Last week, I got a phone call from a friend. She was so excited; I could feel the energy pouring through the phone. This time of year, such excitement is usually a result of finding the perfect gift for Aunt Freda. Or finding a parking space within walking distance of the store. But my friend’s excitement was from a different source: “I shared my faith at work”, she enthused. And then she went on to tell me how a casual acquaintance of hers was struggling with life issues and had opened up to her. “Before I even knew what was happening, I was sharing how God had helped me through some hard times”, she told me. “We had a great conversation, and I think it made a difference.”
When I hung up with my friend, I knew that I had just encountered Christ in our conversation. We have been encouraged to keep track of these encounters and to record them during face2face time at Sanctuary each week. Here are the encounters that have been recorded in the past two weeks:
I have encountered Jesus . . .
chatting with my widowed neighbor
helping a friend in need with things He has given to me
opening a door to invite some friends to Sanctuary
Bible verse under (football player) Tim Tebow’s eyes: John 16:33
the love between friends at a gathering earlier this week
watching the baby of an unwed mother during her job interview
a prayer was answered
letting go of others pain and sorrow. “It is finished” said the Lord
through drawing a friend to Bible study
through being there for a friend who has lost the meaning of life
through the birth of Luke William
I hope you are as encouraged as I was to read about all the ways Jesus is showing up in our daily lives. And I pray that you will find him today as well. And maybe you will encourage others by recording it during face2face time next Sunday at Sanctuary.
Christmas blessings to you!
submitted by kate lehman
Join us for an afternoon of music, food, artwork, and most especially, HOPE!
our next second sunday afterchurch feed-bag-fest will take place this sunday the 10th, after sanctuary (about noon-ish) at fuddruckers (kitty-corner from the theater). 
i can't tell you how much this well has touched my heart. we collected over $1500 to give the gift of a water well during our advent conspiracy. we committed to doing christmas different at sanctuary, and we did! i don't know about you, but christmas will never be the same for me, and i can't wait till next year.
