What is God up to?!

This week has been a blur! I have talked about, how sometimes our daily lives become routine. We wake up, go to work, come home, go to bed and start back the next day. But this week has been different. When a family member passes, your routine changes, at least for awhile. With the passing of Ginellen's daddy, your perspective on life changes. Things we take for granted, like Papa saying the blessing at the table, will not be there anymore. His funny nature, always cutting up for a laugh, the house is now quiet. His unique way of being sure everybody was ok, his comforting presence will not be there.

Mr Joyner's brother, 92 years of age, also struggling with life, told the family Thursday morning, at his brother's bedside, I had a feeling I needed to call Hubert last week, but I never did. We were sad for his brother, longtime buddies, not saying goodbye to his friend and brother. Another example of what we have learned and heard over the years, don't put off today because tomorrow may never come. Lvoe those who have harmed you today, lvoe those around you today, lvoe those who you might not even know today.

Life goes on, certainly in our community! Visits happened Saturday morning, basketball was played, reading after school was done, meetings were attended, new friends were made, scripture was read and talked about, chapel was full of song and Word, meals were served, groceries were handed out, clothes were given away, life goes on.

Continued prayers for Ginellen and her family. Prayers for Jerry, who had another episode and more stints put in his heart Tuesday. I forgot to mention, Ms Abbie's Joe had another seizure a couple of weeks ago. He passed out on the front porch, ended up in the hospital for a night and is now home recovering. 

Monday we hosted, not only Centenary students, but members of the fire, police departments, the Mayor's office, public officials, Carl and I were able to attend a meeting Wednesday night with other Angel Award recipients to discuss an upcoming grant application. Grant monies awarded to us. Lisa and Carl attended another meeting Thursday evening with more than 16 other non-profits. This week the question many are asking, What is God up to?

One of the non-profits we talked to Wednesday night, talked about numbers, you need to run 200 kids through to make a profit. Other non-profits there, were big names, all we know about, with big budgets and big payrolls. Lisa and Carl spent most of their night telling others about who Common Ground is, no one has heard of us.

Common Ground is unique among non profits. Most non profits start off with a good idea, but then along the way, they start hiring people. Then you change from seeking funds for your cause to seeking funds for your payroll. We always hear, it takes money to hire the people to run your program. I understand that, but common ground is not most agencies. We have always been about our community, not about ourselves. We have always been about God, not about us looking good.

We must stay true to our vision of who we are and who we are about. I tell the story, many years ago, of my longing for the old vacant church building sitting there decaying, wanting to open it up for a community center. If God would have given me the keys then, I would have not known what to do with it. Lisa shows up for our tutoring in the afternoons, saying this is where God is calling me to be. I say to her, I think God has more in store for you than just tutoring, and the rest is history so far.

We want our community to have all the opportunities it can have, but we must understand, those opportunities will come in God's timing not ours. There are plenty of people in the world who can share their gifts and time with our community, we just have to be there and show them the way. As we talked about in the end of Matthew, we are to go out and make disciples in all the world.

Our jobs, are to share our lvoe of community with others. Our jobs are to share the lvoe of Christ with others. Our jobs are to be ready, listen and obey. We have to be patient, something I am not, and have faith God will provide. He has brought us this far, for a reason. He wants to show other communities, His Kingdom can exist on earth, as it is in heaven!  What is God up to?! Amen!