Hello Friends,

It’s hard to believe it, but March winds have blown February away and we are well on our way into this new year.  Maybe you had some resolutions or goals and you find that you have not made the progress that you would like to have made toward their accomplishment.  If that is the case, then I want to encourage you to stick with me over the next couple of weeks, as we seek to get back on track with the great things that we were created for.

This has been a great week for me and I just want to shout out a few praises about some of the special things that touched me and ministered in my life.  So here goes:

Grace Place Even When Closed Is Open For Ministry!  It always amazes me to watch the faithfulness of our “Graceteers”.  They show up day after day, week after week and month after month to help share grace with people from all walks of life.  This past week was our “Restock” week and our “Graceteers” showed up in full force to help make sure that the job of getting the store ready for the first full week of March was accomplished.  The amazing thing is watching how they minister to each other and to others that happen by the campus.  Even when there is not any shopping taking place at Grace Place Store, there is still lots of ministry going on for God’s glory and people’s blessing.

Love Wednesday Evening Bible Study And Fellowship!  Everyone needs to recharge and Wednesday evenings provide just that.  God has blessed us with a great group of men and women that love growing together and the Spirit continues to provide just what we need from the Word to face the rest of the week.  Our children and youth also have a blast and amaze me at how they keep growing.  Thanks to each of you that help to make this such a special time.

Unplanned Blessings From A Funeral!  This week I had the honor of ministering to a very special group of family and friends of a very special and gifted young man that passed from this life into Eternity.  I did not know most of the family or the friends and they did not know me, but after it was all said and done, I believe we all got to know each other a lot better.  It was a real blessing for me to be able to share God’s grace and comfort and I walked away with the blessing of knowing myself a little bit better!

Brothers & Sisters From Another Mother!  What an exciting time this morning to go and have church with some of my spiritual family from Bible Way Temple on Prince Street in Sunny Side.  They certainly know how to praise God and bless His servant.  My fire was lit when I got there and it was blazing when I left.  I may have skipped 2nd and 3rd gear, but no one seemed to mind.  Breakfast with these folks was another amazing blessing and the fried bologna had to be the highlight of the party.  Can’t wait to have even more fellowship together!

My week is filled with all kinds of activity and I literally am heading in three directions at one time, most of the time, but God still manages to use it all for His glory and our blessing and for that I am grateful.  In fact, if there was one word I would use to express how I feel about this past week, that word would be GRATEFUL.  Thank You Lord!

Thanks for letting me share with you and thanks for continuing to remember me and the ministry I give leadership to in prayer.  So thankful to have each of you in my life!

Live Blessed,

Michael Joe