The team at Refuge Cities Network recently shared how simply sharing in our day to day lives helps others find peace and joy.  During jobskills trainings, men and women are able to talk about their lives.  This is an excellent example of how believers can share without being a threat or pushing our agenda on friends and neighbors, in every culture.  Friends sharing their lives and their hearts together. 

Last Wednesday, a student asked me in the makeup course, "how did you choose your husband? How did you feel about him?"  I told her honestly, "Actually, I didn't choose him. It was an arranged marriage."   The student was shocked.

I explained, "For a long time, I've been entrusting my feelings to God. I would say, "Lord, I'm afraid to choose. Please choose for me and don't let my emotions lead me to the wrong person. If I felt attracted to someone, I would go to God and talk to Him, saying, "My feelings are in Your hands. I don't want to choose; I want You to choose; While praying, I would feel a sense of peace and calm."

She asked, "So, you did not have feelings for this person?"

I replied, "No, because I could choose wrong by simply trusting my feelings. Marriage isn't a game; there's no going back. So I took my

time, prayed, and when I felt peace from the Lord, I knew it was right."

It was a strange concept for her.

She then said, "I think it's best that you did that. According to our customs, we don't see the groom or anything until we sign the marriage contract, and I'm afraid he might not be suitable."

I told her, "You should pray to God and say, 'O God, if this person is right for me, complete it, and if not, remove him from my path."

She said, "Amen, I will pray" and she seemed relieved and accepting of what I said.

The sewing ladies and I shared 1 Corinthians: "Love is not merely a feeling; its an action and a force that drives us to do good for others. It is patience, kindness, and not being jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things,

hopes all things, endures all things." 

Unconditional love, like Gods love for us, is without expectation or condition. We love others and accept them as they are, wishing them well. We love even our enemies and forgive others. We try to understand others feelings and don't just focus on our own needs.

One student said, "When my heart is filled with love, I live in peace and comfort."

We prayed that the Lord will fill us with true, unconditional love, just as He loves us.

During our leatherworking course, a group of us opened up about the challenges of sadness. We shared how it can be overwhelming and hinder our daily lives. We discussed the impact on our families and found solace in the idea of turning to prayer for comfort and healing. We also learned new ways to deepen our prayer practice.

How are you sharing God's love and your lives with others? 

Your Refuge Cities Network team