Over the past few weeks I’ve been trying to settle back into life in my home town. As I said in another blog it takes some getting used to. It’s had some ups and downs, but God is teaching me. Honestly, one of the things I was most worried about was being able to help take care of my Grandma. I still feel completely inadequate and unprepared, but over the past week God has made something very clear.
For the last few months my focus has been on January. In January I’ll get to serve “the least of these” as talked about in Matt. 25:40. In January God is gonna start teaching me things that I can’t even fathom at this point. In January I’ll start the most incredible journey of my life (to this point). Everything has been about what God will do in January. But what He’s helping me see is that He is calling me to love “the least of these” right where I am. For a while I didn’t see it, so I’ll go ahead and show you what I’m talking about.
Matt. 25:34-40
34 “Then
the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by
my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of
the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ 37 “Then
these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry
and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by
my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of
the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ 37 “Then
these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry
and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,[f] you were doing it to me!’
This is one of those passages that I can’t read without thinking I need to be doing more! When I made my prayer card I felt like that was the best representation of what I wanted to do.
Or how about this:
James 1:27 (New Living Translation)
27 Pure and
genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for
orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world
corrupt you.
In both of these passages I’m beginning to see how I can get started on the call God has given me. It’s interesting how God works, because within 3 days of realizing this, one of my best friends sent a message that said, “God is training you to minister to the “least of
these” right now where He has put you. Your Grandma is one of the “least of
these.” Your care for her is not a coincidental obligation,
but a training ground to have compassion on the least of these you will face in
the field.”
these” right now where He has put you. Your Grandma is one of the “least of
these.” Your care for her is not a coincidental obligation,
but a training ground to have compassion on the least of these you will face in
the field.”
This kind of threw me off because I was thinking the same thing, but I hadn’t said it to anyone yet. God knows me so well! He knows that I need confirmation on what He says to me. In this instance I actually listened and then a friend came along and reinforced what I was hearing. So, for now, I’m learning what it looks like to love “the widow” and “the least of these”. It’s good to know that God is still at work even when I come into things with the wrong attitude.
As for an update on fundraising, I’ve officially got $4,754. So, I’m over 1/4 of the way there. If you or someone you know is interested in helping me reach my goal just click on the “support me” tab on the left side of your screen.
Thanks a lot for your support! I couldn’t do this without you.
