Digging Deeper

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. -1John 4:11

I have seen so many examples of this love for others at The Ridge but one of the most memorable ones for me is the single parents car winterization that occurs each year. We just had one this past week and WOW! it was amazing. We had well over 100 volunteers helping at 7 garages and at the church to care for these people that, for the most part we don’t even know. After the day was done, we had serviced 86 cars, used 25 gallons of wiper fluid, 450 quarts of oil and gave 50 haircuts. Three Ridge people even gave up their own cars in order to allow time for some extra time and effort to be put into a few cars. All this for free just do we can show people the love of Jesus.

Over the years some of these single parents have come to call The Ridge their church home. One person in particular was an old friend of mine and a few years ago she came to have her car serviced. Her youngest daughter said she wanted to come back the next day for church. She reluctantly agreed and they returned. When she came in that day a person she did not know, working “First Impressions”, welcomed her with a hug and a smile. That love touched her so much it gave her the courage to stay and return the next week and the next. Not long after that she gave her to Christ, got baptized and has become a very active member at The Ridge. Some of you may know her. She is Sallie Moran.

I have watched, first hand, as Sallie has grown and strengthened her faith muscles. God has and continues to soften her heart and now she is one of those people serving at the annual single parents car winterization and greeting others with a hug and smile at “First Impressions”. She also serves on the communications team during the week helping to get the message handouts ready and the Powerpoint you see on the big screen. And she has committed to serving at the Greenville campus each week to help get it started. All this because of one simple act of love she received from another.

So, don’t ever think it’s not worth it. You never know when or where Gods love, through us, can touch another’s life.

Father God, we praise You for your love and we pray that You will use us to reflect that love on others. Lord, thank You for using us as a conduit for that love and for multiplying that love in others, like Sallie, to build Your kingdom and create new servants to continue that outpouring of love. Amen

by Rick Phillps