Promise Kept

I am back as promised with the next except from our Christmas letter.

Our move in the summer of 2009 and then into the extended stay hotel, began a new phase of ministry.  We reaffirmed a single lady’s decision not to abort a pregnancy and baptized her in our bathtub.  We were a vessel by which a man recommitted his path to God, possibly fulfilling a call into ministry.  Through the gift of home cooking and hospitality, we fed a family in need, honored new parents and new friends, and were an answer to prayer for a holiday meal. 

The opportunity to privately pray for or to pray with individuals as we cross their paths and learn of their lives has been a privilege.  We have encountered the unchurched and children, struggling believers and non-believers, gays and grandmothers, verbal abusers and controllers, college students and tourists, mothers and fathers, Wicken members and singles, as well as, drug dealers and exotic dancers.

More later ...

More Than Africa

When I first started this blog, my intention to chronicle God's plan for our family mission trip to Africa seemed broad. I mean it was going to happen ...bam, bam, bam. We would be there! Wrong again.

Three years later we still have not made the trip, and now I am tasked with the job of keeping an active blog. Last night while I wrote to you it occurred to me to open up and talk more about the ministry in general. This morning when I sat down to write all manner of controversy came my way. My office software would not work. I deleted it trying to fix it. I lost my patience. Cried. Was short with my husband. Had to apologize to my family for my reaction. Talked to my computer's technical support. I think I am on the right track. :)

For the next few entries, I am going to give you portions of our 2011 Christmas letter. It was basically our annual report. This will catch you up a bit and then we can move on with a fresh start. Thank you for reading!

December 13, 2011

Dear Friends and Family,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We are writing “to report all that God has done through us” (Acts 14:27) in the past two and a half years.

You may remember we began C Square Ministries, Inc. as a family ministry in January of 2006. We began by purchasing phone cards for residents at the Nashville Rescue Mission. Three worship events in four years were held in the local community. debwood the band was formed. For two years, a weekly prayer meeting was held in our home. We saw one salvation and several healings from past hurts with individuals God brought to our door. The ministry also grew to include a new board member and a bread ministry that served more than 2,500 families in two years.

More tomorrow ....

New Year, New Me, Pooh

I has been almost two years since I have written. I failed to be obedient ... again. Please forgive me, Lord. What brought me here was a friend who updated her blog after a period of silence. It reminded me of my promise. I immediately knew what to write about. My daughter had been diligent where I had not.

A month or so ago she decided to hold a fundraiser for the 2012 team going to Africa. All on her own she set up a menu of items to sell with the money going to buy soccer balls for the team to take in June. (That is what she remembers from our church's first trip to the orphanage.) She sold blueberry muffins, kale chips, sugar cookies and M&M cookies. She raised $14. Of course, her father and I had to come along side to underwrite the cost of ingredients. She told one of the customers that she still hopes our family can take the trip one day. Her example was one I needed to see. I had no thought of supporting this team because we were not going .... again. Poor attitude! You see why I don't want to write this blog. I have to confess my shortcomings!!!!!

Here is another tidbit. My daughter had a huge plan. When I saw what she was doing, I culled back her menu in order to afford it. She set her own delivery date. Her parents didn't make that one. More failure on her parents' part. She patiently set another deadline. While in Pet Smart last week, she wanted a beta fish and tank. She, nor I, had the money for it. In the van in the parking lot, we prayed and asked God to give us His direction and wisdom for the situation. The Holy Spirit prompted me that she needed to keep her word and deliver on her fundraiser. Boy, did that propel me to aquire the ingredients. Woody made the two types of cookies, and I made the muffins and kale chips. Thanks to a friend who loaned us a muffin pan, we met the second deadline.

Learning from that situation, I asked the Holy Spirit to show me if there was was something I needed to finish in order to receive his wisdom in my own life. He told me specifically what that was yesterday through that friend's blog!!!! Finally, I am delivering on my overdue commitment to you. Thank you to a patient God.