Stand-ins

I am so grateful for the stand-ins in my life.

Over the years, God has sent many people to surround me and my family with kindness and love.

We have been adopted and welcomed in, and I'm always amazed at how God brings people into our lives at the perfect time.

We've loved caring for others who may not have family or many people supporting them in their lives.

What an honor to answer the call to be a stand-in and be there for someone who needs you.

During this time of year, many feel the pain of loss.

Loneliness and emptiness can swallow people up, and it can be really hard for some to find a way out of that darkness.

That's where we come in!

We can reach out to others and help and be the light that shines in the darkness.

We can offer hope and love and remind people they are not alone.

We are all in this together, and we all have moments where we need someone to stand in and help us.

And, oh my goodness, how thankful are we for Jesus standing in for us?

Think about all that Jesus did to save us and take on the sins of our lives.  

He could have very easily walked away and gone back home to Heaven, knowing that He would be betrayed, denied, and tortured as those He came to help turned on Him.

But Jesus knew how the story was going to end.

Jesus stood in for us and took on the weight of our sins so that we could be free.

When He rose from that grave and showed Himself to be who He said He was, everything changed forever.

Thank God for that.

We are so thankful for the stand-ins that come to our aid and the nudges we receive to help and care for others.

We are even more thankful for Jesus, who stood in for us so that we could be free.

I'm so grateful we are all in this together!

Thank You, God, for this beautiful life you have given us.

Psalm 68:6

Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds;

rejoice before him—his name is the Lord. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.

Romans 12:10

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Ephesians 4:2

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.