Today we ate well and had a great time with extended family on Jessica’s side. Satisfied, I sit in the recliner and thank God for his blessings.
This year God sent some people that have stood by us in significant ways. I am especially thankful for their friendship and support because I didn’t earn it or cause it in any way.
The backdrop of our life in the neighborhood is rich with stories. Many of them beautiful stories of redemption, neighbors looking out for one another, of diverse community at its best. However, these stories are rarely heard outside of our neighborhood so looking in from the outside (geographically and relationally) one may get an incomplete picture.
When my phone rings after 10pm it is rarely anything good and I usually regret answering it. But I just answered a phone from one of my bike shop kids and this is what he said in a nutshell:
I was just sharing with my friends that my life started to change when I met you and the bike shop. I have a relationship with God now. I can see it.
Yes, I am writing this to boast! I’m boasting in who God is! He is able to use my clumsy attempts to follow His Word, despite my weaknesses and failures! Let’s be honest about this and never forget that God is the one who brings change and gives growth. Not us!
I know that God didn’t ask us to serve him only as long as there are measurable results. He asked for obedience. From this regard it is none of my business to worry about results. Noah built an arch for how many years looking foolish? So to hear this young man reflect and for me to taste the fruit of our clumsy obedience is… wonderful and encouraging. Yes! It makes me lift up my eyes to heaven and say, “Yes Lord! To you be the glory!”
I refer to the kids that come to the bike shop as “my bike shop kids” because they’re far more than just mere recipients of a ministry program I do. God broke my heart for the kids of our neighborhood. When I get discouraged by yet another theft from the bike shop or by being mocked for advocating on behalf of the youth, it is this “fire in my bones” (Jeremiah 20:9) that doesn’t let me give up.
But God reminds me that they are not my kids. They’re His kids. And He cares for them much more than I am capable of and has a calling on their lives.
This afternoon as three kids were helping me unload bicycles off my truck and into the Bikeshop a rough looking gentleman approached us insisting that I give him one of the bikes. I told him that at the Bikeshop we don’t give anything away and invited him to check out the array of affordable bicycles we have but before I could explain our reasons he threw his hands in the air and walked away mumbling unpleasant remarks on my behalf.
This made me sad because here was a person that has lived on the street for a long time, being served by many charities one handout after another. Well-meaning organizations have taught him to depend on their services for food, clothing, etc. Over time his sense of self worth was deformed into a sense of entitlement so much so that he got angry with me when I didn’t give him for free what he asked for.
Please pray for us that in our efforts we empower the people we serve rather than take value away from them.
God has done some amazing things this year. The bike shop ministry has grown beyond all expectations, with the Atlanta Police Department sending on-duty police officers to help kids fix their bikes. Over the last few months the bike shop was featured by two television stations and we were approached by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for an interview. God keeps providing for this ministry one miracle after another – too many to list here! Some of the youth now attend our church’s youth group. Glory to God!
We decided to start this journal to give God glory for what he is doing in our lives and in our neighborhood in line with 2 Corinthians 11 (NIV translation)
…as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
