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.

Meeting Notes: November 11

11-11-08 (Tuesday)

Last nights meeting opened in prayer that focused our meeting time on a time of worship. Hebrews 13: 15-16 With Jesus’ help, let us continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by proclaiming the glory of his name. 16Don’t for get to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing to God (NLT). Setting this tone at the start of our meeting, made a difference in the spirit of all in attendance.

I mentioned that I had the opportunity to visit Grandma Bet in the nursing home Saturday. She looks very good and is very much ready to go home. What a sweet time I had with her conversing about her life and spiritual issues. Our discussion concluded with both of us imagining what would the world be like if everyone was to love each other and remove all the barriers of race, wealth, etc….

Maurice will be meeting with Tim Sheehan Wednesday to work out the legal details of the one building lot not in Grandma Bet’s name. This is a must before we can proceed with the permitting process.

Grif Broach continues to keep the project on track by providing us tonight with a site plan. We also have the truss engineering done so that Grif can get this information to his structural engineer (the last hurdle we have to get over before we have a finalized plan set to apply for the building permits).

The meeting progressed to a focus on the following: How can those donating services and materials obtain tax breaks. How can we save sales tax dollars on materials purchased. What type of insurance coverages do we need in place to protect Grandma Bet and all those who are working on the project. Should we install a temporary construction fence around the project site, to help alleviate any liabilities during construction and protect all the children that may wander onto the project site unattended. We finished our discussion with how we were doing with project “in kind” donations.

We closed the meeting with all agreeing that by our next meeting it was time to nail down all of the “in kind” donations for the project, in order to fill in our takeoff sheet and see what was needed financially to complete the project; challenging everyone to pray, pray, pray…

We all agreed with a January 17, 2009 date for the “Betty Wilson Benefit” to be held at Devane Park in Lake Placid. Cathy Britt and Lisa Bellamy will be getting together to start working out the details of the benefit. If you have any ideas, please direct them to one of these two ladies. Our next scheduled meeting is November 24 at 7:00 PM (First Baptist Church of Lake Placid).

Oh by the way I forgot to mention a praise report. Rick Miller could not attend our meeting last night because his daughter Emily made a perfect score on the 5th grade FCAT test and was being awarded by the Highlands County School Board; how awesome is that!

Thanks goes to Maurice (Deacon Wilson) for closing the meeting in prayer. Again may God and God alone receive all the glory!

Preliminary Plans…and lifelong ones, too

10-23-08 (Thursday)

I just finished reviewing the latest set of preliminary plans with all the changes and they look GREAT! Grif said he would have plans completed and ready for final review on Monday. Thanks Grif for all your hard work.

Question to ponder-Do you worship God everyday or just on Sunday’s?
Hebrews 13: 15-16 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise–the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased (NIV).
God wants our worship EVERDAY!

By the way, do not forget the meeting this coming Monday 10-27-08 at 7:00 PM (First Baptist Church of Lake Placid).