When we arrived under the bridge today, several mighty servants were gathered around the table where we would shortly be serving a warm meal to the hungry-homeless of Austin.
Everyone was facing down towards the asphalt looking for a lost earring, so Ron and I quickly joined in the hunt. A few minutes later, the earring was found, and the one to whom the earring belonged was delighted.
And I heard Holy Spirit whisper this deep in my heart.
2018.
A year of the lost being found.
And I say, yes Jesus.
Yes.
Let it be.
And just a while later as I stand visiting with a dear friend …she begins to share…
“I always tell Jesus this. And I let the devil hear me, too. ‘I am going to give You something! I am going to give You something! I’m going to give You Christ-likeness (the fruit of the Spirit) and I’m going to give You souls.’
That’s what I will give to my King.
That’s what I will give Him.”
And I say, YES.
While we’re here.
And while we can.
May we ALL give Him THIS.
A year of us- together- growing in Christlikeness because Christianity IS Christlikeness. And a year of us-together- intentionally taking the time to stop. To look down. To search out. To lift up. To present the lost treasures to the One to whom they belong.
That we might bring HIM delight.
“Or if there is a woman who has ten silver coins, if she should lose one, won’t she take a lamp and sweep and search the house from top to bottom until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together. ‘Come and celebrate with me’, she says, ‘for I have found that coin I lost.’ I tell you, it is the same in Heaven—there is rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner whose heart is changed.”
Luke 15:8-10 (J.B. Phillips).
But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit. Galatians 5:22-23(TPT).