As our church grows, I know that it is important to keep our staff and spouses connected and unified.  This past Tuesday night, we gathered together the leading ladies of Elevation for a night of fellowship and serving together.  We met at our outreach partner, Samaritan’s Feet.  And as we laced shoes and sorted socks, we got to know each other better and catch up on each others lives.

I love how our church provides so many opportunities for us to serve our community and our world.  I think that serving is an act of the will that forces you to take your mind off yourself and focus on someone else’s need.  When you serve, you shut the door to selfishness in your life.

James 1 talks about doing God’s word not just hearing it.  The chapter closes with a pretty hard challenge…

27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Real religion is not attending church.  It is in being the Church.  When I embrace the opportunity to serve, I not only bless someone in need but I also grow stronger in my relationship with Christ.