Dear Friends,
Sunday mornings we sing to God, learn from scripture…folks are warm and kind. You receive hugs and caring questions like “How are you doing? How’s your family?” Or comments like, “We missed you,” or “Thanks for your help.” We pray for each other like we did for all the Mothers’ requests that were submitted. Then, comes Monday. Thoughtful conversation seems replaced by “water cooler” talk of what he or she did last weekend. All the caring friends may disappear as you find yourself alone at home or in a cubicle. No more words of thanks or sacred music to fill your ears; instead only words of blame and complaint seem to float around. You may not even think to pray again until the middle or end of the week…maybe when you open this email
Don’t feel bad, you’re just in exile. This isn’t the promised land yet, I’m afraid. We get glimpses of God’s kingdom at church, at home, even at work because God reveals himself in infinite and unexpected ways. But we are “not yet” living in God’s City, the New Jerusalem. We’re in Miami to be exact. Indeed, I saw in the newspaper that this weekend the world’s largest “adult entertainment” expo will be held in our city. God help us! I do happen to know there will be Christian outreach in and around the event. Please be in prayer for these souls this weekend!
Remember Jonah who didn’t think Nineveh would repent from its idolatry. But God cared for that city wanted to save those souls. Remember the words of Jeremiah to Israel while it was in exile: “seek the peace and prosperity of the city….pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper (29:7).” Remember Jesus who wept for Jerusalem and longed to protect and restore it.
For some, the workplace or public marketplace is the place when they feel most “in exile” in a foreign land from their chosing. Of course, many have positive work environments with caring friends (thank God!), but for each one I’ve heard like that, there is another person who struggles to reflect a Christ-like example among strong negativity and temptations. This Sunday, we will talk about our Witness in the Workplace. For those who don’t work, this can apply to any public place that you do business—in stores, with service people, etc. This is your LAST chance to send me photos & stories with you at work, with your colleagues, with your mailman, whatever! Can’t wait to see you again…
Peace,
Pastor Amber
· You’d be interested to know that there will be a Public Meeting regarding Roadway Improvements to Old Cutler Road on Monday, May 24 at 6pm at the South Dade Library. Plans for this $7.5 million project could likely impact our church and preschool and neighborhood.
· Continue to pray for the Gulf Coast communities affected by the oils spill and Nashville and Mid-west communities affected by severe weather.
· Please continue to pray for any “Mother’s Prayer Request” you picked up on Sunday. One praise report came in from a Mother…Peggy Batey shares that her daughter, Glenda’s, cancer is gone! Thank God!
