Thankful for GAP

41. Laughter of Billingsley siblings
42. Hugs from a stranger
43. Unexpected words of encouragement
44. Clean dishes in the sink
45. Hum of the car driving down the road
46. Silence in the car when all I hear are my thoughts
47. Mission team arriving safely home
48. Sitting with family in church
49. Tears of sadness for missing family but tears of joy that we will one day see them again
50. Elizabeth missing her daddy - her love for him shines through
51. $100 needed at just the right time
52. Words of thanksgiving from a man still in pain after multiple surgeries
53. Leadership of the church
54. A husband whose heart is for being there for others
55. Words leaping off the pages of the Bible
56. GAP Ministries


A few Thursday a month, I have the joy and privilege of leading a bible study for GAP Ministries which provides the poor with a food pantry, nursing assistance, birth certificates, and IDs. On Sundays, they provide a meal and worship. But Thursday mornings is what moves me. I remember the first time I can down there to lead the study. I was scared out of my mind! I was scared of the homeless. Yes...I do work with the homeless, but I thought, not "these" homeless. My homeless have background checks and kids, and are not "street" homeless. Looking back on it, I am embarrassed I felt this way. BUT...I realize that my feelings were no different than what many people feel when someone asks them to step out of their comfort zone. The first Thursday, I was scared to death. You see, I can talk in front of people about Interfaith, but not about God. I have NEVER led any type of Bible Study before. I have taught only a few Sunday School Lessons to a small group of my friends, but never to 50 or more people.

I cannot put into words what Thursday mornings has done for me....what God has done in my heart through some incredible people that come to GAP.

I definitely don't fit in. I am a small, white, woman in the midst of larger, mainly African American men. I can be loud and a "firecracker" and most are reserved and weary of strangers. I am sober. Some are drunk or struggling with addiction. I have a clean record. Some have served time in jail. I have a house. Many do not know where they are sleeping tonight. Many look just like you or I. Many are working so many hours of week but still cannot make ends me. I am filled with happiness. Many are filled with anger and resentment.

I have faith - many of them have faith stronger than I have ever seen.

I do not fit in. But I want to fit in. I want my faith to be so strong that even in plenty and in want, my faith in my Lord Jesus Christ is the same! I am thankful for God pushing me into GAP Ministries. If it were up to me, I do not know if I would have done it. I had so many excuses - homeless, fear of standing in front of people and talking about the bible, what if they asked a question I didn't know the answer to, what if....what if...

What if that one person never heard about Jesus Christ?

People need to hear and SEE the love of Christ. I am thankful that I get to do this specifically on Thursdays. I am thankful for each person there that has touched my life. And to think...I could have missed it!


Thankful...Thankful...Thankful...