May 25, 2013
May 12, 2013
by Joseph from Starkville, Miss.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.    
                                                                                                                       Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-10
 
I love serving the people of Haiti and the Dominican Republic because it makes the gospel so much sweeter to me. The people we have built homes for and provided clean water to can never repay us, but we wouldn’t want them to! In the same way, Christ gave himself for me when not only was I unable to do anything for him, I was his enemy. The beauty of this free grace is how I’m now able to love and serve others in the same way that Jesus loves and serves me without the weight of “Is this enough?” on my back. I don’t work to be loved; I am free to work because I am loved and the ultimate work has already been completed. 
 
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.                                                          
                                                                                                           1 Peter 1:3 & Hebrews 10:14
Thank you, HMM, for serving faithfully and allowing me to work alongside you.