Sunny Sunday

A sunny bright Sunday here in S Texas - 89 degrees today, but has been much hotter during the week. The temps reached over 100 at least 3 times. Way too early for this heat to begin. We did deliver of Friday for the ministry - again we had an abundance of food and were able to feed over 150 families. We are not distributing clothing at this time as we cannot do that safely. But hope to resume it sometime in the near future. Friday was quite a change from last Friday, when it was cool, damp, and rainy. Those helpers who had to be out in the drizzle to load cars improvised by wearing green garbage bags as raincoats. I was under a tent, but still managed to get damp and chilly. Despite the weather everyone worked diligently to get the food distributed. In the midst of the gloom and drizzle, a cardinal landed nearby, hopping on the ground and reminding us that no matter the circumstances there is "beauty from ashe" as only God can provide. We again will be able to have an additional distribution this Tuesday - the ladies are willing to work as long as we can provide the food.

I lost two friends this past week - one was a lady from here in the park who is usually here just during season. She had to remain longer as she wound up in ICU (she has reoccurring lung situations) and then moved to hospice on Sunday. She passed away peacefully on Tuesday with only two family members present. Her family was allowed to be with her, despite the restrictions because of the virus. Melrose was a kind, gentle spirit who had just good words about everyone.She always had just the right words to lift a person up, and of course, always a hug. The other person was a former coworker at Fayetteville Public Schools - Miss Frances Cumbie. Frances, Norma, and myself were the charter members of the Human Resources team at the district, developing the department along with our supervisor Ivy Lincoln. There are really no words to describe Miss Frances - she was a no nonsense lady with an amazing outlook on life and sense of humor. She was a big girl, from Southern Arkansas with a raspy voice and gentle smile. I know some folks were afraid of her - I do believe she wanted it that way. The 7 years that I worked with her were so rewarding - we never knew what would happen next! Her maiden name was Jenkins, and her claim to fame was that she was a cousin to Conway Twitty, (Harold Lloyd Jenkins who got his name from Conway, Arkansas, and Twitty, Texas. She talked about the black sheep Twitty family from West Helena, AR, that the family very seldom talked about. Her stories often had us in tears laughing. She was a diligent worker, often referring to her sorority sisters and their particular work ethic, except that Frances HATED to file. It used to drive Norma and myself crazy when we needed something from her, and she went to her "filing cabinet" under her desk (boxes of paperwork not filed). I think she kept them there to hide them from her supervisor!! After her retirement, Norma and I had to spend hours going through the boxes, trying to sort out the paperwork, some of them her personal notes, even small packages of treats she kept stashed there. The we had to do the painstaking process of putting the paper work  in order and filing it. I spent a few hours last night reminiscing about the good times we three had together.

There were two Services online this morning from our Prairie Grove home church, so we chose the 8 AM one. Our Pastor Vance Eubanks, spoke to us from the beautiful spring morning in NW Arkansas. He looked like he was on a typical AR road - unpaved with lush tree and foliage along the sides of the road. It was a beautiful morning, just perfect for a sermon on the fact that Jesus receives all of us, everyone, no matter who we are. Have you ever been in church and saw someone that you never would have thought would show up in church and thought to yourself, I cannot believe that person is in church. Not in a critical way, of course, but because it was such a shock to see who thought would never step foot in a church was there, walking down the aisle. The sermon this morning revolved around the early church, after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. Saul, who later became Saul, persecuted the Christians, even going so far as to going to their homes and dragging them out to be stoned. If God could change Him into a disciple, a God fearing Christian, He can change anyone. Saul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, on his way to persecute more Christians. When Jesus appeared in a flash of light, Paul's first question was, "who are you?". Paul learned who he was, and later marveled that he was the worst of sinners and Jesus saved Him. Saul then was blinded for 3 days. To make an example of what He could do, God changed Saul into Paul - Saul, who dragged Stephen out into the streets and had him stoned, all the time showing his approval of the act. After his conversion, Paul began to restore the church. But God (Vance's favorite phrase), had a different plan for Paul. Saul's second question after Jesus appeared to him was "what shall I do, Lord?". He was directed to go to Damascus and meet with a man named Ananias. Ananias restored his sight and told him that God had chosen him to see God's will and to witness to all people. At that itme, his name was changed to Paul, which means a man of God. Remember Saul asked God who He was? And He said, I am Jesus of Nazareth. We all need to know the identity of Jesus. He was someone who actually lived and walked on this earth, and yet He was the Son of God. This is actually a personal question and we need to know who He is to us, We need to know Him, not only about Him, but to know Him and have a personal relationship with Him. Don't try to earn a relationship - it is given to us by grace. It is ours to receive. After we receive God's grace we live in security in Christ, by faith. Paul had to be blinded to see by faith. God wants us to trust Him - to live by faith. Surrender your lives to Him. What are you waiting for?