One Life Touched

Whenever I plan an event if any kind, I always feel that if one heart is touched, one life changed in any way, one person set free from any kind of bondage or healed from any hurt, then whatever work was involved was absolutely worth it. I don't believe that we have ever had an event that there was only one person touched. God is always faithful to work in more lives than just one.
Last weekend's retreat was no exception. I have heard many great reports of God working and speaking. One particular woman's story touched me so much I have to share it.
Casey is a sweet young woman who has Cerebral Palsy. She is not able to work or live independently. She has a wonderful family who love her very much and enjoy being with her, but she chooses to live in a group home where she has some independence but is taken care of. Casey always has a smile on her face. She loves children and enjoys being a part of Cottonwood. She is very quite. She is able to speak, but she has to work very hard to be understood, and it is often too hard for her. So, she listens quietly and we usually don't know what is going on inside of her. Casey came to the retreat this weekend and I could tell she was happy to be there.
On Monday, Arnita, who spoke at the retreat, showed her assistant Katy a picture frame with a note inside. The note, in the printing you would expect from a young child said this:

Dear Arnita,
You made me feel OK to be the way God created me.
Your Friend,
Casey

Was the retreat worth months of preparation, and a lot of work for a number of people? Was it worth Arnita driving 3 hours to speak? Was it worth whatever it took to pull it off?
For that one note, that one life to be so impacted, YES, IT WAS WORTH IT!!
I thank God that he used the retreat for one person be able to feel OK to be who she is.

"For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother's womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well."

Psalm 139:13-14

"More to See"

Last weekend, about 106 women participated in our annual Cottonwood Ladies Retreat. Our theme this year was "More to See" because our God always has more to reveal to us. Arnita Taylor blessed us so much from the Bible and from her own experience as a Christ follower. In her experience, one of the times that she has been able to really see more of God was during times of suffering or struggle. Here are a few encouraging tidbits from the first session of the retreat.

We have to know that there is a reason, a goal, and an end for our suffering.
The Apostle Paul expressed that in 2 Timothy 4:6-9
"For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing."

Suffering doesn't always mean you are failing or doing something wrong. It does mean that I need to pray and seek God more. During our hard times, we learn God's comfort, and we experience His Presence as we draw closer to Him.
Suffering will clarify what my heart worships. It will purify our hearts, cut away sin.
Times of suffering will increase our hunger for God and help us to grow up. Those times teach us to trust Him more.
Difficult times also help us to understand God's sovereignty and His Lordship.
Ephesians 1:11 "we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,"

Here is an action plan, steps to take when you encounter a time of suffering.
1. Trust God's Lordship, His promises, and HIs Word.
Psalm 46:1-2
"God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change"
2. Seek His lesson. Ask, "Lord, what are you teaching me".
3. Seek His hand, knowing and believing that He is with you.
Isaiah 43:1-3
"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you go through deep waters,I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God,
4. Take small steps forward, without fear, without condemnation.

God's Big Work through Our Small Efforts

Big News. God brought fruit from our outing last week.
Last Saturday, I went with some family members to serve with the Pastor of a Spanish Speaking Church to minister in a neighborhood in East Ft. Worth (see post of Feb. 25, Sharing God's Love in Little Ways). We did not do anything big, and I did not expect to SEE any fruit from it. We went with a desire to share God's love, and to help this Pastor meet some people in an area that he is burdened for.
Well...Libby called yesterday with a report.
Pastor Luis went back to do some follow-up visits.
He visited the family with 4 year old Billy who has Cerebral Palsy. His mother became a believer.
He also visited the home with the 6 year old who has a brain tumor. Her mother and her Grandmother came to Christ.
This is amazing. I am just praising God for His work and thanking Him for allowing me to be a part of it. I am also thankful for a humble servant like Pastor Luis who is faithful to minister in this area.

" What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers;" 1 Cor 3:5-9

I also want to report on some "small things" that are being done. The Cottonwood Ladies Bible Study group that meets in DeLeon have really taken the idea of having an outward focused life and run with it. They are so busy, doing all kinds of ministry in the area. Here is a report from their last project.

"For Valentine’s celebration we wanted to make some widows and single moms feel special; so the Agape Givers (DeLeon Bible Study ladies) made coverlets out of red and pink fleece. Colleen Stockman kindly cut the fabric for us and then during one of our Thursday lunches we made yoyo’s and used them along with buttons and beads to decorate the coverlets and then they were delivered to 8 women. There were great smiles and thank you’s from the ladies. We are looking forward to projects we have scheduled for the future."