Do For One

I subscribe to the Andy Stanley leadership podcast that comes out about once a month.

A few months ago the podcast was called "Do For One" and the premise is that you can't spend all your time with everyone in ministry so do for you what you wish you could do for all.

Andy and I have been trying to put this into practice as we are walking through discipleship with a few people.

A 14 year old teenager came to stay with us for a week this past week. Shy has a really hard home life and doesn't really have any concept of what the future is going to be for her. She's a good, smart girl, but needs some direction. We've been loving on her for about a year and a half now and it's a blessing to be a part of her life and to watch her grow spiritually.

She spent most of the week with me in the office helping out, which she says she enjoyed, and then after work I would take her around to experience Atlanta. I think it was good for her to see that people get up for work every morning and do something. She was also involved in the church services during the week and helped me put the mid-week service together. At home she sits around the house and cares for her eight (!) younger siblings. Another baby is due in November...

On Friday night we made chocolate chip cookies from scratch. It was her first time reading a recipe and it was fun teaching her fractions with the measuring cups. The cookies came out good and it was a blessed time.

I tucked her in every night and prayed with her. Something she's never had before. It was simple and nice.

We had a few good, deep conversations during the week about her testimony (she struggles with sharing it) and about her future. She isn't used to having people care about what she thinks and having attention. We walked to the chapel here on campus and I spent a good amount of time praying with her. The tears flowed and I told her that she was loved and that God has a plan and a purpose for her life.

We also spoiled her...but what would you expect?

God's love is like that. Simple yet so desperately needed. We are both thankful that we can love on people, even if it is just one at a time.

Will you do for one what you wish you could do for all?