On January 29 our church started a two week event called, "Setting the Course" in the effort of seeking God's direction for our church, families and the community for 2012. We were asked to fast from something and pray. Tyrone and I decided to fast through lunch everyday. Food is very important to us and we can get very undisciplined so it seemed like something worth going without in an effort to rely on God through the hunger.
After preparing lunch for Maiesha and Lydia on about day 3, I sat down to a growling stomach that would not recieve food for several hours. In those moments, my eyes were opened. Some people experience this feeling on a consistant basis with little to no relief and many of those people are children. They don't have a refrigerator and pantry full of food. Then the question popped into my head. What can I do to change that for at least one person or family? The answer came as quickly as the rumbling in my stomach. Our family can adopt a family to whom we can provide a weekly home-cooked meal to help ease the hunger they experience. We could also, hopefully, develop a relationship with this family to love on them and share the good news of Jesus to strengthen their faith or lead them to it. I contacted Jeremiah's elementary school principal to see if she could connect us to a family in the school. She and I have talked and hope that eventually other families will volunteer to do what we are doing.
As I continue to seek God's purpose for me and our family here in NW Arkansas, he has revealed a common thread about the people I interact with in all my spheres of influence. Generally speaking, families, especially women, are very isolated and often lonely. I know I have experienced this myself. We don't like being that way, but we become "paralyzed" believing the lie that we are the only person feeling this way. Therefore, people don't ask for help or seek friendship. We pull up our boot straps, as the saying goes, and say I can do this on my own. God has planted me here to begin to draw people out of the isolated, lonely place they have becoming uncomfortably comfortable in to see that God has created us to be in relationship with him and the people around us.
I have stay-at-home moms over for lunch once a month. These women are from our church, the University, preschool, dance class, elementary school or our neighborhood. I can say hello to people who seem to be having a bad day and maybe start a conversation to encourage them. I stop what I am doing to pray for someone that comes to mind or maybe a complete stranger I pass while walking in the park. As I see trouble in this world I MUST continue to ask the question, "What can I do to change that?" and as soon as the answer comes I MUST act.
When did asking for help become such a bad thing. I struggle with it for something as simple as childcare when I have a doctor's appointment. I allow my pride to get in the way of allowing another person the opportunity to pour into my life. God wants us to come him with EVERYTHING to develop an intimate relationship with him, and yet we edit our requests to "the most urgent or important." He wants us to love others as imitators of Christ's love toward us - even sacrificing our own agenda for the sake of others. Love isn't an emotional reaction to a sad story. Love is expressed through our actions. "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality." (Romans 12:9-13)
"Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31)
Dear Lord, mobilize your people to see the world as you see it and respond to the needs of our communities. Give us courage to reach beyond our comfort zone to people and places we can't connect with under our own strength. Give us courage to ask for help when we need it and not be ashamed when we do ask. Show me how I can meet the physical needs of others so hearts will be opened to the spiritual need for a savior and relationship with You. Let each person who claims the name of Jesus be moved to action for your glory and so souls with be won to your kingdom. I pray against the spirits of apathy, fear, rejection, and selfishness. In the name of Jesus, I pray against satan's influence to divide and isolate people who need relationship and compassion. I claim the power of the name of Jesus and it is in his name alone I pray! Amen
"Give Me Your Eyes" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5AkNqLuVgY&ob=av2e
by Brandon Heath
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