LPS. I can hardly explain my sentiments towards three letters. I am unbelievably overwhelmed by the show of support towards this event. People showed up with a mind and a heart to serve, and just went out and blessed the city of North Bay. I can't say enough about these incredible people that went out and just served. It was cold, and some of the events likely got monotonous and boring, and yet they stuck with it. Today in church I felt so convicted over being able to express my gratitude to these amazing people that I had to get up and tell them. And when it came time, I got hugely emotional and cried in front of the entire church body. Oh well, red face, pink bracelet. (*a note on this. We ordered red LPS-awareness bracelets. They came in grapefruit pink. SO our slogan for them became red face (embarrassment, because sometimes humilty comes with the price of our pride), pink bracelet.*) I could hardly express in words just how grateful I was to these people for their support- through a kind word, financially, prayer, or just showing up and lending their hands. I hope I spoke into their hearts as much as their movements spoke into mind. Yesterday while we were closing, I was talking about how this isn't the organizers' event, it was the participants' event. And one guy in the back pointed his finger to the sky and joyously yelled, "It's HIS event!" and everyone applauded. I love how God is so ready to humble you in gentle ways. Even today, standing in front of everyone with my heart bared, I still felt the joy of seeing people reach out and just be the hands and feet of Jesus, the hurt of the people coming into the free store and being bewildered that people would offer toothpaste for free, the maturity of being able to step back and see a younger form of myself in some of the conflicts and immaturity, and the love of coming together as a community of believers. I can't wait to see the impact in the following days, weeks, and months. I am so amazed, and totally overwhelmed (in the good way, today's tears were happy tears) by people, by Jesus, and by the relationship our Lord lets us have with Him. Friday night at Quench one song in particular stood out to me. I know the song, and it has lead me closer to Jesus before, but it really stuck out to me with the knowledge of what we were doing the next day. The song is "I Will Go" by Starfield, and while the original is a rock version, many bands play it acoustically, which is the way I prefer. Here is the link and lyrics. (*note: This is Starfield's acoustic version. However, nothing compares to being 10ft away from the singer and feeling so touched by God you can't even take photos like you're supposed to be.)
To the desperate eyes and reaching hands
To the suffering and the lean
To the ones the world has cast aside
Where you want me I will be
[Chorus:] I will go, I will go I will go,
Lord send me
To the world,
To the lost
To the poor and hungry
Take everything I am
I'm clay within your hands
I will go, I will go, send me
Let me not be blind with privilege
Give me eyes to see the pain
Let the blessing You've poured out on me
Not be spent on me in vain
Let this life be used for change
[Chorus] I wanna live for you
Go where you lead me
I wanna follow you
