Spoken Word Poem 1.

In this life every day presents a struggle,

Mouths to feed, bills to pay

Driving home, cars in the way

We think we’re alright

Because our money’s not tight

We aren’t one of “those”

Who need people like us- with the resources you know

our actions say “ill give some away”

Cuz that’s the Christian way

Not paying any attention

To our soul’s retention

But where’s the sacrifice

Did you even pay a price

When you discard what you don’t need

To a person who needs to believe

That there is hope

And you are there

You’ll give your time

And you sincerely care

About their well being

Not just the physical things 

Because you see sometimes we need more

Than those we think are poor

Your need is hidden inside your status

You define your worth with class

But one day it will shatter like a piece of glass

To a million pieces

Because that’s not the heart of Jesus

To climb a social ladder

That doesn’t even matter

Let’s share our burdens with one another

Not just our stuff, its really just clutter

That stands in the way

Of our deep need to communicate

That we are hurt and afraid

Can we ditch the masquerade

And come face to face

With our sisters and our brothers

There’s no need to cover

Because we all have needs

Some are obvious some unseen

No fear in love- we give and take

Let’s be the body for the kingdom’s sake 

I know it's God....

I'm enamored by the way God designed us each in a unique way to hear his voice in the secret place with him. When I write, I know when it's God speaking to me. I know it's his voice opposed to my shallow thoughts when the overflow of my heart spills out into words as I get quiet and still before the throne. My best writing doesn't come when I am forcing myself to produce something, anything, but when I can't help but to pull the words out of the deepest places as my Father whispers in my ear. I know it's God when I am the person who needs to hear what I have to say so desperately. Perhaps what I write may speak to someone else, but the passion comes from my own personal struggles and shortcomings. Lord, help me to believe what know. 

Inner Beauty is a Lie.

Inner Beauty is a lie. In fact, I think young people are lied to about many things early on that severely distort their perception of reality. Like most females, I have strong opinions around the pressures that women face in society to appear a certain way on the outside. However, a lot of the mainstream self-esteem curriculum that has penetrated our culture and coaxed young girls into dwelling on their thought patterns toward themselves doesn't sit well with me. 

When I was young, I was told by adults that I could be anything I wanted to be. Maybe that's why I had an unrealistic expectation of becoming a scientist. This aspiration was based off of my interest in collecting rocks when we went on vacation. As I grew older my love of rocks evolved more into a love of jewelry than an interest geology....is that what it's called? God made me with some specific gifts and abilities, but as an adult I see that they could not get me very far as a scientist...or a "motorcycle woman" for that matter. (Another legitimate childhood dream.)  

I also heard a lot about inner beauty. Looking back it seems like it was some sort of compensation for not measuring up  physically. But I wish girls were affirmed in their conclusions that some of their friends might be ascetically more pleasing to the eye than they are, and that's ok. If we live in a broken world where life is not fair, then why do we constantly feel the need to place everyone on a level playing field in every arena?

Honestly, I felt like one of those girls who had to rely on inner beauty to make up for my extended awkward (understatement) years. I am so grateful. I never had teenage heartbreak, I just had fun with my friends. I was able to observe and become sensitive to others who felt left out or different. Somehow I was slightly ignorant to the extent of my awkwardness, which could probably be attributed to my encouraging parents who kept my focus on Christ. 

I do think beauty comes from within, but only when we become a hallow vessel seeking Christ as the author of our identity. When we become fixated on Christ, beauty has a new meaning because it's not directly reflective of our outer shell. There is so much beauty in his creation of human beings, but our assessment of our physical beauty has wandered astray with somewhat unattainable societal standards. Ultimately, I believe that true inner beauty comes from the reflection of Christ in our lives and our ability to love others in the way that He loves us. Woman, you will compare yourselves to other women. In some instances you will find yourself better off and other times you'll walk away from an interaction feeling subpar. It's real. But when your goal is to serve your Father who created you, tell me why it matters. You become beautiful when the love of God overflows within you and impacts your priorities, your perspective,  and your desires. 

How effective could the body of Christ be if we accepted the reality of the kingdom on earth and focused on who he created each of us to be as individuals instead of watering each other down with equality? We are equally valuable but have distinct gifts, opportunities, experiences, abilities, and looks. It all plays a role in determining the trajectory of God's will for our lives. 

Inner beauty is a lie when explained as "you may not be pretty on the outside but-......" 
No, you are beautiful on the inside because you know who created you and you are aware of the confidence that went into your creation. 

Because

Today I'll turn my "I wish.." into "I'm grateful", accepting present circumstances for what they are, truly grateful for life itself. We are blessed abundantly, even if things in our world don't measure up to the perfect mosaic in our mind that may or may not be God's portion for us. Will you join me? Be good to your soul today, you deserve it.

When we love God more than the life He has given us, we lose an attachment to things on this earth and become more aware of the things unseen. Our mistakes and failures impact us differently. We know that we are covered in grace but because we love Jesus we have an intentional pursuit of holiness. Generosity is a natural outpouring of our heart. Every day we face the tension of living in the flesh versus living with eternity on the forefront of our minds. I don't want less of anything, I just want more of Jesus.

Too often I believe we use our “faith” as the means to achieve equilibrium in our lives. Perhaps when we are stressed we pray that God would calm us, when we are anxious we seek comfort in hearing Him whisper to us that things will work out. But what does “work out” look like to us? God promises that we will face trials in this life. Our faith gives us the strength to be thankful for these difficulties in THE MIDST of our experience. We don’t have to wait to be thankful once difficult situations are reconciled. Being blessed entails something greater than everything in our world feeling comfortable, something greater than being all “set” with great family, great job, great home, etc. Faith is not hoping that circumstances will get better; it’s having the ability to run head first into the path before us. It will be difficult at times, but that does not mean we aren’t blessed or that he has left us. Our Father wants more for us than to give us a nice set up. How can we really make an impact in the lives of others without facing trials and difficulty ourselves? Bring it on Jesus, I have your Holy Spirit in me. You tell me who I am, where to go. Don’t just fix me, use me.

A Collection of Recent Thoughts

Don't ever let the magnitude or severity of an individual's needs prevent you from building a relationship with them. Our greatest need as broken people is to be loved. You are no one's savior, but you do have the tremendous power of engaging in genuine relationships with people that need you in their lives. You might even realize that you needed a few things from that person too.



Some day I'm not going to worry about how many books I give to my daughter compared to how many dolls I let her play with. I won't be conscientious about how often I tell her she's beautiful or carefully consider the things I praise her for. I won't discourage her from being a girly girl or a tom boy. I'll teach her that her identity is in Christ and I'll love the little girl he made her to be. All this self esteem saturation in our culture encourages young girls to dwell on how they perceive themselves which could ultimately become counterproductive.



I chew too much gum and I drink too much coffee. This week I got curios and texted several close friends asking them what their bad habits are. The responses varied from "I pop my gum" (gasp!) to "I gossip too much". The truth is we all have bad habits, but if you are like me, these sometimes get overlooked. When I began this conversation with a number of people, I was surprised by what revelations came from bringing these "small" issues to light. Why do we justify spending so much effort, time, and money on things that are not good for us? It seems easy to ignore the things in our lives that aren't necessarily the blaring shameful sins that others battle. However, developing the discipline it takes to eliminate the bad habits in our lives has the power to truly change our character. What are some things that have become part of your everyday life that may not be "bad" for you, but not a benefit to you or others? These repeated actions seep in to the essence of who we are at our core, when we are alone and with others. Identifying these behaviors and making small changes over time will produce a significant impact in your growth and development as a person.


Do you ever put your requests and needs aside when entering God's presence, simply to acknowledge and thank him for who he is? He changes our perception of what we need, and aligns his will with our requests. THIS is when he is able to satisfy our heart's desire. Sometimes we just need to get quiet before him.

Collection Of Recent Thoughts

I never knew who I was until I knew Christ. When I search my soul I find expectations I cannot meet, discouraging realities of how the world perceives my imperfections, and distracting ideas of what I should be striving for in this life. When I search the heart of God, I find that my identity is wrapped up in his perfect love. Who I am becomes less relevant. Who God is becomes everything.

Less is more. Will you choose to walk in fear or in love today?

Less performance more obedience

Less striving more seeking

Less Facebook more friendships

Less anxiety more anticipation
Less defensive more at peace

Less venting more listening

Less rushing more serving

Less coffee more rest

Less habit more victory

Less sensitivity more security

Less distraction more passion

FEAR OR LOVE..the root of every weapon used for bad or good.

As Christ followers we are called to be set apart from the world, to be the salt and the light. Sometimes we manage to blend a little too easily through our cultural buy in to bad habits and behaviors. I want to be more like this person- who is set apart from society. The "little" things become significant. The culmination of our habits play a role in forming our character and the message we are communicating to others.

1. They have patience in traffic
2. They do not respond "busy, stressed, tired" to the question "how are you?"
3. They spend quality time with one old friend and one new friend every month
4. They learn something from someone they don't necessarily like
5. They are ok with who they are
6. They are not addicted to coffee
7. They do not tolerate gossip
8. They have their opinions but know when to share them
9. They love Mondays and Fridays just the same
10. They encourage others and accept critique 

All the Names of God..

He loves you deeply. He forgives you and pours out his boundless grace on you. But he also likes you and delights in you as his child, his friend. He is everything you need in every moment, every circumstance. Our human minds may not fully grasp the character of God in his entirety. Sometimes the best we can do where we are is perceive God as a vending machine, calling on him by a specific name to come meet with us. Jehovah Jireh when we are in need, Abba our father, Immanuel when we are alone, Alpha and Omega when life seems too long. In our desperation and in our shining moments God is there, inhabiting our spirit and aligning it to who he is. We then are able to minister to others who are in need of comfort, provision, and council. Though I may never fully understand the depth of a God who created my own heart, I want to experience who He is name by name.

The Compromise of Comparison

So many of us struggle with who we are and where we are because we have a natural tendency to compare. Radical transformation of the way we think and behave occurs when we learn to accept ourselves and embrace the present moment. We are freed from the bondage of our own thoughts, and obsession with comparison as it once distracted us from accomplishing the will of God. As we consider events in history and throughout scripture, we often respond by comparing the context of the events with the context of our modern world. This is not a bad practice, but there is a significance that remains when we are able to accept occurrences just as they were. Comparison dilutes and devalues both parties involved because each person and each era exists for a distinct purpose. This applies to the way we perceive ourselves as well. There is a great amount of value compromised when an individual compares who they are with another person who was designed with a completely different set of gifts, calling, and intent. Becoming content with who God has made you to be
will contribute to your ability to press forward with healthy confidence. Do you sense a discomfort today with living in the moment? With who you are? Amazing plans are in store for your future, but you must be fully invested in the present, living out your own identity in Christ to receive the richness of these plans.

The Father's Heart

We have this privilege of serving a gracious God who loves us so perfectly and unconditionally in the midst of our brokenness and imperfection. The way we pour out our love in return is through loving one another, but the difficulty lies in seeing Jesus in others when they do not act like him. It bothers me that we justify our ignorance of meeting people’s needs when we are able because we feel that they are undeserving. I don’t want to enable anyone, but I am called to love everyone. We have to rely on the Holy Spirit’s guidance when we approach the situation of meeting needs. Our human perceptions and behaviors will not always be aligned with the opportunities he is orchestrating for us to bend low and serve as he served us, giving abundant life when we deserved nothing. When my focus is on eternity, I’m able to break away from the man made cycles of life that have become such a drain on society. God wants for you to receive just as many blessings on a Monday as he does every other day of the week. You are a beloved child of God, and your job is an avenue by which he is using you to love others. The simplicity that we are called to leaves substantial room in our souls to be filled with the peace that is beyond our understanding. Horrible things are going to happen in this world, but the Lord’s goodness will remain. We are diligent to make plans, which may or may not be in line with God’s purpose for us. Trust him when plans change, acknowledging that his way is higher. In the midst of your trials, reflect on the requests that you have brought to him in prayer. Sometimes He is answering your prayers as he is walking with you through a valley toward an oasis. This is one way God develops the fruits of his spirit in our lives. 

It's not that hard to change the world.

It’s unfortunate when words, phrases, and even common scriptures get tossed around so frequently that their meanings become diluted and flat. I love reading scriptures in the Bible over and over again as if it were my first time, because as the living word, God speaks through new revelations to us when our hearts are open.

            Two phrases that are common in my writing and communication are “changing the world” and “transformation”. The implications of these words describe vague concepts that we do not always meditate on to fully wrap our minds around. God has defined and redefined these words in my own life and I sense that we all have a great opportunity to grasp and accomplish the concepts that these words entail.  

           

            Transformation indicates that you are different than the person you once were. God has redeemed you from your past, but your past was yesterday just as much as it was 10 years ago. When we are in communication and relationship with God, he is continually transforming us each day as we in turn continue to stumble and grow. If you are not constantly going through a process of transformation, how can God use you as an empty vessel? We serve a God of order, a God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, but he is constantly working through our imperfections, growing, strengthening, and changing us.

Romans 12:12 Do not conform to the patterns of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will.

            Transformation takes on many forms. It could mean that you think twice before losing your patience with a stranger, that you become free from an addictive habit, or your heart changes toward an opportunity to serve God.

            When we recognize transformation in our lives and in the lives of others, the world around us begins to change. Priorities change, perspectives change, attitudes and hearts change. Jesus showed us that the Christian walk is so simple. To go against the grain of the world is to respond to one another in love, to turn the other cheek. Do you ever consider how small your life really is within the context of the universe? I always think about this when I am walking through an airport in another country, or when I am flying over a big city. What a small link in the chain we are as individuals, but God still wants to use each of us in mighty ways. God uses the bodyof Christ to ignite movements. The world experiences the most genuine and significant change through undeserving acts of love. Changing the world does not require large scale organizations and positions of power, but a transformed mind that receives and obeys the direction of the Father. 

The Secret Place

How sweet it is to truly dwell in the secret place with Christ. You have this intimate opportunity to be quiet before Him and with him in his presence of true peace and genuine love. It is our natural tendency to busy ourselves, to produce, to accomplish, but we miss out on so much of what He has for us when we neglect those still moments that he wants to just be with the one he loves. Words get in the way. Our prayerful agendas get in the way. You have direct access to Jesus when you abide in him, and he in you. There is no “tapping in”, or getting into the zone when the Holy Spirit is in you. How do you hear and acknowledge His voice and his love for you? It goes far beyond words and language. Sometimes we are so fortunate to hear direct words from Him when he speaks to us, but he is a creative God of affection who wants to enthrall you with HIS way of communicating. How are you hearing him today? How are you experiencing and acknowledging him? God calls us to get in different postures before him. I see this in John 12 where Mary washes Jesus’ feet with precious gift of perfume. All who were present in the story were among Jesus and spending time with him. Mary was worshipping him with the best that she had, Lazarus was reclined at the table with Jesus, and Martha was serving in the home. During different seasons, different times of the day, different phases of our lives, God calls us to certain postures to experience him. We compartmentalize our lives when we pick up the prayer phone, submit our requests to God, and then hang up until we choose to call him again. What a truly beautiful opportunity we have to simply dwell with him. Experience God in a new way today. He is the creator of Love, and the language of Love; it is the essence of his being.

The Love Languages of God

Quality Time- He longs to be with you. He is satisfied when you come to him, even if you have no words to offer.

Physical Touch – How do you feel God in nature, through the wind, or through the comforting touch of a loved one?

Acts of Service- He is your provider. Follow his perfect example of being a servant leader. He will lead you to serve someone in need. He is loving you and choosing to use you as a vessel.

Words of Affirmation- Get quiet. What is God speaking over you? What does he have to say about you? Do you rest in his approval of you, his child? Do you know and believe that he delights in you?

Gift Giving – He will meet your every need in a holistic way. He’s our provision, he has given us everything that we have. 

A Beautifully Broken World

We have this desire to "fix" people. It's the easy way out, perceived as a simple solution, but will not actually be a reality until Christ returns. Why do we become so uncomfortable by entertaining the thoughts of unanswered questions, and misfortunes of life? We walk a broken earth, made by God and hurt by sin. As a link in the chain, we have infinite opportunities to bring mending, healing, and light into the darkness of our surroundings. There would not be innovative ways of thinking if other people were not dated in their ideas. There would not be an opportunity for people who are comfortably equipped with resources to share with those in need if there were not cyclical poverty issues. The imperfect functionality of the world contributes to its beauty and provision of opportunity. Do you ever wake up in the morning and feel so abundantly and undeservingly blessed by being born into the family you are a part of, in the country you were born in (TEXAS), having the opportunities to become educated and work? You did nothing to deserve that, just as those living under the cruelty of their circumstances do not always choose the life that they are born into either. There is no balance. So, you have to get out of your bed with a heart of thanksgiving and do what you are called to do in alleviating some of the hardships of others, while sharing the greatest blessing of all. God has created a masterpiece in which we have the opportunity to make his glory known. I love the beauty of the world’s imbalance and imperfection. There are many problems to solve and people to help, each giving us opportunities to meet the needs of others in a holistic manner. We are not designed to be mechanical in our worship, but creative in using our passions and gifts to reach out and serve the hurting. Even still we have the opportunity to gain from others who are lacking in what we might consider valuable resources, and even without Christ. If we accepted a mentality that societies would benefit from mutual sharing across classes and cultures, the world could crawl closer to its potential. Questioning is always advantageous and even crucial for personal development, but accepting the conditions of humanity and God’s intentions are also necessary to becoming an effective servant of Christ. Though the hope of perfect heaven remains in our hearts, our present world is in the hands of a flawless creator, providing us with bountiful opportunities to love one another. I believe in justice and advocacy, but my mission is to love people, not to fix them. 

Reaching Beyond Our Ourselves in the Quest for Peace

A relationship with God can be based on so much more than finding a sense of peace and equilibrium within our own spirit based on our circumstances. He does care for you and asks you to cast all your anxieties on him! Sometimes we focus so much on ridding ourselves of the matters that worry us and don't recognize that dwelling on these thoughts consume our minds and distract us from moving forward. Once we refocus our attention outward, peace awaits in the opportunities to bless and serve others. Being "blessed" does not mean that circumstances are situated for your comfort and happiness, but it's an acknowledgement of god's hand within your situation good or bad.

City Transformation Requires Micro and Macro Perspectives

Leaders often share a common desire to see transformation in their cities, and by nature these leaders are usually wired with a macro mindset of community development. This way of thinking is crucial for casting vision, raising up leaders, and is frequently shared among apostolic leaders, but this strength can not stand alone. To experience transformation in a city, you must make disciples. No leader should be exempt from this task. We are all called to the “front lines” of service. Leaders must create opportunities for people to engage in relationships and disciple one another. When focus remains on this initiative, leaders become susceptible to overlook one of the greatest blessings God is calling them to by neglecting opportunities to build these relationships themselves. A leader who expresses wisdom in delegation does not compare relationships to tasks. When we lose sight of the heart of Jesus, we minimize the value of ministering to individuals that God is putting in our paths to encourage and to learn from. A good leader inspires others toward community transformation; a great leader is inspired by God-sent relationships that ignite their calling to spur others on in doing the same.

Why the Wait Matters

 We seem to be fixated on this concept of arriving, constantly praying to get to the other side of trials, and for patience as we wait. What if we adopted a new perspective on the journey, a journey that encouraged joy and contentment with each step? To truly experience the peace that Christ has for us, I think this is vital and required. Yes its going to get better, yes God has greater things planned for us than what we can dream of, but holding on to these promises does not mean we are robbed of experiencing the life he has for us NOW. If we are fully alive, we are never going to allow ourselves to fully arrive. How could we? Ultimately we are waiting for Jesus to come back and nothing is going to be complete until that day. The discipline of waiting entails so much more than practicing patience. As we wait for Christ to come back as our savior, we wait for him in our jobs, in our schools, in our decisions, in our marriages, in our families, and in every other area that we allow him to work in. Too much of our lives are wasted because we don’t understand the value and significance of waiting. When we are called to wait, we are not expected to pause or put life on hold, because the reality is that we are always going to be waiting on something. Have a daily urgency to follow where God is leading you, but learn to appreciate all that he has for you to experience during the wait.

                                                                     

                                                                    

                                            

       Taking Healthy Measures – Our bodies, Our Temples, and the Church

Having lived on either ends of the nutritional spectrum, I’ve developed a heightened awareness to all things pertaining to health. Of course, you would have to be living in a cave to avoid the nutritional trends that are currently blaring through the speakers of society. A multitude of fads have swept in and out of our culture over the course of my 20 something years of life, and it has caused me to wonder why we so often miss the mark on mastering balance. It’s crucial to be intentional about what we put into our minds and bodies, as these factors leave lasting effects on our souls.

             Just as the Church is defined beyond four walls and a building, honoring our bodies as the Temples of Christ requires more than mastering nutritional perfection. Our culture is becoming severely consumed with health trends that I believe can become detrimental to our spiritual health. God wants us to take care of our physical being so that we are able and energized to accomplish the purpose he has set before us, but when we become fixated on our physical being, we lose sight of the greater picture and more importantly, the people around us. Our identities are put on the line and we sacrifice a part of ourselves that can be used for serving others. Researchers will continue to find ingredients in our food that could be potentially harmful to our health, but I am putting my faith in the one who made me to protect me in my obedience to serve him! We have a responsibility to do our part in taking care of our bodies, but lets consider balance in all things and put our trust in God to protect and heal us.

5 ways to maintain authenticity in an artificial world

I have been giving a significant amount of thought to the impact that social media has on our society and the integral role it has played on the development of subcultures. Just today I was motivated by the following tweet:

 “If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it”

 -Margaret Fuller

Inspiring, isn’t it? Our specific life journey provides us with some level of expertise in particular areas, and often we feel the obligation to share our insights with the world. God moves us to share what he has put on our heart with conviction, and I do not think we should hold back in this instance. However, sometimes it would be in our best interest to check our motives for sharing and acting to preserve authenticity in our social media consumed culture.

1. Keep a journal- I should listen to my own advice here. Something I have always admired about my Dad is his discipline to journaling. Yes he keeps a blog, but he spends personal worship time with God every morning and devotes a portion of that time to writing (with a pen…on paper….made from trees) about things that God is teaching him. These thoughts are not blasted on social media or beautifully constructed to impress a reader. We are putting our identity at risk when we fail to process what is in the depths of our hearts.

2. Be the light when you write, don’t start a fight- What is it about the attitude of cynicism that has become so sought after (especially within my generation)? It always turns me off when someone devotes an entire article to how an organization, church, leader is going about something ALL wrong. FINE! Let them be wrong. Don’t spend your time being critical of their ineffective methods; just show us how to do it right! 

3. Develop relationships with mentors of all flavors- This is critical if you want to impact your city, and the world. Recently I’ve become so grateful for the variety of people that God has positioned around me to learn from, ranging from all backgrounds, social classes, and ethnicities. From their own unique point of view, they help me to perceive the world from a different perspective. Be ready to LEARN from everyone you come in contact with, you aren’t above them because your circumstances are different. This is a preventative practice from becoming suffocated in a subculture and losing sight of the rest of the world.

4. Let God’s word and the Holy Spirit inspire your spiritual thoughts- Sadly I have found myself thinking in 140 characters or less while I am driving down the road. God wants to impart such a greater depth of wisdom into us than we allow ourselves to receive. It’s amazing what God will reveal to you when you read the scriptures with an open heart. Don’t worry, it will be just as profound and clever as the tweet you have been thinking about writing for the last hour! What is the point of impressing others in our own religious circles with these revelations that we think are so brilliant? As Bob would say “people are goin’ to hell!”

5. Accept your unique circumstances- At times when we battle feelings of inferiority, believing that we don’t measure up, it’s because we are using a worldly measuring stick! God created you in his image with specific gifts, talents, and abilities to accomplish his will for your life. No one else can do what He has equipped you to do in the way that he has created YOU to do it. When you understand how specific his intentions were in creating you, it is easier to embrace your circumstances, your identity, and the journey that you are walking. It’s not always about climbing a latter, but taking the next step.

Christ Present at Garden Gate

It always excites me to speak with prospective volunteers, who are interested in becoming involved with local ministry. This week when I received a voicemail from a woman, I could hear something in her voice that distinguished her from any “normal” church member. In fact, as I spoke to her I learned that she was not a member of our church, but a resident of Garden Gate. I recently distributed welcome letters to 40 new residents in the Garden Gate apartment complex. E received the letter and responded to the opportunity to become involved with serving her community. She promptly called me to inquire about possibilities. We set up a time for me to visit her in her home the next day and I was truly blessed by the opportunity to do so.

When the door opened, E greeted me with a warm smile and motioned me into her living room. She showed me where she wanted me to sit, on her “best piece of furniture”. I watched her slowly walk across the empty room to the other side so that she could sit on couch that looked much older. The few items that E had in her home looked as if they had been donated; they were charmingly mismatched and dated. E speaks very slowly, so I couldn’t help but notice that there were pillows and blankets on the couch as she was telling me her story. I wondered if she had a bed to sleep on.

I learned so much about E during the few minutes that I was in her home. There is a powerful phenomenon that takes place in someone’s living room, especially when Christ is present. This is one reason why I think cell groups can be so transparent and transformative. E’s apartment at Garden Gate is her first home since she has overcome a state of homelessness. She has spent many nights at the Union Gospel Mission, the library, and in her car. She now volunteers with young women at the Union Gospel Mission and is passionate about helping others. I explained to her all of the opportunities that she has to volunteer alongside Northwood at Garden Gate, and shared the concept of cells with her. When she showed interest, I asked E if she would be willing to use her home for others to gather. She was hesitant as she explained to me that we were sitting in her living room as well as bedroom and she had no real furniture. I must have been looking at all that she owned in front of me, including her “bed”. Though my heart broke for E, I couldn’t help but be encouraged by her positive outlook on how far she had come. She did mention that she did not have a bed but did not ask me for help to get one. E also mentioned that she battled depression and had some disabilities, but these components of her life were not going to keep her from acknowledging her love for the Lord.

I returned to my office burdened by E’s situation and sent out a text to Freedom City subscribers to try to meet her need of a bed. In less than 24 hours I received an email from a church member who is willing to donate a full bed in great condition to her.

As we fall into the habit of building our lives around comfort and routine, we hide from opportunities to serve. We feel that we are not ready, not prayed up, not competent, under-resourced, and tired. These are all lies. When we open our hearts to serve, we open our hearts to receive. E had a pure motive to love those in her community. She has very little but through reaching out in faith she is going to be blessed with her physical needs being met. God calls each of us to serve no matter our circumstances and this is why incarnational ministry is so crucial to local ministry. Meet your community where you are, you are not an outsider because your circumstances may appear different.