Here I sit in the hospital again! No I did not copy and paste this note! Ginellen has developed another fistula, the doctor wanted to take care of it sooner than later, so here we are! Please continue your prayers for her.
Our cold, wet winter weather hit last Saturday. Usually on Saturday mornings, God let's the rain stop for a few moments to allow us to visit our friends, but that didn't happen last week! It was nasty, but as always it was a blessing to visit. With this type of weather, shelter and warmth are a priority, so our visits were short and sweet! Even though our camps are dwindling down, it still amazes me, the fortitude of the men still living outside. It is a hard life, but somehow they continue to survive.
Our Monday and Wednesday afternoons our after school activities continued. It is great to see the children come into the dining hall, find their assigned tables with their teachers. They stay standing until everybody gets in their places and then they start singing their blessing. Thank you Father for this food! I will admit I sing along with them and then continue humming the blessing the rest of the afternoon!
Tuesday morning we had a group of Santa elves from First Baptist church decorate the center and chapel. Great to see all the holiday cheer everywhere you walk!
Tuesday evening the men gathered for Bible fellowship and reading Matthew 25. God continues to bless the men of the community in various ways!
Thursday evening, we had a treat as an overflow crowd in chapel got to hear Christmas songs from St Joseph elementary school. Then our longtime friend Ms Jackie shared her testimony about loosing a child and her process of overcoming that hurt, very powerful. Z and Ms Abbie prepared a banquet. The children from St Joseph helped serve, clean up, worked in the clothing room and were shoppers in the Market. A busy blessed night for all.
Prayers for Mr Joe. He had another episode. Peaches and Ms Abbie took him to the hospital. He is back home and resting. He was feeling well enough to help us Thursday night.
Don't forget our Christmas Market is next Saturday the 17th. Work of sorting and pricing will begin next week. Contact Abbey if you can help. She can let you know times and places to gather. It will take all of us to make this year's Market even more special.
It is easy for us to go our own way in life. Usually our lives do not affect other people. Because of our sinful nature, we are selfish, usually only worried about how things affect us. When Christ enters our lives, we take on a new creation. We no longer are worried about just us but about others. Having a heart filled with the Holy Spirit will make us do things that we would not normally do. We are not living our own lives, but we are living lives directed by God for the creation of His Kingdom.
In living a life of Christ, we are put in circumstances that are not in our comfort zones. In being the hands and feet of Christ, we do things that others are not doing often being criticized or talked about. It is a hard price to pay sometimes. being talked about, trying to do what God is calling us to do, but it happens. Often we make sacrifices to our own families and love ones, to follow our callings. So what do we do? Do we give up and go home? Do we fuss at God and say why me? Do we ignore the Spirit and do nothing?
We each need to make those decisions for ourselves.
I have no doubt God is calling us to a place where His community is being established. God continues to bring others into our community who can and will make a difference. Each one of you have made a difference. Each one of you are servants. Each one of you continue to be a blessing to our community. Through our faith and obedience, we will enjoy the blessings of being faithful! Amen.
See you around the center next week and our Christmas Market next Saturday. God is good!
No comments:
Post a Comment