Comment

Comment by James Nored on April 22, 2009 at 3:13pm

LInda, thank you for sharing this. Praise God! Yet another answered prayer, and yet another person who graciously acknowledges God's love and providence.

Comment by Linda Hardin on April 22, 2009 at 11:08am

Another answered prayer. Ava Hernandez started coming to the Food Pantry last October and came faithfully once a week. She always had a request for prayers: financial, health, son's problems, good decisions, strength, etc. She came into the office this morning with a letter in her hand. She gave me a big ole hug and told me she had good news. Here's what she wrote in the letter. "Thank the food pantry for all your help. By the grace of God and people like you, we made it. My husband's job slowed right after Christmas. This Monday he goes back full time. Always kept the faith - never gave up. God bless you all."

Comment by James Nored on April 17, 2009 at 9:37am

Wow, that is wonderful, Linda. I am so glad for Billy. Isn't it great to hear how God is at work in people's lives, and to be able to pray for people and see him answer these prayers? Thank you for sharing this with us--and for your heart for these people!

Comment by Linda Hardin on April 16, 2009 at 1:41pm

Billy Sikes has been coming for groceries about once a week since January. He moved here from Louisiana and has been unable to find a job. We've prayed about that over the months and I always greet him with "is this the week that God has blessed you with a job?" He always smiles and says "not yet, but maybe this week". This week he came in with really good news. The McKinney School District hired him as a substitute math teacher for the remainder of this year and encouraged him to get his Texas teacher's certificate (he has a certificate in Louisiana) and they will find a permanent job for him next year. He's certified in both math and science and those are high demand teaching positions. He said he may only need to come to the pantry one or two more times until he gets his first paycheck. Say a prayer of thanksgiving for Billy and his new job.

Comment by James Nored on April 1, 2009 at 11:37am

Linda, thank you for sharing this with us. You always treat people with such love and kindness. I will put this over in the prayer group as well so that we can have others pray for her. May God continue to open these doors!

Comment by Linda Hardin on April 1, 2009 at 11:14am

Pray for Shawn. Shawn is a lady who comes in to the food pantry about once a month for groceries when her food stamps run out. She is the caregiver for her husband who doesn't have much longer to live. She's pretty well exhausted and can't go to work as long as her husband is alive. She's in the middle of what seems like a hopeless situation. Shawn dropped by the building this morning to pick up a church bulletin. I think she really came for a hug and a word of encouragement. There are so many like Shawn in the world today, without hope and hurting. The very least we can do is offer them the same love and kindness that Jesus extends to us everyday. I think she would be receptive to studying the bible with me. Please pray that I will find the right words to ask her and that through it she will find Jesus and hope for her future, both now and eternally.

Comment by Linda Hardin on March 19, 2009 at 10:18am

Ramona came into the church office on Monday. I recognized her and wondered why she was coming for food on Monday instead of our normal food pantry days of Wednesday and Thursday. Maybe she was going to ask for assistance to pay a bill like so many other people who stop by. Ramona walked to my desk and said the most unusual thing. She said "thank you". Week after week at High Pointe we feed and clothe those in need and pray they are blessed by our efforts. Sometimes our regulars quit coming and we hope that means they have found employment and can support their families on their own. We are thankful that God has allowed us to bless them during a difficult situation and we don't expect anything in return. But it's such a blessing to us when someone comes back to share good news. Ramona had good news. She got a job! I remembered her telling me last week that she was going for a second interview and I told her I would pray for her. She took me at my word and had no doubt that it was God who answered her prayers. As this quiet, shy woman looked me in the eyes she handed me an envelope. On the front of the envelope the word "tithe" was written. As she placed it in my hands, tears started flowing from her eyes as she told me how thankful she was to God for answering our prayers and she wanted to give something back to Him out of her first paycheck. My very first impulse was to give the envelope back to her and tell her that God would want her to keep the money and use it to help her get back on her feet - to buy groceries or pay rent, but the spirit inside of me told me to accept the give of love and thanks for God and what He is doing in Ramona's life right now. It brings to my mind the story of of the 10 lepers that Jesus healed. They all ran away rejoicing, and only one came back to say thank you. Jesus knew in advance that would happen, but he didn't limit his healing, he extended it to all. And that's his example of how we are to serve others. Feed and clothe them all, not expecting anything in return. Plant the seeds and allow Jesus to cultivate their hearts in his own time.

Comment by James Nored on February 27, 2009 at 12:36pm

Linda, greetings from Liberty! Just a quick note. What a powerful story you shared with the family that came in. It is stories like this that touch people's hearts and help to understand God's love. Thank you so much for sharing this with them and with us! And now I can share this story with others.

Comment by Linda Hardin on February 27, 2009 at 10:27am

We gave away 26+ bags of groceries this week. One couple came in for the first time and when I asked them if they had anything we could pray about, they both opened up and talked about something that was really weighing on their hearts. They are involved in a family squabble with brothers and sisters over his mother's estate. Accusations were made against him and he was questioning his place in the family. I listened for several minutes, praying that the Lord would give me the right words to say to them. Since I'm not a counsellor by any means, the only thing I can really draw on is what the Bible says, along with my own personal experience. I decided to use both. After listening patiently, I shared with them the fact that I grew up never knowing my real father and not even knowing where he lived or if he was dead or alive. When I was a young girl, I would daydream that he would come "rescue" me and take me away to live in a much happier environment. After thinking about him daily and feeling abandoned and unloved, I finally confided in a special aunt who knew just what to say to me. She told me that I had a father who loved me more than I could imagine and who was with me constantly. He was God, my heavenly father, and he would never abandon me. I was the child of a King and I needed to always remember this and rest in the comfort of His love. I had gone to church since I was a toddler and knew all the Bible stories and knew the God of Isreal, but had never had him presented to me on such a personal level. It was like my eyes were opened for the first time and, amazingly, after that I never longed for the opportunity to have my biological father in my life the way I did before. The story of how much God loved and cared for me became so real that it changed my heart and my attitude. I held their hands as I told them my story and the woman cried. The man had tears in his eyes as I told them that God could change their hearts as well. I asked them to think about coming to services with us and that we were a family who were united in Christ and a family that would accept and love them unconditionally. I hope they come back so we can talk some more and next time I will ask them if they are willing to have a Bible study with me. Pray that God will provide another opportunity to reach out to Linda & Jesse.

Comment by Linda Hardin on February 9, 2009 at 10:34am

I got the mother and child's names, but didn't think to get her phone number. Rebecca wanted to take a picture of them, so hopefully they will come back in again. We would love to have a picture of Riley pulling his wagon of food. Other parents in our congregation might use this example of service for their children to undertake.

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