Fran I am using all your email addresses.

We received word the Cold Weather Shelter at the Jackson Springs Community Center will be open tonight. We have a number of volunteers but many are out-of-town/state, or working. We have some shifts filled with at least one person but we need two. I wonder if you could ask if there are people who would volunteer tonight, or in the future, and have them contact me at 813-855-5259. I will be here until 5:45 PM today. If we have no guests by 8 PM, the shelter will close and volunteers I have spoken with and scheduled will be notified of the closure. We staff from 6 PM until 6:30 AM and serve light meals. (Help in food preparation and serving would be appreciated in the future also.)

God bless and Merry Christmas to everyone……Sue Ann Korsberg

Good morning,
After the brief storm and rain last night we prepare for the weekend before Christmas.  For some a busy shopping weekend, for others a weekend of mourning and for some a weekend like many others.
But sometimes it is in those ordinary times of doing whatever we’ve been called to do, whether working for the Lord, or anticipating what He will do in our lives.  Such were the Shepherds watching over their flock of sheep.  Waiting and longing for the good news of the Messiah, but keeping busy making a living while they waited.  While they’d been waiting for a lifetime, when the news came it was a pleasant shock.  Coming in an unexpected way.
Can you imagine what it must have been like when the bright light from the angel came with the announcement and when the heavenly host joined in praising God and saying:  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”  (Luke 2:13,14).  And with that announcement the most important thing to them was to seek Him.
Whatever task we are about today, He is now seeking us and if we listen with our heart, we’ll hear His voice within to encourage us.  Because He loves us and that is the reason He came.
Father, with all the confusion about us, let us get a glimpse of You walking beside us, strengthening us when ours is gone, encouraging us when it seems all is against us.  Let us then feel Your presence most of all.  Thank You for Your Son, our Savior.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

In His service,
Fran

Devotion 11/21/2012

Good morning,
     Yesterday morning as I was doing some things around the outside, such as watering plants, washing the car, windows, etc., the most amazing thing caught my eye.  The Don Juan rose bush that my husband, Paul had tended  so well, had seemingly died so I had cut it back to the roots.  Would have dug it up if I’d had the energy.  But as I was watering the plants I looked and there was new growth coming out from a plant that I had thought was dead.  So I gave it a drink of water.
     This brings me to the Scripture that came to mind that speaks of Jesus as the descendant of Jesse, the father of David.  It is found in Isaiah 11:1ff.:  “There shall come forth a Rod (or shoot) from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.  The Spirit of the Lord  shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.” (NKJV).
     When we see the turmoil in Israel today, we can see that God has not forgotten His people, the Jews as well as the Gentiles (us) who have believed on His Son.  He will rescue them again just as He says in Isaiah 11:10: “In that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to His people; for the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious.  11. It shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people who are left…..12.  He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” (NIV).  Jesus will do that when He comes.
     Pray for the peace of Israel, God’s chosen people.
     God we ask for Your peace to dwell in our hearts because of the love You have for each of us.  Help us to pass that love on to others.    Revive in us a new “shoot” of Your Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

In His service,
Fran