Under the Overpass

Hey, y'all! I did not fall off the face of the earth after last Monday! I just really got busy, and you know how the story goes! It helps to blog if you're at home as well!!

Thank you for your wonderful comments from my last post! Your encouragement is awesome! What great friends in Bloggyland! Our high school girls' Bible Study is meeting tonight, and the topic is Facebook!! These baby girls know how to pick 'em! I'll let y'all know the verdict!

One of the areas that our Women's Ministry has included is a book club that meets monthly. It has around a dozen women of all ages--which is wonderful! The book that they discussed last night was Under the Overpass by Mike Yankoski. It is fabulous! I just got a copy last night and can hardly put it down. This is a book that parents and older kids--middle school through high school--could read and discuss. Basically, a college student decides to give up his middle class lifestyle for a time and live as a homeless person in the US. "He needed to know if his faith in God was real--if he could actually be the Christian he said he was apart from the comforts he's always known." Y'all, this is a topic to ponder and pray about! Listen to this quote included the book by A.W. Tozier. " We hear a Christian assure someone that he will 'pray over' his problem, knowing full well that he intends to use prayer as a substitute for service. It is much easier to pray that a poor friend's needs may be supplied than to supply them."

It is easier to say that you will pray for someone...than to step out of your comfort zone and perform a service. I've been there before. I will do the service--like take someone to the store or pick up extra groceries for them, but I don't always do it lovingly and cheerfully. Sometimes it's out of my way, and I don't have time. For example, those of you who help with Meals on Wheels.....that is a service of love, but it may not always match up with your calendar of things to do! Helping with things at church (VBS) or school (fund raisers) is another opportunity that is time consuming but needed. This book is an eye opener for lots of things that we take for granted!

This book came from Barnes and Nobles--not the library. But it's a great one to share after your family has read it. Let me know if you have read it and what your thoughts are! Also, I would love to hear what your reactions are to the homeless--espescially when your children are with you! It's a tough topic, but it is very prevelant in our country. How do we as Christians deal with this??

Sweet Ponderings!

GAIHN

Yes, this is pronounced just like the other gain! But it stands for something a little different. Let me share with you what Hubby has been a part of through our church recently...like continuing through this Sunday morning!

He is on the Outreach Committee at our Methodist church. One of the mission projects that we are supporting is helping out homeless families in the community. You know, we as Christians will dig deep into the pocketbooks and wallets to share our wealth. We will purchase extra groceries for the local food banks. We will write letters to missionaries and pray for them. How about inviting homeless families into your church and giving them a warm, dry and comfortable place to live--rather than under a bridge or an abandoned building! That's what GAIHN is. The photo is the trailer that carries the "stuff" of those less fortunate to host churches. A certain number of churches sign up to serve "the least of these." For one week, we will serve these families by providing shelter--converted Sunday School classes; providing meals--lovingly cooked by a variety of SS classes, circles, committees, etc., and providing love---given by the entire church family. Then, the folks that we are serving will go to another host church the next week. Right now, 13 churches are involved. So, in 13 more weeks, our church will be doing this again.

Y'all, at first, no one was really sure what we were getting into. Lots of prayer and trust and obedience had to occur. One of our church members had been involved in this at her previous church. That's it! Just one! Well, Hubby felt called to help her by co-chairing this project. And...what a blessing it has been! Wow! We have been more blessed by these two families than they have been by us. Everyone was calling the house this week asking what could they do. "Mrs. Co-chair" didn't have a clue--I was at my Mama's and nephew's birthday party on Sunday night when these folks moved in!! Hubby had to spend the night--two church members spend each night with them. Sleeping on a cot for one night is doable! So, I really didn't hear about everything until Monday evening.

Wednesday night, I had the opportunity, the blessing, to meet these wonderful folks. We have a mom and her 14 year old, and a younger family with three small children. The oldest boy turned eight on Wednesday. Well...y'all know what that means!! Party!!! After our Wed. night supper, the kids in youth choir and many adults surprised him with a cake, candles, oodles of presents. Precious! I have awesome pictures that I WISH I could share....but due to privacy issues, just use your imaginations. The smiles, the joy, the paper and ribbons were justa flying! Whoohoo! God was in the middle of it having a great time! The mom of this child was more excited about the new socks than she was the power rangers and bay blades and games. Socks, people...socks!

I am going to my most favorite place in the world after while--yep, Wal-Mart--to develop these pictures and to put them in a photo album for her. Wouldn't you do that for your friends too?

I want to tell you a little about this last picture I have for you to see. The five year old little girl--who I could just bring home with me!!--had a fit over my camera. So...being the mama that I am, surrendered it to her until the batteries ran out. "J" had a ball! She was snapping pics of everybody--and making sure that they were posed for the moment!

She has attached herself to my Hubby--she adores him just like me!!! When she sees him, he has to carry her, eat with her, and play with her. Hubby is a great daddy, and it shines through in his desire to serve this child of God as he does his own boys. So, I leave you with Hubby --the one in the picture who is bent over posing for this darling little girl. Remember, this is from the perspective of a tiny five year old! Please remember to lift up those without shelter especially during this winter weather we're having. It's only 17 degrees here in the sunny south. Thanks so much! Have a great weekend.

Many Blessings,
Susan