Our camp visits were very nice. Not sure I have mentioned it before, but wanted those of you in Shreveport to be on the look out for billboards for a new mayoral candidate! Robert said, when his disability checks begin to come in, he wants to run for mayor! He wants to start his campaign by first putting his pictures on billboards! Not sure that is what you are suppose to use your checks for?! But I guess it could be worse!
With school back in session, our reading classes continued this week. We some new faces join in on the fun helping our children with their reading. We can always use more help, so please drop by for a visit between 3 - 5 Monday and Wednesdays.
Tuesday evening, Brother Elbert led the men's Bible fellowship reading from Mark 4: 1-20. The farmer sowing seeds on various types of ground. The men shared, at different points in their lives, their ground was not made of good soil. Thankfully the farmer never gave up and one year our ground was good and produce bountiful crops!
Thursday was started off by our friend from our men's Bible fellowship, Rickie West. As he put it, he offered words of encouragement, not there to preach! Spencer got our month of chapel started off right by the singing of some Christmas hymns. Brother George's church provided the food and fellowship for our meal. A big crowd for the first of the month made their way from the meal to the food pantry.
Hopefully everybody saw our article in the local paper concerning the Christmas Market. The link is on our Facebook page. I brought Byron the article and he promptly put it in his pocket so he could take it home and show his family his picture in the article. First time that has happened to him.
Prayers go up for Karl this morning, as he is receiving a pace maker. He said, when he goes to sleep at night so does his heart! The doctors want to be sure they can keep his heart beating at a steady pace during the night. Prayers for Charley Ackerman. He had a stroke several weeks ago. They are working with the VA hospital to determine the course of treatment. Prayers for Ginellen. She continues to adjust to life with an "appliance" strapped to her stomach. The one blessing, is her bottom area has not hurt since this last procedure. She goes to the doctor on Tuesday to determine what is next. Prayers for Joey. So nice to see his posts on Facebook and to hear his voice on the phone. His challenges in a foreign land are big. Help Joey continue to be strong in his faith and obedience.
In our Monday night Bible study we read from Luke Chapter 15, talking about the lost sheep. Not sure God had this parable in mind when we put up our Christmas decorations!?
Unfortunately, putting up our holiday decorations has fallen on me these past two years. I enjoy all the lights and pretty stuff once it is out, but putting the stuff out, is a pain! I spent last weekend, decorating the tree, putting out the nativity scene, lined our mantel with nutcrackers, put out reindeer and flashing lights on the hearth. All very nice and colorful, until Ginellen asked where are the dancing elves?
I had worked tirelessly for two days, everything was just right, lights a flashing, baby Jesus sleeping in the hay, garland was hung, but we were missing dancing elves! I will admit, I wanted to sit back and admire a job well done. I said to Ginellen, all the decorations are nice, we don't need dancing elves. But she would not have any of that! The elves were lost and we need to find them. Our kingdom of decorations are not complete until we find them!
Aren't we glad Jesus does not sit back on his throne and say, most of my flock is doing what they are suppose to be doing, but there is this one person, lost, does not have my heart, they need me. Most of us would say, look at the 99, a job well done, but not Jesus! Jesus goes out of his way to find us and bring us back into His Kingdom. Aren't we glad He did not give up on us!
When our ground was like rock, or full of thorns and the Word was given to us or shown to us, but we did not hear it or take it to heart, Jesus did not stop throwing out His blessings on us. Don't give up! Jesus didn't!
A life full of Jesus will present challenges. People will react both negatively and positively to us. It is easy to receive a compliment, but hard to live with a complaint. People will let us down at some point. but Jesus never will. Don't give up, Jesus didn't!
We all have been lost from time to time. We all have strayed. We all have been on rocky ground. But don't give up, Jesus is always watching out for us, always doing what He can to bring us back into His Kingdom! Amen.
Hope you all have a great second week of our Advent season. God is good! All the time! Amen! Oh yeah, pray we find our lost dancing elves!
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