I recently watched a documentary about Heidi Baker and Iris Global Ministries titled “Compelled by Love”. This movie traces the life/ministry of Rolland and Heidi Baker in which they move into a war-torn Mozambique to be the literal hands and feet of Christ.  I was left with a feeling of unrest and a desire to pursue the purpose that Christ has for my life with a renewed passion. I instantly imagined what it would look like for my family and I to sell everything and move to Africa as I was still feeling the emotional high from the closing credits.

 

The next morning it boiled down to one question I had to answer, “What am I doing now because I was compelled by Love?” Do I come to Pay it Forward Café every Saturday afternoon because I am trying to show love to the community? Are my motives still to let Christ live through me? If I were being honest I would have to admit that over time I have become more comfortable with just going through the motions on occasion.  I think if we were all being honest we could admit to the same thing a time or two. You know, that person that wants to talk right when you are trying to get something done, so you answer with a lot of "uh huhs" and "yeahs," then end the conversation with “Well, I will definitely pray for you…”

 

While my instant reaction was to imagine the mission field in Africa, I know that God has placed me in Parma for a purpose. I believe that this community is our Mozambique and while we do not have to deal with bombs and warlords there is most certainly a battle being fought. There are many hurt and broken people right here in our backyards that need to be loved just as much.

 

My prayer for 2014 is that I will return to my first love and make sure that love has action behind it. I pray that I will be intentional with every person that God puts in my path. I pray that The Church in Parma, Ohio can be so compelled by Love that we bind together and serve this community with everything we have. Let us spend each day asking what we can do to help each other.

 

2 Corinthians 5:14

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.