If LOVE Made A Difference
Our next Mission: Hope team will be leaving for the Dominican Republic in just a few days. As you support us in your prayers, and as the team labors on site, the writing of Paul is a fitting reminder to us all. The ‘famous’ part of Philippians 2 begins in verse five, Have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus… But verses 1-4 tell us about missional living. And, they ‘set up’ verses 5-11.
Missional living is our calling whether we are in a foreign country or here at home. The fact is, we are all in a foreign country. It’s called Earth! This is not our home. We travel through here as pilgrims on a journey to a real, eternal home. In fact, Scripture tells us that home is made without hands! When we forget that we are pilgrims just passing through, we can cause ourselves and others a great deal of pain.
The best picture of missional living is the life of 
Jesus as Paul tells it in Philippians 2:5-11. Jesus took no thought of Himself in order to ‘lend a helping hand,’ (verse 4). I love the way The Message puts the Word into the modern mind! Here are verses 1-4:
If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if His love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care–then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
So, whether you are here at home next week, or serving as a mission volunteer, have a GREAT time letting your love make a difference! How? May I suggest we start with things like agreeing, preferring, loving, and helping? Those things will help others in their journey of faith and service.
Soli Deo Gloria!
PS – THANK YOU for responding to the previous post concerning Pastor Alberto. Needs are ongoing and I’ll be updating you from the D.R. Please keep praying – and you can still use the donation links in the previous post. 
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