An Easter Blessing!

I attend a weekly small group at The Pointe Church (www.pointechurch.net), and I have been so blessed by my friendships there.  It is the first group I have attended where I wasn't in a divorce group or a singles group.  It was simply a group of single people who seriously sought God's teaching on finances.  It was wonderful, and I looked forward to it every week.  Our group was supposed to do a service project this semester.  
But since I had been sick a couple of weeks, I thought I had missed the discussions on what we would do for our project.

At our last meeting on Wednesday, our leader mentioned something about our service project.  I asked, "So what are we doing?"  Patrick, our leader, looked at me and said, "We decided several weeks ago that you are our service project!" 

I was astounded, and I thought he was kidding until he handed me this box while everyone in the group looked on. 

I opened it and found $500 cash, $70 in gas gift cards, a $25 Meijer gift card, a $25 Visa gift card, a $20 Walmart gift card, a gift card for a manicure and a gift certificate for a free housecleaning.  I was stunned beyond words.

Also enclosed was this beautiful card signed by everyone in the group.

I asked our leader how they decided on me being the service project.  He said he asked one of our pastors what our group should do for a service project.  That dear pastor, Mitch, simply said, "Liz."  What is even more crazy is that Mitch didn't even know I was in the very group that was doing the service project!  They decided on this and planned for it through emails that went back and forth the entire semester, and I had no idea it was going on.

These kind friends, many of whom are going through their own personal struggles and trials, opened their wallets and flooded me with blessing beyond imagination.  

I am still shocked and stunned.  I don't know how I can ever thank them.  

I will treasure them and their generosity in my heart forever.  

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This and so many other miraculous provisions from God and His people just when I needed it the most has made my girls' faith grow in ways I could never have hoped for.  Amy tells me I am her church.  That scares me so, but I was encouraged through a friend's Facebook post that lead me to this:

"If you feel overwhelmed by the idea of being responsible for the spiritual well-being of your child hear me say three words of encouragement:

1. First, good for you–it is a big deal and from my experience in student ministries not enough parents care about it beyond wondering why we haven’t speed-sanctified their child for them. A little urgency isn’t a bad thing.
2. Second, calm down–you are not responsible for converting them, as that is work of the Holy Spirit, but pointing them to Christ. Too much urgency will make you crazy.
3. Third, take heart–you are not alone in this. You have the promise of Jesus that he will be with you until the end of the age as you go out to fulfill the Great Commission even unto the ends of your own backyard. (Matt 28)"
   
   

http://derekzrishmawy.com/2013/03/26/5-things-my-mom-taught-me-about-theology-what-that-means-for-your-kid/

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So on this Easter Sunday, do you wonder if God still moves among us, still does miraculous works, and still radically loves His people?  

Please know from my experiences as written in this blog that He has NEVER stopped chasing after His beloved His children whom He is crazy in love with.  

He loved us enough to fulfill the Law and his prophets' teachings through His Son, Jesus Christ, who died a horrible death on a cross for you and me.  Accept that miraculous fact, and go forward into a life miraculously changed by Him!