OVERFLOWنموونە

GOD'S HEART FOR SERVICE

On December 3, 2024, I had the privilege of conducting the wedding of a couple who lived in a homeless encampment in our city. Two days before, I received a call from the County Clerk’s office, who told me that these individuals had just enough money to buy a marriage license, but they could not afford to pay someone to conduct the ceremony. The church they attended even turned them away. After meeting with the couple, we decided to move forward with their wedding ceremony, and they were overjoyed.

On the day of the ceremony, I bought a small cake for them and when I got to the church I made a bouquet for the bride. I asked two of my co-workers to sit in as encouragers and witnesses, and there in our little Chapel in the basement, we shared in a beautiful exchange of vows and talked about the power of God’s love. While I drove there in the warmth of my van, I found out they had walked for 2 hours to get to the church that morning.

It was one of the busiest days of the Christmas season for me. I had news interviews that day, helped count kettle money, and spent most of the day picking up Angel Tree gifts and working in the distribution center. I could have easily said “No, I don’t have time to do this ceremony.”

In moments when you want to say NO to service, pause and reflect on God’s heart. In Isaiah 58:6-7, we see a glimpse of what that looks like.

“No, this is the kind of fast I want:
I want you to remove the sinful chains,
to tear away the ropes of the burdensome yoke,
to set free the oppressed,
and to break every burdensome yoke.
I want you to share your food with the hungry
and to provide shelter for homeless, oppressed people.
When you see someone naked, clothe them!
Don’t turn your back on your own flesh and blood.”

The overflow of God’s Holy Spirit is in you! You can say YES to serve others. Your YES shows God’s heart to the world around you.