Mindy Lee Hopman

If you stopped by because you read my devotion today over at Encouragement Cafe, WELCOME!   I’m so glad you are here!

There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.… Ephesians 4:5-6

A few ice cubes slipped through my shirt and slide down my back.  It. was. freezing.  Yes, I took the ice-bucket challenge to support ALS.  My husband and I put it off for as long as our kids would let us (definitely longer than 24 hours).  They had so much fun dumping ice cold water on our heads and recording it for our friends and family to see.   The anticipation was great, and belly laughs abounded.

I poured over Facebook watching my friends, and their parents, and their children take the same challenge…

My heart smiled when I saw my family on the other side of the country, friends from long ago, friends we recently moved away from, students whom I love as my own children, my friends’ parents, and my friends’ children.  This challenge even brought out uncles and aunts that I have never seen on Facebook before.  Although it is fun to keep up with pictures on Facebook, the videos of our loved ones were so much more fun to see.

Then I realized, it is about more than the challenge.

Community.

It is about the community Facebook brings between ourselves, those we care for, and those we love.

Oneness.

There is a sense of oneness there, and since the fall, oneness is what our hearts crave – to be one with the Father again.  In community there is a glimpse of oneness.

Otherness.

Nobody wants to dump a bucket of ice over his or her head.  The challenge brings us together to move beyond ourselves, think of others, and give to a worthy cause.

Many people are not fans of the challenge for this very reason…

But beware of doing your good actions in the sight of men, in order to attract their gaze; if you do, there is no reward for you with your Father who is in Heaven. Acts 6:1 (NIV)

I agree, God tells us to do our good deeds in secret.  Many people look at the ice-bucket challenge as a way to brag about donating.  However, some people would never give to a charity if they did not accept the challenge given to them from friends and family.

Since ALS has raised so much money, some people are using the challenge to prompt them to give to other causes and/or organizations.

Awesome.

Come together.

Challenge each other.

Build community.

Think about others.

But, do it with the right intentions.

Meet needs.

…and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them.  Jeremiah 32:39

We need to come together as a community to meet needs.

My brother (a Marine) was moved to challenge others to give to the .Org Foundation where No Wounded Veteran Shall Battle to Heal Alone.

A friend of mine started Cakes for a Cause.  She is baking cakes to raise money for persecuted Christians through Samaritans Purse.

People start causes when they see a need.

You can give to any cause anonymously.

If you see a need, meet it.

Nobody has to know, but they might not join you if you don’t challenge them!

Heavenly Father,
We praise you for who You are ~ one God who loves us in spite of ourselves.   We praise you for the online communities You brought together to raise money towards the awful disease of ALS.  Help us to reach outside of ourselves and continue to give to the causes which you lay on our hearts.   I pray You would continue to show us the needs You need us to help meet.  May we meet those needs with the right heart intentions.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen 

Basking in His Light

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