What an amazing day. It was a lot of fun. I was impressed by two things.
My husband and I are in the Food Ministry every Sunday so we get to see the regular people come through. This Sunday, we were blessed to see many new faces. Many of the new people were from Plant City. We’re reaching past our immediate vicinity and touching more people for Christ. We are sowing into peoples’ lives. In a way, it’s sad because so many people need help, but on the other hand, this is a ministry and we have the ability to give assistance. Some of our men were talking to the people, teaching them to sow an item of food into their neighbors’ lives. That is really awesome. Our church is showing people how to take what they have and sow even when there’s little to give. We are showing people the Biblical way to move away from lack.

The other thing was how many people from church were helping. We all were wearing orange or yellow safety vests so we could tell who were the volunteers. When I looked across the parking lot, it was like watching ants. Everyone was so busy with toy distribution, food ministry, bus ministry, hot dog sales, music, etc. The really great thing was everyone was smiling and friendly. It was warm and hectic, but we were having so much fun blessing people. If I was a first time visitor watching the members, I would definitely want to come back and visit again or even become a member because of the love that people show.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose].  1 Corinthians 15:58 Amplified

If you are a Christian and you want to please God and be victorious in all you do, the first thing you must be is immovable.  You must be firm in your convictions and steadfast in your commitment.  You must have made up your mind what it is you believe and you must be prepared to stand firm against all opposition and all persecution.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  Colossians 2:6-7 NIV

The more you press in to His presence and His Word, the more you are built up in Him and strengthened in your faith and the more solid you become.  You are a rock that does not budge—no matter how huge the waves of persecution and adversity may be.

Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”  John 6:28-29 NIV

Everybody thinks that they know what it is to do the works of God.  They imagine that it is something they do by their own effort, but it has much more to do with your faith than your own works.  The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent—Jesus.  The works that please God are the works that spring out of your faith in Jesus—who He is, what He did for us and what He told us to do.  He told us to preach the gospel, to cast out devils, to speak in tongues, to not be afraid of serpents or poison and to lay hands on the sick (Mark 16:15-18)! 

We must love, give, pray, forgive, be kind, be patient and be truthful.  These are the works that we should be doing.

We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.  We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.  1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 NIV

Some people do works that are based on religion, tradition and what they think God would like.  However, your work springs from your faith.  If you really believe something, then you will do only those things that support and spring out of what you believe.  The only work that pleases God is the work that is done according to your faith in God.  Your labor must be prompted and motivated by love. 

Anything you do must be because of love—because you love God and because you love people.  Some people labor for recognition or money, but we must labor because we want to serve and to bless.  Your endurance is inspired by hope in Jesus.  You can endure anything, because of the hope that sustains you. You have a hope—a favorable confident expectation—that God’s Word is true and that Jesus is real.  You believe that God is for you, Jesus is with you and the Holy Spirit is in you as your strengthener, teacher, guide and comforter.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving.  Colossians 3:23-24 NIV

Whatever work we do must be done as if it is for God Himself.  We should always abound in the work of the Lord—always doing superior work, excelling in what we do, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord.  Because He always does exceedingly abundantly more than we can dream of for us and on our behalf.  He is El Shaddai—the God who is more than enough.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Galatians 6:9 NIV

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.  Hebrews 6:10 NIV

Your labor in the Lord is not futile—it is never wasted or to no purpose.  Nothing you do is overlooked or forgotten.  God sees everything.  He records every good thing you do.  There is a great reward for you—both here on earth and in eternity.