I just recorded a young mom giving her testimony about The Apopka Pregnancy Care Center.  She was a lovely young woman with 2 very young babies and still took the time to come out to the Center after work just to let me record her.  She volunteered her time so that we can share that testimony with others in the hopes that someone will hear what she says and feel it worthwile enough to volunteer their time or money, or both, to the center.  As she was recording the video takes and retakes, I was getting to hear her heart about all the wonderful ways The Apopke Pregnancy Care Center has ministered to her; she made me feel so very blessed to be a part of the work of this Center.  And what she was repeating over and over was that those who work for the APCC were so kind and loving towards her.  What she was saying reminded me that the APCC is not a building or an idea, but people working together to make a better life for so many young women and their children and to show them the love of Jesus.  People who sacrifice their time week after week, too few in number working too long without a paycheck or any other reward except to know that they are serving their God and loving their neighbors as themselves. As we have been trying to get the area churches involved in this Center I have heard so often over the past few weeks "I'm just too busy."  But are most?  When a major past time in this country is watching a few hours of tv each evening, I'm guessing most people are not too busy, but do not choose to sacrifice their own time for someone else's sake.  The Bible is no longer allowed to be taught in the schools anymore, and so few take the time to pick it up and read it.  If we did, we as a nation would know what God expects regarding being too busy to help others. In Philippians 2:1-4 we are told "Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.  Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others." And it goes on to remind us that Jesus put us first when He died on the cross for us.  He is our example, and today I saw the young lady who I recorded, who works and is raising 2 babies, sacrifice her time to drive all the way to the APCC and spend about an hour recording a 3 minute video.  And over and over, one of the things that she was repeating was that Faye, our Director, helped bring her back into a relationship with her God, Jesus Christ. And I saw 2 beautiful, happy babies, thriving and a Mom, a daughter of the King of kings and Lord of lords also thriving because a few others gladly sacrificed their time to spend at the APCC counseling and encouraging anyone who walks into that Center in need.  In this, I saw the beauty of sacrifice and received encouragement myself, which also showed me how the blessings of sacrifice continue on from person to person, from generation to generation. 

And so I pray, May we once again be a nation who chooses sacrifice over selfishness so that our joy may be complete in the Lord. 

Sincerely,

Lanni Reiswig