How do we love as the church?

I woke up this Sunday morning ready to get on with my daily routine... and I did, then I checked my phone and saw a text from a friend to my husband and I, "A lady has come into church crying and wailing, shouting 'help me' repeatedly. Would be good if you could pray for her and us - LeShea is talking with her. Thanks."

Right then and there, I prayed. my husband prayed. Then, we left our home and drove to the Post Office (where our church services are held). As we walked in, the air felt thick and eerily silent. Then I heard a loud thump come from upstairs. Everything inside me wanted to just sit down and read my book until service started but the conviction and call of the Holy Spirit was more powerful and I found myself awkwardly standing by Brian, LeShea and the woman (I have not included her name for her own privacy) who walked into the church asking for help.

As I stood there, I bowed my head as I listened to my brother and sister minister to this hurting woman. As I stood there, with my head bowed, I was reminded of the past 7 years, of how God has used several people and several opportunities to prepare me for this moment. In my flesh, I was unprepared but because of Christ's finished work, I had all I needed - His Word.

Brian and LeShea invited me into the conversation and I sat down to hear this woman's story of pain, abuse and regret. Tears flowed and my heart broke as she cried out "I want God to know me. I want Him to know who I am, I want Him to know my name."

As LeShea held her while she cried, I looked up Psalm 139 as requested by LeShea. As I started reading, this woman asked if she could read it. The calm that was in that room as this woman read God's Word was overwhelming. She said she wanted to hear from God so we read Romans 10, John 3:16 and Colossians 3. These were the moments of calm, the moments of clarity of speech for her.

I want to say that it was a fairytale ending where she left her abusive, violent boyfriend, she got her kids back and she is committed to Restore church but the that wasn't the ending.

The afternoon ended with frustrating conversations weaving in and out of what was truth and what were lies from her stories, a bus trip back to the shelter and a scarp piece of paper with hopefully her actual contact information.

But I am not discouraged and neither is my church family because this woman found a safe place with us for that moment, we all witnessed the power of God's Word to calm a distressed person. This afternoon was no accident and for that I am thankful.

So how do we love as the church? We love by laying down our lives for the sake of others and that can come in so many different ways. I am thankful to be a part of a church body who does not turn a blind eye to a woman intoxicated and asking for help.

I pray that I see this woman again, I pray that God will save her and lead her back to the church body.

She is Imago Dei. She is fearfully and wonderfully made.

As I get ready to head to bed, I am repeating a conversation I had with my friend and sister Fitz... "I do not save, God saves." and that is what will give me rest tonight.