Every now and then, something so incredible comes along and amazes me. StreetLight Mission (and the people that are a part of it) has been one of those things for me. It's so easy to get caught up in what it/they/God are teaching me that I forget to look at the amazingly fun times that we have together.
A few weeks ago, we went to a house with a pool, and had a BBQ. We as a church are a family. The good, the bad and the ugly. Is it easy? No. We are all humans and we all have our issues, and sometimes, maybe a lot of times, we are trying to work our issues out, and that means that we rub our rough edges against each other. But regardless we are family and we had a lot of fun at this BBQ. Everyone brought food, which is ALWAYS a great thing, because we have a variety of amazing cooks at the church.
In the midst of the fun, the food, the swimming, the pastors did a teaching on baptism, and we had a number of people that gave their hearts to the Lord. It was such a beautiful sight sitting on the side of the pool and watching people praying and asking Jesus to be the Lord and Savior of their life. Then to follow up, there were somewhere between 10 and 15 people who were baptized. I can't explain in words the feeling that over came me as I looked around at the people that have become family. As God has showed me, we are a team. We are meant to work together in this crazy life, in this crazy world, and in this crazy city to make a difference. I have seen some of the same people that have come to the Mission for help get the help they need, and then turn around and go back out to the street to bring others in.
Probably one of the most amazing and fun things I get to be a part of is babysitting. Last weekend, I took an 11 year old girl, who is the foster child of some dear friends of mine. She and I went to the Jersey Shore. It was my first time to the Jersey Shore, and both of our first times at Seaside Heights. We took some old tyme photos, played some games, rode some rides, well she rode some rides, I videoed, and to top the experience off, we had Italian ice and french fries for dinner. They were probably the best french fries I've ever had. We joked, we laughed, and we learned.
There are these moments when I realize just how much that God is using me. And I don't say that in pride. I am humbled at how that God has taken this broken, screwed up woman and placed me in the perfect place to touch people's lives. And the great thing is I get to have fun doing it! I believe God wants this for each of us. Life is hard, life can be sad, but life is beautiful. With all its ups and downs, its laughter and tears, its positives and negatives, it's beautiful. I have been accused of being able to find beauty in anything, and I can't deny that to be true.
I will leave you with this thought/question and I would love to hear your responses either here, on Facebook, or to my email crucibleandcrown@gmail.com: How is God using you and what beauty can you find in your daily lives?
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