Deeds

We have finished the first week of August! Is time flying by or what! Hope your week was a good one, filled with many of God's blessings.

Scott and I visited our friends who live outside Saturday morning. I had not been in awhile and it was great to see our old friends. Like family members, you don't see except for holidays or something, you walk up, receive big smiles, big hugs and talk about life. As we were leaving Turner, Scott said to me, that is why I continue to come. 

Turner has taught me a lot about survival. Bernard, Turner's first name, over all these years, never takes what he does not need. Too much to carry, doesn't want others to come into his camp and steal. He has shown me, it doesn't take much to live on. Over the years, we would say to Turner, don't you want to take this can of beans, or this jacket, or these socks. He would always say thanks, but don't need it.

This Saturday, Bernard took 4 bags of groceries with him, almost too much to carry. In all the years we have visited Turner, he has never taken this much. I said to Scott, he must be hungry. Bernard has mental challenges, does not like to be around people, uncomfortable in crowds, so standing in line, or going to an organization's building, is not something Bernard does. Scott is worried, if we don't come on Saturdays, what might happen to Turner. So we go and will always go as long as Bernard Turner needs us! Amen.

Arriving back at the center around noon, Matt and Vicky were surrounded by a parking lot full of children playing basketball.  They were enjoying pizza and drinks, cooling off from a hard morning of playing! What a great atmosphere is being created, allowing for a safe, lvoing place for our community children to come.

Saturday evening, went to hear the new pastor at Grace. Juan is stepping in some big shoes, but he looks like he will be able to fit right in! The highlight of the evening, was sitting with our Mr Kevin and then getting a big hug from Allison. She was in for a few days, before she starts her last year of divinity school in Atlanta. Allison, I know of a place where you would be welcomed with open arms when it is your time to start preaching!

Tuesday evening our men's fellowship was different but also spiritual. Matt reading from James, chapter 2, talking about having faith and no deeds. Even the demons knew about God, so having faith without deeds is dead. Verse 26 reads, as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. So we got up, went into the children's gathering area, and filled 90 backpacks with school supplies! Amen.

Wednesday afternoon, Joey and Lomax hosted our friends from the Highland Yellow House. What an amazing group of young people they are, taking a part of their lives, living in the Highland area and sharing God's lvoe with others. Hopefully we will continue to grow together in our faith and deeds.

If you see our lady, Kathryn, who helps keep the community center looking good, tell her what a great job she is doing. She is working on the floors to get them back in shape from a summer of glorious fun.

Thursday afternoon, the center was full of activities. Heather and Derek lead worship and a new friend,Branson, shared the Word. The room was filled. Followed by a great supper, from Abbey and Abbie. Groceries were handed out. As the children were leaving, backpacks were given away. Please thank the folks from Grace Community for their generous donations of back packs and school supplies. We also had some of the community, especially Prys and Pumpkin gathering supplies and bags from local businesses. Every child had their backpacks on and walked around the center with huge smiles.

A reminder, our John Sauls is offering a trip down to see our pastor's new church and help them out. Sione and his misfits down there, are resurrecting a church from ashes, to bring lvoe to folks of New Orleans. I think John has a few more seats available. Cost is $160. They will leave Thursday August 14, returning Sunday August 17th. Joey is going. Please email John at: jonsauls241@gmail.com. If you can't go on this trip, John is planning other trips down there in the coming months.

Please keep our children in your prayers this week. Most of them will be going back to school. A new start, a fresh beginning, hopefully full of learning opportunities. Don't forget to let Lisa know if you can help us out this year with tutoring. We will be starting the end of the month. Please continue to keep William in your prayers. He continues to struggle with life. Most of his days is just sitting around. A visit from us, helps him a lot. Joey saw him this week. Prayers for Hat and Karl as their daughter is struggling with health issues.

James is one of my favorite books in the Bible. I am a "doer" and James seem to say, if you are not doing, you are not showing your faith. We have had discussions about earning your way to heaven. As we know, that can't be done. In Billy Graham's column this morning a man was concerned about heaven and whether he would be going there. He said he tried to be good all his life, tried to do good things for people, but never really knew God. There are lots of people doing good things in this world but why are they doing it? It is not for us to judge, we don't know their hearts, but what motivates them into their actions?

When I was being interviewed about the Angel award, the lady asked me, do you ever get tired of doing what you are doing? I had to think a moment. Over the past 20 years, have I gotten tired? Sure I have become exhausted, over whelmed at times, but tired of doing God's work?

And it hit me, I don't get tired because it is not me doing the work, but Jesus, the Holy Spirit within me doing the work. Jesus had to get away from the crowds occasionally, because His humanness was taking over. He was beginning to loose focus. If we try to do it ourselves, guaranteed we will burn out, loose our enjoyment, become tired of doing good.

You want your faith to grow, allow the Holy Spirit inside of you to move mountains. You want to know Jesus, allow Him to run your life. Wanting to know what God wants you to do, let go of your pride and ego and let God take charge.

Deeds happen because of your faith. The lvoe you have for Jesus, almost forces you to actions of lvoe. Jesus wants deeds that come from your heart, not deeds that come from your pride. You all represent deeds being done from your heart. Continue to do this and your reward will be a life time spent with our Father. Amen.

Have a great week, full of deeds of the heart!