Monday, August 19, 2019

August 19 – “when someone actually listens …”


It was another great day at church.  Chris and I were presented with a birthday card everyone there signed with well-wishes.  It was the third Sunday of the month, so we got to be near the front of the line at dinner on the grounds.  Always a treat.  The food was especially fabulous.  Mr. Bob the fisherman brought a passle of fresh fish he caught.  Mrs. Violet had some really tasty ribs and someone brought chicken legs.  Who doesn’t like chicken legs?  Not to mention the birthday cake and myriad of other desserts and dishes.  The works.  Great time to make a visit to Seaside … every third Sunday of the month.

The teaching was from the Book of Hosea.  All about how the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) figured they could just back off from sinning until God either forgot about them or forgave them “like he always does.”  It was more about getting caught than repenting for them.  Last night I was tagged on FaceBook.  One of our Seasiders sent a picture of a dog and a cat eyeing several hamburgers.  The caption read, “Dear Lord, thank you for this food we are about to eat … Please don’t let us get caught.  Amen.”  Our Seasider queried, “Pastor Kelley, I wonder if their humans are from Ephraim.”  Gotta love it when someone actually listens …

Later I got a call from another Seasider who was concerned about finding a bed for someone she was ministering to who had virtually no furnishings for a new apartment.  She put the word out and within the hour she had a bed and a pull out sofa.  Her comment?  “And just like that I got a bed donated!  That was a quickly answered prayer.  Way to go God!”

Jeremiah 17:7 says, “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.”

Father, thank you for the folks at Seaside.  I sure do love ‘em, and I know you do, too.

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