Difference Makers Not Place Takers, April 22, 2009

Notes:

We saw a funny video by a Dad about daily life as a family: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Zw8VTlxk9E

My little poem:
Get all you can
Can all you get
Sit on the can
Enjoy all you can
Before you kick the can

We eat to live to work to eat to live to work to eat to live to work…then we die!

As Christians believers and families we reject the endless circle of life mindset and know we are place uniquely in the world for a unique purpose.

We looked in Matthew 5:13-16
13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

We discovered that God has placed you where you are for a purpose. To be pro-active in the world you live in every day. As a light that is not hidden you have to:
1. Look and Listen to what is going on around you. Really hear what people are saying, see what is happening and recognize the needs. Discover people’s stories and help them see God’s story. Then show them how theirs can be a part of God’s.
2. Unconditionally love people and get over your pet peeves.
3. Be a voice of positive encouragement in people’s lives in contrast to the negativity.
4. Move from “got to” to “get to” help others.

Our families and homes are the “lighthouses” that God uses to dispel the darkness.

Areas of Influence
One thing we all have as individuals and as families is influence in the lives of others. Tonight we listed all we could think of at the moment from the neighborhood, school, office, relatives, people in the community, sports, online social networking, etc. When we tabulated all of those present we had over 650 unique points of influence in the community.

We are aiming at having our Family Mission Statement in rough draft form this week and in final draft next week.

Family Mission Trip Gone Local – Ideas for your family:
Families can help with the variety of needs in helping honor Single Moms. A special Mother’s Day lunch for Single Moms is planned for the Saturday before Mother’s Day.
This Summer, as a church we will have a Mission Project Venture to the Miccosukee community. It will involve a multi-faceted outreach, using many different skills and abilities to come along side this community to show them God’s love. We are going to need a vast team of church and community members to make this community makeover happen. Two events that families can join in on is the Mission Adventure Week- June 22-25 - and the Sports Camp—July 20-24.
Families can help this summer with World Changers. World Changers is a great program to involve students from across the country in mission projects. Families are needed to work together to commit to feeding lunch to the students.
Families can cook dinner for the Haven of Rest (and relieve the people that do it all the time) or another organization.
It may be a good Family time project to make a “Friendship Bag” and keep in your car when you see those in need:
a pop-top can of fruit, or fruit cocktail
a pop-top can of vienna sausage
a small can of juice or bottle of water
a package of cheese and crackers,
or peanut butter and crackers
plastic fork, spoon
a moist towelette
napkins
one all-day bus pass
a card with a list of community contact phone numbers (crisis clinic, food bank, Salvation Army, etc.)
a small tract and note from the church inviting them to stop by or call
small toothpaste, shampoo, soap
Toothbrush

Families can do repairs to the buildings of a helping organization like the Women’s Pregnancy Center.
Families can feed the homeless Saturday mornings at 7:30 a.m. with the “Frenchtown Breakfast in the Park” organization.
Families can visit the elderly in nursing homes/villas. Simply talk and/or play games with them.
Families can collect food and household goods and take them to the Florida Baptist Children’s Home.
Families can adopt a widow in the neighborhood or in our church to encourage and help. Call the church office or a current list.
Families can prayerwalk their neighborhood on a weekly basis.
Families can hold a neighborhood block party to allow the neighbors to get to know one another.
Families can go on their own mission trip in the U.S. or abroad.
Families can pull their grill out in the front yard or driveway and organize with the neighbors a cookout and games.
Families can start a home group study for the neighborhood that is geared for all ages to participate in.
Families can make and place small gifts on door hangers on their neighbor’s door that celebrate important holidays from a godly perspective.
Families can conduct a Backyard Bible Club in their neighborhood during the summer.
Families can keep an eye out for newcomers and help them get settled into the community.

Notice about the Family Camping Trip—That was scheduled for April 24-25 has to be rescheduled due to water and erosion damage at the Pole Barn. We will let you know as soon as a new date is set.