Shortly after Christmas, WBC held an event here at church with hopes of Carrying Christ Love to world. The event was called Love in Action and it was truly a great physical picture of our church’s mission as we came together to give away clothes, toys and food to over one hundred families in the Waxahachie area. Rebecca Manguno helped organize and lead the event. Here are here thoughts about that day.
Why did you decide to help lead the Love in Action ministry?
God laid it on my heart the week before Christmas to find someone in need to pass my children's clothes and toys to. We have been blessed by the Lord through others so often and I wanted to do the same but wasn't sure WHO was in need. When Pastor Bruce spoke on 1 John 3:16-18 Christmas Eve and the following Sunday and gave the suggestion of and "after Christmas toy drive," I felt like the Holy Spirit was nudging me. I mentioned my interest after service and by Tuesday, the date was set.
What was the process like for you?
I was initially thinking on a smaller scale, keeping things within the church mostly. As I discussed ideas with Pastor Bruce, I realized that the idea was snowballing into something much bigger and something that I couldn't do alone. I contacted Brenda Eaton. I have come to rely on Brenda's wisdom and support having served under her with WBC Mommy & Me. She rallied volunteers to do the work I could not do alone. We collected bags and boxes of donations that week, each opened, folded, and sorted on the tables in the hallway. The volunteers were indispensable and came day and night to prepare for Saturday's giveaway. Saturday was amazing! We had a system in place and everything ran so smoothly. Prayer leaders were praying for and with people who came for the giveaway. Our helpers in the hallway were carry items for people and others carried bags to their cars. It was so wonderful to see the body of Christ serving the lost and needy of the community.
How did it affect your journey with God?
I prayed a lot that week! I was discouraged at one point but God reminded me that I was doing what He called me to do. I was reminded what our ministry as believers is: to reach the lost and hurting of the world and to share the love and truth of Christ. Saturday demonstrated that perfectly.
What was the best thing about Love in Action?
It wasn't just about giving people clothes, it was about sharing the Gospel. I loved hearing from the people we helped. They were so thankful to receive coats and shoes and food that they needed. They expressed the kindness of the church volunteers that day and how much they appreciated everyone involved. I loved seeing prayer leaders holding hands around tables praying with people. One of those leaders told me that NO ONE turned down the opportunity to pray. What a testimony of God's love and power!
Here are the words from one of the people who attended Love in Action”:
I just wanted to let you know that I came by this morning to hopefully get some much needed shoes and clothes and boy did I. I had been looking for a job for past 4 mths with no luck and I went back to my job I left 9 mths ago and last week started back there thanks to Gods help but didn't have a lot of winter type clothes and I got couple of jackets and shirts that I really needed since I had no income at this time. Thanks you Jesus, and I have been going back to church my brothers church actually here in Waxahachie for past month and I could only wear my jeans with the one pair of ok shoes I had but couldn't wear the many dresses I did have cause I had no shoes to wear with them but I found quite a few there that were my size big surprise and I am so happy with what I got. Everyone was so helpful and so very nice it was a great thing that you did. Many people I spoke with were so grateful for what you did and I just wanted to let you know that we all appreciated it so much. I didn't no what the food drive part was and was wondering? I heard about this on the flea market and was so glad I went and just wanted to thank you all for your generosity and may God bless you all. Thanks to KBEC your awesome!
-Anonymous.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Firgive So That You May Live by Jan Thompson
Forgiveness is a mark of becoming a mature disciple of Christ. Listen to this story from WBC member Jan Thompson.
My beautiful 17 year old niece left my home on the morning of July 12, 1982 to go to Waco, TX. That would be the last time we saw her alive. My life totally changed on the evening of July 13, 1982 at 10:00 P.M. with the television news statement: "BODIES OF MISSING TEENS FOUND ON THE SHORES OF LAKE WACO".
Time here does not allow details of the following years of investigations and horrendous stories of the torture of my niece and two of her friends. We were told that the children were "simply in the wrong place at the wrong time."
Days and months turned to years and I realized I was becoming consumed by the feelings of, I MUST see this through"! Most of my waking time was taken up by constantly trying to find out what happened that day in July, 1982. I had become unable to carry on my daily routine of being a good wife and mother. My dear husband was taking on my role in that capacity and never complained to me, but deep inside, he was living the same torment as I. I felt guilty as I spent most of my time with the investigators, yet I was driven to continue to be involved. My heart was becoming hard and I felt so much bitterness, not only for the four men who were eventually charged for the crime, but also for anyone who could not understand my involvement.
Sometime in 1985, a dear Christian friend from my church was aware of the demons struggling inside me. She came to me with this advice: "UNTIL YOU CAN FEEL FORGIVENESS IN YOUR HEART, YOU WILL NOT FEEL PEACE OR BE ABLE TO LIVE AGAIN," ~~~~~~oh wow-THAT HIT ME HARD! Did she actually say that I should forgive the four men who tortured, raped, and murdered three children?? How in the world could she think that would be possible?? And then I felt anger toward her.
Years passed slowly and I was still feeling the bitterness taking over my heart. I attended the lethal execution of the man found guilty of killing Jill. I THOUGHT it was something I must do. I felt so ALONE, although there were dozens of spectators present. I NOW KNOW that THE FEELING OF BEING ALONE WAS BECAUSE I DID NOT ASK MY GOD AND SAVIOR TO BE THERE WITH ME! This was my worst moment!!!
From that evening forward, I got on my knees for help. That's ALL I had to do!! The change was gradual, but the Holy Spirit came along beside me and has been with me every day since. I am still reminded of the days when I had no room in my heart for anything or anyone who could not find the killers of the children. However, today, I AM FREE OF THAT HARD HEART BECAUSE GOD HAS SHOWN ME THE WAY TO "FORGIVE, AND I NOW LIVE. ~~~~~~~~ WITHOUT HIM, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE!!!!!!!
My beautiful 17 year old niece left my home on the morning of July 12, 1982 to go to Waco, TX. That would be the last time we saw her alive. My life totally changed on the evening of July 13, 1982 at 10:00 P.M. with the television news statement: "BODIES OF MISSING TEENS FOUND ON THE SHORES OF LAKE WACO".
Time here does not allow details of the following years of investigations and horrendous stories of the torture of my niece and two of her friends. We were told that the children were "simply in the wrong place at the wrong time."
Days and months turned to years and I realized I was becoming consumed by the feelings of, I MUST see this through"! Most of my waking time was taken up by constantly trying to find out what happened that day in July, 1982. I had become unable to carry on my daily routine of being a good wife and mother. My dear husband was taking on my role in that capacity and never complained to me, but deep inside, he was living the same torment as I. I felt guilty as I spent most of my time with the investigators, yet I was driven to continue to be involved. My heart was becoming hard and I felt so much bitterness, not only for the four men who were eventually charged for the crime, but also for anyone who could not understand my involvement.
Sometime in 1985, a dear Christian friend from my church was aware of the demons struggling inside me. She came to me with this advice: "UNTIL YOU CAN FEEL FORGIVENESS IN YOUR HEART, YOU WILL NOT FEEL PEACE OR BE ABLE TO LIVE AGAIN," ~~~~~~oh wow-THAT HIT ME HARD! Did she actually say that I should forgive the four men who tortured, raped, and murdered three children?? How in the world could she think that would be possible?? And then I felt anger toward her.
Years passed slowly and I was still feeling the bitterness taking over my heart. I attended the lethal execution of the man found guilty of killing Jill. I THOUGHT it was something I must do. I felt so ALONE, although there were dozens of spectators present. I NOW KNOW that THE FEELING OF BEING ALONE WAS BECAUSE I DID NOT ASK MY GOD AND SAVIOR TO BE THERE WITH ME! This was my worst moment!!!
From that evening forward, I got on my knees for help. That's ALL I had to do!! The change was gradual, but the Holy Spirit came along beside me and has been with me every day since. I am still reminded of the days when I had no room in my heart for anything or anyone who could not find the killers of the children. However, today, I AM FREE OF THAT HARD HEART BECAUSE GOD HAS SHOWN ME THE WAY TO "FORGIVE, AND I NOW LIVE. ~~~~~~~~ WITHOUT HIM, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE!!!!!!!
“Loving God with All Your Heart Soul Mind and Strength.” Matthew 22:37 by Matt Lewis
Part of the out working of the Worshipping God aspect of our church’s mission can be found in one element of our the WBC vision statement that says “We envision our church family being passionately and completely engaged in biblical worship that consumes our worship services, ministries and lives.” (Full vision statement can be found at: http://waxahachiebible.org/#/about-us/vision)
This statement is based on Matthew 22:37(among other passages) and seeks to draw our attention to acknowledging God in all that we are, and in all that we do, all of the time. Hear the thoughts of WBC missionary Matt Lewis on the outworking of this passage in to his life of worship.
1. How do see Matthew 22:37 playing out (actually/correctly happening) in your life of worship to God?
This is an interesting question in that, personally, this theme, love, has been on my heart and mind for about 2 1/2 years. It's a long story so I'll only write that I had a very difficult time that included depression and dryness of soul to the point that I didn't know what my faith in Christ meant a few years ago. One question that came out of this time was: What is love? Specifically, How does God love me?, how should I love Him?, and how should I love others?.The Lord showed me that for all the things i thought i knew about Him from scripture, these points of knowledge had become idolatry in my heart. I wasn't truly loving the Lord with everything within me. I loved things about Him but not the person of Christ. Since, that time the Lord continues to show me that I am a very self-centered person who delights in worshipping myself. This sounds harsh but I have found it to be true. Only by loving the Lord with all that I am (or attempting to do that) can I be a whole person. I believe that the basis of my life must be first and foremost to Love the Lord with my whole person, body and soul. Everything else flows from that. If i am not rightly related to God, if I'm not placing Christ at the center of my "heart, soul, and mind" then i am wrongly aligned and cannot truly love my fellow man. When I have placed Christ at the center of my life, to the best of my ability, I do find that I love my wife, Cassie, my daughter Willa, and others much better.
2. What are some ways that you seek to do that (Mt. 22:37) in your life?
I seek to develop my prayer life. I try to be in community with other Christians. I read the scriptures. Everyday I try to take control from God and so everyday I must try to realign my will with His. So, many times i try to take a prayerful attitude of humility before the Lord. I ask for forgiveness but I try to humble myself before him and ask that He would help me redirect my affections towards Himself and not myself. As a follower of Jesus, I believe that in order to Love the Lord with all of my heart, mind and soul means that the Love of Christ must be central to my entire being To the best of my abilities, through worship, prayer, scripture, the church and body of believers i try to direct my love towards the Lord so that I might glorify Him and better love others.
3. How do see Matthew 22:37 playing out in a public worship service?
First of all, this love command that Jesus gives us is severe. It requires every aspect of our being. When we gather together as Christians i think we should come before the Lord reverently with an attitude of submission and humility. I don't mean to suggest that the worship service shouldn't be joyful. On the contrary, it should be a celebration...a holy celebration. It's really ironic that I'm attempting to answer this question because many times i'm the worst at coming to the worship service seeking to be changed by the living God. Practically, I'm not completely certain how the worship service should be conducted. Does this mean a certain order? a particular style of music? style of exegesis? liturgy or no-liturgy? public readings of scripture? private moments of silence and reflection before the Lord? I don't completely know. I do think that as a body of believers we should come before the Lord to worship him with everything about us. I think we need to hear His word and be changed. I think we should lift our voices before His throne in worship and adoration and I think we need to love and worship the Lord by taking the Lord's table together. Also, I think we should let this public worship service flow outwards to the community. As we come together to love and worship the Lord it should also help us love our neighbor.
4. Do you think that different worship elements of a service help fulfill different aspects of Matthew 22:37? For example loving God with your heart vs. your mind.
Maybe. although I think the Love of God appeals not only to our hearts but our reason as well. Honestly, I'm not sure how you could break this down. I think this verse is directing us to Love God with our entire person. I think to compartmentalize it too much might diminish it. for instance, does scripture require more of my mind or heart? does taking the Lord's table fulfill me intellectually, spiritually or communally? I think the different elements of the worship service should direct all of us to Love the Lord with all that we are so that we are able to glorify Him and love others better. Of course during the worship servcie we call upon our different faculties to worship the Lord, I just don't know exactly where one begins and the others end.
5. What are some of the differences of public worship in America from Italian worship?
oooh. this is a tough one. even though Cassie and I have been in Italy several years i would hardly say we are super cultural insiders. If you mean, "what does an Italian church worship service look like?' then I'll take a crack at it. The church we go to in Florence actually resembles the services here at WBC somewhat. We gather together to worship the Lord through songs and music. Then we seek the Lord through scripture by listening to the sermon. we seek ways to serve the community outside the church building and at least once a month we take the Lord's Supper together. One of the differences is that the only space we have right now is at the Communist community center. It's pretty cool.
This statement is based on Matthew 22:37(among other passages) and seeks to draw our attention to acknowledging God in all that we are, and in all that we do, all of the time. Hear the thoughts of WBC missionary Matt Lewis on the outworking of this passage in to his life of worship.
1. How do see Matthew 22:37 playing out (actually/correctly happening) in your life of worship to God?
This is an interesting question in that, personally, this theme, love, has been on my heart and mind for about 2 1/2 years. It's a long story so I'll only write that I had a very difficult time that included depression and dryness of soul to the point that I didn't know what my faith in Christ meant a few years ago. One question that came out of this time was: What is love? Specifically, How does God love me?, how should I love Him?, and how should I love others?.The Lord showed me that for all the things i thought i knew about Him from scripture, these points of knowledge had become idolatry in my heart. I wasn't truly loving the Lord with everything within me. I loved things about Him but not the person of Christ. Since, that time the Lord continues to show me that I am a very self-centered person who delights in worshipping myself. This sounds harsh but I have found it to be true. Only by loving the Lord with all that I am (or attempting to do that) can I be a whole person. I believe that the basis of my life must be first and foremost to Love the Lord with my whole person, body and soul. Everything else flows from that. If i am not rightly related to God, if I'm not placing Christ at the center of my "heart, soul, and mind" then i am wrongly aligned and cannot truly love my fellow man. When I have placed Christ at the center of my life, to the best of my ability, I do find that I love my wife, Cassie, my daughter Willa, and others much better.
2. What are some ways that you seek to do that (Mt. 22:37) in your life?
I seek to develop my prayer life. I try to be in community with other Christians. I read the scriptures. Everyday I try to take control from God and so everyday I must try to realign my will with His. So, many times i try to take a prayerful attitude of humility before the Lord. I ask for forgiveness but I try to humble myself before him and ask that He would help me redirect my affections towards Himself and not myself. As a follower of Jesus, I believe that in order to Love the Lord with all of my heart, mind and soul means that the Love of Christ must be central to my entire being To the best of my abilities, through worship, prayer, scripture, the church and body of believers i try to direct my love towards the Lord so that I might glorify Him and better love others.
3. How do see Matthew 22:37 playing out in a public worship service?
First of all, this love command that Jesus gives us is severe. It requires every aspect of our being. When we gather together as Christians i think we should come before the Lord reverently with an attitude of submission and humility. I don't mean to suggest that the worship service shouldn't be joyful. On the contrary, it should be a celebration...a holy celebration. It's really ironic that I'm attempting to answer this question because many times i'm the worst at coming to the worship service seeking to be changed by the living God. Practically, I'm not completely certain how the worship service should be conducted. Does this mean a certain order? a particular style of music? style of exegesis? liturgy or no-liturgy? public readings of scripture? private moments of silence and reflection before the Lord? I don't completely know. I do think that as a body of believers we should come before the Lord to worship him with everything about us. I think we need to hear His word and be changed. I think we should lift our voices before His throne in worship and adoration and I think we need to love and worship the Lord by taking the Lord's table together. Also, I think we should let this public worship service flow outwards to the community. As we come together to love and worship the Lord it should also help us love our neighbor.
4. Do you think that different worship elements of a service help fulfill different aspects of Matthew 22:37? For example loving God with your heart vs. your mind.
Maybe. although I think the Love of God appeals not only to our hearts but our reason as well. Honestly, I'm not sure how you could break this down. I think this verse is directing us to Love God with our entire person. I think to compartmentalize it too much might diminish it. for instance, does scripture require more of my mind or heart? does taking the Lord's table fulfill me intellectually, spiritually or communally? I think the different elements of the worship service should direct all of us to Love the Lord with all that we are so that we are able to glorify Him and love others better. Of course during the worship servcie we call upon our different faculties to worship the Lord, I just don't know exactly where one begins and the others end.
5. What are some of the differences of public worship in America from Italian worship?
oooh. this is a tough one. even though Cassie and I have been in Italy several years i would hardly say we are super cultural insiders. If you mean, "what does an Italian church worship service look like?' then I'll take a crack at it. The church we go to in Florence actually resembles the services here at WBC somewhat. We gather together to worship the Lord through songs and music. Then we seek the Lord through scripture by listening to the sermon. we seek ways to serve the community outside the church building and at least once a month we take the Lord's Supper together. One of the differences is that the only space we have right now is at the Communist community center. It's pretty cool.
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