From the Desk of the Lay Director – Feb. 2020

February 1, 2020 by

February…A Heart for HIM Every Day

Oh my, I have never had a day of such love and how peaceful it soaked into my being of listening in the quiet unto Him.   I am writing this in January for February that will post on that month.  Yes, I know the 14th is for hearts of sweetness. 

Today I had been invited to meet a person for coffee in the snow and light ice. I got honked at once, did a little ice skating in the wrong shopping center and carefully arrived with a kind person who said, “let me help you with this ice crossing.” I said, “oh thank you.”  I had no idea today I would be encouraged to write this for the February letter.

May you, community, enjoy this as HIS heart gift for you every day in Him in love.  As this is Him as I heard within my time of quiet…within the time with Him. 

 “Be still, sit by ME and lean into ME.  Lean into my knee and sit absolutely in silence.  Focus in the silence of the quietness of your heart and I AM by you.  Breath me into you now, breath after breath, breath ME in, it does not matter how long, rest on ME, shut your eyes, be soaked in My Passion of My heart that is within you and over you. I wait to care for you in MY Hands of love, you are My child.  Be still and know I am God.  Rest in this in our quiet time together as only He can do this unto you. Be still! Listen in the quiet!”  

Community, give Him your all in ALL unto the warmth of Him. May you snuggle up to Jesus.  The peace will wrap around you like a blanket of covering. Surrender unto His peace. Go to Him in Joy for this day He gives you in adoration.  You see, you can do this every day you awake…it is a matter of wanting Him every day in this relationship.  That is my prayer for all of us in our human lives.  Every day seek Him passionately.  

Yes, there is a Happy Valentine’s day on the 14th and I wish a Happy Valentine’s Day to you all. Valentines has spread around the whole world.  There is information that it was from many, many generations long, long ago.  The holiday began in its origin in a Roman festival and it had something to do with the start of springtime. At the end of the 5th century, Pope Gelasius replaced it with St. Valentine’s Day.  Saint Valentine was a clergyman, either a priest or a bishop in the Roman empire who ministered to persecuted Christians.  

Remember I was talking about the coffee day above and I am about to share a conclusion of passion that came upon me from this day.  At the table we were sharing our thoughts about the love of God. This began and our hearts, eyes and ears were opening up in the love God has for every person.  Gods love for all of us is active and alive if we surrender unto Him and listen to Him in the quiet, sit in it and be still in Him. We looked up and my wonderful Sunday School teacher was standing by our table and he said boy there is ministry. We said were talking about love God has for people we just smiled.  

One more thing, I learned this from a wonderful Bible school teacher… she does this every day of her life… early in the morning she writes Jesus a love story and is so faithful to do so in adoration unto Him.  What a wonderful day of joy this was with the Lord as He joined us at the table of coffee in thoughts of deepness to grow, to surrender, to be still and truly listen in the quiet voice into the rest in Him for your ears.  May your love gift unto Him create a beautiful Jesus wink from your heart to Him.  When you wake up the next day and Valentines is over, a one-day thing only, seek Him unto heart and be of good faith to be listening to your moments of quietness in love unto Him in the silence.  May you find the peace to start your day in your walk with Him.  

Be blessed community, what a precious Lord awaits us daily.  Seek and you shall find Him.  Blessings to all!  “John 15:9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.  Abide in my love.” The Good News:  Jesus loves us, just as God the Father loved him…in this truth we can rest secure and at peace.  There is no greater love than His.  Be blessed… Llano Estacado Emmaus Community

(Personal note to the community at the January meeting:  I want to thank you for  your sweet prayers for Gracie Walker and your hearts of love was overwhelming within my heart…thank you beyond words and sorry I could not be there.) 

De Colores,
Karen Cox

GATHERING SCHEDULE
5:30 Board Meeting
6:00 Babe Chick Meeting
7:00 – 8:00 Worship

COMMUNITY GATHERINGS
Feb. 06 – St. Luke’s United Methodist SW, 5805 98th St, Lubbock, 79424
Mar. 05 – Westmont Christian Church, 4808 Utica, Lubbock, 79414
Apr. 02 – Broadway Church of Christ, 1924 Broadway Ave., Lubbock 79401
May 07 – Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Lubbock, 79423

WALK DATES
• Feb. 20 – 23, 2020 Women’s Walk #152, Lori Lusk LD
• Apr. 3 – 5, Kairos Outside
• Apr. 16 – 19, Men’s Walk #107, Rick Pinkerton, LD
• Apr. 30 – May 03, Chrysalis Young Women
• May 14 – 17, Kairos
• June 25 – 28, Women’s Walk #153, Dawn Moore, LD
• Aug. 6 – 9, Women’s Walk #154 Judy Butcher, LD
• Sept. 17 – 20, Men’s Walk #108, LD….to be announced
• Oct.  20 -25, Women’s Walk #155, Kim LaCaze, LD

TEXT BLAST
The text blast is a BLAST!!!  Please contact Donna Campbell if you would like to receive the monthly reminders.  Her number is 806-789-1008 for the text blast.  Thank you, Donna, for doing this and community members, it really helps us to remember!  Thank you and sign up see you at the Community Meetings.

BOARD MEMBERS
Community members please feel free to go to Llano Estacado Emmaus Website to reach any of us and will be glad to help you and answer any questions you might have. Thank you, community members, for your participation in Emmaus and coming in love unto Him so we can all raise up leaders to go back into their home church and grow the Kingdom of God.  Thank you so very much.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Llano Estacado Emmaus Community is celebrating its 30th year on Saturday, Feb. 29th in Slaton, Tx. One of the meeting places is at St. Joseph’s Hall for the for the food gatherings.  There will be tours of going through Mercy Center.  12:00 to 4:00 are the hours of this event also enjoy the music. Make a day of it and remembrance of your days being there and tell a few 4th day tales to each other. Please come and round up your buddies…and have a blast unto the past of your adventures with each other.  Come and see the joy of the Lord and give Him the praise for our Jesus and how we thank HIM for the many Godly friendships He gives as a gift of precious friends in Him to you. De Colores!

Filed Under: Emmaus

Call for Community Help

January 24, 2020 by

We have a pressing need coming up for the February Community Gathering. I am calling out to our community for help.

The meeting is at St. Lukes UMC SW (5805 98th) on Thursday, Feb. 6th in their gym/sanctuary. St. Lukes will be using that space until 5PM. We need a crew of people to help us quickly clear the space and set up tables, chairs and the music team area. As the Community Lay Director, I have to conduct a board meeting at 5:30, so I can help just a few minutes. I will push up my sleeves and help with take down afterwards.

Please, I ask for your help. They are generously letting us use their multi purpose church and I am so thankful to meet there. And I thank YOU for your help in making this happen.

See you there!

Karen Cox
Community Lay Director

Filed Under: Emmaus

From the Desk of the Lay Director – Jan. 2020

January 4, 2020 by

Oh, I wish I had 2020 vision as I never had a clue on this date 1/1/2020, I would still be here on this earth, let alone hearing firecrackers that sounds like bombs going off.   I like to have never made it through staying in Houston last year with those loud cannon booms that shook and made the windows rattle in the house as 2019 came booming in.  I peaked out the window and it looked like a West Texas dust storm standing still in fine powder clear up into the sky. Those cannons went off for 4 to 5 hours…your sure could not go to sleep… that was for sure!       

Thank You Lord for a new year in your Kingdom!  You are preparing the soil for the new season of spring.  How thankful we are for your care of beauty of life in your creation of seasons.  Fall came and thank you for the leaves of brilliant colors. Thank you for the season of winter and snowballs and snowmen as the sap goes downward and we anticipate the beauty of your timing in causing a rising of the sap unto spring time.  Lord be with us in our daily walks with You, as we all are so blessed by You. To sit by your feet in our mind of Christ is such peace and a listening time unto You.  What a comforter of love You ARE!!! You bring your JOY to us in a heartbeat of our intaking breath of great smiles and laughing as well.    Your son, Jesus Christ, the gift of life forever it is unspeakable to describe to gaze into His eyes…How we thank YOU dear Father and we are so blessed by your Holy Spirit’s guidance.  Thank you for teaching us to be still and to rest.  

January is a new year, we go through fire crackers popping, all kinds of food on Dec. 31st to Jan. 1, to snack on, new resolutions, and to enjoy the New Year count downs, plus more food to nibble on.  May we as Christians continue a joyful walk every day in Jesus Christ as we follow Him and feed His sheep.

My 1st experience with a firecracker in the darkness on Padre Island was the stroke of midnight.  Some big kid stuck a firecracker in my hand and said hold this candle and he lit up and ran. So, I watched like he said holding the candle, clueless of what was about to happen, BAMB!  I screamed holding onto it still with my eyes shut while crying. The next person in my face was my mom throwing salt water on me and counting my fingers then I got a spanking and I just stood still and took it and did not cry then.  That was my last appointment with firecrackers forever!  

From that point on when the adults had firecrackers out and popped just one of them, I was in the house under my bed hiding, but when they threw the whole package of the firecracker in the barbecue pit, I would run away two blocks and hide from them and cover my ears in the dark.  Thankfully my parents grew out of that and was I ever thankful.  Beautiful fireworks are an awesome thing to see from a distance.  It is beautiful to see all of the colors bursting into such different shapes and colors and to hear all the ooohs and ahhhs from those who are watching really beautiful fireworks.  

I am glad the winter has arrived and as it gets closer to the end of February the sap rises slowly.  God’s beautiful timing of the sap rising into spring will soon be on its way. The beautiful leaves start growing and it is a refreshed clean smell of newness.  May it automatically fortify us unto Jesus in each of our steps traveling forward with Him.  May we live in Him and spring forward to all who are in our path daily.  Bless our community, dear Lord, and may new pilgrims spring forward in 2020 to continually grow in leadership and take it back to your home churches to grow the Kingdom of God.  Community thank you for sponsoring new pilgrims and helping them as they continue their journey in the Walks to  Emmaus as to grow them into leaders.  Thank you and God Bless You ALL!   Safe travels over the Holidays and angels all around you!

Happy New Year…. to you ALL.

De Colores,
Karen Cox

Hours in Place for Activities

5:30 Board Meeting
6:00 Babe Chick Meeting
7:00 – 8:00 Worship

Community Gatherings 2020

Jan. 09 – Oakwood United Methodist Church, 2215 58th St, Lubbock
Feb. 06 –  St. Luke’s Methodist SW, 5805 98th, Lubbock
Mar. 05 – Westmont Christian Church, 4808 Utica, Lubbock
Apr. 02 – Broadway Church of Christ, 1924 Broadway Ave., Lubbock
May 07 – Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Lubbock

Upcoming Event

Llano Estacado Emmaus Community is celebrating its 30th year on Saturday, Feb.29th in Slaton, Texas.  One of the meeting places is at St. Josephs Hall for the food gathering and tours of Mercy Center…12:00 to 4:00.  Come and fellowship and all are invited and just come and enjoy! Come share your 4th days.

Walk Dates 2020

Jan. 09 – 12 Chrysalis, Young Women
Jan. 16-19, 2020 Men’s Walk #106, Swade Moyers, LD
Feb. 20 – 23, 2020 Women’s Walk # 152, Lori Lusk, LD
Apr. 03 – 05, Kairos Outside
Apr. 16 – 19, Men’s Walk #107, Rick Pinkerton, LD
Apr. 30 – May 03, Chrysalis Young Women
May 14 -17, Kairos
Jun. 25 – 28, Women’s Walk 153, Dawn Moore, LD
Aug. 6 – 9, Women’s Walk #154, Judy Butcher, LD

Text Blast

The text blast has been working out very nicely.  Please contact Donna Campbell if you would like to receive the monthly reminder 806 – 789-1008 for the text blast.  Thank you.

Board Members

Please feel free to go to Llano Estacado Emmaus Website to contact any of our board members.  Scroll down to contact us…find the note that says PDF, click on it and all the names of the Board will come up.  I hope this helps you to find it.  Catch the board members as they come out of the board room to talk to them.  They also circulate at send offs and candlelight’s throughout the year.

Filed Under: Emmaus

From the Desk of the Lay Director – Dec. 2019

December 2, 2019 by

One Christmas, not long ago, an opportunity arose for me to spend the night at the hospital with an elderly sweet woman. Her family had been 24/7 at the hospital for several weeks. The family let me spend the night and it was a gift I will never forget.  They left and then we began to talk as I had brought her a poinsettia for her room. “That is so pretty,” she said and we both smiled.  It was funny, I asked her what her favorite flower was and she said a violet…I giggled and I said, “how funny your name is Viola, so did you get called Viola Violet?”  She asked me, “what is your favorite flower” I said, “at Christmas my favorite is a poinsettia.  Do you know where they came from?” She said no and I told her I knew they grew in South Texas and in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.  So, we were both curious. We persevered for more knowledge about the poinsettia and we soon forgot the noise of all the medical machines in there. I did have one eye watching the door in case the nurse came in with a shot to give to Mrs. Puckett.  

The poinsettia plant was noted as early as in the 16th century in Central Mexico.  It has a long history and it’s very interesting how eventually it ended up here in the U.S. in the 19th century.  It was brought to the U.S. by Dr. Joel Poinsett, our 1st ambassador to the U.S.,  thus the name of poinsettia and it finally got a name.  It is a beautiful thing to think of this story in my heart at this season of time.  So, Mrs. Puckett and I continued the journey in our minds with the two very poor young cousins. Their names were Pepita (also goes by Maria) and Pedro (also goes by Pablo). They were too poor to have a gift.  On their walk to the village chapel, an angel spoke to Pepita and told her to pick up the weeds. Sadly she did and bundled them together.  

Pedro reminded Pepita even the most humblest of gifts, if given in love, will be acceptable in His LOVE. What Pedro said encouraged Pepita.  They continued to the nativity scene in the chapel. She knelt and before her eyes a brilliant burst of red flowers appeared from the weeds,  appearing as poinsettias and the people at the church saw it happen. In Mexico, it was known as the Flores de Noche Buena…the Flowers of the Holy Night.  We know this is the season when they bloom.  

Now Mrs. Puckett and I had tears in our eyes looking at the poinsettias in her room.  Think of the colors in the poinsettias red, white and green.  Our Jesus sacrificed His BLOOD for us for an ongoing journey of being cleansed of the past, and the color of green of Life everlasting and to live forever.  All we have to do is ask Him into our heart… “is He there in your heart Mrs. Puckett?”  “Yes,” she said.  We had joyful tears for a while and great big smiles of joy prevailed in that room of peace.  To think a poinsettia could lead to all this joy that evening was amazing grace… to think the poinsettia and leaves are thought as a Star of Bethlehem which led the Wise Men to Jesus, and the red colored leaves symbolize the blood of Christ and the white leaves represent his purity… what a blessing from Him for us all…that says it all and we both agreed what a gift from Him forever.

The next morning was a renewal day for Mrs. Puckett…her family walked in and they looked at us and said, “my goodness you both look so happy and joyful!” The two of us just grinned at each other.  What a beautiful friend she was indeed.  

Walking into her memorial service about year later was a surprise to me, as her daughters had made a huge picture of her holding a large poinsettia vase and with her picture in a Santa Claus Hat and with the most beautiful smile on her face. It showed the joy of the Lord and I was so overwhelmed.   I could not talk and such tears of love and joy for her and soon my repose came back to do the eulogy for her. It was the gift of Him in her life FOREVER.  It was the same beautiful smile of YES unto the Lord as I walked by her picture.  

May you, the people of the Kingdom of God, be blessed by this beautiful season to remember Him as the GIFT HE IS to all of us.  We give you all HONOR and GLORY!!! 

Be safe over the holidays and angels all around you and your families.

De Colores,
Karen Cox

Community Meeting

December 5th, we are meeting at Canyon United Methodist Church located on 217 FM to Market Rd 1729 and we look forward to seeing you.

Our Hours That Are in Place for Activities

6:00 Babe Chick Meeting
6:00 Meals
7:00 to 8:00 Worship

Text Blast /Phone Blast

The text blast is working out very nicely…the phone blast has worked well in the past also.  Please contact Donna Campbell if you would like to receive the monthly reminder and her contact number is 806-789-1008…hats off to you Donna for giving us a big blast!!! Thank you!

Board Members

Please feel free to contact any of our board members with any questions you may have.  Go to Llano Estacado Emmaus Website, click on it, scroll down to CONTACT US…there will be a note that says PDF, click on it and all the names of the Board will come up.  I hope this helps you to find it.  They come to the board meetings so catch some of them to talk to them.  They also circulate to send offs and Candlelight services and welcome at closings as well.  

We do have a new addition to our Board Room…We have our NEW ASSISTANT COMMUNITY LAY DIRECTOR…Troy Brooks…..YEA!!!!!! It is OFFICIAL and he will finish out this term on March 31st, 2020 and then the next morning when he wakes up on April 1, HE is our next COMMUNITY LAY DIRECTOR.  May the Lord Bless you and thank you for saying YES Troy.

GATHERINGS

• December 5th Canyon United Methodist Church
• January 9th Oakwood United Methodist Church

WALK DATES

• January 16 – 19 Men’s Walk # 106, Swade Moyers
• February 20 -23 Women’s Walk # 152, Lori Lusk

Filed Under: Emmaus

From the Desk of the Lay Director – Nov. 2019

October 31, 2019 by

Thanksgiving is almost here.  I know many of you will be traveling so may your destinations be protected by Him above for safety going and coming back of safe travels…whether by land, air or sea….be careful and safe travels for you and your families of those that might be coming towards West Texas as well. May you enjoy your family time.  

How thankful we are to You, Oh God, for your love unto us.  May we, the people, be the people who earnestly seek you, God, for the refreshment of our souls.  May we abide in the joy of the Lord as He is our strength through all things. May we reflect upon our blessings.  Thanksgiving is a joyous time to shower the world with love and gratitude.  

How can you not think of Thanksgiving at this time of the year?  It is here before you know it.  All the work that goes into the preparation of the Thanksgiving dinner. The smell of ham and turkeys cooking is overwhelming and the stomachs are ready to be filled.  We gather for the family we love and for the friends we cherish and to be thankful for what we have.

Thanksgiving is not just one day…it is every day unto Him, thank him…to thank him in reality of every day of the year, we thank him for the new covenant, may we express our joy, sing a praise to Him, his love is unfailing, He endures forever, his faithfulness continues to each generation, may we live in all thankfulness unto Him, we are his people the sheep of his pasture…what an amazing God you are and we thank you with all of our hearts.  We thank you, Oh Lord, for everything and we ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ and to YOU be all honor and Glory.

Ok, turkeys will be turkeys. A true story for sure as I was a witness to this turkey dance down in Edna, Texas.  I had just checked into this camping area down there that had been a Texas State park but it was now a private park.  As I walked out of the building, I heard all these turkeys gobbling under this huge oak tree. I turned around to watch them because they were all gobbling so I started watching.  Evidently, there was a leader amongst those turkeys. I guess the leader gave them a special gobble and all of those turkeys circled up and by this I could figure out who the leader was for the group. He just made a gobble and they walked to the center synchronized up 1,2,3 to the center of the circle then back they went 1,2,3 to the start of the circle, and it started all over for at least 20 minutes.  I had never laughed so hard in my life.  People started stopping and watching and the laughter from the crowd didn’t disturb one bit.  I finally went into the office and asked the owners, “did you all train these turkeys to dance?”  It is the funniest thing I have ever seen.  He goes, “no they just come up and dance under those trees every day.”  I guess I will come up and watch them tomorrow as they sure draw a crowd.  Well perhaps they have a little sense to cluster together in numbers as to be walking through the brush in the hunting season.       

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone…safe travels…blessings to all…be safe, be blessed and be strong in Him…. Thanksgiving is every day unto the Lord.  Enjoy your Thanksgiving food and yes, I bet you are watching some football games.

DeColores,
Karen Cox

Community Meeting

November 7th we are meeting at Oakwood Methodist UMC located at 2215 58th Street and we look forward to seeing you.

Our Hours That Are in Place for Activities
6:00 Babe Chick meeting
6:00 Meals
7:00 to 8:00 Worship

Phone Blast:  Reminders occur on the first Wednesday of the month @11:00 am.  Donna Campbell is the phone blaster.  If you would like to receive this monthly reminder please contact her at 806-789-1008.

Board Members:   Please feel free to contact any board members with any questions you might have.  You need to go Llano Estacado Emmaus website and click on it and scroll down to a place that says CONTACT US… there will be note that says, pdf click on it and all the names of the Board Member Names will come up.  I hope this helps you to find it.  Hope you will get to know them because they are around for the community meetings, many come to send off on walks, and are to be circulating amongst the people on Candlelight events.  Thank you.

Upcoming Walks

Nov. 7th-10 – Kairos #42

January 16-19th, 2020 – Men’s Walk #106 (Swade Moyers)

February 20-23, 2020 – Women’s Walk #152 (Lori Lusk)

Filed Under: Emmaus
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