Tonight was the best, most honest, laugh-filled fellowship in small groups to go! Our dear friends were hosting at their place tonight and most of our ensemble was present and accounted for.
But, lets back up for a minute. Let me tell you about how this great day began.
Since our friends' eldest son (and ours) was away at RED church leadership camp, there was a vacancy in their monthly rotation for serving lunch at the Union Gospel Mission. Our friend asked if one of our other boys might be interested in helping. After speaking to the family, I decided to go and help out. Not knowing what to expect, I washed up and donned an apron and gloves, as well as the slotted spoon which would be my weapon of choice for slinging coleslaw.
Every person who came through the lunch line was so polite and kind with their words, that it melted my heart. Had this been a restaurant, the customers may have been rude, complained about this or that, or simply been sour. Not the homeless men and women here. No, these people were friendly, genuine human beings who only by a matter of circumstance, or a few choices, were standing on the other side of the counter. They were me, and I was them. Our souls equate in the eyes of God.
It was an absolute HONOR serving them. Anyone who assists or supports a mission such as UGM are tithing directly into the lives of someone who needs it. It's about as simple as can be.
Deuteronomy 15:7-11 (English Standard Version)
7"If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, 8but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. 9Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, 'The seventh year, the year of release is near,' and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the LORD against you, and you be guilty of sin. 10You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. 11For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, 'You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.'
We're supposed to help the poor, with a pure and generous heart.
After this eye-opening event, my wife and I ran to grab some supplies for this evening's small group. The Canned Food Warehouse was the destination of choice- and $12 later, we had almost everything we needed for dinner (another pit-stop at Roth's would complete the meal). Thank the Lord that we had the ability to buy the ingredients and had a place to go to prepare and consume them.
Once we arrived at our friends' home, we set about the construction of a 7 pizza dinner. That's right, I said seven pizzas! Between our combined families, along with one other man from church, the "small" group consisted of 13 people tonight- and we were missing at least one more person. Granted, 5 were adults and the rest were children. But, half the fun is gathering our kids together too and just letting loose for an evening. Adults in one room for fellowship, kids in another playing games, etc.
Man, we love these people! Thank you Jesus!
Psalm 133:1 (English Standard Version)
1Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity!
Good Night
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