loving the poor
within the family of faith
and our neighbors geographically
isn't a special project or administration, separate from other parts of our faith.
it is the authentic outworking of a "normal", "normative" christian life, among the discipled, obedient students of the Master.
are you a disciple? Are you a Christian? this will be your fruit.
do you not have this fruit? Personally, individually? Corporately, as a church? Then Seek the Lord in the Word and prayer, laying down your life again to surrender to His will. Learn to HEAR and HEED the Holy Spirit! Don't just do what's right in your own eyes! Come to Him and Reason with Him! Engage Him.
It says in Is.55 to seek the Lord. Not to seek His Will. it says in Romans 12 that if you lay down your body (and its desires, plans and cravings) you will know his will. Knowing and doing the will of God are products of His laying hold of you and you laying hold of Him and surrendering your will to His. this is just christianity.
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it is a sad, sick thing to be called heroic, or exemplary, or in any way extraordinary for taking in the poor, christian widows or orphans. this is behavior that should become commonplace among the communion of Jesus' disciples.
ReplyDeletedon't let me hear that you're committed to "passionate Christ-Following" and you aren't begging God in prayer to let you in on loving the poor, the orphan, the widow.
Don't let me hear that you're a "cutting edge" "radical" jesus-freak, and this isn't the stuff you're desiring in prayer.
You may not have done something that people can see. You may not have gotten to do this stuff, yet, because it is God who orders your steps. But you gotta be at it in prayer, asking "Send me" "here am I" along with Isaiah!
Bros and sisses, you are the ones! Gogogogogogogogogogo!!! get in prayer over the radical ways God wants to use you.
Adopting kids and welcoming the traveling teacher and the wandering saint/stranger... making sure that nobody lacks groceries on your street...that there are no more lonely people...
...and where is your street? are you eager for good works?
hey man...
ReplyDeletelove the line of thought in the past few blogs... sorry haven't been here in awhile...
A man came to visit my fatherinlaw and I one day while we were pumping water out of the church... the town of morrow flooded around easter... he was completely plastered (alchohol not drugs.. that i know of)... we fed him, offered him care (which he rejected. he wanted cash), but we talked, we prayed... he got to eat... and was sent with enough food for the week... we prayed again... have this about once a month right now
after the flood, there was a lot of hurting and broken people in morrow... so we had a free dinner (fed about 70 people) and gave a ton of easter candy and toys to kids... we're trying to find more folks that need help in our community... pray that we find them and they find Jesus in us... we're going thru the school system cuz they seem to know the people that need help but won't ask, but we're also trying to be light in the community...
we're going to have free cookouts and stuff for the kids once a month starting around memorial day for the summer... we're hoping that this gives us a chance to love without strings...
Matt, Jeff, Mark and I are really challenging the people this year to GROW... God seems to be really turning hearts, educating and empowering.... Satan is not happy... there is a darkness over morrow that desperately needs to be broken by the Spirit
love ya
adam