Wow! - 123

  We just got back from church tonight at the jail in Clay County and we were all blessed with a great service.  There is a true church family that has developed over the past year there, one that is strong and connects us all at the heart.  This is a church of inmate trustees, visiting family and friends, police officers, and paroles that began many years ago.  These men and women are all my brothers and sisters in Jeshua.

It is hard to put into words the love that i feel for this prison ministry work and "The Church" inside the jail.  Every Tuesday night at 7:00 pm Church gets underway and The Holy Spirit is invited to feed us The Word.  There is a portion of the service that is devoted to "testimony time" where anyone can stand up and provide a personal testimony of what God has done in their lives.  Some like to share a song or a scripture and there is the occasional mini-sermon.

I always leave there filled to the brim with joy, excitement, and definitely the peace that transcends all understanding.  It is a gift to be part of this family and to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit wash, share and teach.  As one former inmate turned pastor shares, "God took a mess, and made a messenger."

Thank You Heavenly Father,

~ ab

Coaching - 106

  I had the privledge of coaching my youngest son's basketball game today.  Talk about winging it - i had never before coached anything and pretty much had to rely on the help of others, including the young players, to point me where i needed and tell me what to do.  Thanks and Blessings to them all.  i relaxed into being "coach" after the first couple periods and encouraged the players to open their eyes to certain things happening on the court to help direct them as i could.  i explained a new play at halftime, not expecting them to pick it up in such short time, but surprisingly a couple players did try the new play.
  The league my boys are both in is called Upward and is sponsored by the local churches.  It includes devotional time and Biblical teaching as the foundation in team sports.  At halftime there is a miny sermon to the whole assembly.  This is a positive mix as i've witnessed and a GoOD lesson to put God first in all our endeavors - work, play, entertainment, etc. 
  During halftime the team went into their private team room and we talked a bit about the game first and then came time for a scripture.  i wasn't provided a "standard" verse to teach so i gave the children one of my first favorites Genesis 2:8 - And God planted a garden eastward in Eden and there He placed the man he had formed.  i explained in the simplist terms to the young boys how God first intended for us to walk in a garden that He gave to us as a gift.  He wanted to be close to us as He made us for Him and we are just wired that way - connected in our Spirit - Deep within our hearts God planted a seed.
  The Holy Spirit teaches us in all circumstances as we mature our relationship with Him.  This "coaching" lesson has been to show me what He does with us and how He coaches, teaches, and counsels us in our game here on earth.  The Counselor is very intimate in His teaching and very direct.  i have been shown this to understand empathy for how God is trying to guide us and direct us through each day.  As a coach may suggest a new play or point out some area we may improve upon, so does the Holy Spirit lead in this way.  He cannot play the game for us, He can only lead and suggest and protect.  Look to God for your guidence in all situations and cultivate your relationship so that you may always know to rely Him.  He is Truth and Love in action.

May You be Blessed this day by Father,

~ab