Love, Give, Serve...

If you have declared Christianity as your life, then you have signed up to Love the unlovable, Give to those in need, and Serve Selflessly.  That is what being a Christian is all about!

Love starts in your closest circles. Your spouse, your parents, your brother and sisters, your neighbors and the circle keeps widening until everyone you come in contact with is included. I have met people who cannot stand their spouse or brother and yet want to go out and do something nice for someone else. Here is what Jesus says about that:

Matthew 5:23-24“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

As Christians we are to share our assets with those who have need. Here is what Jesus says about Giving:

Matthew 25:34-40Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,[a] you did it to me.’

Luke 3:11And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”

Serving is when you get involved with the unlovable, the Needy, The poor, the Aged, the Crippled, The Hungry, The broken Hearted. Here are Jesus' words about serving:

Luke 14:7-16When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although 

Do you wasn't to start practicing Christianity?   Here is what is Needed Now:

We are in need of volunteers for Mondays and Tuesdays TWIGS Lunch deliveries. Here is what it entails. You go to the Cottonwood Church located on Cottonwood Road across from Wal-Mart at 11:15. You pick up the pre packed lunches and the drinks and put them in your care. You go to one of two designated locations: Cottonwood or East 30 Trailer Park in Glen Carbon. The Kids will come to you. You smile, hand them a lunch, and feel real good! At 12;30 you head back to Cottonwood Church and drop off the containers and lefty over lunches and on with your day. But thanks to you, about 40 kids won't go hungry that day.  

Can't volunteer during the day? Well we are also looking for volunteers for Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm to 8:00pm to pack the lunches so they are ready to go for the volunteers. Packing is easy and fun. You grab a plastic bag and simply place one each of four different items in the bag. 

Hope to see you all soon! Love, pastor kent