One week ago today I stood in my kitchen and cried – hard.
It was the kind of crying you do after a long grueling experience where you
were stretched way far outside of your comfort zone to lengths you never thought
possible and yet here you stand successfully on the other side of that once
impossible thing. I needed to be alone with God for a few moments and “let it
out”. The kids had taken over the living room to watch a movie - can’t go there.
Tyrone was in our bedroom - can’t go there. It was raining outside and I was
really too tired to think about walking - can’t go out there. I went into
Maiesha’s bedroom and knelt down on my knees and put my face on the floor. I
wept tears of gratitude, relief, humility, and exhaustion. I knelt there with
God to acknowledge that we - by his leading – had completed our first weekend
of service named “All 4 One”.
I had been a part of big service projects. I thought it
would be really cool to be a part of something like that again. Several people
in our church and I had had conversations about it too. Little did I know God
had been preparing me to lead such a project and that through it we could begin
to change a culture.
Back in January I received an email from the pastor of
another local church. He wanted to meet with me about our two churches working
together on a couple of projects they had in the works. One of our staff
members had given him my name and email address. I read his email and thought
it sounded good. I replied with kind words and a suggestion to get together to
talk more about these opportunities. A few days later we met at a coffee shop
and I said yes to make a service day happen on April 17. I was excited, but
really had little idea what was about to happen. I sent a text to our lead
pastor about it and we talked through it the next week. I sat in a room with 2
other part-time stay-at-home moms. We wrote big ideas on a white board and perused
the internet for a name to brand this thing. A few weeks later I pulled a
larger group together and we mapped out a plan. I started running with that
plan.
It wasn’t your usual running however. This was different.
This was blind running. This was clearly God saying close your eyes, hold my
hand and let me lead you somewhere only I can take you. He gave me the prayer
of Jabez as a guide through a video clip I watched from Chris Hodges, lead
pastor from Church of the Highlands. I shared that thing with everyone who
would listen.
“Oh, that you would bless me
(Give me more than I need so I can
be a blessing to others)
and expand my territory!
(Grow my circle of influence and
show me how to steward it well)
Please be with me in all that I
do,
(I need you to lead me God because
this is bigger than I can handle on my own)
and keep me from all trouble and
pain!”
(Protect me from Satan’s evil
schemes and my own fear/flesh/sin)
And God granted him his request.
-
1 Chronicles 4:10 (NLT) (italics interpretation added)
I am here to
testify that God granted my request. He showed up time and time again to
confirm that “All 4 One” was just what our church needed and exactly what he
was calling me to lead. He was growing my faith in him. I was moved to tears
over and over as he revealed his plan and provided for every detail. A huge
part of this project was that churches unite together to serve alongside each
other not in competition with each other. God wants us work together to reach
our community. Other churches said yes to our invitation. I met with them. They
prayed. They gave. They served with us. It is a steep climb. We are working to
change a culture. I am convinced, however, that God is moving to unite His
Church so the unchurched and de-churched have a fresh look and a first look at the
Gospel. So the good news that Jesus died to pay the penalty for all sin will be
heard by every man, woman and child. So that people can receive grace and experience
a restored relationship with God.
God sent us out on 9 projects last weekend. Over 170
volunteers served. People, churches and businesses gave over $6000 in cash and
donations. We engaged with our community to bring life and hope that is
desperate. It does not stop with one weekend though. It was just a launching pad
to help people find their unique purpose in God’s story. He has commanded us to
“go, make disciples” and he is leading us to understand how that looks in NW
Arkansas. He is teaching us to trust him with our time, our talents, and our
treasures so we freely give it all back to him. The more I give my life away the
more I have to give. It’s not about one big weekend but a changed heart to
serve like Jesus did.
"Made to Live" by Hawk Nelson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDOf4TuZKdQ
