Houston Rodeo 2020

Due to the onset of the Corona Virus, Houston Rodeo 2020 was shut down several days early, in hopes of slowing down and eliminating the number of people being exposed to COVID-19.  Volunteers who showed up to work on Wednesday morning had no clue that something was amiss and were shocked to be advised that as of noon the rodeo would be closing. 

Students have spent months preparing for the opportunity to showcase their work, show their animals, earn scholarships, and sell their animals at auction.  Disappointment was obvious among the FFA participants, judges, vendors, spectators, as well as the stars who were there to perform.

But amazingly, the rewards of Houston Rodeo 2020 are still ongoing.  After the early closing of the Houston Rodeo, RCS Carnival Group, a vendor for 27 years, donated a large amount of food to the Houston Food Bank.  Meats, bread, produce, and dairy will help feed thousands of families during these days.  Dominc Palmieri is the owner of the RCS Carnival Group which operates five food booths at the rodeo.  When interviewed by KPRC, Dominic stated, “The RCS carnival vendors felt that it was important to try and give back to the community as much as possible, and are certainly looking forward to coming back again next year.”

Just a few of the other positive outcomes:

LC Photographers offered to take pictures of the rodeo participants with their animals, in order to help sell the animals.

The Rodeo is still giving out scholarships.

A steer auction was held online and a Poultry Show was arranged in two days’ time to benefit the students who missed out at the Houston Rodeo.

One donor has asked participants to write an essay on what it meant for them to participate in the process of raising their animal.  Scholarships will be awarded to the winners.

Ranchers and other buyers have made it known that they are willing to purchase animals from rodeo participants.

A page has been setup for the Houston Rodeo vendors to sell their merchandise.  Some of these participants depend on the sales from Houston as their livelihood for the rest of the year.  This page has given opportunities to purchase items, even for people who did not attend the rodeo.  Since people may not have time to visit every shop, this has made it easier to view and choose merchandise and support the vendors.

Even though it may not have been the best of times for Houston Rodeo 2020, good is still coming from the disappointing days.  Hopefully, not spreading the Corona Virus will be a major benefit.

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

Romans 12:15

Taking to Heart

Sometime it’s simple sayings and thoughts that make a profound difference in how we respond, think, and act.

Prayer of Ananias

May the love of Christ

take hold of me.

May the light of Christ

shine in my heart.

May the love of Christ

flow through me like a river.

Duane Brooks, our pastor at Tallowood, has encouraged and challenged us to read, meditate on, and take to heart “The Prayer of Ananias” during this Lenten season.  We are to pray it for ourself, a stranger, an enemy, and then for ourself again.  May that be a prayer that lasts for a lifetime.

“Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet.”

~ Maya Angelou

“Good friends help you find

important things when you

have lost them…

things like your smile

your hope, and your

courage.”

~ Doe Zantamata

“Stop being afraid of what could go wrong, and start being excited of what could go right.”

~ Tony Robbins

It is not JOY that makes us GRATEFUL,

it is GRATITUDE that makes us JOYFUL.

At some point it has to go from being highlighted in your Bible to being written on your heart.

“It’s easy to judge.

It’s more difficult to understand.

Understanding requires compassion,

patience, and a willingness to believe that

good hearts sometimes choose poor methods.

Through judging, we separate.

Through understanding, we grow.”

Doe Zantamata

I believe churches are meant for praising God, but so are 2 am car rides, coffee shops, the gym, conversations with friends, strangers, etc.  Don’t let a building confine your faith because we will never change the world by just going to church; we need to be the church.

~ Joel Nobis

 Sometimes you

just have to stop,

take a deep breath

and put things into

perspective.

~ Katrina Mayer

God didn’t remove the Red Sea.  He opened it.  Just because God hasn’t removed your problem doesn’t mean he won’t provide a way through it.

Morning is God’s way of saying one

more time, go make a difference, touch

a heart, encourage a mind, inspire a

soul and enjoy the day.

Don’t allow anything in your life that you don’t want reproduced in your children.

 “The more aware I become of the grace I continually need, the less offended I am by others who are still working life out.”

~ Shelley Giglio

Faith does not mean trusting God to stop the storm, but trusting Him to strengthen us as we walk through the storm.

~ Breath of Life Ministries

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

Without Even Asking

Tom Williams was the Minister of Administration and Education at South Main Baptist Church in Pasadena, Texas, during my high school years and beyond.  One of the sayings he taught me was, “You have not because you ask not.”  The words and message sounded good, but it was his application that spoke volumes.  It was as if people were honored to participate in what he asked them to do or give.  He said that the worst that could happen is that the person might say “No.”  Surprisingly, “Yes” was a common consideration, especially when the asker was polite, respectful, and appreciative.

Even though I am a somewhat private person, I found that it was helpful to ask people to pray for specific requests during the days of preparation, surgery, and recovery of my recent surgeries.  And they prayed and prayed and are continuing to pray.  It is amazing to see the ways God is answering those exact prayers on my behalf.

During this season, I have also been overwhelmed with the ways God has provided for me, without even asking.  I met with the radiation oncologist before my initial surgery.  After the consultation, he introduced me to the nurse navigator.  She was a wealth of knowledge about people to contact if I had needs, classes to go to for reinforcement, numbers to call, along with a plethora of other information.  At the end of the meeting, the nurse handed me a bag for the brochures along with a stuffed heart pillow made by The Common Thread Circle at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church women’s group.  The pillow is to be placed under the seatbelt strap for comfort when riding in the car.  Once again, God provided for a need before I even knew I had it.  Another sweet moment was discovering that I could see the Tallowood Baptist Church steeple from my hospital room window.  Even though I didn’t request that particular room, being able to see the church was a daily source of encouragement and hope.

Whether it is asked for or provided before I even know I need it, I am amazed at the ways God continues to care for my every need. 

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19