Big thanks to all who helped out with fish fry’s and Easter events.
Today in church I flipped over my bulletin and looked at the list of things that we as a church say we value. One stuck out to me today…
-People because they matter to God.
I started wondering.
Do the people who live across the street know that Woodside and Amanda Gonzalez value people? Maybe. Maybe they have seen different events advertised. Maybe they have received flyer’s inviting them to events. Do they know we care? Maybe.
Do the people I work with know I care? I think so. I try to show love. I try to be fair and forgiving. I try to love the unlovely. I invite people to church and tell them what God has done in my life. Some people have come to visit. I hope they all know I care about them. I hope they all know I value them.
Does my family know I value them? Yeah, pretty sure about this one. Even my extended family should know I love them. I try to give of myself to them when possible. I tell my family I love them. My mom knows I love her. She knows how important God is in my life. My sister and brother too. I don’t talk to my dad a lot. I invite him to visit. I tell him about things we are doing at church. I’ve even invited him to church, but for some reason I get uncomfortable talking to him about God. I never really have talked with him about salvation. He knows I love him, but he needs to know God loves and values him.
Do the people in my neighborhood know I value them? No, not really. I say hi and wave when I see them outside. I haven’t had many conversations with neighbors. I know the one family because their dad is a dish network guy and he came over and talked for a few minutes when we got our satellite installed. The other neighbor I’ve talked to a few times, but not much more than pleasantries. Me and the girls have stuffed mailboxes with invites to different things at church, but I don’t know if they know Jesus. I get uncomfortable seeking out neighbors to talk to. I’m never forced to be around them for long periods of time, so I don’t have to get to know them. I don’t know what to say…”hey your yard looks great, do you know Jesus?”. They all seem to be doing OK. I don’t know if they have any needs. Well, I do have one neighbor who is a single mom. Her yard touches the back of mine. She lives with her daughter and her elderly mom. Her yard needs work, but I’m still mad at her because her tree fell on my fence and she didn’t fix it. I’m sure when I get to heaven Jesus is not going to say “it is OK you didn’t tell them about me, your fence was much more important than her, her daughter, and her mother’s eternal life”. I’m not showing my neighbors that I value them. So, I’m going to have to work on this one.
Maybe with the Crazy Love bible study I could ask that neighbor if we could do some yard work for her as one of our service projects.
This month, I am going to work on showing others that I, my church and God values them.
I ask you to join me.
You can join me in the Crazy Love bible study and bring ideas service projects.
You can also donate to the mission trip, by doing this we will be showing people in San Salvador that Woodside and God value them.
What time every week is your most free. What time/day each week do you have an hour that is not scheduled with other things. Mine is Thursday evenings. What about you???
I encourage you to use that time to show others that you, God, and Woodside values them. If you need help with ideas on how to do that come to me and with your day and time, and I will help you come up with some ideas.
