When a person loses a loved one we often see family and friends reach out to them and love on them. With our family and friends we kind of expect that that would be the case because we know them and love them.  Last week during our visit to the U.S. for my brother in laws funeral, I was quite simply blown away by the love demonstrated by the Pastors and members of Greenbriar Church in Albany,Georgia. (http://www.greenbriarchurch.net/)

I haven’t stopped thinking about the way they loved on my sister, her husbands brother and all of our family. It was New Testament church being demonstrated even though my sister and brother in law were no longer attending there due to a job relocation!

It made such an impact on my husband and I  that I have shared the experience with my own church and friends since returning. The Pastors actually drove drove by car from Georgia to Florida and back to be there for the actual funeral and also held a beautiful memorial service for my brother in law at their home church in Georgia, which we all attended.  From the moment they arrived in Florida till the end of our time in Georgia the members and friends went out of their way to take care of my sister and all of us.  Their church logo is   “For God. For this City” and it really should include and “For Beyond!”

Their love, compassion and efforts by all, so beautifully demonstrated the love God has for each of us. The love that Christ has for us really was shown through our brothers and sisters in Georgia.  I am so inspired to do more for my own community after seeing this. Each of us followers of Christ have the ability to do something for others. Jesus calls us to be people of action and I have been inspired to demonstrate the love of Christ more.

So THANK YOU to all the Pastors and members of Greenbriar Church. THANK YOU to all of my sisters wonderful friends who loved on her and did so much to turn a time of sorrow in to a time of love! You have all inspired me so much.  Not only did you share the gospel but you lived the gospel!

My prayer is that each one of us followers of Christ will ask God to show us ways we can demonstrate the love Jesus has for others. To quote Francis Chan,  “I believe God wants us to love others so much that we go to extremes to help them.”