather,TJ and  their children. On Sunday, Abbey, Ms Lisa, Joey all helped out. TJ was asked to speak at each service about what he and his family does on the Second Saturdays. He talked about how Common Ground has become a huge part of their lives. Always thinking about what they can do for us and our community. It was a great feeling to see how God is working in this family's life and how they feel a part of our community.

Not sure what it is, the nice weather, getting later in the school year, but we have had a huge increase in the number of children joining us. It is not just the Mitchell family anymore, the Smalls and others are coming. In fact too many to go inside, so outside games have been happening. There is football games going on on the grass, word games happening in front of the chapel, jumping rope contests happening. It is good to see all the activity happening and different families coming together.

Tuesday evening, Matt led 13 men in our Bible fellowship. What a blessing it is to have all the men come and share how God is working in their lives. We read about the mustard seed and Jesus asking us, to only that much faith, then He could move mountains. Why is it so hard for us to let go and let God in our lives? Are we so controlling we want to do it ourselves, thinking we know best? It is especially hard for men, who society has told us to be strong, to be the leader, thinking we need to be in charge. Our pride gets in the way, so we fight to let go.

Tuesday evening, Joey, Chanel and her husband Justin were invited over to Gert's house for a family picnic. Gert considers Joey a part of her family. Sinotra has been in a kind of boot camp in Minden for two weeks and she wanted Joey to know, when the family can go for a visit, she wants Joey to go with them. Very special.

Our Thursday meal was nice. Being the first of the month, our numbers were small, so we got to visit with our community. With the nice weather, some fishing has been going on. Some are working on their houses. Others are dealing with tragedy. One of the men walked over to me and said, how much he has enjoyed our men's Bible fellowship and misses it when he can't come.

Michelle got us together to talk about scheduling for our meals. She brought big calendars, to put on them when folks will be working. She will hang them in the fellowship hall and maybe more of our community will sign up.

John S brought our roofer over and they have found our leak in the fellowship hall. There is a roof drain in that area. The old copper pan has cracked allowing the rain to come through. Unfortunately, Mr Woods had to order a new drain and it is not in yet, so let's pray our rain showers do not come too hard until the repairs are made.

After our meal, Joey led us in reading in Ephesians, 1:15 - 2:10. We also celebrated the birthday of Charley. We talked about works. We talked about light. We talked about lvoe. We talked about living. We talked about encouraging each other. Amazing to think, how every part of our lives, God is there.

Joey and I left early, so we could get Joey to the BCM. Joey had been asked to be on a panel to talk about missions and his experiences with Common Ground. He was hoping that what God placed on his heart would come through and that some of the young folks would want to come and experience some of the blessings Joey has. Joey, said, missions should be a form of worship. We have grown up in church, thinking we come to church to worship. We do, gathering together for song and praise, but we need to also think along the lines of worship outside the walls, like serving a meal, clothing the naked, visiting the homeless.

Prayer concerns for Ms Abbie and her family. Joey and I want to apologize for the slow notification of the death of Ms Abbie's great grand son. We found out about the death last Saturday. I had planned to let everybody know today, thinking the funeral would be next week. Unfortunately the funeral was held Thursday. The little one had just returned from the hospital from a simple procedure. The next morning, the new mom found the baby lifeless. Very, very sad. Go by and give Ms Abbie a hug and let her know you lvoe her.

Prayers for Dr Phil as he returns from Panama. He again is a miracle worker as he and his group of doctors and nurses sees over 300 children per day in clinics. What a amazing thing these people do. Prayers for one of our community folks, Curtis. He just found out he has liver cancer. He still is in shock and trying to deal with the news and
the next steps of treatment. Prayers for our young adults who are in the process of discerning God's direction in their lives as they begin their seminary journeys. Our friends at the B'nai Zion Jewish temple on Southfield. A group of teenagers desecrated a statue in the back of the Temple with swastikas markings. You would think we have gotten past all of this hatred, but we haven't. Unbelievable this would happen in our own back yard. We are still waiting on our permits for the kitchen remodel. Prayers for our patience. We are still waiting on permits and bureaucracy with Dr Phil's little village. Prayers for patience

Our journeys are different. But all important in the building of God's Kingdom. But they are journeys. We do not know where we are going, what we will see along the way, what we will find at the end. We are moving along a path one day at a time. As Momma T said, God lights our next step but not the whole path. If we saw the end, some of us may not make the next step. If we truly believe, have accepted Jesus as our lord and savior, then why shouldn't we walk in faith? God asks us to have the faith of a mustard seed, He will take care of the rest. Isn't that something we can do? We don't have to worry about tomorrow, God is control. We can't change things anyway, we can't change people, so why not let God take charge? Some of us, need to know the outcome before we take our next step. But in God's world, that is not going to happen. I think God knows us too well. He knows we would mess up our journeys, if we knew where we were going. God only asks us to walk, to say I am yours Lord, use me.

I pray, we all let go, we find the path we are called to be on. I pray our faith grows to a mustard seed and we allow God to lead our way. What amazing people you all are and what blessings you are and will be to those God brings into your lives. Have great weekend and a great week. Amen.