Yesterday the Lightning won the Stanley Cup, someone once told me it would be a "cold day in hell before the Lightning win a Cup." Well, I hope Satan has a sweater! This was a sweet sweet suprise this year, it makes me miss Tampa so much, such a diverse community with an open heart, and mind.
Today has been one of the weirdest days, some days I feel like I work all day long and get so little done. First thing this morning, my church laptop starts acting up, then it's back up after an hour on the phone. Then this issue and that issue. The one thing I think that got me the most today...
I was working in the make shift church office, which is very small and not really made for me to be in it, but still it is good for me to come in and be in it some, for obvious reasons. (Which reminds me, in our new facility it amazes me that even though people know we are so very limited on space they think we still have enough for an office for each staff person, wow.) This morning I had brought Hayden in with me and about twenty minutes after I got her good and sleeping, a man walked in the side door. The first thing he said was, "Man I really need some help." This is something that happened all the time at UB, and usually we would give them some food and the standard, "we don't help with rent" or "we don't pay bills." This man was looking for help with his rent payment, he needed $150.00 he said he paid week by week, there were obviously a lot of inconsitencies in his life, but to me his problems were so real. A man who had made so many mistakes yet needed much help and forgiveness (sound familiar?), it reminded me of the women at the well. Why is it that I am so bad at being Christ or atleast letting Him shine through my life. All I could say to this man was " we don't have the funds available." I am so mad at me, so sad...Why didn't I just stop and pray with him, why don't we have the funds availabe, or why can't I somehow help him more. We say that we want to serve people as Christ did, but yet there are conditions to how much I can serve, or in what ways!!! This saddens me, I am glad Jesus didn't say "You who are thirsty come and I will tell you how to get some groceries" We have really messed this up (ME, ESPECIALLY), what can I do now? I need help with this one..
Susan and I had lunch with Bruce today and Hayden came along, I love Bruce so much, but I am concerened about him. Something isn't right or maybe it is just his disposition or what he went through in years past in ministry. Another soap box issue for me that I would be here all day talking about..you know the old "Hired Help" thing with church ministry.
I registered for the Zoe conference today, I am so pumped about this. That ministry has been such an encouragement and inspiration in my life. God led me to it right when I needed it.
Lord, please give me strength at this time, help me to understand how we got to where we are and what is the best way to go from here. Help me to be Christ in the eyes of those who need his heart and hands so much. Thank you for the bleesing of others, and for the ways that you encourage me. Please continue to watch over me, my family and the family a Port City.
