“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” – 2 Peter 3:9
Here we are again—the fall semester is well underway, and we are off to our normal, crazy pace. This summer was the first in a while where we were back to normal, and we had a blast being together! It was great to see how much relationship God sustained over the years of isolation. In very real ways we are back, but in other real ways we have had very real losses.
As we move forward with our long-range planning, I am happy to know the team is really approaching this with open hands. We all know the only way to live this crazy life is to trust our King with all He has given us—even our plans. Thankfully, we are back to dreaming again and thinking past survival and into the fun of what could be. So, as we work hard and seek to plan with wisdom, it is very comforting to know that God is still in control.
Recently, I had the privilege of visiting with adults who were part of the first group of kids we ever served—many of whom I had not seen in years. They stopped by the office just to say hello and give us an update on their lives. One young man reached out to us through social media. He left this heartwarming message for my wife and I:
“I love you, Mrs. Christy and Mr. Tim. Thank y’all for everything along life’s journey. I thank Yahweh and praise Him all the time for all the things He allowed you guys to do for others. Only by Him were we fortunate. Thank you, guys. I just want y’all to know this morning I’m praying for y’all and everything that’s connected to you guys. I know you guys always do the same for me. So, thanks again, love you, and praise Yahweh.”
He is now 40 years old and has come a long way from the kid who started dealing drugs at the age of 14. His journey is not the one I would have picked for him, but it is the one God used to capture his heart and get him to the place he is now.
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Parker Street Ministries (PSM) is a 501c3 nonprofit in Lakeland, Florida that follows a Gospel-centered model characterized by living, listening, affirming dignity, and building community together in and through the Parker Street neighborhood. For more than two decades, PSM’s vision has been to see a city transformed by the power of the Gospel through building champions who make possible desirable neighborhoods, lifetime learners, financial sustainability, and healthy communities for all.