My whole family started the day by participating in the normal Saturday outreach by NSV. Today we handed out boxes of cereal in a couple of low income housing areas (last week we gave warm "emergency" blankets since the weather had just turned cold). As we handed out the cereal today we also found some homes that did not have Christmas trees and were able to arrange to get some for these families. My wife can describe the joyous looks on the faces of the little children much better than I can. It was a blessing for all. We also let people know about the Christmas gift shopping time we are having at the free store NSV runs. Tonight, the store that normally gives out household cleaning supplies and food stuffs will let kids come in and "buy" gifts for their parents - of course they require no money.
Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. - Isa 55.1
I think we demonstrated God's love to the lost and marginalized. In that, God was glorified.
Then later, Barb and I visited with some friends. There has been some concerns growing between me and the other couple that could have led to bitterness, frustration, etc.. We could have chosen to move on with our lives and not stay connected. We could have fought and argued about this. But God prevailed - and He did it without Prozac. He did it by the power of His Holy Spirit.
For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. Eph 3.1-10
We stood together today so that the principalities and powers of darkness could see that God's wisdom works. That is that Christ's work was not in vain and that He has brought those who would not normally be one to become one body under His great leadership. To Him and Him alone goes all of the glory.
Thank God for today, for this is the day that He has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it!
Technorati Tags: Christian living
No comments:
Post a Comment