No better way to get our week started than to visit our friends and our neighbors. The weather has not been cooperating for neighborhood walks, but through perseverance and some young hearts, we still made an effort. Tim and Matt led our children around as they picked up some trash. Dawn and Scott dodged the mist to visit our friends. No major drama going on, which is a blessing. Finishing up the visits, with Smokey and his hooked cooked meals. What a treat to have some warm food for our cold bodies and a chance to visit with Smokey and his friends.
With finals and Christmas holidays going on, we were short handed for our afternoon activities. Ms Lisa led the children in games and studies with help from a few of our friends. The next two weeks, we will not be meeting, while the children are out of school.
Tuesday evening was a record breaker for the men's fellowship. Over 30 men young and old attended, listening to the Word and each other as they shared their hearts. Matt read from Romans 5: 12-21, talking about God's amazing grace. It is nothing we can earn, nothing we deserve, but God lvoes us so much, He wants us all to be with Him for eternity. It is very simple, nothing complicated, no rules to memorize, just let go and let God into your heart, He will do the rest!
Wednesday and Thursday we were blessed to have a group of young adults from far away and some from this area to spruce up our center. They were part of an organization called Americorps. First met them down in St Benard's parish after Katrina, spending time with them helping to rebuild a church in the New Orleans area. They mainly work with the Fuller foundation here in Shreveport. The house they were suppose to work on was not ready, so we were blessed with their talents and hearts. The hallway and fellowship hall have all been repainted, giving the center a fresh new look. They helped Abbey in the grocery area and decorated the dining hall tables for our meal. Hopefully, they will be able to help us in the future with other projects.
We had more fun Thursday evening. We had Pastor Jackson leading us in song and Pastor Warren from Grace sharing the Word in chapel. St Luke's medical van was open for business. Lots of good help with our meal and clean up. The guys from the macroni camp washed all our dishes. We had our annual visit from Santa. Big bags of groceries were handed out. Lots and lots of people joined in for all the fun. A great evening! Thanks to all of you for making it so special.
Lisa, Ms Abbie and all her family were missing out in all the fun because they were at the celebration of one of our young people, Kierra, Ms Abbie's granddaughter, was being pinned as a nursing graduate from Northwestern. What an accomplishment for this special young lady and all who have taken a part in her life. No better example of the saying, it takes a community to raise a child.
Don't forget tonight we will set up our first Christmas Market in the fellowship hall, starting at 4pm. Then Saturday at 9, the Market will open. Help will be needed, prayers for all who will come and those who will be helping.
Pastor Roger at Grace last weekend coined a phrase, get off your donkey and help someone! Cute Pastor well done! I would like to run with that phrase a little and say, especially during this time of year, it's ok to rest!
Our community is blessed with many donkey servants, accomplishing many wonderful things for the glory of God. I was reminded of that this week, listening to Lisa share our story with the young people from Americorps. No matter how many times we have heard our story, it never gets old. I marvel at everything that has happen, that continues to happen and overwhelmed with excitement in things that have yet to come.
Everything that we have been blessed with, is all because of you allowing God to work through you. We all have "day" jobs, we all have "other" responsibilities at home, but you find time and energy to continue come to our community and share your hearts with others.
I worry somethimes you all are doing too much. I use to work under the premise, if I don't do it, it won't get done. Now God has showed me, He will bring others to accomplish what needs to be done, I don't have to worry!
During this time of year, we get even more busier with "stuff". I worry we won't find time to stop, relax, reflect, and enjoy the gift of grace and the gift of our savior. Everything that we are, everything we are about, everything we accomplish is for Christ and the building of God's Kingdom. Allow your souls and your hearts to accept these gifts, to refresh your mind and heart for the challenges we will have in the coming year.
Have you guessed whose birthday we are celebrating this week! Let's celebrate the birth of our savior, not by doing more, but by doing less and doing with it our family and friends! Amen.
Have a great week. See you at the Market on Saturday. Merry Christmas to all! May God's amazing grace abound in us always!
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