every day that passes by, i am increasingly convinced about the all encompassing field of service that lies around us. when Jesus looked out over the people and told His disciples to pray for harvest hands, He meant now, today, here…because the harvest really is plentiful, and the workers are _so_ few.

we had our dinner last night at church, our “only the lonely” crew, and i had a fantastic time doing it. i felt bad though, because we had so much food, and not enough people to eat it all. i wound up bringing so much back home. granted, my family does need to eat, and we have enough leftovers to last us for quite a while…but i still wish we could have brought in more people that couldn’t have fixed anything. everyone that was there was lacking for company, and so we helped each other out in that respect. i enjoyed it, and it was one of those things that just felt like it was what we were supposed to do. it seemed like what the church was supposed to be…but it still wasn’t enough.

next year, i’m planning on doing it again, but i want to make a better effort at inviting people who can’t contribute to the food pile. we had more than enough, and i think we could have fed 20 more people without batting an eye. i tried looking around the outside of the building, in the nooks and crannies, to see if anyone was there seeking shelter. i called out, but no one answered. i really wanted to give some away.

so next year, i think that’s what we’ll do. i want to make an effort to feed the hungry and those who cannot make a contribution other than their presence there. i want people who aren’t just alone, but those who really _need_ something to eat. i want to have an open door, Jesus focused Thanksgiving.

and i hate how many times i had to say “i” in all that. but it truly is what my desire is. i hate that it sounds like i’m tooting my horn, and like i’m being a self-righteous, self promoter. but this is what the desire of my heart is…feed the hungry, be a comforter to the lonely. i know that’s what Jesus wants from me. my family isn’t limited to my biological connections. anyone that loves Jesus is a part of may family, and whenever we get a chance to be that family, we need to grab a hold of it.

real community, real fellowship in Christ, is about so much _more_ than gathering for Sunday morning worship, and i want so badly for us to have that _more_ present. to build community, to help each other out, to really say and do what needs to be done, what should be done, naturally within that community of believers that claims to love and follow Jesus Christ.

no one should be alone. no one should be hungry. if we are truly acting as Jesus in our community, it shouldn’t be an issue anymore.

come now and join the feast, from the greatest to the least, come now and join the feast…rich and poor, great and small, all are welcome at the table. you are wanted here.