Resource Thursday: LOVE Me Some Ashley Mac's!

It has been such a gift to watch my high school and college friend Ashley McMakin, owner of the FABULOUS and famous luncheon spot Ashley Mac's, use her business to promote God's heart for the broken. She's encouraged our hearts quite a few times with dinners on court nights, and I've got some Little Bits who ask for pink cupcakes at least once a week. Be renewed by her story...

Although orphan care had been on my heart for many years, I had the mentality that the ultimate way to care for orphans was to adopt. My husband and I had always planned to adopt one day, and that seemed to be the logical response to James 1:27, right? But knowing adoption was a few years off, I began to wrestle with...what about right now? How do I care for the orphans as God calls me to?  And what about the poor and the oppressed? And how in my little life of comfort is it possible to keep oneself from being polluted by the world?  A few years ago I really began to wrestle through these questions. Finding myself with a wonderful husband, two little boys, a nice house, a successful business, wonderful friends and involved in an amazing church, but I still held this deep sense that God was calling us to more. I remember pleading several things with the Lord;  Jesus, make me more generous, and Jesus, move me towards brokenness. I did not intend to have this theme in my prayers. I am not that bold or courageous. But the Holy Spirit was not letting me get away from this- trust me, I tried!  

One day I was sitting in my office working on my computer and a Facebook message from Catie popped up. She was telling me that she sends Ashley Mac’s meals with her foster children when they go back home and how it has really blessed those families. Just thinking about meals from my business being in these homes, feeding people I will likely never meet, brought me to tears. I felt the Lord telling me, Ashley, I love you. Just do what I have created you to do. I gave you the ability to cook and have provided you this business for you to glorify me through it. You are making things too hard- quit trying to dream up all these radical ways to serve me and just do what’s right in front of you!

It really was Catie’s simple note that caused me to realize how the Lord could use my business to be generous and to move towards brokenness...all just as I had been praying. That following week I met with Lifeline Children’s Services to see how Ashley Mac’s could partner with them. We brainstormed and came up with several ways that our food could help. We started providing meals for foster families a few times a month. I am convinced this has been a bigger blessing to me than it necessarily has to the mouths we are feeding. I love learning people’s stories and being able to enter into their lives. Another idea we had was to give the foster children a free cupcake voucher to bring in on their birthday. Once again, a very small gesture but hopefully will make these children feel loved and special on their Birthday. We were also able to host a “cupcake decorating party” last fall where about seven foster children came to our Cafe and got to decorate (and of course eat!) their cupcakes. Seeing those kids faces light up was worth every dime and every second that I spent on it! Food is such a “common denominator” as Catie put it...everyone both needs food, and most people really love food...so we hope that the Lord continues to give us creative ways to serve Him through it.

There are countless other opportunities the Lord is giving us to invest in His Kingdom through our business. To be honest, we now have so many opportunities it can feel overwhelming! What’s that saying...be careful what you pray for!!!  I’m thankful He is opening my eyes to the needs of the hurting and needy around me. I’m thankful He is opening my eyes to my own sin and selfishness when my flesh is begging for everything to be all about me. It’s ironic...the less I think about myself, the more joyful I am. I’ve been meditating on 1 Timothy 6:17-19 as He is continuing to teach me to, take hold of the life that is truly life.

I’ll leave you with a final quote from A.W. Tozer that has become a prayer I continually come back to:

O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me, and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed at my lack of desire. O God, the triune God, I want to want thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still.

Thanks for letting me share!

Ashley

What if our businesses and jobs were actually vehicles to move towards the broken in our communities for God's glory? What if our families were launching points for becoming messy with the hurting? So incredibly grateful for this testimony of faith.

Looking unto Jesus,