This Tuesday another group of home owners and residents impacted by the Flood of '08 here in Columbus filed in CFA to receive their HOPE supplies. The completed papers on each recipient from our ministry center is growing by the hour. It's amazing! The Convoy of Hope has supplied our church with three semi-truck loads of water, clorox, MRP's, gatorade, gloves, cleaning supplies, gutting supplies, brooms, shovels, toiletries, dog food, cat food, flashlights, and many other valuable products needed for one who has been through the eye of the storm. Thank God for ministries like the Convoy of Hope!
This evening we had our mid-week service (that's because we can't use the borrowed church during their regular Wednesday services). We shared stories from people we've met at our HOPE Outreach Center. Each volunteer spoke of real people...with names... addresses... phone numbers...sad and difficult stories...of losing it all...and from living day to day. They are determined to reach another sunset. They are focused on getting to the other side of one of the worst flood disasters this city has ever suffered through.
But one thing seemed to crystallize in my heart and mind as the stories and testimonies poured forth from our prayer and bible meeting.
"TEARS!!!"
It appeared to serve as the common denominator from the multitude of personal one on one encounters established through the HOPE Outreach Center. I'm speaking of genuine tears that fall upon the cheeks of those that we've just prayed for. This is an element of our ministry that I'm making sure that we as a fellowship do not ignore or underestimate. WE MUST PRAY FOR EACH PERSON THAT WALKS THROUGH OUR OUTREACH CENTER!!
The beautiful part of this is that every person wants, desires, and even hungers after a time of prayer with God the Father. They are happy to be prayed for. They understand the spiritual dimension in their life that sorely needs to be filled with a lively HOPE...hope found in running to the Father's arms and calling upon His name.
Today I prayed with a couple, and a lady that literally ran into our circle, to be prayed for. I prayed for them...to receive God's strength and comfort...to be encouraged in their good work...to take some HOPE home with them...and to never forget that God loves them and cares for them so very much. It was a simple prayer...nothing fancy. But when I finished I looked at this couple and they were feverishly wiping away the TEARS that had fallen upon their sullen cheeks. I gave them a big hug. I let them know that someone cared for them and wanted to see them push through this pain to the other side with genuine HOPE in Jesus Christ. It was an amazing encounter I witnessed in our parking lot where the Spirit of God softened some heavy hearts and the valve in each tear duct stream was released and set free. With each person our ministry reaches each day is another life we can release into this river of wonderful and liberating HOPE! Totally awesome!
There were many other good things taking place on the rebuilding project today, but I wanted to just center in on this one thought. We serve a mighty God who is able to use TEARS for the freedom of the heart, and direct a soul to accept Christ as the only way, the only door, and the only HOPE that one will ever need in life. Nothing else can even come close...
We are fighting to spread HOPE here in Columbus...in the streets of HOPELESSNESS. I am at peace knowing my God will take care of our regional ministry center and bring us back home "debt free." That is my firm belief and solid HOPE!
The beautiful part of this is that every person wants, desires, and even hungers after a time of prayer with God the Father. They are happy to be prayed for. They understand the spiritual dimension in their life that sorely needs to be filled with a lively HOPE...hope found in running to the Father's arms and calling upon His name.
Today I prayed with a couple, and a lady that literally ran into our circle, to be prayed for. I prayed for them...to receive God's strength and comfort...to be encouraged in their good work...to take some HOPE home with them...and to never forget that God loves them and cares for them so very much. It was a simple prayer...nothing fancy. But when I finished I looked at this couple and they were feverishly wiping away the TEARS that had fallen upon their sullen cheeks. I gave them a big hug. I let them know that someone cared for them and wanted to see them push through this pain to the other side with genuine HOPE in Jesus Christ. It was an amazing encounter I witnessed in our parking lot where the Spirit of God softened some heavy hearts and the valve in each tear duct stream was released and set free. With each person our ministry reaches each day is another life we can release into this river of wonderful and liberating HOPE! Totally awesome!
There were many other good things taking place on the rebuilding project today, but I wanted to just center in on this one thought. We serve a mighty God who is able to use TEARS for the freedom of the heart, and direct a soul to accept Christ as the only way, the only door, and the only HOPE that one will ever need in life. Nothing else can even come close...
We are fighting to spread HOPE here in Columbus...in the streets of HOPELESSNESS. I am at peace knowing my God will take care of our regional ministry center and bring us back home "debt free." That is my firm belief and solid HOPE!
Visit www.columbusfirstassembly.org for more information and online giving options.
Love, peace and HOPE!
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