Heart, Hands, and Feet

My son-in-law, Milan,  inspired me the last time he was in Minneapolis. We had both set up some network meetings for him.  In the course of our meetings, I discovered a heatbeat within myself that I had not realized was there...

It was like hearing the bell in the children's Christmas story "The Polar Express".  (Not everyone hears it, you know what I mean?)  This time it was the "Bell" that is always ringing in the Kingdom of God.  In that Kingdom, Christ has prepared us for some particular good work. (Eph. 2:10) We hear a lot about the Kingdom, but can miss the "bell" that is saying, "be doers of the word, not just hearers".   (James 1:22-25.)

My church's Adult Fellowship group is a good case study: We hear alot of teaching.  We give a substantial amount of money to general misson work, we give to the adult children of our class members who are involved in full time Christian service and we help with various financial needs that may arise from within our group. We are good at seeing needs and coming up with money...

The "Bell" of serving our neighbor as ourselves with our hands is less easily heard.  It occured to me that we as a group could "move mountains" if we started hearing the "bell" together!

 I was determined to help our class experience a paradigm shift! (I wanted something dramatic, but God doesn't usually clang a Liberty-size Bell...)

So, I called to our attention the possibility that we could DO some ministry as a group and not just give money.  Could we dare take a whole class session to do a service project?  We were willing to test the waters!

A project idea was identified: assisting the Women's Ministries with the preparation of their quarterly newsletter.  Our group of 70-80 members was able to prepare 2400 letters
 for mailing in 30 minutes--a project that usually kept several ladies working into the wee hours of the morning!

In God's unique timing, Milan got to join the group the very Sunday we put his inspiration into action!

Our Fellowship now sees the possibilities for future service projects where we can apply our hearts and hands and feet.  There are "particular good works" He has for us to do!  Can YOU hear the "Bell"?
 
Dean Jacobs - Connected to you all with my Heart