We’ve been doing a series based on the movie Fireproof. The movie is all about a firefigther (Caleb) who is struggling with keeping his marriage together. It’s real life stuff. Caleb and Katherine have slowly grown apart over time. He ends up turning to other things to meet the emptiness that he’s feeling inside. She thinks he’s cold and unloving. They live together but, in reality, they’re emotionally divorced. It’s not until his dad intervenes and shares his own story about how he considered leaving his wife until God captured his heart and gave him hope that their marriage could be restored with His help. His dad helps him see that he needs Christ in his own life. His dad said to him - “You can’t give her what you don’t have, Caleb.” Caleb couldn’t love her deeply because he didn’t have God’s love in his own heart.

There’s something there in that statement. I think many marriages are struggling because either the husband or wife - or both of them - haven’t experienced God’s love in their own lives. You can’t give our what you don’t have. The starting place is surrendering our lives to God and asking him to give us the ability to love our spouses with the love God has given us.

We had a wonderful time this past Sunday (i.e., 9/28), serving others in our community and getting to know other church members.

CK

Before the outreach started, I was excited to see how God would work and happy to have my children along with me to participate in serving others. I didn’t think too deeply about having the kids with us - just that I knew that it would be good for them. But afterwards…wow I was so amazed to see how the children participating really took the experience to heart and were so excited to share what had happened while out in the community. I am so thankful and blown away by how God worked in a way that far exceeded my expectations. I am looking forward to the next outreach!

JS

I didn’t blog anywhere but I wanted to say what it meant to me to outreach like that. I think I was reminded how simple and easy it is to do acts of kindness and to think of others. Too often we are in our own little world and forget to reach out.

It was also a great example for our two little girls of how to give. It was a blessing to participate in something w/ our whole family.

We will continue to pray for the seeds that were sown to be watered. We do our part and God will give the increase!

RH

Another story from BE THE CHURCH SUNDAY on 09.28.08:

We went to a fire station to give out some boxes of doughnuts as an act of kindness and sharing God’s love with the firefighters. At first they were skeptical until they saw the Krispy Kremes and then their faces lite up. It was a great way to share a little love and also talk some about the Lord too. As a bonus, they gave us a little tour of the firehouse. Let’s do this again soon!