A Season of Hope
As Christians we are destined to live a life of many seasons. There are dry times; there are times of deep reflection. There are times of extreme grace, and times of painful conviction. There are times that we can hear God so clearly…and times when He seems to disappear. Someday, when I look back on my time at Jefferson Street, I think I will have a clear perspective of the entire experience. I think this year will be a defined season of my life, but much like a Kentucky forecast, just because it’s the season, doesn’t mean the weather is consistent. The month of November has encapsulated several significant shifts in the forecast of my faith. I have been tested, convicted, redeemed, and humbled. It has been a month of struggles and of victories. The best of times and the worst of times, right? Sometimes I feel like God is playing yoyo…throwing me down, letting me spin in a few circles, then right before I die - bringing me back. Thankfully that string keeps getting a little shorter, the circles don’t last quite as long and coming back gets sweeter every time.
The seasons are changing again. The weather is getting colder and the lines are getting longer. Jackets are requested with an intensifying frequency and coffee is disappearing in record time. But there is much to be thankful for. 430 – The number of blankets we received 2 weeks ago. 76 – The number of volunteers that served on Thanksgiving-eve. 211 – The number of guests that ate at our community dinner. 1000 flyers, 500 rolls, 393 plates, 100 deserts, 51 hygiene kits, 400 rolls of plastic wear, 100 copies of song lyrics, 1 donated bowl of Dingdongs, Twinkies, and candy canes…. One God was glorified and thanked. One Savior laid the foundation. One Spirit blessed the evening. The triune God was present – He filled the hearts of the wanting.
Thanksgiving was a bit quieter. The shelter was closed to the public, but the smell of home cooked breakfast started drifting at 7:30AM. Darrell, Caleb, and I - quite adequately - cooked potatoes, eggs, biscuits, and Sausage. Afterwards, we played a board game with the JSBC director, Tony, & Arnold. Arnold displayed the benefits of being ‘older and wiser’ as he massacred us…though technically the game was never finished, so I think I still had a chance. For lunch we enjoyed an “elegant” meal of White Castle Sliders. That evening we joined the HOPE girls at their house, along with Tony, Arnold, and Jason for a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner. The food was brought over by the girls’ neighbor and was “scrumptious”! We ended the night with a laugh, playing a “Classic” game of Apples to Apples. (Elegant, scrumptious and classic are trademark words of Tony…thus the quotes :p )
Christmas is approaching fast – parties are being planned and presents are being purchased. Christmas seems to come earlier each year. For much of the world, Christmas is a day of getting gifts, drinking eggnog, and putting up with family, but as Christians, we can look past that superficial facade. We can see Christmas for the season of Hope that it truly represents. We can remember the Wonder and Awe of a star twinkling above. We can remember the Glory and Reverence of the Wise Men's gifts. We can remember the Hope and Love of a newborn baby boy. It is easy to be carried away in the pulling current of contemporary culture, but God can lift us above that dangerous wave and give us His eyes for the season. When we pray for His wisdom, when we meditate on His word, when we remember Jesus - we can fully celebrate A Season of Hope.
This next month, pray that I will fully live a Season of Hope. Pray that I can conquer myself and be a true servant of Christ. Pray that I can surpass my own fears, pride, and self-glorification and be a true example of a humbled sojourner. Changes are transpiring at Jeff Street. Looking to the past and comparing it to the present reveals layers of deep evolution and change. Please be a warrior for the change God wants to see. Battle in prayer, battle in provision, battle in support – God is reshaping our ministry, may we not get in the way of His design. This month I have been thankful to know that I have a foundation of supporters, thank you. Thank you for being a shoulder to lean on and a brother or sister to confide in. Thank you for being both an example and a fellow traveler. I will pray for you along your journey. May Christ’s Hope truly be glorified in this season; may this truly be a season of HOPE.
Shine on,
JC Williams
The seasons are changing again. The weather is getting colder and the lines are getting longer. Jackets are requested with an intensifying frequency and coffee is disappearing in record time. But there is much to be thankful for. 430 – The number of blankets we received 2 weeks ago. 76 – The number of volunteers that served on Thanksgiving-eve. 211 – The number of guests that ate at our community dinner. 1000 flyers, 500 rolls, 393 plates, 100 deserts, 51 hygiene kits, 400 rolls of plastic wear, 100 copies of song lyrics, 1 donated bowl of Dingdongs, Twinkies, and candy canes…. One God was glorified and thanked. One Savior laid the foundation. One Spirit blessed the evening. The triune God was present – He filled the hearts of the wanting.
Thanksgiving was a bit quieter. The shelter was closed to the public, but the smell of home cooked breakfast started drifting at 7:30AM. Darrell, Caleb, and I - quite adequately - cooked potatoes, eggs, biscuits, and Sausage. Afterwards, we played a board game with the JSBC director, Tony, & Arnold. Arnold displayed the benefits of being ‘older and wiser’ as he massacred us…though technically the game was never finished, so I think I still had a chance. For lunch we enjoyed an “elegant” meal of White Castle Sliders. That evening we joined the HOPE girls at their house, along with Tony, Arnold, and Jason for a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner. The food was brought over by the girls’ neighbor and was “scrumptious”! We ended the night with a laugh, playing a “Classic” game of Apples to Apples. (Elegant, scrumptious and classic are trademark words of Tony…thus the quotes :p )
Christmas is approaching fast – parties are being planned and presents are being purchased. Christmas seems to come earlier each year. For much of the world, Christmas is a day of getting gifts, drinking eggnog, and putting up with family, but as Christians, we can look past that superficial facade. We can see Christmas for the season of Hope that it truly represents. We can remember the Wonder and Awe of a star twinkling above. We can remember the Glory and Reverence of the Wise Men's gifts. We can remember the Hope and Love of a newborn baby boy. It is easy to be carried away in the pulling current of contemporary culture, but God can lift us above that dangerous wave and give us His eyes for the season. When we pray for His wisdom, when we meditate on His word, when we remember Jesus - we can fully celebrate A Season of Hope.
This next month, pray that I will fully live a Season of Hope. Pray that I can conquer myself and be a true servant of Christ. Pray that I can surpass my own fears, pride, and self-glorification and be a true example of a humbled sojourner. Changes are transpiring at Jeff Street. Looking to the past and comparing it to the present reveals layers of deep evolution and change. Please be a warrior for the change God wants to see. Battle in prayer, battle in provision, battle in support – God is reshaping our ministry, may we not get in the way of His design. This month I have been thankful to know that I have a foundation of supporters, thank you. Thank you for being a shoulder to lean on and a brother or sister to confide in. Thank you for being both an example and a fellow traveler. I will pray for you along your journey. May Christ’s Hope truly be glorified in this season; may this truly be a season of HOPE.
Shine on,
JC Williams
Comments
Post a Comment