Chocolate Milk
Last month the Sargents were out of town, living it up at the beach in Florida, so Tripp Corum stepped up to lead the adult discussion of John. He referenced the Holy Spirit resembling a glass of chocolate milk. When you place your faith and trust in Jesus, you receive the Holy Spirit, however, if you don't live by the Spirit and instead continue to gratify the desires of our sinful flesh, your glass of chocolate milk will look much more like regular white milk with a little rim of chocolate settled on the bottom. However, when we LIVE by the Spirit, that chocolate is stirred and it changes everything! We do not look the same but instead resemble the "chocolate" or the Spirit of God that resides within us. Church planting has been that way for me. Jordan and I did not raise our hands a couple years ago asking to start a church in the East End. We actually often laughed about being "volun-told" to do it. We agreed to facilitate "pre-launch" meetings (we refused to call them actually "launch" meetings, because we didn't even know what we were launching!) and we figured we would facilitate until God revealed who He was bringing to us to start this "church" others were feeling called to. We loved the heart of Southland, where Jordan and I both were baptized and have attended since college, have been a part of numerous ministries there, and cherish the community He has brought us from that special place. So, WHY would we branch off and start something new and uncomfortable?!
Months later, Jordan and I (still fairly reluctantly) agreed to start Illuminate Hope with a small (but mighty!...so God, isn't it?) team of special people. We weren't sure exactly the direction (or process) of what we were starting, but all agreed that our mission was to illuminate the hope of Jesus. So, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we took that step of obedience into the unknown. And God, our GOOD, GOOD, Father has continued to surprise us with joy and exceed our expectations. His ways are NOT our ways...they are BETTER. And when we release control of what WE think we need or should do and TRUST HIM, we are surprised by His infinite love and limitless joy!
This past Sunday affirmed God's calling to plop a small group of "unqualified" people in a park in the East End of Lexington to illuminate the hope of Jesus. We had a rich study and dialogue of John 16, which Willis affectionately referred to as a "deep!" one :), and the kiddos finished off their study of the fruits of the Spirit with a powerful conversation on self-control. (They were able to physically exercise this fruit when Braylon's adorable cat tried to distract them from the conversation...haha!). However, the most meaningful part of the time was our two one-on-one conversations that happened simultaneously with two ladies the Lord brought to the park and stayed for the very first time. Both ladies were desperate for the HOPE of Jesus. One was ready to take her life that morning, but after talking and praying she learned that God SEES her, loves her and has GOOD plans for her life. She eagerly took a Bible home with her and left with JOY! The other woman was a new friend of hers, who never understood how God could be a good God after personally experiencing so much pain and trouble. She too received a tender ear to listen to her story, pray for her aching heart and left with the words we studied in John 16:33 - "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." And she left Sunday with a matching Bible to her friend and restored hope in Jesus.
Thank you, Lord, for knowing the GOOD plans You have for us even when we struggle to believe it. Praying you all find JOY in your surrendered obedience to Him. He is FOR YOU!!!!!
Come join us some time (no commitment needed!!).
We love you all and are so grateful for your partnership in the Gospel!
Love,
Joelle and the IH team