eNews – Jesus Loves You!

One of my granddaughters-in-law posts reels on Facebook regularly of her son, my great-grandson, Bowen. He will be turning two this month and is a happy child. His parents have poured so much love into him, playing with him, dancing with him, and taking him places to explore the world around him. He is quite a little golfer, too, but you’d better get out of the way when he swings his little plastic club.

Over the weekend, he was dressed for bed, and his mom was rocking him while filming him on her phone. She would say, “Bowen is kind, Bowen is smart,” and each time he would respond, “Yes.” Well, at first, he didn’t respond, as he was busy making faces at her phone. When she said, “Bowen is a good friend”, he empathetically shouted, “YES!” And he did the same when she said that he was a child of God again, shouting YES! Then she told him Jesus loves you! He excitedly replied, “Amen!” Precious indeed!

Just like that small child, we can excitedly respond Yes and Amen to the words – Jesus Loves You! He has placed you exactly where He wants you for this time. As you serve in a Lighthouse or on an Area Team, it isn’t always easy. It seems like God allows others on the team whose sole purpose is to rub off our rough edges or challenge our mindsets. Those days seem like hard days, but really, they aren’t much different than the times Bowen wants to feed the goats another cup of food, and his parents won’t let him. That cute, chubby, smiley face can go right into a frown quickly!

As you go out into your community to reach out to those in need or those who are homeless, you will be met with many different reactions. Some will welcome you with open arms. Others may curse you or seek to take advantage of you. Jesus experienced the same as He came to seek and save those who were without a Good Shepherd.

I want to encourage you as you send in your financial reports, hold your outreach meetings, write out the minutes, and spend time in prayer for our nation and the nations of the world. Just as Bowen’s parents shower him with love and support as they mold him into a man, Zephaniah 3:17 says The Lord your God is in your midst, a Mighty One who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing.” He is firmly in your court and on your side. I am, too! Take a deep breath and relax in His Presence and His Love.

I want to speak over you that you ARE going out and making a difference in your community because of 1 John 4:19 – You love because He first loved you. Those in your community need to hear that God is NOT an angry taskmaster who shows affection only when they do good. He is a God who loves us at all times, and His love will flow through you to them.

I promise you – the hours you put into your community matter. The lives you touch matter. YOU matter deeply to God and to me.