Yesterday we were blessed again to have many from Christ Fellowship Singles group join us for a workday on Prayer Island. What a great time we had working together and the the gardens are looking wonderful, graced by the love of those who gave up their free time on a Saturday to come pull weeds, salvage tree limbs from the lake, plant new plants, rake leaves and spread mulch. It is always such a blessing to have this group come and minister in God's garden and prepare it for Dunklin's Homecoming celebrations.
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Over the last few weeks we have had hundreds of fish die from what we suspect is a combination of low water table, high temperatures, low oxygen levels and overcrowding. We are working on a plan to put in a large amount of marginal water plants to help stabilize the oxygen and nutrient balance in the lake but this will take some months. In the meantime, it is disheartening to see such loss of life from the lake.
Well for two years in a row, God blessed us with a magnificent morning sunrise and for the over 100 that attended the service, it was an uplifting experience that was worth the early rise.
Pastor Terrel welcomed us in the name of and in the presence of the risen Lord Jesus Christ, Miss Mary sang of his Amazing Grace and Brother Ray Zander lifted up a prayer and a poem for the occasion. Dad (Mickey Evans) closed the service with a reading from the scripture and a prayer, reminding us that we likewise must die to the old self but in doing so we are made alive again by his grace and power as new creatures, restored in relationship with our Heavenly Father. This year, we celebrated communion together and what a wonderful remembrance of both the sacrificial life of our Lord as well as acknowledgment of his resurrected life now living in us as we partake of Him. Through his death, we now live. What a great day we had with special friends and the singles group from Christ Fellowship. After a prayer of thanksgiving for the beautiful day God sent our way, all went to work pulling weeds, raking leaves, putting in the new plants, spreading mulch, adjusting the night lighting and more.
It was a full day of hard work but great fellowship and we so appreciate those that gave of their Saturday to come out and help. As we all prepare for Easter, it is a good time to spend time in the garden of our heart as well. The old things that are dead and unfruitful need to be pulled out and replanted with things that will bring about a harvest that is pleasing to the Lord. The weeds that have crept into our spiritual life need to be plucked out so that the good things have more room and nutrients to grow and blossom. May the Holy Spirit cultivate holiness in you as you walk with him each and every day. Join us for the 2nd Easter Sunrise service April 24th. Last week we saw record cold temperatures and though all precautions were taken to try to protect the garden, we sustained significant damage. I was heartbroken when I saw the previously lush garden, now spotted with brown and death. For myself, it was at a particularly hard time anyway and I was anything but feeling joy this Christmas season. But, Sunday morning God told me to get up and go out to the island, bring my journal and spend time in prayer. While on the way I called my friend Dick Smith to ask for prayer to help me through this difficult time. To tell the truth, all I could focus on was the loss of life. For me personally, this is the 2nd year since my son Christopher died and I was at a low point on the emotional scale anyway. But as I sat out there with my journal, I sensed God had a divine appointment with me and he began to touch my broken heart. Some time later, I heard a familiar voice and looked up to find Dick walking down the path, Bible in hand, and carrying the love of Jesus in his heart. I can't explain in words how sometimes, someone, will be the hands of Jesus for you to hold you and lift you up when you most need it. There are so many that have been a part of my life in this way. John Jeanerett, Dave Ambrose and Dick Smith have been extra special brothers to me these last few years and I am so grateful for them. They really encourage me and help me along this journey I am on.
Now the rest of the story as Paul Harvey would say. As Dick and I walked around the island, he pointed out to me the still green growth hidden at the base of some of the plants that looked dead. He even revealed to me that which I had totally missed, flowers blooming on the Passion Vine. Multiple flowers as well! How appropriate a message to me, God's gift, from a Passion Vine,one of many to be grateful for this Christmas. This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar. Today a group of artists from the West Palm Beach area will be coming to Prayer Island to do paintings of various scenes. This is a first ever and I hope to share the experience with photos and video soon.
I will also be working on establishing a rose garden and a new lighting test area using low voltage LED. As the cooler weather is now arriving our way, evening moments to share with family and the Lord will be enhanced with better lighting. Homecoming for the Camp is next weekend and I hope to see many of the old and newtimers for this special yearly occasion. Again I blink.....and another month has gone by. Is it my age or are we being drawn closer to the day the Lord returns at double warp speed? Anyway, I apologize but did want to take this opportunity to update the site with new photos and a piece in the blog.
The last few months has brought more amazing and beautiful changes to Prayer Island. Take a look at the updated photos. The brick walks are finished and a new patio area on the east side of the island was the setting for a wedding recently. A batch of new plants have been placed at the entrance (thanks John and Helen!) and with Walter and Bernard's hard work, everything is looking quite elegant and beautiful. If you haven't seen it lately, you haven't seen Prayer Island. Dad is very pleased and enjoys his time counseling or strolling on the island. I have not doubt, God also is very pleased and so enjoys our meetings together, in this place. Dean I was out on the island yesterday and how beautiful everything is looking. The grass is looking even more like a golf course. Flowers are blooming (even those the salesman said would not bloom this time of year!). Be sure to check out the latest pictures taken with my phone.
Looks like the caterpillars have had a feast on one of the passion flower vines while the other one is quite fine. Guess they are picky about their gourmet meals and that is good. At least we will have more butterflies soon, and I am sure there is a spiritual lesson in that. This looks to be the week that the Rangoon Creeper growing of the arbor that John and Helen built may also be blooming for the first time. I'm very excited to see and smell this one. We have another project in the planning stage to finish the left over bricks and hopefully we will get that done in the next 2 weeks. A good friend donated yet more solar lights and at night, this helps light the way for those that need to walk with the Lord and not bump into things. We could still use many more though as this is a good size garden. Dean Thought I would update everyone about what is happening on Prayer Island. Walter and Bernard are doing a wonderful job on the new brick walkway and this should be wrapping up in the next few weeks. Check out the new photos or better yet, come see in person what a difference this makes. The grass and plants are looking better than ever. The transformation of the island is a good representation for the transformation God is doing in our hearts.
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Author Dean EvansGrowing up at Dunklin, I was there before there was a lake Elijah or Prayer Island. Over the years, I've seen many transformations but none so drastic or exciting as the current one. I am so grateful to have been a part of this project. Just the experience was healing for me and I know will be a place of healing for many others and making it all worthwhile. Archives
February 2017
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