I had been a Christian for years, but the truth was that I had grown judgmental, self-righteous, and blind to the suffering around me. I remember driving through downtown Los Angeles and seeing the rows of cardboard boxes lining the sidewalks. My mind quickly filled with harsh thoughts: “These people must have brought this on themselves — drug addicts, criminals, lazy beggars!” It was easy to justify my indifference and move on.

But then, I came across Mother Teresa’s words. “I see Jesus in every human being. I say to myself, this is hungry Jesus, I must feed him.”

She saw Jesus in the faces of the poor, the sick, and the forgotten. She didn’t ask why they were in their condition; she only asked, “How can I serve Jesus in this person?” Her words began to work in me like a seed, slowly growing into a new vision for life and ministry.

Jesus is everywhere. He is in the people we often overlook.

Mother Teresa’s vision has changed how I see the world. But now, I am challenged by an even deeper question — do others see Jesus in me?

Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. Matthew 25:34b-35

In every act of love, kindness, or service, we have an opportunity to reflect Jesus to the world.

Prayer
Lord, open my eyes to see you in everyone. Let me not be blinded by outward appearances. Let others see you in me — in my words, my actions, and my heart. Teach me to serve with humility and love, just as you serve. Amen.

By Bermie Dizon, Elder
Glendora, CA, US

Note: This was adapted with permission, from God, in Every Step, a 52-week devotional that invites readers to recognize God’s presence in the everyday moments of life.

GC Lemon Grove’s new church building is a blank canvas. Designing the layout for what will be our worship space and a community center is both thrilling and exhausting. Our March event was a unique opportunity to share our lofty plans for our neighborhood gathering place, while also connecting with the local residents, by celebrating the rich history and culture of Lemon Grove!

In addition to a central location in the middle of town, we’ve also serendipitously inherited a piece of Lemon Grove history, in the form of a beautiful mural on the side of our building. The mural is a colorful tribute to what’s known as “The Lemon Grove Incident.”

The Lemon Grove Incident is the story of a landmark school desegregation case. In 1930, the all-white Lemon Grove School Board covertly built a separate schoolhouse for students of Mexican descent. Once this became known, the Hispanic parents and community members organized and took legal action against the school board. On March 30, 1931, the San Diego County Superior Court ruled that the school board’s attempt to segregate the Hispanic children of Lemon Grove was a violation of California state law. It marks one of the first successful legal challenges of school segregation in American history.

The mural is a tribute to this triumphant win for equality and love. We are truly proud and honored to be the new guardians of this beautiful, important mural in our town’s history, so our Pastor Anne Stapleton collaborated with our city council to advocate for an official day of remembrance. After she spoke at a city council meeting, the City of Lemon Grove declared March 30, “Lemon Grove Incident Day.”

GC Lemon Grove seized this opportunity to celebrate equality and local history by hosting a special ceremony marking this historic day at our new, unfinished building. Lemon Grove residents and attendees paid tribute to their heritage and their community by gathering in front of our mural to bear witness to the official declaration of “Lemon Grove Incident Day.” Approximately one third of the attendees identified themselves as descendants of the original students impacted in 1931. GC Lemon Grove members guided both new and familiar faces into our new community gathering space for their very own grand tour, complete with strategically placed floor plan and construction plan posters depicting what’s to come. The wide-open space, adorned with our illustrative design plans, invited event attendees and potential new church members to imagine what our new space will soon become.

The day’s event was a truly meaningful opportunity to display empathy and cultural competence, as well as to formally introduce ourselves to our neighbors. All credit to Pastor Anne for cleverly weaving together the Christlike message of equity, love, and inclusion, as a way of celebrating our community and announcing our arrival into our abundant new space that we hope will be as much a gift to the City of Lemon Grove as “The Lemon Grove Decision” mural is to us at GC Lemon Grove.

By Chantil Kalagian, Love Avenue Team
Lemon Grove, CA, US

Citizens of God’s kingdom hold tightly to the doctrine of the Trinity. Citizens believe that, as the Trinity, God has shown himself to be the God who loves the world and who beckons every person to come to Christ and take part in the joy of life in the household of God. There is no person whom God does not want, whom God does not include, whom God does not love.

We invite you to read an excerpt from “The Trinity: Just a Doctrine?” Read the full article here.

Reconciliation for everyone

You’re still not convinced? Try reading this one again: “…while we were yet sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). God did not wait for you to get good enough to bring you into his household. You can’t get good enough, which is the reason he went after you to bring you home in the first place. When Paul says God saves sinners, he’s talking about everybody, since that’s what everybody is—a sinner. (If you’re worried that God might find out how rotten you are and send a lightning bolt your way, take heart, he’s known all along and loves you anyway.)

Paul makes the point stronger in verse 10: “If, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” Did you notice how Paul puts reconciliation with God in the past tense? Jesus died for our sins—past tense. God does not count our sins against us—period. They’ve already been paid for. Jesus has already put us in good standing with God. All that remains for us now is to turn to God (repent), believe the good news (have faith), and follow Jesus (let the Holy Spirit teach us how to enjoy life in the new creation).

Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” When we think of God in any way other than the way he revealed himself in the Bible—as the Father, Son, and Spirit who created us and redeemed us and have made us to share their joy though union with Jesus Christ—we’re going to find these words of Jesus daunting and discouraging.

But when we know God the way he reveals himself, we can say with all assurance of joy, “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…” (Romans 8:1). Paul wrote to the Colossian church, “God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him [Jesus], and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (Colossians 1:19-20).

All humanity is included in that reconciliation, according to Paul. In the doctrine of the Trinity, God has shown himself to be the God who loves the world and who beckons every person to come to Christ and take part in the joy of life in the household of God. There is no person whom God does not want, whom God does not include, whom God does not love. In Christ, following the Spirit’s lead, we are all freed from the chains of sin to come to the Father, whose arms are open wide to receive us, if only we will come.

That’s why the doctrine of the Trinity matters. Without it, we might as well join the Canaanites wondering whether Baal will flood out the crops with storms this year or burn them out with lightning. In Jesus Christ, God has taken up our cause as his own. God has, through the atoning work of Jesus, healed us from head to toe, mind and heart, and made us the Father’s Son’s best friends – no, much more than that – he made us adopted children of the Father, brothers and sisters of our older Brother and full members of the household of God.

With Paul, we can only say, “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”

By J. Michael Feazell, Elder Emeritus
GCI Home Church