I spent the morning praying with a group of leaders from “One by One Leadership” in Immokalee; Reed, John, Dave, Dick, Sinclair, and Pastor Andre from Haiti. The heart for the area is strong and the desire is to practically meet the tangible needs of the community. How to accomplish this is a concerted effort between the churches of the community, the Ave Maria community and University, and the resources of the Naples area. Collier county consists of one of the wealthiest communities in the country; wealth in both dollars and experience. I am awed at the talent and success that is collected here. Immokalee is also home to a relatively large Casino owned and operated by the local Seminole tribe. The local population includes a smaller population of land owners and farmers in addition to the migrant communities. Yet the pressing need from the perspective of a Pregnancy Medical Clinic CEO is the absence of medical care for pregnant woman. PP will be present pushing their agenda but isn’t it a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate the compassion and care that God’s people provide. A recent visitor to the local Pregnancy Center summed it up this way: “ I can’t have a baby now, I already have 3 and I can’t put shoes on their feet.” In response a nearby church ended their Sunday service by instructing the congregation to leave their shoes at the door as they left the service. Hundreds of shoes were collected and distributed in Immokalee. I heard they were all gone within a couple of hours. What about you?  Will you be part of a team that brings help to those in need? Let me know.

How many mouths are you trying to feed?

The end of the year has finally arrived. Later today the staff of BRWC will gather together and share ministry stories that occurred this year. As we prepare for a new year, we want to begin it in the spirit of gratitude and thanksgiving. Before Jesus fed the 5000 with those five loaves and two fish, he lifted them up to Father and gave thanks. I don’t know about your specific situation today but I am pretty confident that many of you are facing some pretty overwhelming situations as we launch into a new year. Think about it for a minute. Jesus was facing an overwhelming situation: thousands of hungry mouths and only one lunch to feed them with. You know how the story goes, though. Jesus knew that Father wanted to feed them…and if Father wants it to happen, it happens.

We face impossible situations every day and I am finally to the point where I welcome that. I have finally concluded that I would rather be in a situation that is impossible without God than in a situation that is possible because of my own abilities and strength. I find both in my life regularly (you probably do as well) and I love it when God shows up—especially when the situation is impossible if he doesn’t.

As we budget and plan for 2010 I tend to focus on what we need and what we don’t have rather than on the heart of Father. Will we have enough volunteers? Will we have enough money? Will we have a favorable political climate? Will there be enough to go around? My tendency is to look at all the hungry mouths that need to be fed. Is that your tendency as well?

Would you join with me this New Year as I change my view from the hungry mouths to the Father who loves us beyond measure? Let’s lift up all that we have today and ask Him to bless it and use it as he sees fit. I’d love to hear your comments and thoughts on this subject