Do I know you?

Is it Friday already? Just had one last week, didn't we!? Hopefully your week was full of God's riches and blessings! Sorry to miss last week. We had our grand children with us all week long. As some of you know, or those who do not have grand children yet, your time is not your own! We were on the road last Friday to Dallas and returned home to collapse from exhaustion and the joy of the past week!

Last Saturday we visited our friends. Turner is fine, talking about the passing of Muhammed Ali. Didn't know Turner was a big fan! Robert shared, one of his former camp buddies passed away. Brad Shy lost his battle with cancer. Brad had been through a lot these past few years. Sad to hear the news. Ogilvie camp was small in numbers. Joey and Jerry were dealing with the health of their dog, Clarence. He is not doing well. We met a group of servants, who visit the camps every week, checking on the camp animals. Hard to make friends you can depend on, living outside, animals provide that support to our friends. This group does a great service to keep the animals as healthy and fed as possible. Garden work continues. Always could use help to pull weeds and plant new seeds. Basketball is in full swing with the new city late night league going on. Bright House II worked continued, making the final touches going on.

Monday through Wednesday, we had the blessing of having one of our long time youth groups visit us. Luke Simpson Methodist church from Lake Charles made their annual trip up here to visit and work around the center. They cleaned, painted, organized, dug, played for three days. What a joy to be able to share in their enthusiasm for our community. We have more youth groups coming. Abbey can always use your help to help lead and get to know the children.

Tuesday afternoon, we were blessed to receive more groceries from our friends from Christ Methodist. Our cupboards was bare and as usual God provides. The groceries were brought by the new associate pastor for Grace. She grew up at Christ Methodist and was excited to see what was going on at our campus. She was looking forward to getting involved at Grace and with us.

Wednesday morning, the children from Grace joined in with the youth from Luke Simpson and helped out around the center.

The men of the community gathered Tuesday evening. Rickie led the discussions from reading Luke 13: 22-30, entering through the narrow door. The Jewish community was asking Jesus, how many will get in. Jesus said, get away from me, I do not know you. Ouch, does Jesus know you? It is not what you do, but why you do it.

We now have a new practice facility open for our basketball teams. First Baptist has opened up their facility to our boys every day so they can practice inside and get out of the heat! What a blessing. Not sure how Vicki and Matt do it, they now have 4 teams. The 14 and 17 year old boys are playing in the city midnight league during the summer. Games start at 9 and 10 in the evenings. I will try to send out a schedule for the coming week. I know they would lvoe to see you at their games. They could also use your help at their meals or just sit down with the boys and visit, always a treat.

Thursday evening was full of activities and people. We had a new friend, one of afternoon tutors, Ms Jackie share the Word. Our new campus friend, Bryce shared his gift of song. Our friends from Clearview Church helped with the meal and with the Market. A good evening.

Prayers for our long time friend Noel. He has hurt his back and unable to get out of bed. Smokey also is having some knee problems prohibiting him from walking for very long. William is back at the nursing home trying to make a go of it, prayers for God to continue to be a presence in William's life. Prayers for our community. Prayers for our camps as the summer days approach, dealing with the heat and mosquitos. 

Congratulations goes out to our own Ms Lisa. She received an award at the Louisiana Supreme Court in New Orleans for all the hard work she has done for our community. Lisa does not get the credit she deserves for all the time and effort she spends keeping things going. It was very nice of the law community to recognize her for all she does for us.

Don't forget, Monday afternoon at 1:30 our summer camp will be starting. An exciting time for everyone involved. Come by for a visit, meet a new friend, guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

As we begin to think about where we are going in our journey, I was reminded about where we have come from. I spent an hour with a couple of ladies Thursday sharing our story. They see what is happening now, but I shared how we did things in the past. Eating our meals on the driveway. Waiting for a phone call on a rainy Wednesday evening about the vote on whether we would get the building. All the ministries being done out of the Bright House after we fixed it up. Being asked to move our meals from the church. Attending meetings, so disgraceful, I can not repeat. Being locked out of rooms in the church. 

Our community is made of people who have a caring heart. You all want to do as much for our community as you can. You see the despair. The anguish. The lost hope. The frustrations. You hurt inside, just like our community does. I was reminded Tuesday evening, in the reading, verse 26, the people will say, we ate and drank with you, and taught in our streets. Verse 27, but he will reply, I don't know you or where you come from. away from me, all you evildoers.

As we think about where God is leading us, we have to all stop for a moment and think about, is what I am doing for Christ or for myself? It is so easy for our pride and egos to step up, when people say, oh what a great job you are doing. As more and more people are beginning to come, they see all the things going on and will say, this is great, ya'll are doing a great job! Our chests pump out, our egos are inflated and we begin to think it is all about me!

All our ministries are doing great things, but is it of God? We can't make that decision, only you can. As we move forward, we are being approached with great ideas, great ministry opportunities, but is it of God? Take a moment in the coming weeks, stop for a moment, find a quiet place and have a conversation with God. Ask Him, is what I am doing, is it your plan God or mine? Ask Him to show you the way He wants you to go? Then listen.

The Jewish community was doing good things. They were doing things their fathers had taught them to do. But they didn't realize, there was more to the story. God was telling them in this parable, you were doing the right things but for the wrong reasons. Only out of our relationship with Jesus, will we know the directions we need to go. This is God's Kingdom, not ours. Amen.

After your quiet time with Jesus, let Lisa know what God shared with you. Let her know what direction God has placed on your heart for the next step in our journey. Then if it is of God, things will happen as it has in the past. Have a great week. Lvoe to all!