FIRST QUARTER 2020

WOW! How the world has changed in such a short amount of time! Over a month ago, our economy was at an all-time high, the country was in an optimistic frame of mind.

Fast forward to today, near the end of March. We have seen a huge drop in the economy. All non-essential businesses shut down. We have been advised to stay in our homes or keep our social distance (a new term) if we do go out. The word pandemic has appeared for the first time in many years. A sense of fear and foreboding has enveloped many people.

On the plus side, in our country, many people and businesses have risen to the occasion and demonstrated the best of American values in time of crisis. Families and friends, church members and businesses are establishing new methods of communication with each other through various forms of social media. Corporations are showing their altruistic side.

All of this is because of a single thing, a tiny organism known as coronavirus or covid19. It has spread from one region in one country to almost one hundred fifty countries in the space of four months.  

Interestingly enough, a much older virus exists. It has a one hundred percent mortality rate if not treated. Every single person has this virus. It manifests itself in many ways. Some of its symptoms can be readily seen, others, not so much. It is an inherited virus. It appears almost from birth. No one has a natural immunity to it. It is global in nature. The good news is that there is a physician and his helper that can mitigate, but not entirely eradicate, this virus, at present.  He assures us that sometime in the future its eradication is assured.

If you would like to know more about this, I would invite you to watch the following You Tube Video:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0fNFY76XNXc

MINISTRY NEWS

Note: With the current health crisis currently, face-to-face meetings are not possible. however, We are adapting by using social media to minister.

THE NEXT QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER WILL BE PUBLISHED IN LATE JUNE.

DONORS WHO GIVE ON A MONTHLY BASIS WILL BE FURNISHED THREE RETURN ENVELOPES WITH THE APROPRIATE MONTH LISTED ON THE FRONT. ALL OTHER DONORS WILL BE FURNISHED WITH ONE ENVELOPE PER QUARTER. THIS MOVE IS BEING DONE TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE RESOURCES GOD HAS PROVIDED US. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL ME AT 678-986-4814.

Please DO NOT forget!

When you purchase something from Amazon, please go to:

www.smile.amazon.com/ch/58-2009795.

Amazon contributes a portion of each sale to our ministry.

I AM SO VERY GRATEFUL TO EACH ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS, ENCOURAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT.

We are Together, In His Love and Service,

4th QUARTER 2019

This past quarter was marked by increasing activity. For some of us, that meant hunting, football, enjoying fall weather and cooler temperatures for outdoor activities with family and friends It meant an increase in social activities also, rising to a crescendo between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. Such a frenetic pace can be very enjoyable but leaves very little time for rest and reflection. Sure, those of us who take note of the Advent Season are called to reflect on the coming celebration of the birth of Christ, but other than that, how much do we stop and take stock of our lives?

In this first quarter of the year, nature seems to sleep when much is dormant. It is a time of turning inward for restoration. Trees withdraw their sap to nourish the trunk.  Some animals will go into hibernation. There is a general slowing down of things in nature. This might be a time that we, too, can take the opportunity to be quiet and still.  May I make a biblical analogy of the vine and the branches reference in John 15.  We “branches” draw our strength from the vine Jesus. We must withdraw and turn inward to the vine to restore our strength.

Hear what Scripture says in Isaiah 30:15 (RSV) “For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, "In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength." Also, Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” 

One of my very most favorite things in this life is to walk in the snow at night when all you hear is the gentle sounds of snow falling, the crunch of snow underfoot and the wind blowing in the tops of pine trees. This is a time when I feel most quiet, still and peaceful. How do I replicate this feeling when life crashes in on me? The answer: Addition and subtraction! First, a word about subtraction.

Peggy has been reading about “purging”. Not the physical type of purging associated with the body but purging yourself of possessions. When sorting through things, she asks, “Does this item bring me joy?” I was talking with a friend about getting rid of clothing. We had to laugh at ourselves when the subject of purging came up in relation to our clothing. We could look at a shirt,  a pair of pants or shoes and note that we had not worn them for at least a year and still rationalize that we might wear it again soon. I finally got up the courage to attack my clothes closet. It was amazing how much space I gained in my closet by purging myself of all those clothes. Also, there was a small amount of freedom I felt .

 Are there things in my life that I could purge that would afford me the opportunity more time to “Be Still and Know That He is God? How about purging time from social media?  How about saying “no” to some good things. Ask someone who knows you well to help you to say no. Go over your schedule with them.  

Have them ask the question, “Is this the best use of your time?”  Is it an energy drain or an energy enhancer?  Pray for wisdom for when to say no.  God gives us 24 hours in a day. We sleep for maybe 8 of those. How we use the remaining 16 for the Lord is most important. Yes, we do have to work (unless you have retired) but we should ask ourselves who gets our best? What can we eliminate? Who

 is our priority?

A word on addition: Begin by choosing a setting that facilitates quiet. Take a walk, find a quiet place in the house away from distractions, Set aside small increments of stillness and silence at first. It takes a while for the noise in your head to die down. Allow this to happen naturally. Invite God’s presence into your silence and stillness. Listen expectantly in the silence for His small still voice.  Rest in the warmth of His love for you. Feel the layers of worry and exhaustion fall away like leaves from a tree that is withdrawing its sap to the trunk.

 When I was coaching at Marietta High, at the start of summer practice,

Dexter Wood, our head coach would ask these questions to the team, “Who are we? Where are we going? How are we going to get there?” As we enter this first quarter of the year, we can ask ourselves the same questions for reflection to take stock of our lives. Ask them in terms of the next year and also for the rest of our lives.

MINISTRY NEWS

PLEASE NOTE:

BEGINNING WITH THIS JULY NEWSLETTER, WE WILL SWITCH TO A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER. THE NEXT NEWSLETTER WILL BE PUBLISHED IN LATE MARCH.

ALSO NOTE:

DONORS WHO GIVE ON A MONTHLY BASIS WILL BE FURNISHED THREE RETURN ENVELOPES WITH THE APROPRIATE MONTH LISTED ON THE FRONT. ALL OTHER DONORS WILL BE FURNISHED WITH ONE ENVELOPE PER QUARTER. THIS MOVE IS BEING DONE TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE RESOURCES GOD HAS PROVIDED US. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, PLEASE DON’T HESITATE TO CALL ME AT 678-986-4814.

Please don’t forget!

When you purchase something from Amazon, please go to:

www.smile.amazon.com/ch/58-2009795.   Amazon contributes a portion of each sale to our ministry.

I AM SO VERY GRATEFUL TO EACH ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS, ENCOURAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT.