Equally important - LOVE your neighbor AS yourself

Matthew 22:34-40, New Living Translation (NLT)

The Most Important Commandment

34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again. 35 One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: 36 "Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the Law of Moses?"

37 Jesus replied, 'You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."

 

As Valentine's Day rolls around it is impossible to miss the overwhelming barrage of gushy sentiment displayed everywhere in our culture. While we pretend Valentine's Day is about giving to those we love, I believe it has become so commercialized (just like Christmas) that it isn't as much about giving from the heart as it is just about giving and getting.

 

Valentine's Day tells us year after year that to be adequate as an individual you must be part of a pair. How wrong is that? Should we not instead be reminded that God's Love is ALL we need and that to Love God and our neighbors is the greatest calling in life?

 

If we looked at Valentine's Day as a reminder that to "Love your neighbor as yourself" is equally as important as "Loving the Lord your God with all your heart, all of your soul, and all your mind," could we become people motivated by Christ's Love?

 

What would that look like in our culture? Could we become people motivated by Christ's Love ministering to our neighbor as if ministering to Jesus, for Jesus and like Jesus?

 

Could Compassion become the commodity and Charity the language of Love?

 

How can you make a difference to those around you today? Can you reach out to Jesus, for Jesus and like Jesus?

Tina Edwards, Executive Director

If you want the latest news and updates from GraceWorks, be sure to "like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. And don't forget to check our website frequently for blogs about client stories, events and other news. And tell your friends to follow or "like" us too!

                  

You don't want to miss the Antiques and Collectibles Sale beginning February 10, 2012 in the GraceWorks Thrift Store! Come in to see our great selection of crystal, silver, china, dolls, art, toys and much, much more.

A young mother was referred to GraceWorks for utility assistance. She has three young children, and at the time she came in, was not employed.

Her electricity had been turned off for over a week.

GraceWorks, with the assistance of two churches and another agency, was able to pay her electric bill in full. What a blessing!

 

Steve Berning, Client Services Director  

We received so many donations of food from our partner churches, civic groups and businesses. Thank you to the following donors:

St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 110 pounds
Brentwood Baptist Church (The Redeemed Group), 37 pounds
The People's Church, Tuesday Morning Bible Study, 149 pounds
Brenthaven Church, 59 pounds
First Presbyterian Church, 19 pounds
New Business Partner Arbor Healthcare, 108 pounds
Harris Teeter, 115 pounds
WAVES, 78 pounds
Franklin Bowling Alley, 49 pounds
Girl Scouts, 79 pounds
Whole Foods, 484 pounds

If you are interested in volunteering at GraceWorks, we suggest you attend our Volunteer Orientation, which is held Thursdays at 1 pm at GraceWorks. Please email volunteer@graceworksministries.net  to register. We need volunteers in many areas, including the thrift store, meeting with clients and food pantry.

We also have an orientation session on Thursday,  February 9 from 5:30 - 6:30 pm. Please email volunteer@graceworksministries.net to register.

If you have a group, there is no need to attend orientation. Please email volunteer@graceworksministries.net to schedule your group.

The ministry of the local church is critical in the work of GraceWorks, and we value our 55 partner churches. If your church would be interested in partnering with us, please contact Rev. Art Herron, our Church Relations Coordinator at 615-794-9055 ext. 36, 615-403-4655, or email at art@graceworksministries.net . We are happy to visit with your church on site, arrange a visit to GraceWorks, and share details of how we minister to each church.

To our current partner churches, thank you for being generous with food and other items in January. Our ministry together is awesome!

Rev. Art Herron
Church Relations Coordinator