Would You Like Mashed Potatoes With That?

There is a saying "Work is love made visible." I saw that unfold recently.

2 COR 9:8 NIV "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

Do you believe that verse? We saw it come to pass on Wednesday January 15, 2014. The Smith family had a terrible loss when their son was killed in a car accident. Pastor Kenny wanted the church to provide lunch for the family after the visitation, funeral, and journey to the cemetery. Mind you, we do not have a committee for that, so the DIVAS Food committee stepped up to the plate. There were e-mails and phone calls and not a little bit of panic as to how to provide a hot lunch on short notice for 75 people. And since we are a portable church, we needed a location  or this, too!

The Lord made all grace abound to us. The Mt. Orab Church of Christ opened their doors and poured out abundant blessings and incredible hospitality to all of us. "So that in all things at all times, having all that you need..." I purchased table covers and salt and pepper shakers (and then returned them unused as the Mt. Orab group had the tables set and so lovely for us). I bought a tub of Country Crock margarine because butter pats are only sold in 200 and 300 count. Ruth whipped out a huge bag of Country Crock pats at Mt. Orab saying, "Here use these!" And I returned the Country Crock tub. The day unfolded in like manner with a grand total of something like 9 Crock Pots of food, plus 5 casseroles, dessert beyond what I could count, 18 bottles of soda, 2 huge boxes of chicken from Kroger, etc.,etc., etc.

Now there was a running joke in the kitchen about the over-abundance of mashed potatoes. Seems “Mrs. Mashed-Potato-River” had panicked and called lots of people to bring mashed potatoes :-) So the humor in the kitchen was flowing with potato jokes. Would you like Mashed potatoes with that cake? We can call it pie a la mode with potatoes instead of ice cream!

Grandpa John Leppla told me he counted 74 at lunch and joked that we provided one serving too many. "And having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." We were able to provide three branches of the mourning family with left overs to take home. There was plenty of help in the labor of cleaning up and restoring the Mt. Orab kitchen to its pristine self. And though we agree a Benevolence Committee needs to be formed for future similar events, we were amazed to see how the Body of Christ poured out love and concern for the Smith and Leppla families.  It was an amazing day with Mt. Orab church and The Crossing working in unison to provide comfort and hope to those in need. 

EPH 4:4-6  making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling,  one Lord, one faith, one baptism,  one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.