Hey friends!
Today we have a special guest post from one of my dear friends here in Dallas, Vanessa from kelliandvanessa.com. I just LOVE Vanessa’s heart and her desire to help women…especially moms, pursue a life of love through the blog she co-founded with her friend, Kelli! Together, they inspire and encourage moms through personal stories and creative “faith-in-action” activities.
_______________________________________
So here’s what I want you to do:
Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life – and place it before God as an offering.
Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. [Rom.12:1-2 MSG]
The one thing we can do right is to TEACH our children to hide God’s word in their hearts and to SHOW them how to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the people within our community.
Pain, suffering and hurt are no strangers to those right in our community. While we can not make the realities of this sinful world disappear, we can deliver a message of hope.
That God can restore brokenness, that He’s in the middle of the brokenness. So, it is imperative for our lives to do the good work, to get our hands dirty, let our hearts ache … when we’re in the middle of it it feels so right and that’s because it is. That is what He’s called us as believers to do. To extend ourselves to those who need us because in the end, we need them just as much. That’s where we SEE God in all His glory.
Brokenness & hurt surrounds you and your family, it’s forcing yourselves to see it. And when you’ve seen it, you’re responsible. We’re all responsible. So, what are we going to do about it? While we can’t make it go away, we can carry a message of hope with us … that the story truly does have a beautiful ending and it’s called redemption.
Make an effort as a family to not just show the love of Christ, let’s become it.
______________________________________________________
God has uniquely wired us for stories. They move us, inspire us and help us understand theological concepts on a deeper level. Starting today and running until the end of our #MadeforCommunity study, we invite you to share your stories of community and how God is moving through your #LoveGodGreatly groups on Instagram and Facebook using the #LoveGodGreatly and #LoveWritesABeautifulStory hashtags!!! If you need an example, make sure to check out Kelli and Vanessa’s Instagram page and read some of the inspiring stories they have shared!
http://instagram.com/kelliandvanessa/
“That God can restore brokenness, that He’s in the middle of the brokenness. So, it is imperative for our lives to do the good work, to get our hands dirty, let our hearts ache … when we’re in the middle of it it feels so right and that’s because it is. That is what He’s called us as believers to do. To extend ourselves to those who need us because in the end, we need them just as much. That’s where we SEE God in all His glory. ”
I cannot stress to you enough what an impact these words made on me today. I have struggled with this weeks study. I am in the middle of a divorce, my husband had an affair. I know I have every biblical right to leave, I know I am doing the right thing, but why this week, why this study? I prayed and searched by bible last night and prayed more. I am sure of my decision, I know it’s right for me. Now I know what God is saying …refocus on Him, show my adult children the example of love. God first, family next.
Please pray for my family! For healing and mending of relationships, for God to intervene and give us strength. For new beginnings for me and a renewed relationship with GOD.
Oh Lisa, I’m praying for you sweet friend. What a difficult season. But through it He will draw you ever so close to Him. Praying for you friend and praising Him with you!
Marlene {LGG Encourager}
I must say just the title of the b-study got me excited to start and do something for our community. My husband and I give through money to many charities but I really wanted to do something more hands on. I kept thinking about a lady who I met a few years back who goes to a local(very large) orphanage, Qrangewood to be exact and takes a group of people every few months. They go and just visit with the kids. I remember her telling me they come with shirts on their backs so they love when people send gifts. I called her a few weeks back and told her that the teens were on my mind and I wanted to put together some packages for them She was so excited because she said the teens are usually by-passed and ignored because everyone sends gifts to the younger kids. Well that’s all I need to hear. My daughters and I will be putting 30 packages together for the teens there. I don’t think I would have done this if I had not stepped into this B-study. It’s amazing how God always has someone in mind to help and we just need to open our heart”) Loving God!!
Monica that is so amazing of you and your daughter to do that! I’m so thankful for His work in your heart!
Blessings sweet friend!
Marlene {LGG Encourager}
Ohhh Monica!!!
LOVE hearing how you are serving with your girls and intentionally loving on the older kids!! We are looking for stories to share during our 8th week…would you be interested in sharing with us a little more about your story and maybe some pictures in a blog post that we can share with our Love God Greatly community??? 🙂