celebrating the harvest

"Your not with out hope, not without love, not witout Jesus". . . these are the words to the song i've heard about 50 or so times with the powerpoint slide show that my boss' wife created about a year ago. there have been times when i've watched the slide show and listened to the song and all the while i was thinking about then the event would be over. not today. today was no ordinary saturday for me. and anyone who has been around me while i've been working at the Mission will understand. i generally hate open house months -- we run around, making everything so shiney and pretty, we focus on the details rather than the big picture, we lose our tempers with each other, not to mention the long hours, lack of sleep, and money we shell out -- all for what? -- for those who God is calling to sow into His ministry to see His stories of amazing Grace!

i must admit - i complain every time open house rolls around -- it's like the end of the semester finals -- i know they are coming and i know they will pleasent and i'll meet new people but it's the crap leading up to it that i hate. but today we had our fall open house - this wasn't any ordinary open house - it wasn't business as usual -- it was our 95th anniversity birthday party!

to hear the stories and testimony from past board memebers and current boardmembers and long time friends and donors - was. . . overwhelming! i realized as marylee started the slide show -- what an honor and a privilage it is to serve at the mission. not that i didn't know that before - but God smacked me with the David Crowder song -- "come and listen, come and listen to what He has done" -- God has allowed me to be part of something so much bigger than me. i'm part of the spiritual heritage God has been wavey in the region for 95 years. to hear the stories of God's provision - his direction - and those who have come before me . . . all i can say is wow.

that's not all - marylee updated some the pics. - to see some of my groups, my volunteers - those i've worked with - i've build relationships with - i was reminded that God has placed me here and he is using me. at times i feel like the slacker staff memeber -- i can't report much by way of work done in the ministry from my department -- i don't have stats such as how many nights of sleep i've offered or how many meals i've given -- but what i can see is the lives God has allowed me to intersect with - the youth from the york, pa rescue mission, the youth from bell memorial, jeff rickabaugh's group, ken nelson and so many more.

another thing that hit me -- seeing the folks that we've served -- a few i've gotten to know - again - what an honor to be witness to God's power and grace in working in a broken life. yet my heart hurts for the alfred's, the mark's, the ron's who walk away. Father, may you look after them - and capture their hearts again.

over all i must say this has been the best open house we've had - i know april is on it's way - but i'm going to enjoy today!