Showing the Love of JESUS
John 15:12
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
We went to a funeral for Brett’s cousin Danny a few weeks ago. We had not seen him for many years. I walked in really sad and left so relieved & joyful. I Honestly think it was one of the best funerals I have been to, If there is such a thing.
The Pastor told of how he met Danny at a garage sale, they got to talking and he introduced himself as a Pastor and invited him to his church. Danny said he might visit sometime. One day he did ride up to this Pastors church with his wife on the back of his Harley and his long hair pulled back into a pony tail. When they walked through the front doors they asked the man that greeted them “Are we welcome here?” This man told them, “You sure are welcome here”. Danny and his wife felt accepted right away. You know how it is when you go somewhere and don’t know anyone and some person comes up and makes you feel like they really care about you, it is genuine not fake, and it melts the uncomfortableness away. Well this man showed the love of Jesus to them, he used his gift of greeting which led to the Holy Spirit drawing these two precious people to the saving grace of Jesus. Some time after that they both gave their lives to Christ and three short years later Danny was called home to spend his eternity with Jesus. You see the Danny I knew didn’t know Jesus. He was a great guy, he just led a life more on the wild side and apart from the Lord. So when we heard this Pastor tell of Danny’s old life and his new life after he came to know Jesus as his Savior my heart was so relieved and I know I will see him again.
Romans 12:10
“Be devoted to one another in love. honor one another above yourselves.”
Marilyn is an 81 year old woman who’s husband had just been moved into a nursing home. Her furnace quit working and she was heating her home with her oven and a small space heater. She did not have any money to fix her furnace. SHM got a call asking us to help. Brett was talking with a guy he knows and shared her situation with him. A few days later when he was getting ready to go to Marilyn’s house this guy came to our door. He shared with Brett how Marilyn’s situation had been on his mind ever since he heard about her. He wanted to help with the cost. He handed Brett money to fix her furnace. It is so amazing how God’s timing is perfect and how He supplies for people in need. Serving Hands Ministries is partnering with different companies and suppliers that are willing to serve the community. R & M Edmonds Heating & Air fixed her furnace. This is Richard & Marilyn on the right. This is the day Richard fixed her furnace. She was very happy and thankful! Brett was able to spend some time talking with her about her relationship with Jesus. She knows Jesus as her Savior but said she never really
felt welcome at church because she doesn’t have much and never had nice clothes to wear. She shared this with tears in her eyes and said she really misses being around other believers and would really like to try a church again. SHM is working on finding a welcoming church for her. Brett called a half a dozen churches in her area and none were responding. We were getting discouraged. Then on a Saturday evening a Pastor called, he said sorry he had not gotten back with us and that he had been gone all week. He told Brett that it was kind of funny because his sermon for that Sunday was on reaching out to Widows and the community. He is now reaching out to her. Our prayer is that when she walks in those church doors that she is shown & feels the genuine love of Jesus through the first person she meets like Danny did.
We visited with Marilyn the other day and her husband passed away last week. She is grieving and has also been sick. Please remember her in your prayers. |
