"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."  (Luke 10:2)
      "Have faith in God...... Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."  (Mark 11:22, 24)
     When one begins their final year of undergraduate studies dreams can seem to  make way for reality.  “Will I be able to find a job in my field of study?”  “Will I be able to pay back all my loans?” “What will my life be after college?” “Where will I live?”
    Yet for Alicia Beane there was an overriding hope - “Will God use me to help someone become a Christian before I move on from college?”  She longed to be used by the Lord to help someone find Jesus.  She began to pray - and believe - that God will indeed use her to help someone become a Christian before she graduated.
  

   As I sat in the salon awaiting my haircut, my hairdresser scurried to retrieve a book she was eager to show me.  This woman devotes her day off each week to style and cut hair for anyone who has lost their job.  She charges nothing, only asks that they “pay it forward” by showing generosity and kindness to someone else.  This simple gesture of kindness has brought her national attention, as well as several journal books filled with thank you messages and ways this act has impacted women all over the world.  As her clients read these journals, they are often moved to help as well.
   As I received the journal she said to me, “You have to read this!”.
   She stated she had been more impacted by this woman than any other.  She shared that she was changing her work schedule so she could go to her Bible study group.    As I glanced down at the article, I exclaimed, “Oh, these are my friends!  We go to church together”.   The article was a message of thanks and brief as possible explanation as to why Elise was unemployed.  Her words were transcribed by Ellen Faller, who had brought her to the hair salon.  Elise has for now, lost most of her vision and ability to put her words on paper, which is why it was written for her.  As I sat with Elise yesterday, I felt like it would be selfish to not share some of her story of faith and perseverance with you.

    “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, … and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” (Eph 2:14, 16) The cross of Jesus not only offers forgiveness to all men but it also allows us to be united into one family regardless of race or culture. In Acts 2 the bible says they (Disciples of Jesus) devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching, breaking of bread, fellowship, prayer and all the believers were together and had everything in common. The church experienced great unity yet it wasn’t long before Satan and sin caused division and disunity.  Unfortunately some turned away from God because of sin and unresolved feeling. We must never allow Satan and sin to cause us to turn from God and His Church.