20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. – Jude 1.20-21
Do you remember a moment in your life when you felt desperate? There have been many moments in my life when I felt desperate and out of control. One of my most desperate moments was when Rebekah and I were living as poor seminary students in St. Louis. Just as the winter was setting in our furnace broke. We had two little kids to keep warm and no prospects of paying for an expensive furnace. So, we wrapped each kid with double the clothes, huddled around a few portable heaters, and prayed for the Lord’s provision.
It wasn’t long into the winter when the Lord’s provision came. While driving home from a church service we were rear-ended by another car. Thump! After making sure the kids were uninjured, I went to check on the other car and the damage done to ours. The damage was significant but only cosmetic. The passengers in the other car were fine and definitively apologetic. As I was preparing to shake hands and part ways, the kind man told me to call his insurance company as he would claim all liability. Later that day I did make that call which resulted in an insurance check for the exact cost of a new furnace. The Lord provides in the most unusual ways.
Next week, on October 19, CPC will pause our Midweek adult classes to encourage us to meet and hear from one of our supported missionaries who has been actively serving helpless people in Ukraine. This will be our first opportunity to meet this missionary face-to-face. He recently traveled to Europe in partnership with Crates for Ukraine. This ministry provides personal and humanitarian aid from churches in the United States to our brothers and sisters who are living in displaced communities throughout Ukraine. For those who are struggling to find some of the most basic necessities, Crates for Ukraine demonstrates the love of Christ in practical ways.
This Midweek opportunity will update us on how the Lord is working among our brothers and sisters who are in war-torn lands. We will get a chance to hear firsthand stories, see pictures, and watch videos of what is happening in Ukraine. I encourage you to please join us Wednesday, October 19 beginning at 6:45 pm in O-100 (Schum Fellowship Hall). In the meantime, if you would like to know more about the MTW Crates for Ukraine ministry, you can read about it here.
