Serving Love
“It was your right hand, your arm and the light of your face that brought victory, for you loved them.” Psalms 44:3
I’ve shared the purpose of this blog is to try and give readers a glimpse of Cafe Central and what we do to serve our community. I got to thinking about ministry this week and how often we talk about being the hands and feet of God. Our feet go, and our hands serve but have you ever stopped to think about your arms?
This week was a truck week so Doug and I arrived around 9:30 to help with parking, get tables set up for preparing truck boxes, copy forms, etc. We’ve been using the lower parking lot of the church for the lines of cars coming for lunch so we parked in the upper lot. You probably didn’t really need to know where we were parking except that when I was walking toward the main parking lot, face mask on, a two year old runs toward me with open arms! Innocent, beautiful, joyful, sweet, accepting, loving, open arms! I of course scooped her up and gave her a big hug.
When we served inside, hugs were served up just like lunch, dessert and sweet iced tea. We are still serving lunch and dessert but we are beginning to see people aching for hugs. That piece of serving that isn’t accomplished with our hands or our feet, just with our arms. Many times walking around the parking lot delivering forms or visiting, people will just reach their arms out of their car windows just to see us motion a hug. One lady even got out of her car to hug Doug. He didn’t scoop her up…LOL…but did give her a hug.
Arms:
Embrace…His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me. – Song of Songs 2:6
Praise…took him in his arms and praised God – Luke 2:28
Weep…Then he threw his arms around his brother and wept – Genesis 45:14
Care…Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him – Ruth 4:16
Protect…He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze – 2 Samuel 22:35
Strengthen…My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him – Psalms 89:21
Endure…with a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His love endures forever – Psalms 136:12
Work..She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks – Proverbs 31:17
Serve…She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy – Proverbs 31:20
Bless…He took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them -Mark 10:16
Cafe Central is all about open arms! We serve with our hands and feet, but with our arms “we love”.
Until we “read” again….God Bless!
You can give through our website: https://cafecentralmilledgeville.org/give/
Or mail a check payable to: Café Central, 500 Underwood Rd, Milledgeville, GA 31061
Stephannie Shelton
Stephannie and her husband Doug have been volunteering at Cafe Central for 6 years. They moved from Colorado to Milledgeville Georgia in 2015. That year during Sunday service, the announcement that Cafe Central needed extra help for their Thanksgiving service, brought them for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. They have now served weekly since January 2016. Doug is the volunteer coordinator and member of the Cafe Central Board. Stephannie just likes to talk to, and about, the “family” Cafe Central has become.