Last Friday as you have seen on our Facebook page was eventful! We had a table set up to welcome visitors from LSUS. We were blessed to receive many cans of food and to start new relationships. Later in the evening, Chuck, shared his story with others from First Methodist.
Saturday was a great way to start our week. Many were in the second story arranging, throwing away, sorting all sorts of stuff we have accumulated. Garden work was being done. Bright House II crew was hard at work. The basketball team and their support staff were having fun. Our visits to our friends living outside was lively! A good day, full of God's riches!
Monday and Wednesday we celebrated our time with our children in the afternoons, learning all sorts of stuff. New learning games were planned for Monday. All having a great time.
Tuesday evening, Rickie led our men's Bible fellowship time. We read from Joshua 24, talking about serving our Lord instead of worshipping other idols. Who do you serve?
Thursday evening was full of Christ moments. As we were beginning to start chapel our friends from First Methodist came through the doors to lead worship. As Derek and Heather walked in, the community gave them a warm welcoming round of applause! Vickie, Allison and Tim worked hard all afternoon preparing our meal, as more of our youth from First Methodist help serve. Others joined into help in the Market. Our community was blessed with a huge shipment of bread, taking several loaves with them to share with their neighbors. A busy evening of fun and fellowship.
Prayers for all in our community as we move along the paths God has chosen for us. May our paths, our conversations, our relationships glorify God in everything we do.
Reading from Joshua, a military leader who brought the Israelites into the Promised Land. He brought Israel together one last time, to remind them all God had done for them and asked the people, in the middle of verse 15 . . . then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . The same can be said today, whom will we serve?
In our journeys, we sometimes get off our paths. We take a turn, not of God but of our own and obstacles begin to form. We butt our heads against the doors that don't open, we argue with others to justify our actions, we wake up at nights wondering where we are going. Why? We begin to follow the gods of our desires, the gods of riches, the gods of our possessions, the gods of our pride, the gods of our busyness. We worship these gods everyday, all day, where does that leave room for our Lord?
Joshua asks the people, you choose. You choose the gods, where life is not worth living or the God where His grace blesses us all. You choose. We must choose. Jesus is there for us, but we must choose to follow Him.
Then Joshua, in the last part of verse 15, says proudly, But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. A bold statement at that time, the same can be said today. No better way to demonstrate it, than to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, welcome a stranger and visit those that are lost. Common Ground has always been based on this and through you all today. We continue to be bold in this world, serving the Lord! Amen!
Have a great week, enjoying God's Riches At Christ's Expense!
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