"God takes no pleasure in making life hard..."

​“He takes no pleasure in making life hard, in throwing roadblocks in the way…”
Lamentations 3:33
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Dear Friends,

It has been a very long and difficult week.  Our dear friend and Board member Barbara Dixon passed away from her fight with leukemia.  She was a champion of City Impact and the children, youth and families we serve.  She always had a smile on her face and a kind word for everyone she came in contact with.  Today, I can still hear her laughter on my mind. 
 
Then a couple days later, a 15-year old student that we have worked with for over three years was a victim of gang violence and was taken off life support.  Our staff and board have been overwhelmed with grief. 
 
I know God doesn’t delight in our sufferings, but He delights in our development.  God is at work in each of us whether we know it or not, whether we want it or not.  The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 1:6, “God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure He will continue until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again.”

Today, I am trying to see our struggle not as an interruption to life but as preparation for life.  No one said the road would be easy or painless.  But God will use this mess for something good.  This trouble isn’t punishment, it’s training.  It is the normal experience of children as well as adults, God is doing what’s best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. 
 
That is exactly how Barbara lived, her training is over now and she is fully healed in heaven - knowing my friend she has a huge smile on her face and is laughing with our Father.
 
Please continue to pray for our Board and staff during this time of grief.  Thank you for loving City Impact and those we serve daily.

Because of Him,
Betty Alvarez Ham
President 
 
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 3:14