May we interrupt you for a moment?

Life has a way of interrupting our plans.

Perhaps even today you were caught in sudden traffic, had an unexpected issue to deal with at the office or a family member became ill. I pray that your interruption was not a continually growling stomach or trying to find shelter for your family because you can no longer afford the rent.

Imagine the immense challenge of a child who needs to remain focused on their academics, but their growling stomach is regularly “interrupting their life,” or they recently overheard Mom and Dad discussing where they can live because they can no longer afford the rent.

Every child should have the opportunity to grow up with stability in their lives and to enjoy fun, youthful activities. No child should grow up with the stress of where their next meal will come from and in whose home they might be living next week.

Ryves Youth Center in Terre Haute has been faithfully helping our community and our children thrive for 30 years. We provide a safe and positive environment where more than 1,500 children each year have the opportunity to overcome the challenges and interruptions of life. At Ryves, learning and development is met without shame or fear...and every child is offered the chance to experience joy and success.

To learn more about Ryves Youth Center and how you can help a child in need, please click here.

A Beautiful Day in your Neighborhood

Summer is in full, hot swing here in Indiana. As we go about our work and our play, it’s easy to get into a comfort zone and we don’t really know what’s going on with those around us. In days gone by, some of us older folk (let’s not define “older”) can recall the neighborhood where we grew up and the people who lived there with us. Our families knew their families and if someone needed a hand, a neighbor was there to help.

In today’s busy, technology-driven world, the personal nature of many relationships has fallen by the wayside. Some of us may not even know the names of our nearest neighbors and their children. As we drive into our garage with its automatic opener, what opportunities are we missing as we close that door behind us?

Many families lack a support system around them, often living in an area with no relatives nearby. Imagine the opportunity this presents to fill a void, a need, and make a life-changing difference in someone’s life. Why not simply strike up a conversation with your neighbors this summer…introduce yourself and your family…get to know them…invite them into your life as someone they can turn to for a cup of sugar, a pet sitter while away on vacation, or a friendly ear to listen over outdoor barbeque.

You just never know the impact you can make in someone else’s life…until you step out in the faith and love of Christ to make it a beautiful day in your neighborhood.

“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him...”

“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him...” – Psalm 37:7

That’s easy to say when all is right with our own little corner of the world. It’s easy for those of us who go about our days with enough food, clothing, and then some…but what about for those who live in less than ideal circumstances? Is it possible to rest in the Lord and wait patiently then?

Thankfully the answer is ‘yes.’ Resting in, and waiting for, the Lord is not dependent on our life circumstances, but rather on our personal relationship with him. Psalm 37 continues in verse 8 by commanding us, “Do not fret, it leads only to evildoing.”

When we fret and worry, we like to believe it is an indication of our wisdom and understanding of how a situation or person should be. In reality, our fretting and our worry indicate how much we trust in ourselves to know best, and how far we have to go in becoming like Christ.

Jesus was never selfish or filled with doubt; he trusted his Father and wanted to fulfill his Father’s purposes, not his own.

If you find yourself fretting or worrying, trust in God your Father. Abandon your own plans and trust in him to show you his plan.