By Our Love

"By this all people will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35 ESV

• Over 2 weeks of meals from people I only met a few months ago
• Phone calls just to check in
• A yummy dessert showing up in my fridge just because
• Friends dropping in to shower me and the kids with gifts 
• A trip out for a pedicure and a nice meal
• Packs of diapers
• Loads of barely used baby clothes, equipment and gadgets from a few new friends
• People sitting with us at the hospital as we waited results of frightening tests

• People we know and some we don't all praying for healing
• Encouraging notes reminding us we are not alone
• A sweet "Welcome Home" banner for the new baby
  
• A 5,000 mile trip to say hi, pray over us, bring supplies, walk our streets, and love on our people.   

• 2 hours, once a week when we share our burdens, pray for one another, laugh and study the Word together.  

• Neighbors sharing toys with my babies 

• Sweet fellowship and community right outside on my porch
• Sitting for hours having coffee, talking about struggles, fears, failures and victories in Christ
• Packages that cost a ridiculous amount of money to send but give the gift of familiarity
• A gift card and a babysitter so I can go on a date with my husband
• Someone who stops and listens to our story of life in Macedonia
• An offer to pray, give and support our work in any way possible from little old ladies that we have never met before. 
• A big hug from every member of a ladies church group saying, I have been praying for you and your family every single day for 3 years.  (WOW!)
• Gift cards for gas and groceries
• Meals with old friends
• New people signing up to pray for us 
• People who don't ask what we need, they just bring it
• A fb message that says, "I love you and I am praying."
• A room full of sold-out believers, singing at the top of our lungs in worship to our Savior

The Body of Christ is amazing.  The love that has been shown to us over the last few months and years is incredible and I am so very thankful that our Heavenly Father has put people in our lives who have been willing to get their hands dirty with us, pray for us, worship with us and support us in ways that can only be inspired by the Lord. Were the world to look in on how you have loved us, they would know we are disciples of Christ. They would know we are bound together in love. They would know that we are family. Thank you for bearing with us as beloved brothers and sisters. We are so blessed and we love you!