by George | Jun 24, 2022 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Roll the credits
“Obed-edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth, Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, and Peullethai the eighth; God had indeed blessed him.”
1 Chronicles 26:4-5
At the end of the movie, the credits start to roll. Most people in the movie theater start to get up and head for the exits. If you are watching it on television, you probably hit the stop button or change the channel. We don’t pay much attention to the list of names once it goes past the actors’ names… No one cares who the “key grip” person was.
When you read 1 Chronicles, you sometimes get the feeling you are watching the credits, and your mind starts to wander. But, sometimes in the seemingly endless list of names, we find some gems.
Obed-edom is one of them. At the end of the list of his eight sons, it says: “…God had indeed blessed him.”
1 Chronicles 26:5
Why did God bless him? The answer is found back in 1 Chronicles 13:
“So David did not take the ark with him to the city of David but took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. Thus the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months, and the Lord blessed the family of Obed-edom with all that he had.”
1 Chronicles 13:13-14
David had tried to move the ark of the covenant back to Israel but didn’t do it the right way, and Uzzah was struck down when he touched it. (1 Chronicles 13:7-11)
So, David was afraid to move the ark any further. He chose Obed-edom to take care of it.
I imagine Obed-edom was surprised when the king arrived with the ark.
Being a faithful servant, he said yes.
If you ever have been given a new piece of furniture, you have to move the old furniture out of the way.
Obed-edom had to make room for the ark. He respected it, and took care of it. As a result, God blessed him with sons and grandsons who were valiant and strong.
“All these were of the sons of Obed-edom; they and their sons and their relatives were able men with strength for the service, 62 from Obed-edom.”
1 Chronicles 26:8
Wow, it all started with a faithful act of service.
Let’s be like Obed-edom and make room for God in our lives.
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33
by George | Jun 13, 2022 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
The Why
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.”
Ecclesiastes 9:10
Do you ever wonder why you do what you do? We all have a lot of things to do each day. It’s easy to get bogged down in all the details, and somehow lose the “why.” I think it’s helpful to remember why you do the things you do… Here’s my story and the “why” I do the chaplaincy thing…
In May of 2003, I was working as a restaurant manager. It was steady employment, but I was not satisfied. One Sunday, I expressed this feeling to the church I was attending. I asked them to help me pray that I would find a fulfilling career.
That afternoon, I looked in the paper and saw that a hospice in Cartersville was looking for a Chaplain.
I prayed earnestly and felt peace about applying. I asked friends to pray as well.
The Lord answered my prayer and allowed me to minister there for 5 years.
Around 2009, a friend of my wife’s noticed that there was an ad in the paper for United Hospice. (UH later became Pruitt Health Hospice.) They were looking for a Chaplain. I prayed about it and applied. The Lord answered that prayer, and by the grace of God, I’m still here.
The best part of what I do is not the “knowledge “ I impart to patients and families. Instead, it’s what they share with me. Hearing their stories. Getting to know these precious folks.
My “why” is the feeling of satisfaction I get from being there and providing comfort to patients with life-limiting illness and their loved ones.
What’s your story? Why do you do what you do? Take some time to get back to the core, the “why” of what you do.
Then, take Solomon’s words to heart and “do it with all your might.”
by George | Jun 8, 2022 | Community News, Newsletter
June Community Church Ministry Newsletter
“Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He *said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”
Matthew 9:35-38
We generally only quote the verse “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” We forget about the context.
Jesus was very busy. He was
“… going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.”
As He saw the people, He had compassion on them. “…because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.”
At that point, He instructs His disciples to “beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”
As we minister to the precious folks we shepherd, let us have the compassion of Christ…
Please ask the Lord to send laborers for Community Church Ministry.
In July, we have the opportunity to do back-to-school events in several more places. We give away basic school supplies.
We need groups and individuals to go with us “into the harvest.”
Please pray for no rain and for resources.
Meanwhile, we are doing several community dinners in June.
June community dinner schedule.
6:30 pm starting time each night.
Thursday, June 2
Darlington MHP
Thursday, June 9
Dutch Gardens MHP
Monday, June 13
Callier Forest Apts
Tuesday, June 14
Graham Homes
Thursday, June 16
Pine Village MHP
Monday, June 20
Swan Lake MHP
