We almost missed it!

We’ve spent the better part of this last week scrubbing, polishing, painting, fixing, and labeling the Forever Fed Truck for use at our first outreach on August 13^th. During the entire process I’ve been amazed by God’s hand in all things accomplished so far.  However I am also reminded, every time I look at this truck, how we almost missed this blessing!

We had dreams and visions of what we thought God should do for our community and they certainly did not look like a box truck and a picnic. We had ideas on healthy foods we’d serve and how great it would be to sit down with our neighbors over a meal.  We had great hopes of participating in conversations with our guests in a nice comfy restaurant about the weather, our favorite teams, our kids, our lives, and our God.  

I know, with all my heart, if we had not been deliberate about seeking God’s will for this ministry we could have easily become like Israelites, wandering around in the dessert forever, looking for our land filled with milk and honey.  As it turned out, our land was filled with gasoline in a gas tank and air in tires! Who knew?

We haven’t even held our first event yet but I can now see how it makes total sense for us to go out into the community to meet the needs of God’s children. Serving food on your own turf is pretty easy, everything is done on your terms. However, when you venture out to neighborhoods in need, you are serving in a neutral and non-threatening environment, an environment familiar to the very people you are seeking to help. By doing so we’ve already opened up a conversation of love.  We are showing each community that we care for them so much we are willing to come to their turf to have the same conversations we hoped to have and serve them the same healthy meals we were dreaming of. 

Sometimes God can speak to you immediately when you ask for guidance, and other times you’ll hear nothing at all. The most important step in seeking God’s will for your life is seeking Him first! When we are diligent about seeking Him with right hearts, the answers will come and His way will be paved with blessings, talented people, and perhaps a bit of your own elbow grease! By all means pray specifically for your needs and desires but remain open to alternate routes! God’s ways are not always our ways and sometimes the Promised Land looks a bit different than what you anticipated.

You are welcome to come visit us tonight at Canton Adventist Church on Scott Mill Road. We have plenty of tasty food, fun conversations, and warm love to share. Come and join us!