I always get lost in the poetry of these verses and have to remind myself of the verses that follow. Especially since Lent is upon us. Just yesterday a young, poorly dressed woman walked into our public bridge games where at least 70 proseperous Lancasterians were snacking before the game. She took a large plate and filled it with the most nutritious of the foods that were there, would speak to no one, and left. One of our Trinity Lutheran buddies gave her $5.00, but on the opposite side of the coin, many people resented her presence. I can't get the image out of my mind. And here's this verse. Speaking to me.
Good example Beverly! It is easy for me to be overwhelmed by the needs of God's people. It gets "messy" so quickly. If I could feed or clothe a person and be done with it and know that person was totally self-sufficient what joy! Unfortunately it is rarely that easy. Life is messy and along with all that mess comes people wanting to take advantage of your willing spirit. Of course there is also my ongoing selfishness. Lord, please help me to treat those around me with respect and honor and to have an open heart to your will. Amen.
The only thing I can do when I read this is beg for mercy for my selfishness. I get overwhelmed thinking how to really care for the hungry, homeless, imprisoned, naked, etc, etc, because I really don't want to give up my selfish life. We all do some things that are good, but for sure we fall WAY short. I pray that God's mercy will continue to shine on us, and that in the end, we will be counted with the sheep and not the goats. Amen
I am brought to feeling that I need to be a bit more inconvenienced for the sake of our Iraqi family. Even if what is asked for is not exactly what we think they "need", maybe what they really need is a bit of the more communal society they are missing. And a show of the love that would evidence.
I always get lost in the poetry of these verses and have to remind myself of the verses that follow. Especially since Lent is upon us. Just yesterday a young, poorly dressed woman walked into our public bridge games where at least 70 proseperous Lancasterians were snacking before the game. She took a large plate and filled it with the most nutritious of the foods that were there, would speak to no one, and left. One of our Trinity Lutheran buddies gave her $5.00, but on the opposite side of the coin, many people resented her presence. I can't get the image out of my mind. And here's this verse. Speaking to me.
ReplyDeleteGood example Beverly! It is easy for me to be overwhelmed by the needs of God's people. It gets "messy" so quickly. If I could feed or clothe a person and be done with it and know that person was totally self-sufficient what joy! Unfortunately it is rarely that easy. Life is messy and along with all that mess comes people wanting to take advantage of your willing spirit. Of course there is also my ongoing selfishness. Lord, please help me to treat those around me with respect and honor and to have an open heart to your will. Amen.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I can do when I read this is beg for mercy for my selfishness. I get overwhelmed thinking how to really care for the hungry, homeless, imprisoned, naked, etc, etc, because I really don't want to give up my selfish life. We all do some things that are good, but for sure we fall WAY short. I pray that God's mercy will continue to shine on us, and that in the end, we will be counted with the sheep and not the goats. Amen
ReplyDeleteI am brought to feeling that I need to be a bit more inconvenienced for the sake of our Iraqi family. Even if what is asked for is not exactly what we think they "need", maybe what they really need is a bit of the more communal society they are missing. And a show of the love that would evidence.
ReplyDelete