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Home > Ministries > Lift J-Hi & High School

Things we are responsible for Part II: The Vision

This week we’d like to continue our exploration of what it looks like to be a part of what it means to serve at Shoreline. These are not pronouncements to pull ourselves up by our boot straps and work harder in our own efforts. This is a reminder to surrender to and depend on Christ’s finished work on the cross and to focus so much on the beauty of His love that we cannot help but live a transformed life. We want to interact with you more about these thoughts. You can do so at shoreline.net/lift or liftyoungadults.com. Please click over there and give us your thoughts.

Now for the leadership thought!

Our mission is to unveil God’s love. As those who serve in lift, we are actually responsible for that vision. It's not enough for us to merely get behind it. We must own it. We can’t sit back and wait for Pastor Rob to do the work. It is not enough for us to clap for him when he preaches, and admire how beautiful our mission statement looks written on our screen in weekend services. As leaders, volunteers, youth workers, or whatever we are – WE MUST OWN THE VISION for ourselves. It must bleed into every area of our lives.

So what does that look like? Please comment and tell us what you think. How do you “unveil God’s love” at work? In Your neighborhood? Campus? In your family?

Posted on Thursday, November 5, 2009 by Mike Collins filed under

4 comments (Add your own)

1. Brandi wrote:
I don't think it takes any grand planning or big gesture to show God's love. At work, I pray for the people that I work with especially when I hear someone getting frustrated. I take people to lunch, or ask if they want to go for a walk around the building to take a break and give them the opportunity to talk and relax. In my neighborhood, I invite the neighbor kids in to play with my kids, or have dinner with us, or make sandwiches for the homeless with us. I always have my eyes up and watching for someone else that I can wave to, hollar a hello or walk over and see how things are going. I try to remember not to be in a hurry so people know I really care and not just asking to seem nice. I believe it is a kind heart, a listening ear and a smile that makes people FEEL the love of our amazing God.

November 5, 2009 @ 2:16 PM

2. Mike Collins wrote:
Brandi, I think you've hit the nail on the head. God's love is unveiled in the simplest ways. I have a hunch that surrendering time, conversations, and lunches to God have a way of snowballing the momentum of Christ's kingdom. Thanks for your input!

November 5, 2009 @ 3:20 PM

3. Joan Penn wrote:
Unveiling God's Love can be something as simple as a smile shared with another person, a stranger, you don't know what they could be thinking or going through and just the fact that you shared a smile could bring joy into their heart to stir up hope. God is love and He is the light of the world if you are truly unveiling His love it will show on your face, people can see a "difference" in you and will be drawn to you and that is the opportunity to strike up a conversation and love on that person. People want to be unconditionally loved and accepted right where they are at that very moment in their lives. If we would simply do what God has told us to do and that is to love them, really love them, do for them, bless them from the smallest to the biggest way....God will do the rest. One man plants, another man waters, and God gives the increase. The name of Jesus is powerful and when we share our testimony about what Jesus has done in our lives, it not only unveils His love for His creation, but just saying His name brings about change for the better.
Today I was walking and praising God and saw an ambulance going down the street, I started praying and asking God to bless the Paramedics, firemen and the people they are going to help. If I don't know anything else I know we can pray and prayer reaches those that we may never physically see, but God knows and He will manifest himself through the diligent prayers of those who are in Christ Jesus.
I could go on and on and I know for sure without a doubt in my mind that God loves me because I have many testimonies of His goodness in my life and my family's lives.

November 5, 2009 @ 6:50 PM

4. Tim O. wrote:
For me unveiling God's love is about letting go of my life and not trying too hard. God loves me and wants to affect others through me. So, by focusing my life on Him, I can affect others.
When I'm at UT I notice those around me when not in class. If I can help someone with homework or with a concept, I do it.
I also try and remember the names of any student that I meet so that next class or the one after I can show them that they matter because someone cared to remember them.

When I'm commuting, I attempt to be the person who lets people over rather than cuts them off. I've realized that this makes my commute far more enjoyable than when I'm rushing to get to school/home. (I do have to admit that I am by no means perfect at doing this and, most days, have to remind myself that I'm driving like a jerk and need to slow down).

I really don't put a whole lot of thought into unveiling God's love. I try and live my life focused on God and let Him affect those around me.

November 6, 2009 @ 11:24 AM

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