Sweetness

Written by Mike Verkaik

A week ago today we celebrated our 6th anniversary Christmas dinner at the motel ministry. It is always special to travel down memory lane and be reminded how Abba Father opened the door to share the message of His heart to the residents on a cold, wintery day.

As we shared life together at the table, we had to set up an additional table as the forty-five residents in attendance broke records for our celebration. It was a wonderful night of fellowship and service by the sixteen volunteers who joined them.

Over the last few months many of the rooms at the motel have been filled with workers from Venezuela. This made our celebration extra special as Pastor Arturo joined us and we shared the gospel message of Jesus’ birth in Spanish and English.  It reminded me of angels words from Luke 2:10 (TPT):

But the angel reassured them, saying, “Don’t be afraid, for I have come to bring you good news, the most joyous news the world has ever heard! And it is for everyone everywhere! 

The message of our Father’s love gift is a message bringing hope to everyone everywhere. Our evening was a representation of the fulfillment of those words, as well as a picture of heaven as we worshiped, shared and prayed in both languages together.

After the celebration was over a volunteer and I had a conversation about the night. While sharing our reflections she said, “ All I can think of to describe the night is the word, “sweet.”  Later looking up the definition of sweet this description appeared: “it gives you great pleasure and satisfaction.”

Amen and amen, a perfect description of the night.  Our Christmas celebration represented a sampling of the Father’s heart for all people, a glimpse of heaven coming to earth, as the joy of our Messiah’s coming was shared and expressed with many of the forgotten, marginalized and broken residents.

May these pictures remind you of the joyous news proclaimed for you, and the challenge Jesus gave us to bring his sweet message to others.