We continue our Saturday activities. The camps are doing ok. Turner is fine. Robert is still in his camp, waiting for the paperwork to go through for an apartment. He called his mom while we were there and we got to speak with her. She lives in Pennsylvania. She thanked us for looking after Robert and all we do for him. Big crowd at our Ogilvey camp. Basketball players were on the court practicing and having fun. Bread was being wrapped. The garden was taking shape as weeds and ground clutter was being pulled out. Bright House continues to come together. It was a beautiful day!
With spring break going on, no afternoon children activities were happening.
Tuesday evening, Tim led the reading of Phillippians 2: 12 - 18. Do everything without grumbling or arguing . . , the verse starts. How good are we at following this advise? Hard to do, when we are thinking about ourselves and not Jesus?!
Wednesday evening, Momma T and mr brian were servants for the evening for the Board of Common Ground. An evening where we shared a meal. Where we got to know each other a little bit better. We shared pictures of the past. We walked the halls talking about where we are now. And concluded our evening by looking at the future. A reminder it is not about us but about Jesus and where He is leading us.
Thursday evening was different? With school out, the children started arriving by 2:30. Their excitement level was high, full of energy and life! Chapel time was packed with community as Willie and Wes led the singing and sharing. The noise level didn't subside! Our meal was prepared by Joey and everybody was busy eating, running and playing! The market took a little longer, with more of the community showing up and folks shopping a little longer. Definitely high energy was happening all night long!
As far as we know, funeral services for Daren, a friend of Grace and the men's Bible fellowship, will be at Grace Saturday at noon. Prayers for his family as they deal with this man of God leaving their family. I was thinking about him this week as I drove up to Grace, missed seeing his black truck parked in the handicap parking spot. Then was reminded, he is now able to get around, no wheelchair needed, able to meet and greet His father in heaven he so lvoed. Prayers for Ms Joyner, Ginellen's mother. She is having health issues.
The thing that comes to mind this week is, God saying keep on keeping on, I have it! Reflecting back on where we have come from, where we started, it has been just a few short years. We were with a church family, asked to take a break from the church family and it's building. Turn two crack houses into places where God will be able to shine His light into the community. Watch a building deteriorate and by God's grace able to own that building and bring it back to life.
We have built relationships with the community that still remain after all these years. We see our children grow up in poverty and all the challenges that presents. We have been there for their births, their achievements and their disappointments. Our hearts go out to the children when we see them hurting. When they hurt we hurt.
When your children are hurting you want to do more, you want the hurting to stop. When you see adults fighting, drinking, loosing hope, your heart breaks, you want your friends to not loose hope, you want to do more. When you are part of a community, your heart is there, when they hurt you hurt. We see the quality of education lacking for the poor. We see the lack of substantial housing available for our neighbors. We see the lack of quality jobs offered to our community. Health care is lacking. The lack of transportation is prevelant. Drug and alcohol use is out of control. Child care is almost none existent. So what are we doing?
God says, keep on keeping on, I have it! Our world has spiraled out of control for many generations. God has put us in a community where, the best is yet to come. We have accomplished so much in so very little time. It is not about all the doing but it is about us just being there. When you live in a community like ours, you see very little hope. With God working in and through us, that hope appears and our community sees it. At times we will struggle. At times we will become frustrated. At times it will seem overwhelming. But remember, God says, keep on keeping on, I have it!
This past Christmas, I took my wife to Walmart to buy something for our grandchildren. As we were standing in line to check out, a young man came up to me, from his check register. He said mr brian do you remember me? I said, I am sorry I don't, I'm old and don't remember a lot. This young man, who was working, had a big responsibility, said, I use to come to your "church" every week and hang out. He said, I sure enjoyed those times, thanks for doing that!
While we are waiting on God to show us His next steps to His Kingdom, it is important for us to remember, to be there in community. The buildings are not important but you are! God's light can not shine through the walls or the doors, only you can. The community will see God's light through you not the tables and chairs. Remember we are on God's timing and not ours. Lvoe, lvoe, lvoe!!! Amen.
Hope your week is special. Remember, God lvoes you - God haves it under control!
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