Happy House

This week the youth from our church are on a Mission Trip. We have joined up with several other youth groups from the around the state and are staying at a local college.  

Each of the groups has been assigned projects in and around the area. Our group has been working for a Methodist church about 40 miles from the campus. We seem to be spending quite a bit of time in the car but it gives the kids a chance to sleep on the way up and on the back.

This wonderful church, where we are working runs a lunch program for their community, whenever school is not in session. Half of the children in the area are on the free lunch program at their school so they were afraid  that the kids would not get to eat properly during the off school days. They felt convicted to start this program 7 years ago with very little money and a couple of volunteers. They now feed up to 175 people and several of their members offer to be there everyday. Along with the lunch they have a food pantry that is loaded with can goods and such, all because of donations.

I love the fact that our kids get to see what can happen when people step out on faith and let God help them accomplish great things. Our group has really stepped up and have been helping move the, very many, cans of food out so that the lunch goers can have their pick as they are leaving.

Another project that the kids are helping with, is painting a house across the street from the church. This house was just bought by the church as an annex for their youth. Our guys worked out in the heat today and you know they had to be suffering some, but instead of fussing, one of our boys, while painting, put this smile on the house.

The attitude of our kids has been terribly moving, I am so proud of them!  Reminds me of this scripture.....

2 John 1:4

New International Version (NIV)

4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.

I know these sweethearts are getting tired and I know we are working them way past their comfort zone. But you would not know it by their efforts. Just like the house seems happy with it's new paint, our kids seem to be happy to be out there helping others and in doing so are accomplishing great things for the kingdom of heaven.

It is such an honor to be a part of their team!!!

Blessings!

Family

This last week, as you know, we spent a week with Rodney's family. Everyone of us is so different from one another. but even though we are, we still love each other. We do not always think the same and we have our own way of doing things, but that is OK. We still are a loving family in name and by birth, and no matter what, that will not change.

That is the same with a church family. We all come together from our own homes and think about things in hundreds of different ways but through all of that we are a family. We share the same name, Christian. We are followers of the one who gave all. 

While we were in Michigan this last week Rodney, Riley, Mom and I visited a Methodist church, on Sunday. They were in the midst of getting ready to welcome a new pastor. The week we were there was their last Sunday before he came.  Their former pastor had been a female and had been there for 8 years. You could tell that they had really loved her and that the change that was coming was going to be difficult for some of them. 

As their worship was getting ready to commence their staff parish chair got up and spoke with the congregation. She discussed the part in the Methodist Book of Discipline, that spoke of the ways to welcome a new pastor. She admonished them to not compare, not to expect that things would be the same as before. To give him a chance and be loving and accepting to him and his wife.  

I really appreciated the way that she was acted like everyone was family that needed some reminding. We are a big family. There are times when we do need to be reminded of this. I love the way it is stated in Romans.

Romans 12:4-13

The Message (MSG)

4-6 In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t.

6-8 If you preach, just preach God’s Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don’t take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don’t get bossy; if you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate; if you’re called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don’t let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.

9-10 Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

11-13 Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

We as a family in Christ are so lucky to have one another. One thing about being a family is that it is always growing and changing. Rodney's family has two more babies in it than it did the last time we were all together. Just made for more fun and excitement. 

You are always a part of Christ's family, even as it grows and changes too. There will be times when we do not agree and there will be times when we wonder about each other but as we continue to work and grow together, please remember this.....we are all so loved by the Heavenly Father who makes us all, family, together!!! 

Blessings!!!