Another busy Saturday got our week started. We visited our friends living outside. As Shawn and Scott mentioned as our morning concluded, God is needed! Robert, who has been living inside for several months now, is having medical problems. His past is catching up to him. He loves the Lord, is not worried about the end of his life, but also, when you face your mortality, life becomes precious. As Robert spoke of his problems, his tears of concern began to flow. He said, he knew he had a mission for the rest of his life. That mission was to share with others to not live a life style he once did. To turn the lives over to Christ. The next camp, more of the drama we have been seeing the last several weeks. Alcohol was prevalent again, with many unable to stand or barely able to be coherent. One of our long time friends, finally able to get up, comes over to me, with big tears in his eyes, saying mr brian please forgive me for my short comings. We need prayers for our friends. Satan is busy in their part of the world.
We only had our children Wednesday afternoon this week. Monday was a holiday, so we missed out on our fun times with them. It was good to be back with the children and all their excitement and enthusiasm.
Tuesday evening, Brother George led our men's Bible fellowship reading from Luke 13: 1-8 titled repent or perish. Have we asked God for forgiveness for our sins? If not, how can we forgive others?
Also on Tuesday, our Cedar Grove Chargers were winning another game! Their last game of the spring season will be Tuesday February 28 at 7:15 at Bill Cockrell Park.
Thursday evening, was full of blessings as Ms Abbie and Bryce shared their gifts of music as the community choir led us in praise. Brother Chester shared the Word, focusing on lvoe, God's lvoe, not the world's love! We had many friends helping us serve and clean up in the dining hall, helping as our personal shoppers in the Market and bagging clothes from the clothing room. A busy, blessed night.
Prayers for our long time friend William. Prayers for the leaders of Common Ground. Prayers for God's direction in our journeys of faith.
The past several weeks, as I was working in and around the center, I have had two different groups of people come up to me and say, this is amazing what you are doing around here. They have been on a tour of our center with Abbey or Bryce and they were in awe of what they saw. I thank them and say thank you, but it is not me but this is of God.
Last night as I was setting up our sound system for chapel, waiting on our computer to update for an hour or so, I sat and listened to the community as they began to come in. Two different community members came over to me and were excited to introduce me to some visitors they had brought with them. Others were sitting together talking about life. One member had just lost a family member and was struggling with the lost. Others were offering their support and kindness to help their friend through their struggle. Tears were shed at some point, but also laughter replaced those tears before we left chapel. Another friend's phone rang, with them saying we are already at "church", are you coming, there's still time?
I listened to a preacher this week say, where do you go to find God? Some people go to a building on Sunday. Some go to a classroom. Hopefully they will discover God there, but what if they don't? Will they come back? For us who were raised up in church, it was my understanding, you found God on Sunday mornings in church, dressed in a suit, on my best behavior, for an hour or two. After church was over, I could be myself again!
Our community finds God when they find you! We are not about church but about God. For those of our community who will never set foot in a church building, their only to see God will be through you. The work you do, the time you spend, the sacrifice you make for our community is what God is expecting us to do. It is our opportunity to show God's lvoe, to minister through our actions, what God is all about. When we show God' lvoe to others, we are blessed, we all are blessed!
I know when the kids are running around the center, the adults are arguing, the young people are cussing, it doesn't feel like church at that moment. But take a moment and think about where they are. They are with you, because they know you lvoe them, that God lvoes them, something they do not get another place in their lives!
Allowing God to work in and through your lives, you have created a sacred place. A place where our friends are proud to bring their friends and family. A place where your hearts are open for support and to give hope. A place, which is really not a place, but a person, who lvoes God enough to allow His Holy Spirit to work in and through you in amazing ways, blessing us all! Amen!
Enjoy this spring weather. Enjoy God's blessings. Enjoy being the hands and feet of God.
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