Changing the World...
A quiet moment at Jacob's Porch. Most people are still on winter break, but not for long. Soon this place will be a buzz again. Filled with the cacophony of laughter, jokes, tears, stories, shenanigans, and the sound of forgiveness. But for now, just the sound of the fire crackling in the fire place.
So in the midst of the car drive home yesterday, last night & the quiet of this day, the thoughts & dreams of the future are filling the room.
I was blessed to spend the last few days with an old friend & his family in Indiana. There are people that we talk about being amazing & fantastic. People who are so close to the heart of Jesus that they truly live, move and have their being in Him. That the way they welcome strangers, their closest friends, and their own church family is like nothing you have ever seen. Not perfect people. Just people who are so in love with Jesus & loved by Him, that you are thankful that you are thankful to just sit by the sidelines and simply watch God at work through them.
They are changing the world one person at a time. God working though them. Abiding in them. Loving through them. What better picture than the pastor's 8 year old daughter in his church on a Sunday morning, who would seek out people who are struggling, throw her arms around them & give them a huge hug, saying that she loves them. Whether she knows them or not.
Story upon story of this family. But it's our story as well. So in this New Year...the real question isn't about New Year's resolutions, but how will you allow God to use your gifts and talents to change the world? One person at a time. Not so that your name is made great, but so that people see who Jesus is. So they hear and see His love. Getting dirty for Jesus.
Of course, I'm talking about the easy things but also the challenging things. Loving someone who has hurt you. Praying for your enemy. Sacrifice. Changing the world one person at a time.
PS-- If you need an idea? The hope for the porch is that Monday - Friday, we will invite our homeless friends in for food & conversation from 5-5.30 pm. Or, if you're looking for a bigger project? Lots of people donated their swipes at the end of last quarter to help stock our food pantry. What if we tackled a bigger project. At Purdue, a group of students got the board of trustees to allow unused swipes to be donated to a local food bank. Yup. They now cut a check every semester for a massive amount to a local food pantry. Want to help coordinate that? And change the world one person at a time.
So in the midst of the car drive home yesterday, last night & the quiet of this day, the thoughts & dreams of the future are filling the room.
I was blessed to spend the last few days with an old friend & his family in Indiana. There are people that we talk about being amazing & fantastic. People who are so close to the heart of Jesus that they truly live, move and have their being in Him. That the way they welcome strangers, their closest friends, and their own church family is like nothing you have ever seen. Not perfect people. Just people who are so in love with Jesus & loved by Him, that you are thankful that you are thankful to just sit by the sidelines and simply watch God at work through them.
They are changing the world one person at a time. God working though them. Abiding in them. Loving through them. What better picture than the pastor's 8 year old daughter in his church on a Sunday morning, who would seek out people who are struggling, throw her arms around them & give them a huge hug, saying that she loves them. Whether she knows them or not.
Story upon story of this family. But it's our story as well. So in this New Year...the real question isn't about New Year's resolutions, but how will you allow God to use your gifts and talents to change the world? One person at a time. Not so that your name is made great, but so that people see who Jesus is. So they hear and see His love. Getting dirty for Jesus.
Of course, I'm talking about the easy things but also the challenging things. Loving someone who has hurt you. Praying for your enemy. Sacrifice. Changing the world one person at a time.
PS-- If you need an idea? The hope for the porch is that Monday - Friday, we will invite our homeless friends in for food & conversation from 5-5.30 pm. Or, if you're looking for a bigger project? Lots of people donated their swipes at the end of last quarter to help stock our food pantry. What if we tackled a bigger project. At Purdue, a group of students got the board of trustees to allow unused swipes to be donated to a local food bank. Yup. They now cut a check every semester for a massive amount to a local food pantry. Want to help coordinate that? And change the world one person at a time.
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