I love you man…

"God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another."
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What's your gift? Are you using it to serve God? We have a friend, whose gift is prayer and encouragement. He ends EVERY interaction with "I love you man!" Some days I seek him out just to hear that but of love and encouragement.

Find your passion and your purpose. Use it to help build God's kingdom. Not only will it uplift others, it will do something inside you that will change you.

When we serve God by serving others with what God has given us, we will Be Blessed!

GATKT newsletter

Shannon T. Nash

I have all I need…

"The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need."
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The most memorable Psalms starts off like this. Read it then read it again. With the Lord, we have all that we need. He is our Jehovah Jireh: "the Lord my provider".

In my lifetime, I have had plenty and I have had less, but what I have found, as long as I have God, I will always be taken care of. He will always provide for our needs, if we follow and trust Him.

So take a minute to thank "the Lord your provider" today! Know that He loves you and will take care of you and you will Be blessed!

Represent…

"So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, "Come back to God!""
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

An ambassador represents someone else on their behalf. As you walking through your daily life, you are God's ambassador. Everything you do reflects upon Him.

God uses you and me to represent Him to others! What kind of representation are you giving? Do others see God's love, grace and mercy through you?

Represent well, show others the God that you know, the one who saved you and walks beside you! Then you will Be Blessed!

God’s word…

"Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭6‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Are you sharing the gospel and sharing God's word with your family and those around you? I remember growing up and my Dad would read us a Bible story at night.

Leading your wife and bringing up your children in God's word is a top priority for the Christian husband/father. It is a calling that God has bestowed upon us. If you have not been doing this in the past, now is a great time to start.

Read a bible story to your children, do a devotion daily with your wife. Let them see your actions as you spend time in God's word. Make it a priority the. You will Be blessed!

Your story…

"To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory."
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭61‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I'm not worthy, God can't use me. I was an addict, God can't use me. My sin was too great, God can't redeem me. These are all lies the enemy wants you to believe.

Whatever your past, whatever you have been through, no matter your sins…God can restore you! He can turn your story around and use it for His glory.

So receive your crown of beauty, your joyous blessings and your festive praise that God has for you! He can and will use you and your story for His glory so that you can Be Blessed!

I have overcome…

""I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.""
‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Does life ever get you down? Maybe trouble at work or at home? Maybe a water leak or dead car battery? Life sometimes can kick you in the gut!

God never promised a smooth sailing but He will calm the storms. All of the earth answers to Him. He will allow you to overcome. Keep seeking His face.

So don't lose heart, know that God is for you. That He has great plans! The road may have a few potholes but in the end, you will Be Blessed!

Follow me…

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me."
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The world tells us to follow "our dreams". To be true to yourself. We live in a "me" world. But Jesus says "Follow me!"

When we deny ourselves and give it all to Jesus we have nothing to fear. Because what you once thought was your dream, is now something completely different. Jesus will fulfill you and bless you beyond your wildest "dreams".

So stop trying your way, He is the way, follow Him and Be Blessed!

Re: GATKT V1E4

I like the idea of moving the serve up to 9 or 9:30.
Karen
Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 22, 2024, at 8:28 AM, Shannon T. Nash <nashshannon@bellsouth.net> wrote:
>
> 
> <GATKT Newsletter V1E4.pdf>
>
> Shannon T. Nash

His blessing…

"Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said: "Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Lord, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever.""
‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭17‬:‭16‬, ‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

King David was a man of many faults. But, he loved the Lord with all his heart. And because of that, God blessed Him and was always with him.

God wants the same for you. He wants a relationship with you, for you to love Him so that He can bless you and your family. Going 'all in' and seeking a closer walk with God has to be the best thing my wife and I have ever chosen to do. The blessings God has poured out on us have been unmeasurable.

Love the Lord with all your heart and see what blessings He will pour out in you. Then you will Be Blessed!

GATKT V1E4

Shannon T. Nash

Feed my lambs…

"When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs.""
‭‭John‬ ‭21‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Now Jesus probably wasn't telling Simon Peter to literally feed people. More than likely Jesus meant for him to take care of God's children, not because Simon Peter was told too, but because He loved Jesus.

We don't serve others because we feel like it is a law. Or because we will get something out of it. We serve others because we love Jesus. We love His sacrifice for us and we want to be His hands and feet.

Do you love Jesus? If so, feed His lambs and you will Be Blessed!

God’s Handiwork…

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Have you ever been out in nature seen God's beauty? The same Creator that painted the universe…created you! You are also created by God's design, in His image.

He designed you for a purpose! He knew you at the beginning of time. He has a plan for you! He loves you!

So when you're down, or feel like you're not worthy, look in the mirror. The reflection you see is designed by God! Smile and thank Him for His love and perfect plan and Be blessed!

Service…

"This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God."
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Sometimes Christian service is a thankless job. We plant a seed but may not always see a harvest right away. You may serve others and not even get a handshake or thank you.

But your service provides a need to God's children. And in doing that, you are thanking God for what He did for you. Your actions are not overlooked by the One who matters.

A harvest is coming, keep serving. God sees you and I guarantee…you will Be Blessed!

Your calling…

"I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received."
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What is the calling God has given you? What are the talents He has provided you with to complete that falling? Are you using those talents for His glory?

Each Christian has a calling are their life. Are you living a life worthy of that calling? Are you living a life worthy of His sacrifice?

God gave you a gift and a life with purpose. Live it to the best of your abilities, then you and others will Be Blessed!

GATKT V1E3

The shepherd…

"The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need."
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The shepherd is the provider for his sheep. He provides them grass, water, shelter, safety. They depend solely upon the shepherd.

Is the Lord your shepherd? Do you depend solely on Him to provide all that you need? That's not to say that there will not be ups and downs but the Shepherd will always be there to protect you and provide for you.

Trust in the Shepherd today for all your needs. When you rely on Him, you will Be Blessed!

The truth…

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work."
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Do you ever wonder if what you're doing is right? Moral or ethical? There is a scripture that addresses whatever you're facing.

There is only one truth…God's truth. The world can make up whatever "truths" fit their agenda but the scriptures give us His truth.

So use the word and reference it in your every day life. God's word is "the truth", always remember that and you will Be Blessed!!

The temptation…

"On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation.""
‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭40‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus was tempted by the enemy. Satan did not want Him completing His ministry. And the enemy does not want you to complete yours.

The enemy will throw any obstacle in your way to discourage you and to prevent you from God mission for you. Do not fall for that temptation to give up on God plans for you. It is easy to throw in the towel when the going gets tough. But God has better things in store.

So fight back the enemy, avoid his temptations to give in. Keep pressing forward, God will honor you and you will Be Blessed!

Anxiety..

"Anxious fear brings depression, but a life-giving word of encouragement can do wonders to restore joy to the heart."
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭12‬:‭25‬ ‭TPT‬‬

I believe we all suffer from a little anxiety from time to time. Either work, school or just life in general can be daunting. But we should lift each other up.

Spread a word of encouragement to each other. Send a thoughtful text. Or just tell someone that God loves them and so do you!

You would be amazed how a kind word can change someone's day. Spread the love and you too will Be Blessed!

Forget the past and move forward…

"No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Sometime in life we fail or take a step in the wrong direction. We don't get it right all the time, every time. We are human.

But God sees you, He knows your heart, keep moving forward. You can't read and comprehend the whole bible in a day, but you can a chapter a day! You can't prayer for hours to start but you can for 5 minutes a day!

Repent and forget your failures, God has. Seek Him daily, keep walking, one foot in front of the other. Closer and closer to Him each day! The Heavenly prize is awaits, and a closer relationship with the Savior is a daily walk.

Keep your eyes on Him and Be Blessed!

GATKT 04/08/24

Hey gang,

Our verse this week was:

"Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act." Psalms 37:7 NLT.

I pray each and everyone of you are taking a moment each day to spend some quiet time with God and just listen to His voice and directions.

Board approval for "At the Kitchen Tables" non-profit status is scheduled for April 20th. Please keep that date in your prayers. 

Love in Action had an extraordinary donation to use this week. They provided pies and pastries, fresh vegetables and potatoes. Lots of goodies that we will be able to share with our families next week.Due to their donations as well as food rescued from Dream Team central, we were able to feed an additional 35 meals on Thursday and Friday last week.

We had a few suggestions, since our group has gotten larger, to split the group to maybe, every other week. We put some thought and prayer into this. Lynn and I have worked every other week, in the ER, for the past 30 years. In our experience, we lived life one week and missed out on everything the next week. Highlands also serves the model of serving every other week on Sunday Dream Team serves. Due to the nature of our weekly serve, and everyones changing schedule, we didn't want to force the every other week serve on anyone. This allows you the flexibility to come and go as your life and schedule deems, and doesn't make you feel forced to come "since it is your week to serve". That being said, if you would feel better being on every other week, and taking a little break at times, feel free to let us know. God always provides enough help when we need it, so don't ever feel obligated. 

Delivery drivers this week had an addition of a few new members. And Don and Gina Lathem have stepped up in helping lead those drivers. They are coming up with a short curriculum, to teach each driver on ways to share the gospel when they deliver meals. As we all know, our meals are just a conduit to be able to share the love of God with those in need.  Don and Gina have a love for people and a love for our ministry. Thanks to them for stepping up. 

This week's menu: 

Baked pork chops and gravy

Mashed potatoes

Green vegetable

Desert (maybe the pies we had donated)

By the number:

31 families / 96 meals on Saturday

35 meals throughout the week

Donations:

Pies

Pastries

Potatoes

$100 cash

Hope you have a great week!

Be Blessed!

Shannon

Shannon T. Nash

Faith…

"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ."
‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"You just need to have more faith!" We have all heard someone say that. But how do we build faith?

We build faith by the word of God. By spending time in His word, spending alone time with God. We build faith by submerging ourselves into Him.

Are you looking for an answer? It's in His word somewhere. Are you needing direction? It's in there. Do you seek wisdom? Proverbs knocks that out of the park.

We build our faith by reading, learning, memorizing, immersing ourselves in His word. Take time to open the word today and Be blessed!

His word…

"Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do."
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT

Such good words from the prophet Joshua and it resonates with us today. Make sure you are studying God word daily. Spending some quiet time with Him and being still to listen for His voice.

Obeys His laws and everything written in the scriptures. Don't be a "pick and choose" Christian. God wants a 100% of you; mind, body and soul. Surround yourself daily with His word in everything you do.

Follow His 100% and you will Be blessed!

Mercy…

"God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy."
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We have all had someone that has offended us or done something wrong to us. How do we respond to them? Do we lash out or "get them back"? Or do we show them some grace and mercy?

Mercy is defined as showing someone compassion when it is within our power to punish them. God gave you mercy, when you accepted Him as your savior. He took the punishment for you.

So next time someone does you wrong. Try showing a little mercy. It can go along way in changing that person and changing yourself. You both will Be blessed!

His promises…

"The Lord says, "I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.""
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭91‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

For those who love the Lord, He gives us many promises! He will rescue you. He will answer you. He will be with you. He will honor you. He will give you His salvation.

Sometimes we forget all this when we are going through hardships. It's difficult to see, outside of our 3 foot world and look for hope. But God provides that hope for those who love Him!

So love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind (Matt 22:37). And trust in His promises, then you will Be blessed!

Big God!!

"How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension!"
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭147‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Sometimes I wonder "why God?" Why did this happen, or why are you pushing me in this direction? Why are you not answering this prayer?

We have to understand, God sees the big picture. He knows the future and wants what is best for us. He understands what has happened, what is happening and what will happen. Something we can't comprehend as humans.

So trust in a BIG God! Believe that He knows more than you and has the best for you in mind. Submit to Him and Be Blessed!

God at the Kitchen Table 04/02/24

"About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children!" Matthew 14: 21 NLT

Hey everyone, 

I hope all is well. Just wanted to send our first email update for God at the Kitchen Table, your ministry!

Lynn and I were severely moved by God in December 2023. And we struggled with what God wanted for us and this ministry. After much prayer, we discovered God had big things in store. I was offered a new position at Pelham HS with great hours! (No more night shift) And God showed us that He was our "Jehovah-Jireh" (the Lord your provider) and allowed Lynn to stay at home. She was a full time Mimi to baby Lorén and dove head first into this ministry full time!

After 21 days of prayer and fasting, we went "ALL IN"!! God kept laying on my heart Matt 14: 17-21 NIV. He kept telling me "5,000" as clear as day. He wanted us to push ourselves and feed 5,000 this year!

We went to Pastor Dan and Pastor Tony and told them our heart. And thanks to their great leadership, they backed us 110%. Anything we needed, they made a way!

In return for that, our answer to them has always been "Yes" for whatever they ask. Be it a first Saturday serve, a community night meal, a teachers luncheon, or helping to prepare the Seder meal for Passover. (If you have never been to a Jewish Seder Passover meal, I highly recommend it, and make sure you take notes. It is an once in a lifetime experience)

Lynn and I have also been asked to lead the cooking lane for Disaster Response at the Riverchase Campus. Those of you that attended field day, or the interest meeting for DR are on our call out list should DR be deployed. 

We saw our numbers increasing and no way to get everything done on Saturday mornings. So Lynn and some of the retired ladies started coming together on Thursdays to prep for Saturdays meal. This has helped dramatically. 

The campus leadership has also started calling on us when there is leftover food from Dream Team Central, Growth Track, or different events and conferences. We have been able to rescue that food and partner with Love in Action to get it sent out to foster homes, half way houses or wayward teen homes. We have also been able to use some of the meat for our Saturday meals. 

The Outreach team has also been a great asset for us. They have provided 2 refrigerators, grill maintenance and propane cost. And those guys are always on the look out for someone who might need a warm meal. We are also assisting in making cakes for the retirement home birthday parties each month. 

Meal delivery has always been a difficult task. But now God has provided 17 members of the church who have committed to delivering on a regular basis. In addition to the drivers that sign up on the SERVE app. We couldn't do what we do without our drivers.

We have applied for our Non-Profit status under the umbrella of Mobilization Resources (the parent company of Love in Action food bank). The application has been submitted, letters of recommendation have been sent. We are just waiting for final approval. This will give "At the Kitchen Table" the ability to purchase with a tax exempt status and apply for federal grants. 

This was a huge step for us that we did not take lightly. We talked with Church leadership, Grant writers and lawyers to make sure this was the right step for this ministry. We prayed and fasted over this decision and we believe God has His hand on it. Mobilization Resources have bent over backwards to help us in any way they can. I believe God puts people in your path when and where you need them. 

Plans as we move forward in 2024. 

The summer small group semester is shorter and many take vacations. We will drop our meal on the First Saturday and be doing a First Saturday Outreach, wherever the outreach leadership deems. We have also tossed around the idea of only cooking 2 of the other Saturdays and having a Saturday off each month. (We would like your input our how we manage this)

We would like to have a personal cookout; where we, invite your families, our drivers, outreach and church leadership. Just a way that we can say thank you to everyone who has poured into this ministry. Not sure of dates or details yet, but would love your thoughts.

Fall brings, National Police Night out. We have sent request to Helena PD and Pelham PD to see how we can serve them. Dates to come.

Whew, that was a lot of information, but it's hard to get all of that in during our Saturday meal. 

Our prayer is 

"Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, 'Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.' And God granted his request." 1 Chronicles 4:10 NIV

That God would bless our small group (provide us with the resources we need)

That God would enlarge our territory (give us more people to feed)

That God's hand would be upon us (that His anointing is on every meal we prepare)

That God would keep us from harm (that He protects every member of our group from the enemy)

And that brings us to YOU, we cannot even begin to thank you enough for all that you do in this ministry. You dedicate your time, talents and resources to feed God's children!! The joy of our week, is spending time with each and every one of you!

Thank you for making our dream for "God at the Kitchen Table" a reality. We could not have done it without you.

We love you like family!

Be Blessed!

Lynn and Shannon Nash

At the campus this month:

April 3rd at 6:30 PM - First Wednesday Service

April 10th at 7:00 PM - Motion Night

April 2nd, 9th, and 16th - ONE college services

April 13th - Highlands College 1/2 marathon and 10 K

April 14th - Parent Child dedication

April 17th and 24th - Motion Midweek

April 18th - Freedom Prep day

April 19th and 20th - Freedom Conference

May 12th - Mothers Day

June 2 - July 13th - Summer small group semester

June 24th to 26th - Summer Blast

God at the Kitchen Table

By the numbers, year to date for 2024:

17 distributions

41 individual families

1265 Meals served (1145 total in 2022)

Supplies donated to our ministry:

2 refrigerators

Aluminum pans

120 lbs chicken

90 lbs pork chops

Cake mixes

Multiple cases of various canned veggies

Fresh fruit and veggies

Frozen fruit

Slider buns

French bread

Butter

Eggs

Monetary Donations: 

(all monetary donations go into a separate checking account, earmarked for this ministry, to purchase supplies not donated)

$200 

How you live…

"Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you."
‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Do you stay true to God's word in your everyday life? Are you a man of integrity in your work life, your marriage, family life, social life and church life? Unbelievers are watching.

They value more what you do and how you act toward them than what you say. Your life should always be a reflection of Jesus. That is a hard road to walk, but it is worth it!

Keep a close watch on how you live! Be a man of integrity and honor and you will be blessed!

Together…

"not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God didn't mean for us to do life alone. We should surround ourselves with other believers, for love and support.

If you're not in a small group or have an accountability partner, I highly suggest it. We have ups and downs throughout our Christian lives, and supporting one another helps alleviate the stress and lets you know that you're not alone.

So call or text a brother or sister. Check up on each other, do life together and Be Blessed!