how back2school makes a difference

In the next 11 days I am going to share the blessings and challenges of the #back2school project, and it is incredible to see what God is doing. There are many opportunities that allow us to serve people in great ways.

Psalm 34:8 NLT

Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

The people who have helped us with back2school over the years is really amazing. Some of these helped us move to the next level. Others gave resources so we can see more people. Some of these friends allowed us to do more than ever before.

You can help us do the same. Will you volunteer at one of these locations? Will you provide resources that are needed? Will you pray for the tremendous outcome of this year’s outreach?

Several years ago Manny Ohonme, founder of Samaritan’s Feet our shoe partner, shared three kingdom principles and challenged us about being a servant. Here are those principles and some verses to go with them.

1. You cannot change what you avoid.

2. You cannot complain about what you tolerate.

3. You cannot impact what you run from.

Joshua 1:9 NLT

This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

We cannot avoid things rather than confront them. It is easy to allow things to just happen or sweep things under the rug. Yet when we compromise, we end up making things worse. If we want to make a difference in the lives of people, we cannot avoid people and their needs.

May we share answers to problems or issues and stop complaining about things. When we run from difficult situations, we end up with more difficulties. Yet by meeting needs, we stop running away and start running to our challenges, big and little, wrong and right.

My prayer is that we would continue to make a difference in our community. Manny said, “if your community is not a better place because you are there, you better ask why you are there.” God called us to make a difference.

To make a difference we have to deal with our challenges head on and ask God to use us to make a difference now and in the future!

1 Corinthians 16:13 NLT

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.

Please continue to pray for back2school. Plan to be part of this year’s outreach by volunteering or provide resources to help. Email your questions or thoughts (emailback2school@gmail.com) and go to www.gob2s.com for more details.

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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