Good morning…
Before we gathered to create one hundred Christmas gift bags for the police officers to deliver to the senior citizens in the Grove Park neighborhood of our city, LaTonya Gates, founder and director of PAWkids, said, “Sue, I would love for you to include Bible verses in every bag.” So I was gifted with the joy of discerning four verses, running them off on card stock and slicing them into strips. Here are the verses the Holy Spirit handpicked.
We have become his poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny he has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus! (Ephesians 2:10a, TPT).
He responds to the prayer of the poor and broken and will not despise the cry of the homeless. Write all this down for the coming generation, so re-created people will read it and praise the Lord! (Psalm 102:17-18, TPT).
“I am wrapped in the power of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it (Colossians 3:12-14, MSG).
After parking at the magic-making art studio, I went to the passenger side of my car to unpack my box of goodies. I looked down to see one soft moss heart lying on the cracked pavement.
What a perfect reminder for all of us. As we pack, wrap and deliver boxes this December, are we doing everything with a soft, lush green heart?
And if I were to be so generous as to give away everything I owned to feed the poor, and to offer my body to be burned as a martyr, without the pure motive of love, I would gain nothing of value.
Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong (1 Corinthians 13:3-6, MSG).
One soft green heart helps us stop to listen, “Please be generous with the pure motive of love.”
Then we will gain everything of value.
…Sue…
P.S. LaTonya asked me to share with you two opportunities organized through PAWkids. The first occurs tonight, tomorrow night and as we drink special beer all through December.
LaTonya explains in a text, “Sue, I am excited to announce that PAWkids has been blessed again by the generous team at Monday Night Brewery on the Westside. During the month of December, 100% of proceeds from the just released Invisible Garden IPA will be donated to PAWkids. I want you and your friends to join us at the launch party this Saturday night, December 11th at the ATL MidTown location. Please share with your friends, and keep this partnership in mind any time you see Invisible Garden for sale. Hope to see you soon!”
LaTonya also invites us all to a community training hosted by PAWkids on Monday, December 13th. Join in the joy as we build our loving bond with God in our expanding community.
