So. I arrived at work before everyone else today. (Or so I thought; turns out Pastor Ted was already here, but anyway...)
I sat here with my office door open, putting on my makeup (don't judge; I had to leave the house at 7:15 for the kiddos to meet the bus, and I was NOT going to do my makeup that early). And as I sat, I heard my co-workers come in, one by one. No voices; just the jingling of keys and the click of office doors.
And my heart warmed.
Each shuffle of footsteps represented a brother or sister who works each day with me. Who lives this life with me. Who has the same extreme focus and is willing to do whatever it takes to see one more person find out about Jesus Christ and choose to follow Him.
The staff of The Crossing are hard-working, self-sacrificial, God-honoring, passionately-Jesus-seeking, amazing people. I love them like my own family, because we are family, as kids of the King.
And something I really appreciate and receive as a major blessing from God, is the unity in which we function.
We pray for our staff what Paul prayed in Romans 15:5-6, "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement, give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with ONE HEART and MOUTH you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
And God makes it happen. I've worked in environments where everyone's out for him/herself, and there's selfishness, whining, bickering and gossip. There's always drama.
Not here. Our labor of love is too important; too soul-spending; to waste energy on drama. On gossip. On meddling in others' affairs. Rather, there's prayer. There's encouragement. There's generosity. Over the past few weeks, I've observed our staff blessing others with kindness and gifts, with prayer and love. Being a part of this group is a gift from God that I do not take lightly.
I would serve Jesus alone. I'm grateful I get to do it with a family of believers who--though none of us have it all together--love and accept each other for who we are and the gifts we each possess.
And together we advance the Kingdom of Jesus.
How good and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in unity!
It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down upon the collar of his robes.
It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the LORD bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.
Psalm 133:1-3
