I want to share a few things that have convicted me lately….
1) “The Case for Faith” by Lee Strobel – an excerpt
“On my door there’s a cartoon
of two turtles. One says,
“Sometimes I’d like to ask why he
allows poverty, famine, and
injustice when he could do
something about it.”
The other turtle says,
“I’m afraid God might ask me the
same question.”
Those who have Jesus’ heart
toward hurting people need to
live out their faith by alleviating
suffering where they can,
by making a difference,
by embodying
his love in practical ways.
– Peter John Kreeft
Wow, right?! Well keep reading the above excerpt, the Scripture, and my personal experience all tie together for one purpose……
I haven’t had work lately and this has been a struggle and a blessing all at the same time. Jeff has learned a lot about not being jealous and God giving him peace to the point where he has been an amazing encourager on these days. I have learned to constantly turn to God, so that I am not lied to about my days off and to know where and what He wants me to do that day.
Well a few days I will work only on Children Ministry development. Other days I’ll spend time with people whose relationships are important and uplifting. While other days, God asks me to pray and seek the helpless and needy. (today being one of those days).
The excerpt above is a beautiful picture of how we think and how God asks us to live. Then this morning I read through Amos 1-9 (one of those times I just flipped open and asked God to speak)…..well He did. Have you ever read that book? Pretty powerful words. God saves His people, they turn their back while still performing the rituals, and God is angry!!
Multiple times He warns His people and reveals to them how He wants them to live and behave. Do they listen? No, they are selfish. Countless times He asks them to stop their behavior and to help those in need.
I need to stop, because there are too many verses to write down, that I should just copy and paste it in here so that you can read it….so go and read it in your Bible and ask God to speak to you, convict you….
Now for my experience -
I confess, yesterday I had a job (Praise Jesus!) that required me to go onto the ferry to Bainbridge Island. I had been on a few other ferries, with friends not by myself. I had to catch the 6:10, meaning 5am wake up and 5:20 start. I got lost…the roads downtown are “nutso”, but again Praise God that I knew enough of the downtown area to meander my way to where I needed to be. I found parking…got flustered. Ran to ferry terminal because I was nervous about being late. Asked where to go, found out where to buy ticket, went to bathroom, sat down and sighed.
Moments later a tiny black woman sat next to me, soft spoken, could hardly hear her….while I was reading a devo to calm myself down. She says, “I’m homeless, do you have any money.”
Well if you have read previous blogs you would know my struggle. I don’t carry cash because I don’t want to give homeless cash, I would rather give them food and hope. So I told her the truth (to my knowledge) that I didn’t have any (later looking and here I had two dollars and change….just had it from the day before). Then after she quickly got up and sat to the other side of me to ask the gentleman down a couple seats….she asked every single person sitting there (maybe 15 of us)….I don’t think anyone gave her money…..
As I watched this woman, I prayed, I felt horrible….I realized, “hey, I have a lunch, I could give it to her….” she walked out before I could even stand up….should I have ran after her, given it to her the moment I remembered my lunch? I was stunted, stuck to the seat. AAAAAWWWWW I wanted to scream, are you really homeless, if so why, and how can you REALLY be helped….because even though she asked for money and I had food I could have given her….what does she REALLY need to get off the streats and what does she REALLY need – love, God’s love – does she have it- does she know about His love?????????????
So excerpt, Scripture, my personal experience – do you see how they all tie together….God has asked us to go and share the gospel!! What does that mean, share Jesus Christ story, love and care like Him, be moved to obey when He calls on you….even if you are taken off guard and just want to calm yourself down. Help and love in practical ways. Lose yourself to gain who God asks you to be.
Pray for me as I pray for you…..