Do you like to yell out loud? I know I do. Well, Thursday night was "Holiday Outburst" night where everyone yells out things that belong to specific categories. Jeff and I M.C. the evening while Randy runs around with a cordless mike to each group like a chicken with his head cut-off, and Dave keeps time with a cymbal to let us know when to move on. It's kind of like a chaotic Family Feud on major caffeine. The Shakers won the game, but if you were there for the whole night, you'd know everyone did. If they chose to...
Earlier in the evening, Titus joined the band for the first time playing his harmonica to the tune of "Early On One Christmas Morn." Well..., they brought the house down, and it was the first time I recollect a standing ovation at Circle of Friends. The joy on faces seen was memorable. It wasn't the first time that one of our friends joined the band for a number. They happen occasionally and I really like it when they do! I just seems right for everyone to be part of everything at COF... within reason of course.
As I mentioned in an earlier note our ministry is geared towards folks with disabilities, (a.k.a. everyone - whether you want to admit you have a disability not - seen or unseen). And..., I don't like to sell our folks short (insert your own height joke here) when it comes to sharing ALL of God's word. But it's a delicate thing to share all of God's love and word with folks who might not always understand what I say, and I surely do not want to take advantage of someone to wear some Christian badge of honor for sharing the faith on my chest (...now serving number...). So, I trust God!
I don't have a special needs child but, I teach them (and others) for 180 days a year, so I have an idea as to "special things." I also have a physical disability that is easily seen, and whether I want to always admit it or not affects why and how I do things. So..., I trust God! I speak to everyone the same way, and let God handle the fallout, always. Just like the devotion from Thursday, I trust that because he already won our salvation which we can all claim through the STP prayer (Sorry I've sinned, Thank you for dying for me Jesus, Please have your Holy Spirit come into my heart forever,) it is really all about how God will share Himself with everyone. So I don't like to hold back anything from anyone. God hasn't. He gave us this wonderful place to live, (and we screw it up), He gave us a plan to fix our mistakes through Jesus, (and some choose to screw that up), He gave us the best selling book every year for all time to help us when we need help and answer our prayers, (and we don't always go to it, and screw that up too). To me, life is really not that difficult, (but we often screw that up)..., trust God.
Whatever your situation, stop and think about why God would have you there. If it's a great place to be, thank God. If it's not, thank God, and learn from it. Through it all; read alittle of His word daily, and trust God. He already won the way for us to be with Him for eternity if you choose the won way which is Jesus. We learned in our devotion that the bible says, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12). Jesus is not the "best" way, (as said in a very popular book out recently; about a shed where this man comes to grips with the loss of his daughter - page 109 or 110). He is the only way for everyone. We are all included because God doesn't hold back. Doesn't that make you want to shout and yell out loud for joy?!?! I know I do.
