Thank you to our lovely hostesses, Charlotte and Ginger at http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/ for Spiritual Sundays. Please visit this wonderful site…there are many bloggers that have shared something for you today. Just click on the blue sky to the right.
I’m also joining Lisa’s blog at http://www.extravagantgrace.net/. Lisa is hostessing “Bringing Holy Back to the Holidays”. Please visit her as well…lets find ways to bring HOLY back to the holidays. Her button is also to the right.
Please come in for a cup of tea…I’d like to share some thoughts with you.
As I bring out several boxes full of Christmas decorations, or as I think about the gifts I want to give my friends and family, or as I lay down in a very comfortable bed, after having a good meal, taking a hot shower, and making sure all windows are locked, my thoughts are drawn to images of the homeless that live up and down a long, busy street not far from my home. I only see adults, but I know there must be children out there, living on the street somewhere. What are they thinking about right now, with Christmas so near. Are they asking for toys, or a warm bed? Do they want a Barbie, or a jacket?
There are many organizations that help the homeless, both adult and children. We see those large, round bins at the different stores, where you can donate either toys or food. We receive requests through the mail for monetary donations so these organizations can provide a Christmas meal for a family.
In our busyness of decorating, baking, shopping and blogging, let us remember that we are to help those in need.
As I was researching different places that were offering help to the homeless, I found an article, and I’d like to share a little of it with you.
“What does the Bible say about the homeless and the poor? Does God have an opinion on whether or not the impoverished are society’s responsibility?
The word “poor” occurs 205 times in 197 verses in the KJV Bible. God’s view on the poor is very clear. Jesus is an excellent example of what a poor person was in his day. In fact, it is safe to say that Jesus was a homeless person at least some of the time (see Luke 9:58). The people that Jesus associated with were homeless and poor as well. Paul, who was a close follower of Jesus wrote “even until now we…have no certain dwelling place” (see 1 Corinthians 4:11). And finally, Paul writes that God’s only begotten Son became poor although he was rich for our sakes (see 2 Corinthians 8:9). It is very evident in just these three verses, that God loves poor people very much. If God made Jesus, his one and only Son, a poor and homeless person, then it is safe to say that God actually esteems the poor and glorifies them.”
It doesn’t seem to me that we think of the homeless in this way. Something to think about.
With Christmas so near, many people are feeling more sadness than joy, for any number of reasons. Even those of us with families and homes can feel sadness. I really think it is because we are focused on people and things rather than the reason we celebrate Christmas…the birth of Jesus. I know I talked about this before, but we seem to forget. One day, we’re thinking about the spiritual side of Christmas, and the next day, we’re stressing out over what to buy for someone. At least that describes me, and I suspect we’re all like this to one degree or another. I don’t believe the Lord would have us stop enjoying Christmas…He is the ultimate Giver of good gifts to His children, so of course, He is delighted that we give to those we love. But I have to remember that He loves the homeless as much as He loves my kids, and I have to remember to love them too.
Please continue to pray for our soldiers and their families. Pray for those that are in any kind of need, whether physical, emotional, or financial…we all need prayer for something…just pray!
God bless you all!
Mary
