special needs kids @ #back2school

PRAY FOR the #back2school outreach 2015: special needs students being served on Friday and all others being served on Saturday (almost 1,500 students are registered for this event).

Luke 18:16 NASB

But Jesus called for them, saying, “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

There are several part of our #back2school outreach that get me excited, but I would like to share one of the more recent and most challenging.

A couple years ago we added an extra day to our event. It is the day before the big day, and that is when we have chosen to serve children and their families who have special needs. It really is an incredible day with all kinds of blessings as well as challenges.

Some kids have special needs that make being in a crowd difficult. Other students have some health problems that make getting around a struggle. No matter the challenge we are ready and willing to meet them. Bring on even more of these awesome students!

I am so proud of our team that has stepped up to do more than we have in the past. It is not easy to serve some, but when we meet these kids, we see they are more than worth the effort. Some require one on one interaction. Others want very little interaction. Some don’t want to go through the process. What I believe is that ever child has great value and needs to know and hear and learn even more that God values them.

We can take the opportunity every day to help the people we come in contact with to know they are special to God. No matter their situation or status, God loves each and offers hope. When the church reaches people with challenges, I believe the church looks more and more like the church God intended us to be.

Some of the roadblocks are put up for the wrong reason. Some people simply don’t serve or share with others because it is uncomfortable. Jesus was uncomfortable often, but He was willing to do things to make a difference.

What are we willing to do so that another person can accept the fact that they are valuable to God? Try that today.

Tomorrow is Friday. We will serve some incredible students. Pray for great impact!

Jeremiah 32:39 NASB

and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them.

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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