God's Heart for Racial Reconciliation in Our Country

You guys, I read this story on The Elijah List last week and cannot stop thinking about it (I'll share the story in a minute). 

I know God's heart is for all people. Every single person ever born or to be born on this planet has incredible, intrinsic value. It was God's idea to create us and it is His love that sustains us. He loves people. We have gotten so far away from His plan and heart when it comes to relationships, in so many ways. Slavery was not His will and plan. Divisiveness in 2016 is not His heart. I could write pages on those issues, but I'm not going to take the time right now, because I want to get to the story. I believe with all my heart that reconciliation is God's heart. Unity and honor and doing life together on equal ground. Those are the things God wants for His precious creation.

My family and I watched the Academy Awards last night. We enjoy movies and although we haven't seen even half of the movies nominated or mentioned last night, we are genuinely interested in the lives of the actors and actresses (and producers, composers, designers, musicians, etc.) in those movies. We don't worship them, but we do care deeply about their lives. We have also followed the controversy surrounding the #OscarsSoWhite issue this year. And while I understand that this is a genuine and important issue, I believe it could've been handled differently. I believe there can be healthy, productive conversations. There can be healthy, fruitful dialogue. The divisiveness is not necessary. It's actually harmful and unhealthy. It only adds fuel to the fire and divides our country even further. 

So, what do these two things have to do with one another? Let's get back to the original reason I'm writing today. I am encouraged, and want you to be encouraged, that God is working. He is weaving us together with people who can bring His Kingdom to this earth and see lives changed. I read this amazing story by Will Ford, as well as this one mentioned in that post. I wept and will probably weep again when I share it with my family. This is Who God is! He is a connector, not a divider. He draws us to Himself, instead of pushing us away. Jesus says "Come." To every single one of us, this is His beautiful, incredible, life-changing invitation.

This is a story we need to read. This is a story we need to tell our children. This is a story we need to share with the world, because this is God's story of providence and reconciliation and purpose and love and answered prayer. Please click on the links and read it. This testimony is going to be a catalyst for even more reconciliation and healing.

I also found a church service where Will Ford and Matt Lockett share this unforgettable story. You can go HERE to watch. 

May we, no matter our skin color or gender or socio-economic status or age or background or experience, join in His Kingdom assignments and see heaven come to earth in a way that we have never seen before. May we all be faithful to press in to our God-ordained purposes and to see those purposes fulfilled for His honor and glory.

Blessings and love. xo