Below are just a few thoughts from The Table meetings:

•He renews us here at The Table. He is faithful. Here, He gives a small taste of His joy.

•We are accountable for what God gives us and the tasks He gives us to do for Him.

•He has given us the gift of sharing His love with others.

•Psalm 91:4

•If the dream doesn’t make others laugh, it isn’t big enough.

•IThe NEST is like the wind…not knowing where it came from or where it will go.

•INEST Kids are all the children in the county.

•IWhen our hearts are broken, it is a hallelujah. We should be concerned when our hearts don’t break for others.

•IWe’re here to smooth the way to the Master’s feet for those who need Him.

•IGod puts you in the exact place and time He has for you to do something for Him.

•IWe can’t get to the big parts without being obedient in the little parts (what He has for us in the moment).

•IWhen God wants you to say or do something, you cannot contain it.

•IThe NEST is where we get to live out what we’ve taken in (reading our Bibles, prayer, church).

Below are just a few quotes from NEST Kids about NEST Kids:

•“I’ve been waiting for you to come.”

•“Jesus is the best helper, isn’t He?!”

•“This is ours!” [re: the building]

•“This is such a cute little church!”

•“And, we get to see God here!”

•“I missed-ed you all!”

•“Thank you for the coat.”

•“I want to be with you!”

•“I want to stay here forever!!!”

•During a trip to the Animal Shelter, one child said, “The dogs need a NEST, too.”

And, blessings about NEST Kids:

•Children learning to pray individually and in a group

•A child hugging for the first time

•Children sharing that they “miss” coming to NEST Kids when they are away

•Children asking to pray together before getting off the van

•Hearing a child say “Jesus” for the first time

•Children learning to praise and worship

•Being told that the children are singing the praise songs in their homes and at daycare

•Watching the sense of family growing between the children…becoming a united group with an identity… helping take care of each other (attending to others’ needs, holding each other, making sure others are OK)

•Children being strengthened through consistency and seeing God’s love

Heavenly Father,

We come to You with thankful hearts for those who are reading about this small portion of The NEST’s story.

For each person, we call out Ephesians 1:17-21 and 3:16-21. We continue to pray that children and families are strengthened by the work you do through The NEST. Just as Nehemiah was the repairer of broken walls, may The NEST also help build and restore lives in some way. We know that only You, Lord, transform and deliver families. May we never be without a broken heart for those who do not yet know Your love, mercy, truth, grace, and salvation. Lord, we praise You for the “ripple effects” of The NEST and for expanding territory to the north, south, east, and west for Your Kingdom. Thank you for whom You have sent and will send to help meet the spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental needs of Your children. Lord, we lift up to You past, present, and future NEST Kids and families. May we continue to seek Your perfect will, proceed decently and in order with the tasks You lay before us, and be no more and no less than what You have asked. Thank you, in advance, for blessing beyond, beyond all that we could ask or imagine according to Your power.

In Jesus’ precious, holy, holy, holy name we pray. Amen.