#Thankful

 

2 Corinthians 9:11 - "You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 - 'Give thanks in ALL circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.'

What does Thanksgiving mean biblically?

Thanksgiving in the Bible means to respond to God's goodness and grace with gratitude. The word for giving thanks in the Old Testament means to raise hands to God in gratitude. 

Psalm 100:4 (KJV) - Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise; be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. 

God alone is worthy of our praise...When we come before God with a thankful heart, acknowledge Him for all we have, then we are entering His gates with thanksgiving. When we testify to others with our words and actions of God's provision, then we are entering His courts with praise. 

 

Men's Ministry Update - Jim

The amazing journey that God has been orchestrating for the last several months is nothing short of miraculous!  While God used me to start this jail ministry not really knowing what it would look like, I continue to look back and see how He's using me to share the hope of Jesus with men that I meet in the Justice Center.  The requests for me to visit men inside are coming in all the time. It's so sad how bad things are with addictions and the sex trafficking trade. God just put the desire on my heart in the beginning and about 10-12 months later He has assembled a team of 5 men who are now reaching out to men after hearing what God is doing in this ministry. Two other men are now visiting inmates with me so we can share that hope with even more men on the inside!  Praises to our AMAZING God!!  These 5 men also have joined me in mentoring, helping with transportation to appointments and being available for financial budgeting mentoring. 

As far as the LIT Men's Recovery Houses, they stay 85% full most of the time. Unfortunately the revolving door continues when new guys come in and after a couple weeks they think they can handle it and resume contact with old friends or get back on social media when those added dynamics start rearing their ugly heads again.  They start making bad decisions instead of staying focused on their recovery. We certainly appreciate your continued prayers as this ministry gets heavier and heavier. 

STR (Short Term Refuge) through The LIT Movement is currently a program for men when they get out of jail, they have a place to go until a treatment bed is available. The first floor in one of LIT's current recovery houses is designated for STR. This home is in Lower Price Hill. God has opened up a door for LIT to purchase our 4th LIT House which will enable us to open up our Hamilton Ave. house for a female STR Home. This is HUGE!  Often times women want to come to Redeemed but need treatment to detox but can't find a bed. We have literally lost women to overdoses or back on the streets in this scenario.  Please continue to pray a blessing upon these programs. 

Redeemed Home Update  - Karen

We have had a good couple of months with our residents, being able to have some Cincinnati fun!  We attended a Red's game in August - a first for several and a first for a few sober. The Reds didn't win, but it didn't matter. It was a beautiful evening with great atmosphere! 

We participated as a group in our 4th Annual Aruna Run 5K. Some of us walked the 3+ miles and some volunteered.  

Aruna is an organization close to our heart. They help rescue women who are enslaved in India and right here in our city. One of our graduates works there which is a true blessing! Check out their amazing merchandise and support them! Every single piece of merchandise that is ordered, Katie (Redeemed graduate), who works at Aruna,  touches it, tags it with a personal story from a woman in India, and helps package it. 

One of our residents received a car through the Wheels Program. Wheels Ministry is a local ministry where you can donate you vehicle. The volunteers give that vehicle a good work over then bless an individual with a car. What a blessing this Wheels Ministry is to Redeemed and BLOC Ministry! In this picture, you see many men who volunteer there, laying hands and praying over her car and over her. She is truly blessed and I, along with my daughter and Teddy,  and a Redeemed graduate (who also received a car over a year ago) were honored to be there as she received this amazing gift! 

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS WALL PAINTING? Redeemed ladies, volunteer and staff were honored to be a part of this project. We showed up, were given paint and instruction and enjoyed the many honks by passers by as we paint this message on the side of a building where many pass every day. FOR GOD SO LOVED PRICE HILL!  love. love. love.

*NOW AVAILABLE - you can purchase small stickers or larger magnets of this artwork at BLOC Coffee Shop. Stop by and grab yourself one! 

The LIT men, along with Jim also had the privilege to participate. Just knowing, that when we pass this building our thumbs prints or brush strokes are there too. 

We love giving our women experiences that they may not have ever had, showing them different hobbies etc. How to live life. 

If you have a hobby or activity you'd like to bless them with - we would LOVE to hear from you! 

Redeemed Home had a graduation for 2 of our women on November 6!  These 2 ladies have come so far in their recovery, their faith, their journeys!  We are all better women because we know them, have had the pleasure to walk with them, love them, laugh and cry with them and so much more over the last year +.  Visit Redeemed Home Facebook page to see some of the awesome pictures from the day!  

 

What's next?  We have openings at Redeemed home for new residents, staff and volunteers. We pray daily for God to send the right people to us, for God's protection, for the right things to be given to us, for us to have the right spirit in everything we do and for protection over our our families.    

Please join us in prayer for these things.

Thank you again for loving us, blessing us and praying for us.

If you'd like a tour of BLOC, enjoy a cup of great coffee, text or email us.  

We would love to share what all God is doing. It's too much to put in this blog! :)

Jim - jim.green@onebloc.org (513) 470-7081

Karen - karen.green@onebloc.org (513) 316-4437

Have a blessed Thanksgiving holiday! 

...enter His gates with thanksgiving!