From the desk of Pastor Ben
God of Heaven’s Armies, you find so much beauty in your people! They’re like lovely sanctuaries of your presence.     (Psalm 84:1) NLT

When my mother passed away a couple of years ago, my wife & I went to Pennsylvania for her funeral. We were staying in a motel in my hometown. One morning we were eating a continental breakfast at the motel, we got our food and sat down to eat. As usual, we said grace before we ate. As we ate, I noticed a woman at another table. She was eating alone and every time I glanced her way, she was smiling at me. I smiled back at her and we continued to eat.
Eventually, I got up to refill my coffee. The woman who’d been watching us & smiling at me followed. “Excuse me,” she said. “I couldn’t help notice that you prayed before you ate. Are you a Christian?” “Yes,” I said. I went on to tell her that we were in town for my mother’s funeral. She said that she was in town for a funeral as well; her sister had died. We expressed our condolences to each other and the woman said, “My sister’s last words were, ‘I love Jesus, and Jesus loves me.”
In those moments, a familiar and special bond formed even though we had just met. That bond. A Jesus bond had knit us together in a random hotel breakfast room. We were part of a family; God’s family. That bond formed because His people are lovely sanctuaries of His presence and joy magnets. What a gift!

Faith Step:    Watch for moments of unexpected Jesus bonds today. Celebrate each one as a joyful gift.