Now he’s arrived on the doorstep of your church. You are strangers to him, and he’s a stranger to you, too. But after a few months of intentional friendship building, you start to see leadership potential in Sam. Might you consider inviting him to step forward as a lay leader?

 He may be hesitant. He may have questions:

• Do I have enough Bible knowledge?
• What if compassion isn’t my strong suit right now?
• Could this be a nudge from God to test the waters? Can I trust him?
• Is this a safe enough place to plunge in?
• How will my wife feel about it?
• Will my mentors throw me in to sink or swim alone?

If you befriend a young adult, especially one new to your church, think about opening doors for service. But think, too, about the questions and concerns that might arise. Promise to be there—and then keep your promise. Help your “Sam” to see that he can lean on Jesus, he can trust in the Lord (Proverbs 3:5).

 If you’re not sure how to say that or if you’d like to reinforce that message, consider giving “Sam” a copy of Shaped to Serve: Celebrating Your Gift of Service.

 Will you leave a legacy at your church by encouraging the next generation to step forward to serve–and then helping to equip them to do it? Their gifts are a blessing to others; help them explore the possibilities.

It’s not a new idea. In fact, our heavenly Father has always encouraged his people to “pay it forward.” We don’t pay him back—we never could begin to do that! Instead, we give others what we have received from our Savior, trusting his generous heart will keep the blessings flowing into our lives. 

I thought about all this as I heard two CTA Customer Service Representatives tell the story of a CTA customer who has purchased, not one Bouquet of Blessings devotion book, but more than 100! This customer didn’t intend to give them to a large group—or even to several small ones. Instead, she touched one heart at a time, sending copies to others she wanted to bless.

Isn’t that what our Lord asks of us? Forgiven and accepted in Jesus, we nod in glad agreement when the psalmist says:  “Forget not all his benefits!”

 Our wonderful CTA customer gladly received God’s blessings and then became a blessing herself in the lives of those God brought across her path.

 Pay it forward today! And then look forward in great anticipation to the expressions of love that will continue on into eternally.

As a CSR for CTA, I recently talked with pastor who had just read, Grieving with Hope . . . Leaning on Jesus. He passed it on—to a family grieving the loss of a child several years ago. The family came back a few days later to say, in essence, “We so wish we had read this at the time of our child’s death!”

Grief seldom evaporates the day after the funeral! Many people continue to grieve for months and even years. Experts in grief tell us that individuals each grieve in their own way, following their own timetable.

Do you have friends who struggle with grief? When you act in faith, our Savior will step in to care for those whose lives you touch. It’s never too late to bring the hope of Jesus to those who are grieving.

Editor’s Note: CTA’s Grieving with Hope . . . Leaning on Jesus has become a best-seller in only a few months! It costs much less than most sympathy cards and it comes with an envelop for easy mailing.  The Christ-centered message coupled with four-color, eye-striking photos, make it a truly valuable ministry tool! Churches, Stephen Ministers, chaplains, and others will want to buy a case to have on hand.