Saturday was a cold rainy morning. Scott continues to make the rounds to visit our friends living outside. We can get into our warm cars, go inside the house and turn on the heat, living outside, you have no options like that. Staying inside your tent or cardboard house in your sleeping bag covered with blankets provides the only relief from the cold. All our camps were doing ok, the hot coffee and a little conversation helps break the cycle of cold for a few minutes.
The bread ministry continues to share their efforts with the community on Saturday mornings. A request was made by Ardis for some help on Saturday mornings. If I may say Ardis, it was not the usual request, but one of support to help her resist the bagels and sweet rolls! The ladies work for a couple of hours sorting, wrapping and freezing the bread each Saturday, from 9 - 11. Your help would be appreciated!
Our basketball team continues to prepare for their upcoming league play. With the bad weather, they have been practicing at a local community center. The community center's director came to help us one Thursday and she commented on how well the boys behaved at her center. Then she said, one boy couldn't stay any longer because he had to get to Bible study at common ground! She was very impressed. Our team first game will be Tuesday. Matt will let us know the place and time. It would be nice for as many of us who could make the game to show our support for the boys.
With the start of a new year, our learning to read program got going again in the afternoons. With some of our college student's change in their schedules we could use your help. We meet from 3 - 5 Monday and Wednesday.
Tuesday evening was our first time in the chapel in a long time when we had heat! Thanks to God, donations came in to allow us to purchase a unit for the chapel and we are blessed now to worship without shivering! We had a treat, Carl was back with us after a month of rehab from his pace maker procedure. He looked good and he felt good he said. Matt read from Matthew 18, starting at verse 15. We ended up for most of the night talking about verses 21 on, forgiveness. Surely I don't have to forgive someone who has wronged me! Why, I am perfect, I did nothing wrong! What did God do for us? Unless we forgive, God will not do the same for us!
Another reminder of our faithful ladies, Stephannie and Ms Abbie, every Wednesday morning come to help sort, hang and arrange our clothing room. We have received a bountiful amount of clothes at the end of the year. The ladies could use your help. They start around 9 and finish up at 11.
Thursday afternoon chapel got started off with our pastor unable to be there, but as usual God provided us His servant, George, who blessed us with song and words. Wes, shared his gift of playing the piano and chapel time was never better. Amazing how that works! A good meal, lots of help from our children of the community and another good evening.
Following our meal, Lisa had our monthly Board meeting. Some things that were discussed. With our abundance of donations from the following year, we have begun the remodeling of the Bright House I. Some changes in the bathroom, laundry room and mainly the insulation of the house will be done. Lisa shared, Lauren our longtime intern, has asked if she could have her wedding in the garden the end of May! Not sure we had to vote on whether we would allow that! All the ladies on the Board are already planning the event! Lisa shared, we had a big year in donations. Mainly donations were small but more of them. We had donations from all over the country. Our Facebook page, newspaper articles and other media outlets touch people and they give.
David gave a report on the Christmas Market. A great success. Some tweaking will be done for next year, but all in all, a great time was had by all. Saturday, January 17th, Momma T will host our second open house. Next Thursday, we will have our fist Mardi Gras parade hosted by "real" Mardi Gras folks! One of the crews will be marching around the fellowship hall, in their full regalia, throwing beads and having a good time.
Prayers for Matt's mom. Next week the family will be making a decision of long term care for her. Hard decisions, when our parents age and their health begins to decline. Prayers for Matt as he has a hernia procedure scheduled for Tuesday. Outdoor Jerry, had another heart scare Monday and was transported to Highland hospital. He was back with us Thursday but didn't look too good. Ms Abbie's Joe's youngest daughter in Houston had a heart attack this week. The family has a history of heart disease. Prayers for our neighbors. There was a fire at a house across the street from Alan and Phil. An elderly man and his bed ridden sister lived there. The man covered up his sister from the fire to allow her to be pulled to safety by the firemen. He unfortunately died at the scene. He was always nice to us when we visited him. I remember asking him one year if he would like a Thanksgiving meal. He said, that would be nice, but could I have two meals! Always thinking of his sister.
Brother George read from 1 John chapter 4, talking about the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. Lots of good discussions in the Board meeting of ideas, dreams of what we would like to see for our community in the coming year. There will be challenges associated with these ideas and dreams. We will not know the answers to the questions we will have, but don't let that stop us from moving forward.
Working in the Kingdom business is different than working in the world. In the world, we plan, execute the plan and get the results. We don't deviate from those plans, we don't move forward until we know all the answers, we put all our faith in those plans.
God doesn't work that way. He asks us to listen, to obey and to be patient. We move forward when we fill His spirit inside of us saying it is time. God will bring whoever He needs, He will supply the needs, He will guide us along the way, we just need to have faith in Him. The one who created the universe is inside of us. Nothing is too great to get it done as long as we do it in God's time.
Exciting times are ahead for us and our community. We have no idea what blessings God has in store for us but know they will beyond our imaginations. The one who is inside each one of us, together will be the community He desires for the building of His Kingdom! Amen!
Try to stay warm and dry in this season! Blessings to all!
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