This past Friday we got a call about our outdoor friend Richard. We talked about Richard Saturday morning. In typical Richard style, not one but 3 different cars hit him as he was trying to get across the road and he was killed. Richard has been with us for many years. Richard taught us how to laugh, how to listen, how to lvoe. He showed us, life was hard for those who live outside. He showed us how to survive the trials of living on the streets. Those that went to visit our friends on Saturday, stopped at Richard's gas station, held hands and prayed. We prayed for those who are still on the streets, we prayed for God to be able to listen to Richard's stories! We prayed for Richard's family. We will miss our Richard. Hopefully in the coming weeks, we will have a memorial service for Richard, so we all can share our stories about the man!
The next day, we get the terrible news we lost our sister in Christ, Ms Dorothy. Ms Dorothy, loved the Lord in everything she did. She had put up a good fight against her cancer. Ms Dorothy had been with us for many years, helping, serving, singing, laughing, working together trying to make our community a better place. There will be service honoring Ms Dorothy, this Saturday, January 11th at noon at her church, Mt Olive Baptist Church. Edward said for us to turn on 73rd street off Line Ave and you will see the white church building at the end of the street.
Jesus lvoes the children. I can see why. To help us through these struggles, we were blessed to have several different youth groups from churches in Bossier City. Through the help of Momma T and Ardis, they helped prepare several meals, straighten the kitchen shelves, rearranged the clothing room, helped mr brian trim out the office floor, went with us on our visits, all the time doing so with laughter, enthusiasm, and joy. It helped us take our minds off of our loses of the week.
Sunday, we lost another long time friend of mine, Wilton Broadwell. Wilton and I were at the start of Grace Methodist. We went to breakfast on Sunday mornings, after setting up the church at a high school Grace was using. Wilton, sponsored me into a happening called Walk to Emmaus, helping me to learn to let go and let God into my life. We attended a Men of Grace Bible study every Monday night. Wilton and I kind of took care of Grace in the beginning. One day he asked me, do you think it would be alright to cut down that branch? I said to Wilton, if you don't do it, it won't get done! Almost 20 years later, Wilton carved out a sanctuary in the woods where families have been married, where you can sees God's miracles of growth for generations to come, provide a place where you can listen to God's quiet voice. A job well done Witon, a loyal and faithful servant.
Monday brought bitter cold to this part of the area. Some of our guys went to a shelter. Others stayed in their camps. We checked on them Monday night, brought coffee and hot chocolate. The temperatures have finally started to rise but now the rain has started providing more challenges. We did get some good news on Monday. As we were checking in on the Macroni camp, Outdoor Tim got a call from the VA and they approved his application for housing. We were able to take him to his new apartment. The timing couldn't be any better, getting out of the cold air was a blessing. Tim, thinking of others, brought Jerry with him to spend the night, to get out of the cold.
Tuesday evening, Tim hosted our men's Bible fellowship, reading from Isaiah 43:18-28. God provides a way for us, why do we go down a different path? Our path usually leads to destruction. God's people had strayed away from Him, just like we do today. God wants a relationship with us. Why do we take God for granted? Why can't we take a few minutes each day, and devote it to our understanding of Him?
Wednesday evening, Ardis opened up her house as we gathered for our family time. It had been awhile, so it was nice to see everybody and catch up with everyone's activities. We finished Dr Phil's book and will move on to reading one of the gospels in the coming months.The last chapter of Dr Phils's book, the State of War. We are in a battle, a spiritual battle for our souls. Satan will do everything to take control, but we have God at our side, fighting our battles, so we will be victorious. Don't let Satan win!
Thursday, the rain started. Pastor Jackson and Wes got our chapel time started off by singing and praising God like no other. Someone in the back started singing a hymn, Willie starts and before you know it, we all are singing! No words on the wall, just a song in our hearts. In this new year, we need to listen to God to hear how He wants us to share His lvoe with others. My feeling, is it will take more than just Thursday evenings, for 30 minutes!
Following chapel, we got to enjoy the meals that were prepared by our helpers last Saturday. It was delicious. The thing that struck me Thursday night, was all of the help we had from the community. Great to see the young ones handing out the drinks, serving the meals, cleaning the tables, stacking the chairs.
Lomax introduced us to his sister and niece this week. They were in town for a visit. Great to finally meet them after all these years.
Prayers for all who are suffering with a cold or flu. Lots of that going around right now. Prayers for Momma T's mom and dad. As our parents get older, life gets harder and more and more responsibilities falls on us. Challenges at every corner, wears on your soul.
Also on Thursday, got a text from John Sauls of the passing of a long time friend, Butch Owens. Butch and his wife Ruby, were true servants of God. Butch was a master carpenter and helped us build a house for a lady living in a town north of Shreveport. Every Saturday, Butch, John and I would drive the 20 miles, work on her house and drive back. Never once did I hear from Butch any grumbling's of this is too much.
You just never know what the next day will bring. You just never know when God will say, it is time. Are you ready? Knowing Richard, Dorothy, Wilton, Butch, they were ready. They lvoed the Lord with all their hearts. The light of Jesus shined through each one of them, drowning out the darkness they faced. We are so busy with our lives, I worry, we are not preparing our souls for when God decides to takes us to Him. All the wealth, the stuff we strive, consuming our liives means nothing in the eyes of the Lord. It is our relationships with each other, our moments of laughter together, is what is important. Our relationship with Jeus, is what will lead us home.
Yes, it is sad when we loose someone we lvoe, but it is also a blessing to have known them. Seeing them live their lives is an example of how we can live our lives. Let's start the new year, living like Richard, Dorothy, Wilton, Butch did! Amen.
Hope you have a great week, living life to the fulliest for Jesus!
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