DO YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO NEEDS A HAND?

Out of the woodwork, people appeared to offer us hope & encouragement. Friends who I had long forgotten appeared at our estranged hotel room with a hot meal. Moms swung by and offered to take our kids out to play. Dads went out of their way to drive our carpool. Friends and family opened up their homes in order to get our laundry done. Something so ordinary, and in the midst of tragedy, overwhelmingly powerful. I don’t know if I could ever say I felt a time where this verse resonated so loud & clear.

“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:35 NLT

Simple. Yet Profound.

You have the ability to change one’s life by showing God’s love. Don’t be a busy bee…wrapped up in your lil’ world. Be obedient to do the will of God our Heavenly Father. His design is to use you to impact those around you. In your circle of influence. In your carpool line. In your everyday…

You are never too young. Look at these kids cutting out shoes from an old pair of jeans. My friend Jamie Ivey hosted a shoe-making party for SoleHope, an organization providing shoes for children in Uganda.

You are never too old. Psalm 92:14 says, “They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.” 

You are never too far away. Look at how these children from my son’s orphanage in Haiti, Three Angels Children’s Relief, offer a note of encouragement to Dr. Monfil‘s family, whose home was destroyed by the recent tornadoes in Illinois.

Look around…how can you share God’s love today? Maybe a neighbor. Maybe a friend. Maybe a complete stranger standing in line behind you at the grocery store. I don’t know. But let’s open our eyes to be used by God in our simple, day-to-day lives. You may not be able to alleviate the problem, but let me tell you something–you can certainly stand by someone’s side.

How have you been impacted by the love of others? Would you encourage us with your story?