Its a typical fourth Thursday night here in Arlington Tx, last full week of school we are just moms, every day ordinary women. One of us has two boys and is a stay at home mom, one has two boys expecting number three she works part time her kids and hubs have been sick this week. One who is a mom to three she works full time fulfilling a dream and a calling she's had for a long time. One is a newly wed who works full time and she has just fallen in love with the simplicity that is our Thursday night every two weeks.
You see we are all tired, for various reasons, up late or all night with sick kiddos, up with a heavy heart for those God has called you to love, or simply because your hubs has slept super well and since its allergy season in North Texas he's been snoring. We all have other things we could be doing during this time. We each have a hundred reasons not to go. We all have excuses, better things...yet we come together.
Its simple really, sitting at the feet of those Jesus loves more deeply than we can fathom. Each one unique, each one with a different purpose and calling on their lives. Some who are broken, searching for something different, longing, some who love Jesus but they are just discouraged, others still who are leaning into Jesus and they are a light in the day to day life at a homeless shelter.
One of these precious ladies just had a baby, she is living in a shelter. She is just thankful her and her perfect little 10 day old baby have a place to sleep. We have had the privilege to walk alongside this mama through the last few months of her pregnancy. As I was searching for verses for this sweet mama I was reminded that... You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11 Give all your cares and worries to God for he cares about you 1Peter 5:7 Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken Psalm 55:22... Because of Jesus, I have hope, I have help. This truth. This Hope. That's what we long to bring where we serve. That's why we serve, despite the hundreds of reasons.
At a conference this spring the speaker said, what if we ran towards the danger, the unknown, the uncomfortable, instead of staying where we are. After all God calls us to him, he sends and equips us. He grows us, walks beside us and LOVES us so that we can Love others. Love them well. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:35
What is God calling you to? Where is he calling you that scares you and makes you question everything?? RUN TO THAT. Dwell there. Jesus will meet you right there. He will sustain you, carry you, He alone can make your burden light, He alone can be strength in our weakness. Share it in whatever way God uses because even if you never see the fruit of it God is working. Serve God and Serve others this summer. Love them well.
Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy. It does not boast, it is not proud, it does not dishonor others, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preservers. Love Never Fails... Three things will last forever-- Faith, Hope and Love -- and the greatest of these is Love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8&13
