Part of God's Plan

Today was a great day! We were in southern Indiana and the weather was beautiful. I heard that it was raining all day at home, sorry about that. Also, we got to baby sit for Ava and we had so much fun. She is just about to crawl, very close. She finds so many things funnie! So like 'normal' adults, we continue to do whatever it is that makes her laugh and laugh right along with her. Being grandparents is the best!! I praise God for this blessing and I hope in due time for many more!!!


The other reason we were here was to check out the accommodations and the job that we will have later this summer when the Family Workteam comes to Columbus. We first drove out to the Columbus Youth Camp which was way out in the middle of nowhere. Mike finally stopped for directions and we had somehow missed a turn off the main road but the fellow we asked knew just where we needed to go. The drive was beautiful. The camp will be the perfect place for our group to stay. We found out that there will be another group here at the same time so we will have the opportunity to meet some other workers which always makes the trip more interesting. We will talk to the gal setting up our job tomorrow before we leave for home.

This week was the one year anniversary of the flood that struck on 06/07/08 and devastated a wide spread area. The local newspaper had a whole section about many different things pertaining to the flood and it's clean up. It is exciting to think we will be part of that. There was an article about many of the groups that came over the last year and someone being helped said they couldn't believe that many of the people coming to help were taking vacation time to come, especially when the economy was so questionable for so many everywhere. It does seem funnie, I guess but I don't look at it that way. It makes me think of a quote Monica has that reads like this, 'You have been created and equipped to live an abundant life filled with joy and extraordinary fulfillment. And Christ says that to live this pulse-quickening, satisfying life, all that's needed is to mirror his habit of serving the people around you.'

It is always interesting to see how the group comes together. We always seem to have the right people for the job that is chosen. Like last trip to New York, Lenny Foyle, decided to go at the last minute and the church we were working on had some major problems with plumbing that he was able to fix for them. And a couple years ago when we went to Michigan, John Pavy went along at the last minute and Craig Streby went along to cook but both were needed to do a major cement job in the basement of the house we were to work on. They had the know how for that job and then the other half of our group worked on a major ramp for a fellow and had experience with that. I always say I'm amazed that it works out the way it does but I shouldn't be because God has it all planned ahead of time. Those who go along get to be a part of that plan. How awesome it is!!

Thing is you don't have to go anywhere or actually do anything out of the ordinary to be part of that awesome plan. It says in Colossians 3: 23-24, 'Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.' We are called to do whatever it is we do for Christ Jesus! If all you do is live your life, go to work every day, go to church, volunteer at the food pantry, the elementary school, or the library, mow your grass and maybe your neighbors, buy girl scout cookies, sit on your porch and say hello to passers -by with a smile on your face, give an extra $10 to a good cause, buy locally, give someone the good parking space, and the list goes on and on... we should do everything because we are doing it for the Lord!!

I challenge you to think about everything you do in the next few days and do it with a different attitude. I myself need to take this same challenge. And if you feel the call to join the Family Workteam, give me a call!


Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for the opportunity we have to serve you in everything we do. Help us to see where we can be your hands and feet so that we can be more like you. In Jesus name, Amen