Online Bible Study

Online Bible Study

Sunday, February 2, 2014

LOVE one another

As I begin this glorious Lord's day, I chose to listen to a current sermon by Heather Zempel (http://www.heatherzempel.com/) entitled Church:  The Story.  Heather leads the discipleship efforts at National Community Church in Washington, DC where she oversees small groups, directs leadership development training, and serves on the weekend teaching team.  If you'd like to listen to this sermon too, here's the link:  http://theaterchurch.com/media/church/church-the-story.  I have posted on Heather before and fear she (and others) may think I have become her stalker!  Honestly, I just love her intelligence, passion and story telling ability-not to mention her ministry creativity, dedication to her volunteers/co-workers and loyalty to her senior pastor.  I want to be just like her when I grow up (that was a joke - I am WAY OLDER than Heather!)

As I listen to her passionate retelling of Jesus' Words:  "Love on another, people will know you by your love of one another," I am, once again, reminded of how VERY important that message is!  I love pondering what it must have been like to stand in HIS presence.  I have always thought He had an undefined magnitude about Him.  If you were blessed to be in His presence, you would FEEL his humility, love, grace, mercy and kindness.  To coin a musical phrase, "I can only imagine."

If you are a frequent reader of my blog, you may have noticed my promotion of Lisa Harper's latest Bible Study on the book of Hebrews (IF you read my blog, there is NO WAY you could have missed that!)  When I asked (begged/pleaded) to be a part of the Lifeway Launch Team, I was joined on-line to 100 other Christian women selected for the same team!  What a joy and honor it was to participate!  We were united on a private Facebook page on November 6, 2013; I couldn't believe I was one of the women selected.  


On November 19th, I read the following post:

"I may not be able to do as much as I hoped for the launch. Our home was destroyed in a tornado Sunday. Life is upside down but God is good. Appreciate your prayers as we try to go in this morning and salvage whatever we can."

These were the pictures she posted that day




I have not been able to get this precious woman or her family off my mind ever since.  I asked to become her Facebook friend so I could keep tabs on her life as time went by and so I would know specifically how to pray for her.

I do NOT believe in the word coincidence.  Not for one minute!  I believe in GOD's daily involvement in the lives of His Children.  I believe HE put the two of us together for "such a time as this."  (I just heard Heather close her sermon in prayer using this quote from the Book of Esther - ANOTHER God moment, in my opinion!)

I remember what it felt like, a very short time ago, to lose OUR home (September 15, 2012).  We faced the same (yet different) situation - losing our home to fire.  I can HONESTLY say, reflecting on that time in my life, my faith in humanity was RESTORED and I will forever remember that time in my life as PRECIOUS!  I was surrounded by SO MUCH LOVE by my Church family, wonderful friends, co-workers and by individuals I didn't even know.  As I sit in my brand new home today, lacking absolutely nothing, I feel DRAWN to this special lady and the desire to help her feel that same feeling of LOVE - but I can't do it alone!

Last night, on Facebook, I asked for her new mailing address.  I am feeling LED to shower her with the same LOVE I felt the months that followed or life-changing moment.  As a matter of fact, I think I will begin posting some of the amazing stories from that period in my life on my other blog:  http://theresahaskinssharinglife.wordpress.com/ (if you'd care to read for fun or if you need your faith in humanity restored!).

If you would like to help, please send me an email (theresa.haskins@gmail.com) or private Facebook message.  I will not release her information without her consent, but will follow up each time I am asked for her information.

I asked for Gift Card recommendations, this was her response: there are many that would work. Target, Walmart, Kohls, Lowes or. Menards.  We are not picky restaurant-goers either we like Chilis, Applebee's, Noodles, Chick-Fil-A.

The following picture is her current Facebook Profile Picture:




PLEASE HELP ME HELP HER!