Life is challenging!

Another week has come and gone. God is busy. All sorts of things happening in and around our community. Hope your world was busy with God's many blessings this week.

Scott had a full crew with him as they made their rounds visiting our friends living outside. The city has moved Robert from under the bridge. They have been talking about doing it for a year, it finally happened this week. After the visits, Scott went back and loaded up his truck with Robert's stuff and moved to his old place down the road. An old friend, Donny was back at his camp, hopefully not for good!

Others of us on Saturday morning were walking with the firemen of the area, installing smoke alarms in houses. It felt good to get out and meet and greet with our community and introduce our neighbors to the firemen. Our basketball team continued to practice preparing for their next game.

Later on in the morning, more of us attended the graduation of Sonatra. Sonatra is a product of our community, no supervision leading to undesirable actions in his young life. With his mentor, Matt, who encouraged him to stay the course, enabling him to accomplish this milestone. He has his GED, has 15 hours of college hours and looking forward to what life has in store for him. This is a start for our young men, hopefully others will see the example Sonatra has accomplished and will do the same.

Our learning to read afternoons continue with new and energetic helpers. We could always use more servants, so please join us.

Tuesday evening, Rickie led our men's Bible fellowship, reading from Psalm 121. Reading about how the creator of the heavens and earth, is concerned for each one of us, watching over us morning, noon and night! What good news is that!

Some of us had the opportunity to visit with the young people of the Yellow House Wednesday night as they hosted the author Jonathan Wilson Hargrove. Jonathan, friends with Shane, lives in a community with Phil's son Matt in North Carolina. He then came by our community on Thursday morning for a short visit. Good thoughts and ideas shared by Jonathan.

I was gone for Thursday's activities, so others will have to let us know how things went.

Lisa spent most of her week, showing young leaders of the community, our community. New people are inquiring about our community, churches wanting to do more with us, all exciting prospects challenging us! God is good!

Many new opportunities will be happening this coming week! Can't wait to share the good news!

Continued prayers for my sister's family as they go through the death of their daughter. It was good to see family from all over the country, coming down and supporting the family. You begin to ask God, why, but no answers are adequate. Life is precious folks, don't put off things until tomorrow, because tomorrow may not come. Prayers for Matt and his family for his mother and her declining health.

God will only put before you what you can handle. I have heard that for many years. Sometimes, especially this past few weeks, I wonder? We try to comfort love ones. Try to stay strong when others are weak. Try to offer support to our family members who are hurting. I am realizing, I can't do this by myself, God has to be my rock.

Hugs are given, not by me, but the Spirit within me. Tears are shared with others, not by me, but Christ within me. God wants us to come him, when we are hurting, He is there for us. He will be our comforter during these times of struggle. Something I am realizing, my relationship seems to be getting stronger, the more I ask Him for support. Isn't that what He desires of us, a closer relationship!

When we are pulled 14 different ways, stop and ask God to be our director. When death occurs, stop and ask God to wrap His lvoing arms around us. When life doesn't go as we would like, stop and ask the Holy Spirit to be our comforter. Christ is there for us, He yearns for us to be our supporter. He wants nothing more than to have a personal relationship with us. It is up to us to make the first move! Amen!

Hope your coming week is fruitful, full of God's blessings! Life is good, God is better!