Our trip to Costa Rica was amazing.  Thank you for all of your prayers and encouragement.

I’ve got a lot to process, but if I were to point to one big thing in my life, Matthew 6:1-4 says: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. ² Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

When I initially read this on the trip, I struggled with it.  How can I do things for people and not be motivated in some way by their response?  Then I saw the answer lived out through staff in Costa Rica giving their lives to love people that couldn’t give back to them.  They were not trying to look cool to their peers or be accepted by others.  They were not practicing their righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them.  Instead, they were showing pure, Christ like, selfless, love.

And I caught a glimpse of the reward that awaits them.  For more specifics on one story, read about Corey.

God gives us all the opportunity to love selflessly.  As you serve this week, ask God how you can give to those in need in secret.