I can't imagine living in this cold, brutal weather but some of our friends are. Most of our friends, adapt and survive not willing to go to shelters. Scott led our group out last week to find them dealing with the elements, no fun! The weather has messed up our practice times for our basketball team. Our bread ministry continues to wrap and save our donations on Saturday.
Our afternoon reading sessions took the week off due to no school. As well as our men's Bible fellowship.
Thursday was tolerable. Ms Abbie and Brother Chester led the way in chapel. Our meal was enjoyed by all. Groceries were handed out. Our friends from LSUS continue to come every week and help out in the dining hall. Our kids were a little noisy, thankful to get out of their houses!
Willie and Brian will be speaking to the men's breakfast group at Brookwood Baptist Saturday morning.
Alan and Joey have been busy this week building a new room for our outdoor friends items.
Shannon, Abbey an Lisa continue to rearrange the food pantry in preparation of our grocery store opening up. Can't wait for that to happen.
Our longtime friend and electrician, John Williams, spent Thursday evening changing and moving electrical plugs for us at the Bright House.
This Sunday, we will host our first Grace study group. Pete, Juan and Chris will be hosting a Discipleship class and asked if they could have it at our community center! This will be the beginning of a new and unique relationship. Wonder what God is up to?
Prayers for Phil as he travels to Colorado for his continuing education class. Continued prayers for Ginellen. She got home from the hospital Monday afternoon and continues the recovery process. She is exhausted from her hospital stay and working on trying to get her strength back. Prayers for our grant proposal being sent off today. Lisa and her group have worked tirelessly on it. If this grant is awarded, it will have a lasting effect on our children of the community.
I was reading a book in preparation of a committee I have been asked to be a part of, written by a pastor to other clergy on various aspects of leading a congregation. One part of the book that resonated with me was titled, serving is not an option. I was reading a newsletter of the Jewish synagogue in town and the rabbi was talking about being Jewish. The rabbi said, I do not understand the concept of not having enough time to do Jewish things. The rabbi goes on to say, that being Jewish is a lifestyle, not something to schedule into a calendar.
Many months ago, I was having lunch with a pastor and he asked me, how do we get folks interested in doing things outside the church. How do we convey, that serving others, is just as important as going to soccer games. Over the years, we can get folks to write a check, buy food, make a donation, but when you ask for their time, we get blasted with all sorts of excuses. Everybody's calendars are full, no time to do God stuff!
The author of this book, put it this way, if we have chosen Jesus as our Lord and savior, then serving others is not something we put on a calendar or work it into our schedules, it is who we are. Jesus was the best example of what a servant looks like, we should do the same. Once we accept Jesus, then our old selves are gone and a new creation is formed. We move from the mindset of what's in it for me, to what can I do for God.
In this coming year, as more and more people begin to be aware of Common Ground and what is happening in our community, we need to convey, this is not something we put on our calendars. This is not something we rearrange our schedules to do, this is who we are. Our participation of being a part of God's Kingdom is not about us looking good, but about how we can further God's Kingdom into the world.
God needs you to be a part of this. Common Ground needs you to be a part of this. Our community needs you to be a part of this. Want you come! Amen.
Hope your week will be blessed beyond your imagination! Joy, peace and lvoe to all!scos
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