Shout for Joy to the Lord

11-25-08 (Tuesday)

WORSHIP happened again at last nights meeting, starting with prayer, praise reports and testimony. We had some special guests with us last night, they were Johnnie and Beulah Sholtz (Maurice’s Uncle and Auntie). Beulah is part of the Prayer Band in Highway Park that meets every day from 12:30 – 3:00 PM to praise God, pray, and read His word. Beulah gave testimony that during the two weeks we were praying about whether God wanted us to build Grandma Bet a new home or not, she was also praying with and for Grandma Bet letting her know that she had confirmation from God that he was going to provide her with a new home. What an awesome testimony to see how God was working in the lives of others before this project even started. I am thankful there is a group like the Prayer
Band who realize the importance of praise, prayer and God’s word…worshipping every day.

Maurice gave testimony of the friendship that developed between Margie MacDonald and Grandma Bet while she was in the nursing home (LPHC) recovering from hip surgery. Margie is a widow who attends First Baptist Church and is one of the widows I look after through our Deacon ministry. I have been telling Margie about Grandma Bet and the project, it was interesting how God was able to weave the lives of these two women together during their stay at LPHC. I think what touched me the most (and many others) is when Margie kissed Grandma Bet during one of their times together, stating “that is the first time I have ever kissed a black person.” WOW, look how God has taken this project to a level of breaking down racial barriers and showing us that true love for each other is not determined by skin color. 1 John 4: 7-8 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God, because God is love. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love (NIV). This is a powerful scripture; is race, generation, ethnic, or any other things keeping you from showing God’s love like he has called us to do?

As the meeting progressed we discussed the legal issues surrounding the property, which should be worked out through Tim Sheehan by next Monday, permitting which we can now start since we have now obtained engineered stamped plans from Grif Broach, cash donations and “in kind” donations. As we completed our house takeoff sheet we concluded that we have secured over 70% of our resources through “in kind” and cash donations to build Grandma Bet’s home. It was agreed by all that all things are possible through God, we just have to have FAITH, and as Pastor Rick Nations would say “sometimes more FAITH then SENSE.”

Our intent in two weeks is to have a construction start date and possibly even the building permit pulled. Terry Oleary (Public Relations) wants to do a story to promote the project when we break ground. Lou Canevari has already said he has plenty of gold shovels for the ground breaking. Get ready, God’s blessing is about to take on the physical appearance of a HOME.

Maurice reminded me as we were leaving the meeting about the Car Wash that the kids were going to be doing this week on Saturday (11-29-08) between 8:00 AM and 12:00 Noon at Bank of America to raise money for Grandma Bet. Don’t you need your car washed?

Thanks to all who continue to make this project a success. I pray that everyone has a great Thanksgiving. Psalm 100, 1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his, we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever, his faithfulness continues through all generations (NIV). This is one of my favorite Psalms in the Bible.

Do not forget Rick Miller’s pray request; his sister Colleen Postman has been diagnosed with early stages of breast cancer. Thank you Beulah for praying (a powerful prayer) for Colleen at last nights meeting.