Coming to work after a wonderful holiday weekend, there are so many things to be thankful for.
I am thankful to the Lord that as an organization we can start the day off with prayer.
I am thankful to the Lord that there are many prayer warriors outside the mission who are praying for the staff and the many needs of the mission.
I am thankful to the many volunteers who give of their time at Haven of Rest. They prepare food, sort clothes, clean, provide transportation, prepare mailings, lead chapel services, spend time with the clients and children at Harvest Home and many other activities that help make this ministry work.
I am thankful today for all the companies, organizations, churches and schools that have partnered with us to help the less fortunate.
I am thankful that we can share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who are lost and hopeless, because it is through Christ that change truly happens.
I am thankful that the Lord has given me another day to be used to fulfill His purpose.
I could go on and on because there is so much to be thankful for. What are you thankful for today? Our Heavenly Father does love and care for us. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 it says this: “Be joyful always continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Jesus Christ.”
To all who partner with us financially, and or through volunteering time and talents, thank you.
I’ve just begun my third year at Haven of Rest Ministries, and I am learning so much. Is it easy, no, but it’s worth it to know that I have been called into a ministry where my love for the Lord has grown greater in areas that I have never know. My compassion for hurting people is stronger, and my willingness to serve is consuming. God has called me out of my comfort zone. This is a whole new life for me. God is drawing me closer to Him, and I feel Him preparing me for the journey.
Being special events coordinator can sometimes be very draining. It’s August and I am worried about Christmas at the mission. Being in outreach, we met the needs of people where they are. It tugs at the heart to know that some children may be disappointed because their parent(s) are unable to purchase gifts for Christmas. Will there be enough toys for the Happy Birthday Jesus Party? Will there be enough African American dolls or other ethnic dolls for gifts to young girls. Will there be enough trucks and games? Often these thoughts cross my mind and then I have to remind myself that God is in control.
Just the other day I was talking to someone about responsibility and life’s challenges. Life is not meant to be a series of challenges that leave us feeling defeated. It’s meant to shape our character. I remember her telling me: “God never gives us more than we can bear.” At first I thought, well, maybe He doesn’t know me that well. It’s not easy to feel that way when you can hear desperation in the voices of people. I look at this new role that God has entrusted me to play and I am thankful that I am beginning to see a new character in me that I have not seen before.
Remember the days when a mother could send her son next door to borrow a cup of sugar? Or maybe you remember an elderly lady where you grew up who would give candy to the neighborhood kids. During that day and time being a neighbor and being a part of a neighborhood seemed to mean a lot more to people than it does today.
As I thought about this, one of the narratives in the Gospel of Luke came to my mind where the question was asked, Who is my neighbor? This is an interesting question asked of Jesus in Luke chapter 10 and it is out of His answer the Parable of the Good Samaritan comes.
The man that needed help along the Jericho road was someone the Good Samaritan encountered during his journey down the sometimes dusty and dangerous road of life. When he saw the man in need he stopped what he was doing and went to help him. What this has shown me is that the real question is not who is my neighbor, but who can I be a neighbor too?
This is why working at Haven of Rest is such an amazing opportunity and blessing. Everyday the staff here has the privilege of being a neighbor to all of the men, women and children who are hurting that come to the mission. Through it’s Christ-centered outreach of love and compassion, Haven of Rest is a neighbor to the whole community by responding to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of disadvantaged men, women, and children without regard to their race, color, creed or social standing.
Whether it’s a healthy meal, a warm bed, clothing or encouraging words from the Gospel, Haven of Rest is able to be a neighbor to people who otherwise would not have anyone to turn to.
The other day I had an opportunity to sit down and have coffee with one of our intern residents that I will refer to as “Carl.” He was bubbling over with enthusiasm to share how his life and whole perspective had changed since he had come through Haven of Rest’s residential program. He had gained a sense of significance, and was now feeling appreciated and loved.
When Carl first arrived at Haven of Rest, it was quite the opposite. He suffered with depression and anxiety, feeling his life was hopeless. Regret and despair over poor decisions weighed heavily on him. But he now understands just how very valuable he is to God and that his life has purpose and meaning. He is eager to help others who may be feeling what he once did.
Carl also mentioned how the volunteers at Haven of Rest had an impact on him. As a resident, he looked forward to working alongside them in the Foodservice department, for they would share their joy with him about serving the Lord and what it meant to be a follower of Christ. Carl remarked, “They always encouraged me and treated me with dignity and respect – something that I actually found surprising! They accepted me – and I wasn’t used to that! The volunteers showed concern and love, helping me to feel more confident as a person and as a child of God.” He especially looked forward to a group that came in from a Mennonite church. They expressed a special interest in his life’s journey and invited him to some of their church events and a wedding. “They have no idea just how much that meant to me,” said Carl.
Our volunteers are a very special group of people. I wonder if they realize just how much of an impact they have on the lives they touch here through personal contact or the examples they set through God’s love, mercy, grace, word and deed. Their efforts truly make a difference!
Part of the struggle in full-time ministry is wondering at times if the effort I am putting in is making any difference at all. It was one of those times when God gave me some real encouragement.
Once a month, I am privileged to give the evening chapel message to our client men here at Haven of Rest. It is always my desire to do my best when doing anything for God. I view that message as His word to us and pray that He will use me to be a conduit for what He would share with the men. These are men who are many times struggling not only with homelessness but also addictions. At times they can be quite calloused and resistant to what is being shared. Many are also discouraged and even depressed. There are others who are rebellious. It is not an easy audience to address.
On one of those evenings, I was giving the message, pouring out my heart to the men. There were some men toward the back of the chapel who were laughing and joking. I stopped, looked at them and said; “This is no laughing matter.” It was frustrating to me to have to stop and deal with their disrespectful behavior and probably detracted from the quality of the message. God, can bless in any setting where His Word is heard.
A few months later one of our resident men, (those on our long-term recovery program) came up to me and said, “You probably don’t remember this, but you gave the evening chapel message on a particular evening and I was here for the first time in my life.” He then mentioned the very night and the message when the men were being disrespectful and I had to stop. He continued, “I had just come from spending a few days in a crack house. I came forward that night and you prayed with me and I gave my life to Jesus Christ.” At this point he got teary eyed and then he continued. “I had a great job earning $70,000 per year. Yet for the past 20 years I have had a cocaine addiction. I’ve been living a double life. When I came forward that night, Jesus delivered me from the addiction. A short while later I got on the resident program here and my life has been changed so dramatically.”
The disrespectful attitude of some did not hinder His Word from touching the life of at least one that night. Thank God for Haven of Rest and the many lives that are transformed through the renewing power of Jesus Christ.
What does it mean to be a father? As a little girl I remember waiting with anticipation for my dad to come home from the steel mill. He worked three different rotating shifts. The morning: seven to three. The afternoon shift: three to eleven. The evening shift: eleven to seven.
He seemed to work the morning shift more during the summer. My twin sister and I would be outside playing kickball or steel the caps or lost in a world of our imagination and we would hear his car drive up. No matter what we were doing, we would take off running calling to him, “Daddy, Daddy, Daddy”! I don’t know why seeing him drive up brought us such joy, but it did. Our joy did not wane even though my dad was somewhat emotionally disconnected from us. However, he always seemed happy to see us running to him. He’d smile, pick us up and give us a nickel for a Popsicle. Although he loved us and we loved him, I never felt a sense of security with him. Security and unconditional love was something my mother provided.
It’s good to know that for those of us whose fathers may not have been all we would have liked, or may not have been there at all; there is a Father who loves us regardless of our shortcomings and failures. A Father who never runs out of time to listen, is never impatient, or uncaring or “disconnected.” That’s the Father we share with the men and women who come to Haven of Rest. We want them to know the security of a Father’s love and the hope they have in Him for a fresh start and new life.
My father is in a nursing home now unable to walk or speak, but in his eyes I see the memories of all those hot, summer afternoons and I hear the shrieks of joy from my sister and I as he tossed us in the air and caught us in his arms. He once told us he did the best he could as a father, and I believe him. Whatever was lacking in my dad I know is available through my heavenly Father. In my dad’s eyes are memories of yesterday, but in the “eyes” of my heavenly Father is the calm assurance of eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ, and I feel very secure.
Yesterday a woman who had stayed at Harvest Home many years ago came to visit me..
This wasn’t her first visit since moving out. Every year or two she stops by to let us know how she is doing. She tells us about her job, updates us concerning her children and lets us know how things are going at her church. Talking with her reminded me of conversations I’ve had with family members.
So often the news from her is good and uplifting. However this time it wasn’t. She is struggling spiritually. She is wondering where God is in all that has happened recently. She hasn’t been able to work due to an injury so she hasn’t paid her rent and is facing an eviction. She came by to ask, if necessary, could she return to Harvest Home. It’s heartbreaking to think she may become homeless and need to return, but it is good to know she views us as a spiritual support system. She needs women around her who can help her sort things out and encourage her in her relationship with the Lord.
However, as sisters in Christ, we are also glad to be of assistance during difficult times. We count it a blessing to pray for a woman in need of comforting and to provide for her when she is unable to provide for herself. This, too, kind of reminds me of family.
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