On Saturday, the homeless ministry that we've been volunteering with held their annual Thanksgiving dinner. There was a great turnout, tons of food, and a community of people from extremely different backgrounds and financial status doing life together. Afterward, we dispersed: some to homes, some to shelters, some to tents, and some to the streets. We can live on this high for weeks... basking in the glory of our temporary service. We often forget that our friends on the streets may have full bellies for the day and even food to last a couple more, but once that basketball court empties, they are alone.

This is the time of year that we all start to give. We buy Christmas gifts for less fortunate children. We may adopt a family to fill their stomachs or volunteer our time at a food pantry. These things are all necessary and important ways to display the love of Christ, but if we look at His example, more than just providing for our immediate needs, Jesus' sacrifice brings us into His family.

So how do we take that and translate it into our daily walk? We give thanks and seek to glorify God by giving ourselves away in service to others. We act as family to those that have none. We embrace opportunities to walk alongside our neighbors and show them that the love they so desperately crave can only come from the Father. We shepherd the broken to Christ the way we shepherd our own children. Each of us has our own mission field. Ask God to give you His eyes to see souls in need of a Savior and a community of believers to walk alongside them.

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:15-23 (ESV)

-Briana Echols

*If you have questions about our faith or how you can receive forgiveness for all sin and begin to walk in newness of life with Jesus, please email us on the contact page. We would love to meet you!

Give Thanks