Sheep to the Right, Goats to the Left

So, I want to share with you something
that happened a couple weeks ago. For the sake of time, I will just share part
of what I wrote in my journal about that day.

-Today Blair and I got into a
conversation about generosity. We talked about our own greed and how we desired
to be free from the selfishness that so often has its way with us. It’s so easy
to look at our lives and compare them to the lives of most Americans. We can
easily begin to think that since we have sold a lot of our things and are living
a more simple life, that we are doing a better job than most at following Jesus
(how easy we can fall into the deadly snare of comparison). But the truth is
it’s not about that at all! Jesus calls us to hold all things loosely and
whether we have a little or a lot; it’s all about what our hearts treasure the
most. The tighter we are holding on to something, the more it needs to go. We
must be willing to, at the drop of a hat, let it go or give it away if that’s
what Jesus requires of us (no matter what the cost). So what can we do with
this deep rooted sense of entitlement and greed? I think first of all, we must
be honest with ourselves and acknowledge the need for change in our hearts and
minds. We must bare all before the Father and stop trying to cover up our
shame. Ask the Father to mold our hearts and transform our minds by the power
of His Spirit. Then go and put generosity into practice. Every chance we get,
we must give away what we hold onto so tightly. “One man gives freely, yet
gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man
will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” 

So this brings me to what God did
today as a result of this conversation and the outpouring of His magnificent
grace! After we had talked, we asked ourselves what we would do with what we
had just discussed. We decided that since we were headed to lunch we would find
someone to sit and have lunch with. We asked God to guide us and got into the
van. As we were driving we passed a man that was selling newspapers. Without
saying anything, we thought that maybe we should go back and invite him. As
that thought came, the Lord spoke to my heart and said, “I will provide, there
will be someone outside the restaurant”. Over and over He spoke those words to
me. When we first got to the restaurant, I pulled into the parking lot and saw
nobody there. I began to question if I was hearing the Lord correctly, but as
we pulled around to the back of the building, we saw a lady standing by
herself. Immediately I knew that she was the one that God had brought us to!
Before we could say anything, she approached us and asked for some spare change
so she could get something to eat. We invited her to eat with us and she gladly
accepted. We sat inside the restaurant, ordered our food and talked to our new
friend Pat. Pat was homeless and lonely. She smiled a lot when she talked about
Jesus and cried a lot when she talked about some of the things she had
experienced. Her appearance had been hardened by all the nights she had spent on the streets and by the hands of men who had abused her, but the beauty that
shone forth from her position as a daughter of the Most High was undeniable. She
spoke words of encouragement over us and Jesus gave us some truths to speak
over her. In those moments I could see so clearly the abundant life that pours
out of giving yourself fully to the Kingdom
of God. That was one of
the best meals I’ve ever had and I couldn’t for a moment tell you what I had to
eat. After our meal, we hugged Pat and prayed over her. We told her that we
would love to see her again and she told us the area that she hangs around. The
Lord put her in our path for a reason, whether it was to encourage and share a
meal with her or enter into a deeper relationship with her, may His will be
done. “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things
at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”-

We haven’t been able to find Pat
again since that day, but I know that there are so many more that are hungry
and sick, naked and in prison. None of the pictures posted in this blog are of
Pat either, but that doesn’t make the people in them any less valuable. Neither
are they of any less value than you or me. In the eyes of the Father, every
man, woman and child is equally loved and should be treated that way (see James
ch.2). “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord when did we see you hungry
and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we see you a stranger
and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick
or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth,
whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for
me.’  Please don’t pass Jesus by, please
don’t leave Jesus wanting!

Take the time to seek
Jesus out and love on Him!