Saturday was as busy as usual around the center. We made our visits to the camps, seeing old friends is always a treat. Work was being done at the Bright House II by our friends from The Church at Red River. Momma T spent her time between the garden and the house. The painting of the walls was starting with bright new colors! Amazing to see! Joey and Joey prepared a yummy breakfast for us all. Vicki and Tim arrived to prepare lunch for the basketball teams. God is good!
Monday and Wednesdays we continue to share the lvoe of Jesus with our children in the afternoons. Transportation continues to be a problem, with Allison going to the school each afternoon to help the children get on the buses. When they arrive at the center we have a multitude of help to take over. Great to see all who come to help our little ones.
Tuesday evening the men gathered as Brother George shared the Word, reading from 1 Corinthians 10: 1 - 13. Israel began to drift away from the teachings of God and Paul was reminding the church not to do the same. Something the church of today needs to remember.
Thursday evening, Brother Chester and Ms Abbie got the evening started off in chapel with the singing of praises and the hearing of the Word. Brother Chester talked about lvoe, God's lvoe not our love! Allison and Ms Abbie prepared our meal and the youth from the Simple Church helped serve it. At one point in the evening there were more helpers than community! The Market was full of our new helpers as well as the clothing room. A good time to visit with our community to catch up on what is going on with them.
Prayers, prayers, prayers. I was asked by some community members to pray for them last week. We held hands or grab a shoulder and went to God in prayer. At the beginning of chapel each week, we ask our community for prayer concerns. This week we had one of our little ones raise her hand and ask for prayers Nothing more humbling and personal than the share the lvoe of Christ with your brother and sister. It does me more good than those who have asked.
Do we get set in our ways? I know the older I get, routine seems to be a good thing. Do we need to bring something to the table, or do we feel comfortable enough to just show up? Do we realize we have a valuable asset with us, all we have to do is be present?
Friday morning, just as I was about to settle into my routine, I get a text from a long time friend who has moved away, saying they were in town for a few hours and would like to have breakfast and visit. I had just met with my men's group at 6, heart filled with the Holy Spirit, get this text as I was sitting down in front of the computer to write this note and I get this text. It was nice to get, but this was not in my schedule for the morning. I think about it for a moment and sent back a text saying, great to hear from you, thanks for the invite, but I need to get back to my routine, see you next time you are in town and said bye. As I clicked send, I had that feeling of, man that does not feel right.
Then, I opened up my first devotion of the morning from Max Lucado, titled Show Up!. Max says, do you believe in your kids? Then show up! At their games. Their plays. Their recitals. You may not make them all, but it's sure worth the effort. Show up! Max says, an elder from his church, shows up in the audience whenever he gives a talk. The elder does not say anything, just smiles when Max sees him in the audience. Max says, it means a lot to him. The last sentence of the devotion said, You want to bring out the best in someone? Then just show up!
Our four year old grandson has begun playing soccer. His games are early on Saturday mornings in Dallas. Last year I remember us going over to one of his games. We told him we would see him before his game. We got delayed and were not there for the start. Our son said, he kept looking into the stands for us at each moment he could. When we finally arrived, the biggest smile came across his face we had ever seen, we just showed up.
For the past 20 years, in our community, when I tell my story, my greatest asset has been to just show up. I can't speak, as Ms Abbie can tell you I can't sing, I can't draw, don't dance, can't cook, don't garden, I just show up. The children of the community know mr brian will be there rain, snow or sunshine. I have nothing to offer other than the greatest gift we all have, the lvoe of Jesus in our hearts. We need to remember it is not about us but about Jesus, just show up. Several weeks ago, I mentioned the children continue to come after all these years, why because they can experience the lvoe of Christ through you all, something they do not experience any where else, just show up.
We don't need fancy programs, pretty pictures, polished silverware, we need to just show up. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to take us places we have not thought of, was not part of our agenda, not in our schedule or part of our routine. We need to just show up. Just like being a part of our prayer circles, blessings are received by us for just showing up.
Oh, by the way, I closed my computer, got dressed and met my friend for breakfast Friday morning. We were both blessed by our time together, I just showed up! Amen.
Hope you have a great weekend and a better week ahead. Remember, to just show up, God will take care of the rest!
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