Lots going on in our community. Prayers for Joey and Jerry as they have moved back into their camp. Hard to transition into a place where noise and craziness is prevelant. Hopefully a place will open up soon for them.
Monday and Wednesdays continue to be a joy. I need to record our afternoon blessing with the children. Watch for it on Facebook! What a treat.
Tuesday evening, the men of the community gathered to talk about God's unfailing grace. Rickie led the men reading from Ezekiel. A prophet of God, telling the people about God's lvoe.
Thursday was a special evening of song, praise, eating, serving and laughing! A friend of George's shared the Word, as Ms Abbie played the piano. Z prepared a banquet as new friends from LSUS and St Pauls helped serve and clean up. Pastor Kaylan had the clothing room open. Ms Dorothy was being reminded, she had 30 seconds to finish her shopping spree before it was time for others to come in! The Market was busy as usual. A good evening.
This Saturday, Z will be hosting a informational meeting for the community. Next Thursday, we will have our first Green Market. We will have local vegetables available for the community to purchase. Other activities are happening in the next few weeks. God is busy in our part of the world!
Prayers for all who have been and will be affected by the storm on the East coast and our friends in Haiti.
Two things struck me about God this week, God never gives up on us. In Ezekiel, God asks him to go speak to His people. As it says in verse 3, . . . they and their ancestors that have rebelled against me. Ancestors, a long time, God's people had forgotten what He had done for them, rebelled against God, but still God lvoed them enough to show His grace. We do the same today! Over and over, God's grace saves us from ourselves. We thank Him and months or years later we fall back. At some point, we seek God's grace and there it is for us again! Amazing!
The other thought, is God is always with us. God tells Ezekiel to go to His people and speak My Words to them, whether they listen or not, go! God warns Ezekiel, my people have become obstinate and stubborn. In verse 6, God says to Ezekiel, "And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them . . In fact, God tells Ezekiel, do not be afraid two more times in verse 6.
Do not be afraid! Good words to remember because many times God will put us in places that are outside of our comfort zones. Verse 2,"As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me?." That same Spirit that spoke to Ezekiel, thousands of years ago, is still speaking to us all, we just have to allow God's Spirit to come into our souls and listen. We do not have to be afraid because God is with us.
I was reminded again, it is not about us but about God! God tells Ezekiel to go to His people and speak My Words to them, whether they listen or not, go! God warns Ezekiel, my people have become obstinate and stubborn. Our jobs, our commission is to go out, share the Word, whether they listen or not. Sometimes we will see change, other times we will not. I asked someone several years ago, why they stopped coming to our community meals. They said, they didn't see any change in the attitudes of the community. If we are in the business to see change, then we will become disillusioned, burn out and will quit.
We should be responding to the call God has placed on our hearts to share His lvoe with others. It is not our jobs to change the hearts of others. That is what God will do! I was reminded, sharing God's lvoe takes many forms. Some are able to share His lvoe through speaking. Others play the piano. Some cook. We have saints who are there for the children. Servants who work in the garden, hang clothes, visit, listen. God will use you, as He needs you to build His Kingdom! Amen!
Have a great week. See you around the center. Do not be afraid!
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