No better way to start off our week, than to gather around the tables for our monthly breakfast. Momma T and Joey were busy cooking biscuits, bacon, eggs, gravy and hot coffee. Everybody enjoyed the meal and conversations. Right after we finished our breakfast, Ardis and her crew, began to wrap our weekly delivery of bread.
With a few leftover biscuits we took them to our camps. Everybody was doing ok. We got to see some old friends who have moved back outside, Evelyn, Sodapop and ol'man Dave. We met some new friends and had good visits with them all. Matt leads our neighborhood visits and finds time to have Bible study with some of the children. An amazing Saturday, which happens every Saturday, come and join in on the fun.
With a holiday on Monday, we were again blessed to have a big group of Centenary students join us for the morning. Over 40 students and supervisors joined in to transform several areas of the center. All the trash cans were full of things that needed to be thrown away. It was great to see them and experience all their energy.
Our afternoon homework sessions are back in motion again. Lots of help for our children, allowing us to have one on one relationships. Great to see everybody working together and having a good time.
Tuesday evening, the men of the community met for Bible fellowship. We read from John Chapter 3. Lots of good discussions on how God is working in our men's lives. A packed house, lots of new faces joining in on the talk. Young and old, experiencing what God can do in your life.
Wednesday, we gathered at the Bright House for our family time. Joey, Lomax and Ricky hosted the evening will good food and fellowship. Joey performed a passage from Mark for us, performing the parable of Blind Bart! Questions were asked and lots of discussions about our relationships with Jesus.
Thursday brought our cold weather and snow flakes, but that didn't stop most of our community. Ms Abbie and our community choir got us started with songs and Pastor Eddie led us into the discussion of Luke 6 and the man with the crippled hand. Pastor asked us what is crippling us? You want to be free of what is holding you back, turn to Christ!
Abbey and her crew, prepared a meal, served by the community and cleaned up by others. Grocery bags were handed out, the clothing room was opened and everybody had a great evening.
Henry Youngblood, Ms Abbie's grandson will be graduating this Saturday. Henry will be receiving his high school equivalency and starting a new chapter in his life. Congratulations to all who have helped Henry through this process.
Don't forget, we will be having a memorial time for Richard at his gas station, this Saturday at 12:30. Come and share your stories with us about your experiences with Richard.
Got a phone call this week from a youth group who wants to join us again this summer. Abbey will need help this summer with supervision. Please begin to think about how you can help out when we have friends visiting with us. Guaranteed to put a smile in your heart.
Prayers for those who are traveling. Dr Phil made it home safely from a trip to Israel, we can't wait to hear all about it! I think I saw Sarah and Scott at the "X" games doing tricks on their snow mobiles! Prayers for Momma T. The passing of her dad Thursday night and continued challenges with her mom. It is hard, very hard when our parents who have taken care of us all their lives, have challenges with theirs. Prayers for our friends living out in this cold, cold weather. Prayers for my wife, Ginellen, who is starting to experience more health issues. And having to deal with our socialize medicine procedures. Very upsetting to us all.
Tuesday evening, we read from John 3, Nicodemus coming to Jesus, asking questions of Jesus about how he performed all those miracles. Verse 3 Jesus says, . . unless one is born again, he cannot be in God's Kingdom. Verse 5, Jesus says, I tell you the truth, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter God's Kingdom. Then in Verse 7, Jesus says, don't be surprised when I tell you,, You must be born again.
Been thinking about, being born again. Obviously to Jesus, He is trying to make a point of how important it is for us to change our ways. Over and over again, you hear the phrase, easy to tell a Christian on Sunday, hard to tell a Christian on Monday.
We go to church on the weekends, look the part of what a Christian should look like, maybe go to Sunday school and still our hearts are not changed. We lie, steal, gossip, slander on Mondays. How is that born again?
When Saul saw the Light, literally, he became a new person, even changing his name. Isn't that what we should do? Not saying we should change our names, but when others see us, shouldn't they say, who is this person?
Over the last few months, I hear some of us talk about how their lives have changed since they have allowed Christ to lead their lives. Seeing Ardis on Saturday mornings, having breakfast, wrapping bread, leading groups, is not the Ardis of old. Her friends have asked her, who is this person? Tim, who use to solve his problems by drinking or fighting, now turns to the Lord for guidance, leading others to Christ. The guys under the bridge, says this can't be the Tim of old?
Jesus is asking us, demanding of us to change our lives, to be born again. We can not be the same person we were. We can say we are Christians, but does our lives reflect that change? When Saul became Paul, his friends did not believe him, but his actions convinced them he was a Christian. Does our actions do the same? Ardis and Tim's friends see a change in them. Do your friends see a change in you?
Being born again, is hard but so rewarding. Letting go of the old ways, trying new ways is not comfortable. Your friends, may talk about you, your family may laugh at you, but Jesus will lvoe you. Isn't that what matters, the lvoe of Jesus, who changed our hearts, working through us will change the hearts of others. Amen.
Hope you all have a great week. Think warm thoughts!
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