Back to School Time!

Many of you I’m sure heard about the devastating tornados that swept through Joplin Missouri. In its wake it left a path of destruction and hurt. People lost homes.

But the community rebuilt. With help from the government and helpful neighbors Joplin is coming back to life.

One of the signs of this new growth is that on Monday kids went back to school with a little help from a seamstress. Over the summer a local quilter Susan Stewart wanted to help the rebuilding effort. Unable to do heavy manual labor she got to thinking about helping the kids of Joplin. Then she remembered that ever year she had a new dress for the first day of school. It struck her that many of the kids of Joplin had lost everything. Giving them new clothes for the school year would be a perfect way to help.

So Stewart launched Project First Day. She invited her sewing friends from all over the country to help her make clothes for the kids of Joplin. People latched onto the idea. By distribution day they had 1,440 garments to give away.

For the kids of Joplin it was nice to have something not only to where, it also made them feel like they had a fresh start.

Wow. What a story. Because one woman gave and encouraged others to give, some kids who had lost everything got blessed with new clothes. People like that inspire me. They inspire me to give, to work, and to love. I may not end up on the national news for it, but if I make a difference in someone else’s life. It’s enough.    

A Month of Poems : Stepping Stones To God

Steppingstones to God

An aching heart is but a steppingstone

To greater joy than you have ever known,

For things that cause the heart to ache

Until you think that it must break

Become strength by which we climb

To higher heights that are sublime

And feel the radiance of God’s smiles

When we have soared above life’s trials.

So when you’re overwhelmed with fears

And all your hopes are drenched in tears,

Think not that life has been unfair

And given you too much to bear,

For God has chosen you because,

With all your weakness and flaws,

He feels that you are worthy of

The greatness of His wondrous love.

Helen Seiner Rice

A Book Of Courage

1996

Revell Publishing Company

A Month of Poems : Each Day

Each day as it comes

Brings a chance to each one

To love to the fullest,

Leaving nothing undone

That would brighten the life

Or lighten the load

Of some weary traveler

Lost on life’s road.

So what does it matter

How long we live

If as long as we live

We unselfishly give.

Helen Seiner Rice

A Book Of Courage

1996

Revell Publishing company

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.