Tonight I spent some time with some old friends from Pinelands Community Church. It was quite like having a family reunion. In fact it is exactly that. When we are born again into our new life with Christ we are surrounded by a family that we will not only spend moments here on earth with, but a family we will spend an eternity with. It is a great insight to how wonderful living in the kingdom of God will be like. The saying goes that our very best day here on earth couldn't compare to even our worst day in heaven. As I think back to the family I left at Pinebrook, Pinelands, and as I travel and continue to come into contact with new brothers and sisters in Christ, I can't wait til the day we are all singing, and praising our Lord in heaven. I know that most, if not all, of these people are 100% sure that when they die they will go to Heaven. How can so many be so sure? This, for me, is an easy question - just pick up a bible and read John 3:14-15 or John 3:16 or John 5:24 for starters. I thank God almost daily for making this possible; not just for me or the many as I mentioned before, but for EVERYONE. My hope is that if you happen to read these words you will know it too. This week we head to Heislerville, NJ. We will relieve a homeless shelter in Vineland by providing a meal either next Tues. or Wed. Pray that whoever we come in contact with that they too will come to know what God has done for us all. Then we are off too Lakewood to reach a homeless tent community.
Peace & Grace
Doug & Family
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2 comments:
My heart is full and my spirit moved. I saw the passion God has given you when you spoke to friends last night of your mission. No previe to the knowledge of why homeless people are such. Cognizant of thier decisions to be homeless or not, maybe lazy, maybe unfaithful to thier maker, God does not allow such judgements to be present in your thoughts or your mission. To your mission they are just, "people in need", you say. Remarkable how if I dig deep and reflect on your unconditional spirit of helping and giving to Gods people. Augusta's remarks when he came to know the Lord comes to mind "I take myself from behind myself and place me in front of myself and I am horrified". All the wordly things around me that mean so little and an emphasis to acquire often succomes me. I pray I find Gods will for me. Let my ears be open and my soul be open to see with the clarity your mission seems to express. I know it is not all clear as to the where, what, and when. Never quite sure of the impact you make, only God knows and that is his way of keeping you humble.
The lords peace and grace be upon all those who serve him.
To clarify in reference to Saint Augustine's moment of self awareness. Augustine is audience to Ponticianus's narration of the conversion of Anthony, and reacts to "the story Ponticianus told" by seeing himself as though for the first time and being horrified at the reflected image.
But You, Lord, while he was speaking, turned me back towards myself, taking me from behind my own back where I had put myself all the time that I preferred not to see myself. And You set me there before my own face that I might see how vile I was, how twisted and unclean and spotted and ulcerous. I saw myself and was horrified, but there was no way to flee from myself. If I tried to turn my gaze from myself, there was Ponticianus telling what he was telling; and again You were setting me face to face with myself, forcing me upon my own sight, that I might see my iniquity and loathe it. I had known it, but I had pretended not to see it, had deliberately looked the other way and let it go from my mind
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