Observations

Recently I went to serve at Walter Reed Hospital with our local outreach efforts. It was amazing and very uplifting. My granddaughter turned 15 that day and went and served all day. She was fantastic and even took part in the “Strong Women” contest and actually won her heat. Even though she didn’t win overall she was, to me, the strongest person there…Seeing the wounded soldiers and their families was a real blessing. Hearing their stories made your heart warm. I served during the Vietnam era and it was entirely different than it is today and I am very happy to see the nation rally around the men and women who serve to protect our freedom. One of the ladies at church who does face painting mentioned to me that one of the soldiers brought his son and wanted his face painted but the little one didn’t. She just began to sing softly in his ear and he just became so calm and the face was painted, much to his delight later. The soldier thanked her and she said back to him, because of your sacrifice I can paint faces, it’s my privilege. He was overwhelmed and very thankful for the words and the thoughts about his service. It sometimes is just the little things that make a difference in others and gives great encouragement.
I my position as pastor I seem to be on the front lines of seeing what God is doing as He positions things in order to meet the needs of His children. Recently a dad who has three children lost his job and could not pay his electric bill. He was very sad that his children had to do homework by candle light and take cold showers…he told me he fasted and prayed for three days asking God to help him. During day two God had him call his church, which just happens to be CFC and he left a message on my phone asking if we could help. I was unable to call him back that day, but knew we didn’t have the funds in our benevolence account. I receive 3-4 calls each day asking for help but this one stuck in my mind and I couldn’t let it go. The next day when I checked our account we had money…strange???...so, I called him and he came in to explain his dilemma. I had just enough to help pay the electric bill and get his lights and heat turned back on…he told me that all night the night before he prayed and walked around his apartment complex asking God what to do…when the call came from me he knew God had answered his prayer and was faithful to him. Things like that not only build my faith but can you imagine what it does for him and for his three daughters. Its things like this that makes a long week worth all the effort (meager as it is) put into serving a wonderful God who cares for us in every way. I was blessed later in the week to receive a nice phone call from some close friends who had come back to the area to visit some family and they wanted to have some fellowship with Jeanette and me. It was a blessing to renew friendships and get caught up on things in our lives together. They said they miss us…but truthfully I think I missed them more…Ok, enough for now got to take out the trash and rake some leaves…ugh!