The Abundant Wife

Today is the first day of October.  Have you noticed yet that all of my posts are one day behind?  I actually walk Monday-Friday, but then I write up my post sometime later in the day.  They should then show up in your e-mail or on your Facebook page Tuesday-Saturday.

Anyhow, today is the first day of October.  Today I took note of Halloween decorations, pumpkins, mums, and neighbors walking their dogs.  Today is trash day, so the streets were again lined with blue, grey, and green trash cans.  It’s taken me 10 days of walking, but finally I have begun to notice the trash on the ground where I walk.  Occasionally I pick up a piece of trash and carry it to a nearby trash can.  This morning I picked up a beer box full of cheetos and an empty prescription medication bottle.  Yesterday’s sobering post was on my mind as I walked today, realizing that so many of these students walk or ride their bikes to school every day right by the trash, gangs, drugs, alcohol, and violence.

Last night was our big bi-weekly club hosted by the coffee shop, and about 40 people from 2 counties showed up to laugh, sing, play games, eat snacks, and hear about Jesus.  The air was electric and the laughter was contagious.  A couple of football players and our teenage guitarist won raffle prizes.  On a black September night, in a city that has known its share of darkness, the light from that little coffee shop shown like a beacon.  As I stood in the coffee shop surrounded by a crowd of exuberant teenagers, I knew that my prayers of the last 9 days were being answered.

So today as I walked, I prayed with gratitude.  I thanked God for my husband, our leaders, drivers, committee, photographers, parents, tech support, musicians, and the coffee shop owners.  I am so grateful for every person who loves these high school kids enough to want them to experience the love of Jesus Christ.  What a privilege it is to work with this amazing team of adults every week.  I am so thankful for every teenager who made it last night, and pray that God will begin to work in their hearts as they hear the gospel message presented.

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5:14-16