Let's Get It Started.

Well, hello blogging world! It always takes me a little longer than everyone else to warm up to the newest "social networks" but I am READY. And I officially sound like my mother :). Delightful.

I think i'm ready now because I feel like I have something worth writing about. Something I want to share with all you little speed-typers out there. And, perhaps, seeing Julie and Julia gave me a little nudge in the blogging direction...(see that movie if you haven't yet... like today).

Introducing............. "Grace By the Gallon!"

Not long ago, I attended a church in Murfreesboro, TN ( about 30 minutes south of Nashville for all of you non-Nashvillians). A good friend of ours, David Peacock, is the amazingly pastor there. Currently, there are about 350 active members at River Oaks Community Church (ROCC). Brett and I were so impressed with their members from the moment we stepped out of the car to the minute we left the after-service church members meeting. The hospitality was completely evident in it's sincereity, the dedication very apparent, and the servant attitude, incredibly infectious. It was perhaps this servant attitude that sparked my latest idea.

David was reminiscing over some of the church's latest means of serving the community of Murfreesboro through small acts of kindness such as buying groceries for those in need, installing AC units, purchasing gas cards for people, and so on...I don't know what lit a fuse in me when I heard David mention purchasing gas cards for people but my mind started racing. I began brainstorming then which was about 1:00 and by 5:00 I had a complete game plan, name, and strategy for getting this thing going.

And so begins "Grace By The Gallon." I have decided to take my tithe and put that money every month towards buying gas for people around Nashville. These days, I think we all know that gas has not only become a necessity but a little bit of a burden at times. Especially, for those of us who have a sweet little commute to work :). The reason I want to share this with you is not to toot my own horn and display what a great person I must be for doing this because, believe me, I am far from that but to inspire you to figure out a small, easy way for you to contribute to not only your community but to the kingdom of God. I can only hope that these small acts of kindness will spark some conversation about the Lord with a total stranger who I might never come in contact with otherwise and give me a chance to possibly encourage and pray for them.

I realize that with my meager, microscopic pay check, that I won't be able to do this often AT FIRST but I feel so strongly about this cause that I know the Lord will be providing the means to make it work. How, you ask? HMMM....I don't know :) That's the trusting part, I guess. I'm trying to get better about that.

I can't wait see all of the different reactions I receive from doing something like this. And, I'm not gonna lie, I am a little nervous. My grandfather would say I have the heeby-jeebies. haha It's a good nervous, though. I plan on blogging about all of my encounters with the "receivers" of GBTG. I am sure there will be those who are more receptive than others and I look forward to hard questions, interesting conversations, and Lord-willing a chance to share the gift of salvation with many. And if all else fails, I like the smell of gasoline. It's a win-win.

Stay tuned on how you can get involved!