Someone Is Watching

I am still hearing stories about my daughter’s summer internship.
Being away for twelve weeks, there are many stories to hear.
God taught her many things about Himself.
God taught her many things about herself.

My daughter served as a Mercy Ministry intern for The Philadelphia Project. (TPP)
It is an organization that my husband and I have supported for years for the work they do.
It is an organization that is close to the heart of my oldest daughter as well.
The director and his wife are good friends of hers.

The founder and director of TPP is a also pastor of the Roxborough Presbyterian Church.
Pastor Ray and his wife love the Lord.
He believes in leading by example: to model, equip, and empower.
Through Biblical teaching, he empowers others to be “doers” of the Word, not only “hearers.”

My daughter served in the city all summer.
Sandwiches were made and brought to the homeless each week.
A women’s shelter was visited, as time was spent with the children.
A day camp for the children in the community also needed hands to serve.

TPP also does home repair for homes in the area.
The practical needs of the community are met.
Youth groups from churches throughout the area come and serve for an entire week.
The students are challenged in their faith, as they learn Biblical truth and serve others.

Pastor Ray preached one night each week throughout the summer as a new group arrived.
Biblical truth was taught, testimonies were shared, and prayer was as frequent as breathing.
Even in a week’s time, the students grew in their knowledge of the Lord Jesus.
That growth overflowed into service.

My daughter experienced true community this summer as she led the groups in her care.
Everything seems to revolve around the church, she explained to me.
Since there is a food bank at the church, the community can come and get food.
An organized system is in place that makes sure that everyone is served.

Since clothes and others items are donated, the community can get clothes as well.
My daughter was impressed with the fact that the people choose the items they want.
Nothing was put in a box and simply handed to them.
The people selected what they needed with such dignity, she told me.

The ten female interns lived in the pastor’s house with his wife and family for three weeks.
My daughter watched the pastor, his wife, and their children.
They are the same; the way they are with each other is the way they are with the community.
My daughter saw consistency lived out in their lives as they led by example.

One story my daughter told me touched my heart.
It happened early in the summer during the three weeks she lived with the pastor’s family.
Their house is right next to the church.
The interns had their meals in the church kitchen and fellowship hall.

One morning, my daughter was the first to arrive.
An older gentleman from the community was already there.
He was hoping to have a cup of coffee.
I will make it for you, my daughter offered.

She made the coffee and poured him a cup.
Other interns arrived for breakfast.
The oler gentleman did not leave.
Would you like to stay and eat with us? my daughter asked him.

He stayed and sat next to my daughter at the breakfast table.
After breakfast, there was Bible study every morning.
The older gentleman did not leave.
Would you like to stay for Bible study? My daughter asked him.

He stayed.
He sat next to my daughter in the circle of interns.
After Bible study, they broke up into small groups.
My daughter gently told the older gentleman that her small group was all girls.

You won’t be able to stay for this, she explained, since it is only women in this group.
But we are having a picnic tonight; why don’t you come back and join us?
It was the annual Memorial Day picnic.
I planned to go with my husband and oldest daughter so we could spend time with her.

As we arrived, I saw my daughter near the food table.
She handed a plastic bag to an older gentleman.
He started to walk towards me.
He was carrying the plastic bag very carefully.

I never knew until a week later that the man I saw was the same older gentleman.
The same man that came for coffee and stayed for breakfast.
The same man that ate breakfast and stayed for Bible study.
The older gentleman whose physical and spiritual needs were met just because someone cared.

As my daughter told me the story, she stopped and added one more thing.
Do you know what Pastor Ray said to me? She asked.
I was putting some tablecloths on the tables for the picnic, she continued.
He came over to me and asked, Do you know how many people watch you?

I quietly said, No! She told me remembering the encounter.
Good, Pastor Ray said; Keep it that way!
My heart was touched by his wise words to my daughter.
He must have been watching her all day as she invited the older gentleman to participate.

The plastic bag that my daughter gave the older gentleman had a meal inside.
He ate his dinner at the picnic but he brought home some food for his wife.
The church feeds the people with food for their bodies.
The church feeds the people with food for their soul.

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. (John 21:15-17)

That is they way it should be.
The Church should be loving people and meeting their needs.
Loving others is the way Jesus said that people will know we are His disciples.
Seems like it should be simple enough, but why is it so hard?

Meeting people’s needs is messy business.
Getting involved in other people’s lives is risky.
Taking the time to care for another person intrudes on our schedule.
But Jesus says to love others.

We have no choice.

Jesus has already taken care of the mess.
Jesus has already assumed the risk.
Jesus left His Home and laid down His schedule for our sake.
Jesus loved us when we are unlovable; we have no choice but to do the same.

Do you know how many people are watching you?
Good, keep it that way!
Feed His Lambs; take care of His sheep; feed His sheep and do it for Him alone.
Show Him how much you love Him by the way you love others.

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