“2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” James 1:2-6
Found out about a friend this week who meets with those on the margins in his neighborhood. His loose group provides food and attention. He’s never broadcast this work, but someone else wanted to shed light on the good work he’s doing on the F3 Memphis slack channel. If I asked him why he does it, he would probably tell me he’s just living out His call. The ministry has been named Grace + Bread. These men forming relationships with the broken and lost are modeling Christ’s love. As my preacher cited Jesus’s lament in last week’s sermon, “The harvest is plenty but the laborers are few.” I’m thankful for these laborers.
Father, we lift up this outpouring of love and coming together by the Holy Spirit to You. We thank you for the time given by the organizers to care for Your children. We pray for their ministry, that You sustain and encourage them, as they seek to walk and love like Jesus. Lord, may they be protected as they do battle against the adversary by proclaiming Christ in the darkness. Shine Your Light, Lord, through your children serving the Nutbush, Heights, and Jackson Park communities. Bless them and multiply them. Bring forth the laborers. In Christ’s name, Amen.