November 29 – “Sinking”

After church today we had a discernment meeting.  It's almost December, so we had to begin facing our usual end of the year gloomy news.  God has been great to us since Ike.  Our building didn't suffer much damage at all.  Sister churches sent us supplies and workers and money.  Seasiders from out of town and former Seasiders were more than generous with offerings.  We got a gift from a professional golfer, of all places.  It all helped us get through the last year and get to the point where the Seaside Christian Academy building is almost finished.    In the meantime, we were still dealing with the loss of key families after the storm.   Galveston is just not the same.  I heard we have gone from 65,000 in population to 45,000.  That's a lot of people not here.  And the ones who are here are still trying to get back in their homes, or "reestablished" in "new" personal routines.  We are just now beginning to get some hint of where Seaside and Seaside Christian Academy might be as organizations.  And that news is tough to look at from a purely organizational point of view.  The church needs about $10,000 a month, and we have been receiving about $8,000.  That adds up after awhile.  The school is behind, too.  But they have several prospects for new students, and some of them are supposed to start tomorrow.   Our financial guys are on top of it, but we are really praying hard now as well.    God has provided just what we needed when we needed it in the past.  There's no reason to think he won't do that again.  He certainly has plenty.  We need to trust him and be about doing what he has called us to do: make disciples of all nations.  That means spending time with people who are not believers, and being creative in ways to communicate the gospel to them.  And trusting God.  Trust.  It's not in the textbook for raising money for non-profit organizations.  But I can't think of a better place to start.   Speaking of finances, I paid some of our personal bills this afternoon.  We are looking at where else we can cut our budget and finish paying off the rest of our house bills from Ike. And pay for my hearing aids.  And get a car.  Mom's is really getting to its last leg, I'm afraid.  I haven't talked to Chris yet, but I think we can stop the Houston Chronicle and read it online.  Mom used to read it, but she only makes it through the Galveston paper lately.  We could also stop the aircard.  There's a problem there, though.  I can't get the wireless part of the laptop to work anymore.  I need tech support.   Wow.  I guess I'm sinking into "Chris is in Bay City again and I'm losing focus" mode … again.   Luke 24:51-53 says, "While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God."   Father, You are God.  I'm glad.  We need you over and over again.  Amen.