“We want the good changes to remain. We want to live in plenty but remember the sharp lessons of living in want…Having everything ‘just because you can’ is a trap. It numbs and blinds the human spirit. It can separate us from our calling and our privilege as Christians in this needy world.
Be careful that you do not forget”
Be careful that you do not forget”
Adjusting back to the first world has never felt so foreign. I guess that is a good thing. After 3 months living in the conditions which engulf most of the world daily I understand need and want clearly. The experiences could never be captured by words, and I have the strongest desire never to forget them.
To “not forget” is to live in that state constantly, for those words to become reality. The greatest gift ever given to me is the ability to reach out. I am privileged to be on the giving side of life instead of the asking side. The strength it takes to ask outweighs the strength it takes to give; and the strength to give outweighs the strength to ignore.
To “not forget” is to live in that state constantly, for those words to become reality. The greatest gift ever given to me is the ability to reach out. I am privileged to be on the giving side of life instead of the asking side. The strength it takes to ask outweighs the strength it takes to give; and the strength to give outweighs the strength to ignore.
“It is much easier to pray that a poor friend’s needs may be supplied than to supply them”
A.W. Tozer
“The exclusion of the weak and insignificant, the seemingly useless people from everyday Christian life in community may actually mean the exclusion of CHRIST; for the poor sister or brother, CHRIST is knocking at the door.”
Deitrich Bonhoeffer
A.W. Tozer
“The exclusion of the weak and insignificant, the seemingly useless people from everyday Christian life in community may actually mean the exclusion of CHRIST; for the poor sister or brother, CHRIST is knocking at the door.”
Deitrich Bonhoeffer
Since I have been home I have been blessed with a new community of people whose eyes have been opened to this injustice; the injustice of ignorance or worse arrogance.
“The daily basics play a huge part in defining both a person’s social status and self-respect. No bed, no shower, no toilet equals no dignity.”
“Blithely allowing this terrible stripping (of dignity) to occur is a blot on the conscience of America, and especially the church. If we as believers choose to forget that everyone-even the shrunken soul lying in the doorway- is made in the image of GOD, can we say we know our Creator..? If we respond to others based on their outward appearance, haven’t we entirely missed the point of the gospel?
CHRIST cared about the simple dignities”
“Blithely allowing this terrible stripping (of dignity) to occur is a blot on the conscience of America, and especially the church. If we as believers choose to forget that everyone-even the shrunken soul lying in the doorway- is made in the image of GOD, can we say we know our Creator..? If we respond to others based on their outward appearance, haven’t we entirely missed the point of the gospel?
CHRIST cared about the simple dignities”
I don’t say any of this to highlight myself, or the friends I have around me. I say all this to try and explain the blessing from this calling. If you can imagine walking around for a week with dark sun glasses on everywhere, and suddenly taking them off.
Colors are brighter, depth is clearly defined, details and specifics stand out more, and of course things look much more alive. That is the difference felt when we understand that “we don’t go to church we are the church.”
"To evangelize a person is to say to him or her: you too are loved by GOD and the LORD JESUS. And not only to say it but to really think it, and relate it to them so they can sense it. But that becomes possible only be offering the person your friendship, a friendship that is real, unselfish, without condescension, full of confidence and profound esteem.”
Reaching out does not happen at a distance, fluidly or shyly...
“Loving GOD is supposed to push all of us to be immersed in our world
I am convinced that the more committed we become to impacting one person at a time-whether through a cup of coffee or a genuine conversation- the more we’ll prepare our hearts and our churches to respond at both a community and national level”
“The bottom line is that real love always shows itself in action”
(Quotes by Mike Yankoski unless otherwise specified)
I am convinced that the more committed we become to impacting one person at a time-whether through a cup of coffee or a genuine conversation- the more we’ll prepare our hearts and our churches to respond at both a community and national level”
“The bottom line is that real love always shows itself in action”
(Quotes by Mike Yankoski unless otherwise specified)
Something to think about, and prayerfully consider: Hearts for Africa is a new non-profit that will launch in the near future. Its goal is to recreate Africa Renewal Ministries’ sponsorship program in Nairobi, Kenya.
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