He is risen!s

Very late with this week news! My apologies to all. Hope everybody is enjoying the spring weather in your part of the country.

Saturday, Scott and Dawn were late returning from their visits. I asked why and they said, everybody wanted to talk, even Turner! Everybody is doing well. I helped Alan a little with the work at the Bright House. The bathroom is ready to paint and then the flooring can go down. Flooring in Joey's old room is repaired. Kitchen walls and floor is patched. Trim work is being done. Getting close. Ardis and her helpers wrapped and wrapped all the bread. Vicky and Matt continue to keep the boys busy with play, Bible study and chores. Momma T and others continue their mentoring of the "girls". Relationships are being formed, showing the girls God's lvoe.

With a small crew of helpers for our after school activities, mr brian arrived at 3. I will confess, Lisa had everybody doing exercises for the first few minutes. Jumping Jacks were a hit. Stretching for the sky was ok, but then Lisa made us touch our toes! I haven't done that in years, so I had to fake it! Lots of good things happening with the children. Homework help, computer skills formed, craft work, relay races, kick ball all adds up to an educational and fun time each Monday and Wednesday.

Tuesday, the men gathered in the chapel for Bible fellowship with Pastor Brown leading in the reading from Psalms 119: 1 - 17. You can tell David lvoes the Lord. "I will praise you with an upright heart as I Iearn your righteous laws." "I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands." All good thoughts for our journeys!

Our regular team for chapel were unable to be with us, so as usual God sent His servants to us. Over and over again, God continues to show us who is in charge by sending us Brother George and Ms Abbie. With a change in our food pantry system, the chapel was packed, the Spirit was flowing, Amens, Hands being raised, Songs being sung, praising going on, like nothing I have ever seen or felt before! Followed by our yummy meal, with lots of help, the excitement continued. Our community lvoes our new pantry system, having the option to select foods they want and inspiring new folks wanting to be involved.  We had lots of help for our annual Easter egg hunt. Only thing missing was Lomax dressed up in his Easter bunny outfit! Next year Lomax! Lots of new visitors, checking us out, learning what is going on, and how they can become a part of our community, a great night.

Prayers for Lisa, Mark and their family. Mark's 91 year old mother passed away this week. Prayers for safe travel to Virginia to celebrate her long, fruitful life. Prayers for Dr Phil as he has arrived in Colorado, having to suffer through the beautiful days in the mountains! Prayers to Daren and his family, as Hat wrote, he has lost his struggle with his illnesses. No greater child of God than Daren. He had every right to have a pity party, but choose to lvoe His Lord with all his heart, mind and soul. We will miss him and his smile. Safe travels for all of our community who are traveling during spring break this week. Prayers for the Board of Common Ground as they will be gathering Wednesday evening for a time of reflection.

Don't forget, more Easter egg hunting will continue Sunday morning! We will meet at the center at 6:30 am. Gather the eggs, bless them and walk the neighborhood until they are all gone! A great time to see our neighborhood and see the challenges before us. We can always use more eggs, so bring some along. Everybody is welcome to join us. We walk for about an hour, so we can make it to church.

I still struggle with today being called Good Friday. I understand, why we call it Good Friday, because of the sacrifice of Jesus, but I still don't like what Jesus had to go through. I understand Jesus had to suffer, be beaten, nailed to a cross, buried, but couldn't God come up with a different plan? I understand the prophets of the Old Testament saying a Messiah was to come, walk with us, then die for our sins and rise on the third day. I just hate Jesus had to go through all of it.

I guess it is good God is God and mr brian is mr brian! God's plan was to save us from ourselves, knowing we couldn't do it our selves, so He sent His son do it for us. Brother George, talked about the lvoe chapter in 1 Corinthians 13. Never heard this chapter talked about this time of year, but George said, Lvoe is patient, kind, does not envy, does not boast, is not proud, does not dishonor others, not self seeking, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, rejoices in truth, always protects, always trust, always hopes and always perseveres. Lvoe never fails.

Isn't that a description of Jesus? Jesus had to suffer today, because that is what lvoe does. We would suffer for our children, if in the end it would help our children. Jesus went through it all today because He lvoes us that much!  And as He was suffering, He knew in a matter of a few days, it would be all over and He would get to be with His Father. Thank you Jeus for your lvoe and sacrifice, so one day we will have to opportunity to be with you forever! Amen.

He has risen!! He has risen indeed!