When it comes to major announcements such as an engagement, someone getting pregnant, or a child graduating from school, we want to announce it boldly, loudly and publicly to all of our friends – actually, to anyone who would listen! We create cards, write letters, and especially post our favorite tell-all pictures, simply because we are so excited to share this wonderful news with everyone else! Our hope is that they will be as enthused and ecstatic about it as we are.

One of my friends, Jeanette, that I briefly lived with in Nashville is now the Executive Director of Hope Women’s Resource Clinic in Beaumont, Texas. This non-profit clinic provides multiple resources to women and their families in the area who are in need: free pregnancy testing, free ultrasounds, free STI/STD testing with limited treatment, as well as other services and support. Their motto is “Unconditional Love and Hope”. Their passion is to help women, and additionally the men involved, by offering them physical means as well as hope – which ultimately is found is Jesus Christ.

I haven’t seen Jeanette face to face in about 32 years, but about 5 months ago I began to follow her on Facebook. About every other day, sometimes even every day, she would post her bitmoji with the words “Code 1510” being announced via a megaphone. Since I didn’t know what the code meant, it didn’t make any sense to me. After seeing a few of these, and reading her friends’ many comments of “praise the Lord” etc, I got up the nerve to ask her what this ‘code’ meant. Here is how she explained it:

“We at Hope Clinic wanted to share with the rest of our staff when someone (a patient) received a new life in Christ.
Luke 15:10 states that ‘all the angels in heaven rejoice when one sinner repents’. So I came up with this idea to use the chapter and verse – 1510 – as the code to do an all-page at the clinic; then I text the board as well as the staff not there; and finally I post it on my personal Facebook page. That way everyone who knows what it means gets to celebrate along with the angels!

“In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Luke 15:10

Jeanette’s work at this clinic, along with the others who help alongside her, have resulted in hundreds of people coming to Jesus! Imagine heaven’s jubilant sound of celebration every time!

In truth, when seeing the multiple posts weekly that indicate MANY new followers of Jesus, this realization also brought some guilt and shame to me. Recognizing that this Women’s Ministry was, certainly via the Holy Spirit, bringing people to know Jesus Christ, and that compared to the fruits of my labors -which hasn’t resulted in any noticeable new growth in God’s kingdom- my prideful heart hurt. Yes, I know, if this was a form of jealousy, then the enemy was at work. And for a time, I did wallow a bit in the mire of “What am I bringing to the table, or to the Kingdom of God?”

The Lord reminded me of a scripture:
“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating…”
“Let all things be done for building up.”
1 Corinthians 12 27-28,14:26

My talents and calling from God may be different than Jeanette’s, but our ultimate purpose and goal is the same: to give God the glory He so justly deserves, to live life serving Him faithfully by loving others as He loves us, and to share the incredibly good news of what Jesus Christ has done for us. GOD will give the increase!

What the Lord has done is blessed me with financial resources that will help this ministry continue to provide help for women in need, as well as the heart’s desire and the time to pray for them as well.

Would you consider taking this code idea and sharing it with your friends? Create your own avatar, find a new scripture or use Luke 15:10. Either way, start a wave of joy that is in sync with all Heaven: that announces when someone has been born again into the Kingdom of the Most High God.

Would you consider supporting Hope Women’s Resource Clinic financially and/or through prayer? Or perhaps there is a local Women’s clinic that you could support…

“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”
Luke 15:7

“‘It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”
Luke 15:32

Food for thought: What code are you living by? Are you passionate about praying for others that they too would know Jesus?
If you are using the talents God has given you, and are living for Jesus by loving others in whatever way they need (prayers, deeds, and witnessing), then rest in knowing you are fulfilling your role in God’s plan.

Fun facts: There are at least 14 verses in the Bible about angels rejoicing: in Genesis, 1 Kings, 1 Chronicles, Nehemiah, Job, Psalms, Isaiah, Daniel, Luke, John, and Revelation. See if you can find them!

Photo by: Jeanette Hawkinson Harvey – Code 1510

***For further information about Hope Women’s Resource Clinic: https://www.hopeclinicpartners.com ***