Tomorrow we kick off our 7th RestoreDC weekend as a church.  As of this morning, 93 people from Restoration City have signed up for 150 different shifts with our 9 partner organizations.  The work we will do over the next three days is a really big deal for our partners who are counting on us.  I also want to make sure they’re a big deal for us as a church.

They say familiarity breeds contempt.  I don’t think there’s much chance of that with RestoreDC but I am concerned that regularity might breed indifference.  Not even a lack of participation, just a lack of excitement for what God is doing.  Kind of a been there, done that, got the t-shirt (literally!) attitude.

That’s why I’m praying God will give us all fresh excitement for RestoreDC.  I’m praying we will serve with joy and a desire to bless our community.  This is one of the most tangible ways we live out our plumbline to be an undeniable positive as a church.  We want to live in such a way that our community is grateful for our presence even if they don’t embrace our theology.  We want DC to be better because Restoration City exists.

So, as we head into this weekend, I want to anchor all of us in some texts that fuel my passion for RestoreDC:

• “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” – Jeremiah 29:7
• “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16
• “And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.” – Isaiah 58:12
• “They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.” – Isaiah 61:4
• “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9

I honestly can’t wait for this weekend. Let’s pray today that God will exceed all of our expectations over the next three days!