When you pull from an endless reserve.
Last weekend, our CarePortal Active community ( in connection with community businesses and other local ministries) threw an epic back to school event in our neighborhood park. Of course, it involved dragging all of our church sound equipment, several tents, games and bouncy houses, and an entire barbershop worth of supplies out into the grass... making many trips back and forth in enormous, gas guzzling vehicles... and then spending hours in the sun (and rain...welcome to Ohio!) setting it all up, running games and manning stations... We gave away van's full of stocked back packs, we gave countless free haircuts, and we fed our neighbors hundreds of hot dogs.... and then there's the clean up and tear down. The entire time all of this was going on, people were praying and connecting. It was beautiful. At one point, while standing in the grass listening to the band, a woman struck up a conversation with me about the "philosophy of the church" and how she appreciated all the work that went into engaging the community like this. She went on to tell me her story of service and describe her search for "like minded people" sort of regardless of their belief system. I took a minute to share part of MY story of service saying:
"The problems are so big, and I am so small. My energy and stamina are limited. But I have found, through my relationship with the Lord, a supply that runs deeper than mine... an abundance to draw from that I can't access on my own."
Saturday came and went for our team... And I think I speak for all of us when I say, we were both energized and exhausted. We got to bed very late and then got up very early Sunday morning to set up for church. As we prepared to serve the neighbors we met in the park, there was a lot of talk about that "fatigue"..we humorously referred to it as the "holy hangover" from last night's ministry.... but we did it... and not in our own abilities.
"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." ~2 Corinthians 9:8
This week, I just wanted to encourage you to tap into His source of energy and His abundance to replace and replenish you. I'm so thankful for His limitless blessings... for His endless supply... thankful that He gives us everything we need. No matter what we "spend" in his service, God has a beautiful ability to make up for all of our deficits and limitations. Let's abound in every good work!
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