A Poem : Community

When residents of a community

Welcome new neighbors to that community,

Volunteer for projects – school, hospital, and church,

Offer positive suggestions for the local government,

Take pride in the neighborhood,

Visit and assist the elderly residents in the area,

Practice goodwill and courtesy in daily situations,

Suppress rumors and negative talk,

Run for an elected position in local government,

Apologize if wrong and forgive when wronged,

Include individuals usually omitted from events,

Rejoice at the successes and triumphs of neighbors,

Work to improve educational and cultural facilities,

Thank those who serve in any capacity,

Are charitable in thought, word, and action,

Bring joy where there is sadness,

Act as benefactors, as enablers, as encouragers,

Elevate religion and trust in God,

Are the kind of neighbors that Jesus Christ would be,

Those residents emulate courage in a community. 

By VJR

A Book Of Courage

1996

Revell Publishing company

What I Have Been Doing

      Busy. It's the best word I can think of to describe my life right now. I feel like I've been running around like crazy trying to get ahead of things.
      As far as ministry goes, I haven't been making much of anything. However I have been doing some ministry things.

      I've been volunteering at a local thrift store that helps the poor.
      I've been helping sack and hand out groceries at a local food pantry.
      I've been trying to serve and love my family and those in my neighborhood.
      I've been writing a lot of blog posts.
      All this keeps me pretty busy, but I love it. God has been good. He always gives me strength for all that I'm called to do.
      In Him,
                 Rose

Quote

My Friend Rachelle found this quote and I thought that I would share it with all of you.

Found a great quote that I thought would apply to us today. From the MOHL ladies to you: "John said, 'Here is the Lamb of God!' Immediately, those disciples left John to follow Jesus (John 1:29-37). Ministry is when the people who hear you don't want more of YOU; they want more of HIM because of what you've said. When you point them to God's fire instead of trying to get attention for yourself--that's ministry." ~ Priscilla Shirer (emphasis/caps mine)

Birthday Parties

                Birthdays are such a happy time. We celebrate getting a year older. It’s a time to celebrate life.

                But sometimes people need a little help celebrating. Sometimes people don’t have family close by or they are elderly and don’t have many people in the world left who care or people with large families forget sometimes. In any case you can have the ministry of the birthday party.

                Invite a few of their friends over, bake a cake, and make up a card. This can be a fun experience for everyone and it will make the person whose birthday it is feel special. It’s a great way to let someone know you care.  

Friends

     Friend. I love that word. The girls I call my friends have to be the most amazing people in the world. They put up with me and all my strange and crazy moods and still like me! 

     I enjoy being a friend. It's a great two-way street. We both mutually encourage one another and spur one another on in love and good works.

     I've been crazily busy lately and tired. But I have such great friends. They love me and encourage me to keep going even when I'm not feeling well. Sometimes they don't even have to say it, just because they took the time to talk to me was enough to encourage me to go on. Or they just took time to write me a note that brightened my day.

     I know that normally I don't do a lot of personal posts, but I wanted to remind you that being a true friend is a great blessing. Both to you and to your friend. It takes time, love, and an unselfish heart. Many times it takes more than ministry, but it's reward is wonderful. 

     My mom likes to say that there are only two things that we get to take to heaven, friendships and the heavenly treasure that's being laid up for us. I don't know about you, but that makes me want to invest in these kind friends. To invest my time in friends that will be around for eternity. It makes me want to be a Christ-like friend, like they are to me.

     I love you, dear friends. 

Ministering to the Grieving

Someone loses a loved one. You want to help, but aren’t sure how. I know the feeling. You want to show your sympathy in a way that would be most loving.

One thing that you need to know is that when people are grieving they need love. They need comfort and help. The best help that you can be is to let them grieve in their own way. Be there for them, but also let them be on their own if they want. Often what people want more than anything when they are grieving is someone to just be there. Someone who can let them know they aren’t alone.

Cards are another sweet thing. Make sure to include prayers and thoughts for them. Make them as personal and from your heart as possible.

Food is always a wonderful thing to send to someone. When you are grieving it zaps you energy. Having food already made is blessing. Go for things that are very calm and that aren’t really spicy. Soups and sandwiches are perfect. Also think about doing a breakfast food. When you aren’t feeling well, breakfast can be a pain. Having something already made is wonderful.

Flowers are good to. They add a little cheer and let the grieving know that you thought of them.

The next time you see someone grieving; make sure to express your sympathy. Reach out and help someone who is grieving. You won’t regret it.    

An Overdue Update on Co-op

Co-op is over.  Teaching was such a wonderful opportunity and I’m glad that God gave me the chance to grow this way.

                Teaching actually ended up being easier than I thought. Before I started teaching at co-op I thought solo teaching was the last thing that I would do. I was scared that I would mess up. But once I had done my first lesson, I found out that it was easier than I thought and that I enjoyed sharing with my students what I had learned.

                Teaching also allowed me to get to know some wonderful girls who I probably would have never gotten to know otherwise. I didn’t just get to teach, I got to know my students. That was a great blessing.

                One of the most touching things was on the last day of co-op. My students surprised me by giving me presents and cards. I could tell that they came from their hearts. It made all the work, planning, running around, hard moments, and teaching worth it. To know that I had made a difference in their lives was wonderful.

                So where is God going to take this gift? I don’t know all the answers. But wherever He takes me I know that it will be good.