Bob Nicholas

So if you are anything like me, then you find God teaching you how to be more like Him at the most unlikely and unexpected times.

This past week I attended the Wake for the brother of one of our youth group teens. A son and brother was lost suddenly last weekend.. My prayers continue to be with the Croce family.

On Monday I emailed the Core Team to advise the time of the Wake and Funeral and offer to give anyone rides to either if needed. I received response from a couple of people, one being Chris Martinez.

Chris is a member of the SFA Core Team and a good friend. Chris said that he would meet us at St. Peters downtown for the Wake after work on Wednesday.

Now I didn’t think anything about it at the time, but the funny thing is that Chris has never met the teen whose brother just passed, he never met the one who passed, nor has he ever met the family. Chris came simply to support those he knew and loved, a couple of teens from our youth group and me.

Now I know that he did not just come for me. I’m not that dense and prideful. But, it felt like that was why he came. I felt supported and I was only there to support our teens and the brother who lost a brother and parents who lost a son. And here, my friend no, my brother comes to support me.

So, for all of you men out there who are striving to be a man in Christ; I suggest that today we take a note from the Chris Martinez manual for living. In supporting and showing love to each other, we can and will transform the world. Too often we think each other can handle it. We think that as “men” we should step it up and deal with the problem.

But I think that God would offer a different perspective.

This week as you go about your daily life, look for Christ in the unexpected and in the places where you normally don’t. AND.

If you find yourself thinking that someone can handle what they are going through, rather than assume they can, reach out and love one another as Christ has loved us. Miracles haven’t stopped happening, we have just stopped letting them happen to us. Open your eyes and step forward in faith and God will renew our faith and our minds in His love.

Thanks Chris for showing me a glimpse of God’s glory in my everyday life.

In Him…