Springing forward

Don't forget this Sunday to spring forward. I don't know who came up with all of this time change stuff, but I don't like it. With each passing year, my aging body, needs that one hour of sleep and when it doesn't get it, I am worthless. All you young people can not relate right now, but one day you will!

We had a great time meeting new family and friends last Saturday. Mr Scott led as as we visited with our friends. Turner, says, he has been given more time to find a place, so he is hoping the railroad folks will leave him alone. Time will tell. Ms Dawn, got friends together and we visited Tim and Dale's new camp. Their camp is on top of a hill. Chairs with a little tarp covering them and the tents are set up around the camp. Smokey was doing fine. On our return to the center, we were greeted by Krysten's mom and dad and her grandparents. Very nice to meet them all. First time for them to be in our part of the country. Krysten gave them a tour of the center and her house and other places around town. They weren't here very long, but long enough to see what their daughter spends her life doing. Thank you mom and dad for sharing one of your daughters with us, she is indeed a blessing to our community.

Monday and Tuesday, we had lots of help, so tutoring was spent inside the center reading books and doing homework. Wednesday, was spent outside jumping rope. Next time you see Worm, ask her about her jump roping skills! For a little one who can dance, hard for her to get the rhythm of jumping. We all had a good time watching her try to get it!

Tuesday afternoon, the officers met with a pastor who has offered to set up a summer feeding program. Rev. Eddie Buchannon would set up the program for us, train us and help us run it, with the idea of us running the program by ourselves next year. Lot of good to come out of the program, jobs, feeding the hungry, advertising, but also some concerns on how this would affect our summer camp. With an upcoming board meeting, we will discuss the issues and make a decision on what is best for the community.

Our men's Bible fellowship was good as always Tuesday evening. Our numbers were small when we started but gradually grew as the night went on. You can tell how important something is to someone, when they have a meeting at the same time. When that meeting is over, instead of going home they come to the fellowship. Matt read from Hebrews 11, What is Faith? Abraham was so faithful, he was willing to sacrifice his son. God knows me, so thankfully he does not me to do the same. Good discussions on what our faith looks like, why are we doing what we are doing, whose blessings are we seeking? Smokey, concluded our discussions with an observation, don't we want God patting on our backs and saying, I am well pleased with you!

We had a small group at our meal on Thursday. The storms were coming and we guess scared a lot of folks away. We did have lots of help. Heather and TJ from Brookwood brought the main course again for us, jambalaya, yummy. Some of their life group came along to help serve. Then Matt brought some men from Airline to observe. The men from Airline Baptist are going to bring a meal next month. Just as we were finishing up around 5:30, we had Broadmoor Methodist youth come. They helped us clean the tables, empty the trash and wash dishes. It was a great evening. Tom came up to me and said, looks like his job of cooking every week is over. He said it with a big smile. If we are obedient, then God will send folks to help us out.

Following our meal, we just stayed in the hall and had our Bible study, listening to the rain and wind hit the windows. One of the reasons, we stayed there, was to observe our new roof drain that John Sauls had put in. We have a praise report, that all roof leaks are now fixed, can I have an Amen! Momma T read a devotion about Insufficiency. How it comes natural to a lot of us, we don't need to create more for God. God wants us to depend on Him, not go it alone.

Prayer concerns. Beth and Charley, Beth is in bed fighting through the pain of kidney stones. Charley is scheduled for cataract surgery Friday morning. William as he struggles with addictions. Alma, as she continues to recover from foot surgery. Noel is going by to build her a chair ramp. Dr Phil's step son Grant and his church will be traveling to Haiti during their spring break.

John also sent out a note that our kitchen plans have been approved. Now he will take the plans to the city to receive the necessary permits to start the kitchen remodel, can we have another Amen!

Joey was not our Bible study because we was visiting Tim and Dale. Unfortunately Joey got caught in the storms and was soak-in-wet as he arrived later on after having to walk from various bus stops. Our transportation system is terrible for those who need to ride the bus.

We called Lomax on Thursday evening, but as usual we did not get an answer. We left him lvoe notes on his phone. Lomax has a blog, www.lomaxwebb.xanga.com. Check it out. He is on his way. Lots of adventures. Keep him in your prayers.

Lots of activities happening on Saturday. Brookwood will be coming for their Second Saturday. With TJ talking about us in church, Heather thinks we will have a lot of adults coming. We will have lots of Brookwood youth coming, both their junior and senior high will be joining us to help around the center. Some will be going on our visits.

Momma T and Ms Patty will be hosting their U2 Saturday. Lots of activities are planned.

Our Book signing will be happening at Barnes and Noble. Go by and say hi to Judy and all the folks there supporting us. Krysten is bringing some of our kids so they can see what is going on. Also, as a treat for coming to tutoring and being good, she and a group of helpers will be taking the children to a movie Saturday afternoon. Very cool.

A reminder, Easter is fast approaching and we need to be collecting eggs and candies for our Easter egg hunt. For those of you who are new to our community, many years ago, we started hiding Easter eggs around our neighborhood Easter morning. We gather at sunrise and make our way into the neighborhood until all the eggs are hidden. Everybody is invited to come and be a part of this special time. Bring your family, friends to help us out. Momma T, said, this year she will have all her "peeps" with her for the event! Come and meet her "peeps"!

I am again overwhelmed with all that is happening in and around our community. We talked about Tuesday night, faith. God is asking us to take the next step, to have faith, He will guide us. We should not be concerned about the results, sometimes we will not see them, it is not up to us to determine what the outcome will be. God is in charge of that. He is only asking us to walk with Him, lvoe those who He puts before us, and amazing things will happen. Max Lucado this morning put it this way.

Compared to God's part, our part is minuscule—but necessary.  We don't have to do much, but we do have to do something!  Faith with no effort is not faith at all!

Write a letter.  Ask forgiveness.

Call a counselor.  Call a mom!

Visit a doctor.  Be baptized.

Feed a hungry person.

Pray.  Teach.  Go.

God honors radical, risk-taking faith.  And He will respond.

God is responding because of your faith and your tireless efforts in the building of God's Kingdom. We are just at the beginning of something very special.

Many blessings to you all. Hope you have a great weekend and a better week. Lvoe to all. Amen.