“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

(James 1:22-24, 27)

     Some of my fondest memories of church fellowship is when we would have a new person come. It could be someone that we met and we found out that they have been out of fellowship but felt called to come back to their “first love”. Many times, even though they were living with their spouse, they are coming without his or her support. What a blessing! And what a responsibility. Or, the first time we would have a youth or a group of youth come for their first time to “check-out” youth group for the first time. Sometimes, only one of them, would return again. Often, we might find out that their parent or parents were not interested or were against their decision to find out about Christ. What an encouragement for us to know that the Holy Spirit is prompting them to come.

      From a “spiritual” perspective, both of these cases and the countless others that they represent, would be considered widows and orphans because they have no one in their immediate family that are in fellowship with the Lord. They represent an incredible responsibility for us as the Church because many times we have very little information to follow-up with. Then, they show up and there is only a note on the door saying we no long offer direct fellowship, the face they can see and the hand they can touch, but they can go on-line and get a video message. Obviously, they represent the “feed My lambs” invitation that was given to Peter. Not the “take care of My sheep” or “feed My sheep”. I pray that the Holy Spirit will give us direction. He has already given us the power. If necessary, I pray that we would crucify anything that is of the flesh would keep us from “looking after these orphans and widows” in their distress.     

“Then Jesus said to His disciples: ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” (Luke 12:22-26)

In the midst of the uncertainty, there is a need to “Trust in the Lord and lean not on our own understanding.” We have been blessed with many people that have been helping make these boxes to give to our neighbors as an encouragement and reminder of God’s promises and His faithfulness. The sticker on the side of the box says: “A bird on a branch is not afraid the branch will break because it knows that it has wings.” And “Those that hope in the Lord will renew their strength and soar on wings like eagles.” Both the saying and the verse are in Spanish on the opposite side of the box. We have given out some for people to give to their neighbors and Kellen picked up 10 to distribute to the neighbors around their home in Burlington today. We are preparing another 18 at the moment. They can be given with some home-made cookies at the same time respecting everyone’s decision about how they choose doing physical distancing.

“How lovely is Your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young – a place near Your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in Your House; they are ever praising You.” (Psalms 84:1-4)

    Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) “If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

    Paul said, “Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in truth.” (1 Corinthians 13:6)

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-3)

    Most believers will confess that they have struggled with the global reaction of our government leaders throughout the world to the corona virus and the “isolation” requirements that have been implemented. These reactions were all premised on the information given by experts that predicted an outcome equal to or worse than what we have seen in other historic pandemics. We are also witness to the terrible consequences that are being caused as a result of the economic crisis that has resulted. Now this information has been found to be misleading and hopefully future decisions will be made on the truth. We are encouraged as the lies of Satan that have misled many believers to over-emphasize common sense health care precautions are now being brought into the light.  
    “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

   What a fascinating weekend in the life of the Body of Christ.

“But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” (1 Corinthians 12:24-26)

Devotions every morning; breaking bread together with prayer and communion; building the ‘bird on a branch’ boxes to give to neighbors along with some yummy cookies and a promise to be there for them if needed; making masks; receiving aluminum cans and crushing them for the Harvest Kids; building cabinets; watching the Harvest Kids enjoying the new playground; building chicken coops; watching videos of new believers being baptized in Africa; sharing and receiving testimonies from Mexico, El Salvador, Alert Bay, BC, Kenya, DRCongo, Uganda, Burundi, Pierce County, the Harvest Vision ministry in Curlew, the greenhouse farming project on the Samish River, the farming project in west Mt. Vernon and meeting the needs – including trips to the doctor and hospital – for those that are living alone. Thanks to our faithful co-laborers that pray and financially support helping prepare and equip these saints to do the work that God has set apart for them, we will be able to send financial support to our co-laborers in Mexico and El Salvador in the morning.