Cool Lightning Storm in Raleigh on 7/17/07

Next time, I will use my tripod so the picture is steady!

I took several videos from my deck, but I thought this one was the best. I also enjoy the sound of the rain and my chimes while listening to this video!

Happy Birdday BeBe!

He is 2 years old today!!!

He is our original!

BeBe was 3 months old in this shot!

It is amazing to see how much he has changed in color and personality!

He is gorgeous with his adult colors now!

This was last year's birthday present! He was playing in it today.

After getting to visit with his friends at the Raleigh-Durham Caged Bird Society today, he got his new birthday present (bought in New Bern yesterday!)! Yay for toys!

Blessed

Something really hit me. We were watching a video in the Campus Ministry class on the 4^th of July and I was really struck by a statement that was made. We sing the song and place the bumper stickers on our cars: “God Bless America.” Really, God has blessed America as a whole. Did you know that if you own a car, you are in the top 8% of the world?! 1 billion people in our world live on $1 or less! Those are just two of the staggering statistics of those of us who the world would call “rich” or “blessed.”

Yet, there are still many out there within our blessed country that would be called, “poor” or “homeless.” How do we help these people without encouraging or supporting their lifestyle? Most of the homeless out there, I would gander to say, are not homeless because they want to be, they just are. Some are from the habits they are trying to kick. Others choose to be.

A lot of people are scared to even talk to them, when many of these men and women are good people. They hardly ever get the chance to have a good conversation with someone, none the less someone to pray with them or for them, or feed and clothe them.

Matthew 25:34-40 says:

³⁴ Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

³⁷ Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

⁴⁰ 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.'

I prayed with a man who just wanted healing. He was grateful for the food and clothing we brought him, but he wanted to get back on the right track with God. One man wanted to visit our church. How will we receive him? With out-stretched arms? One man, I talked to and prayed with, wanted to quit drinking so that he get his life turned around and use his story for the glory of God. This same man, when we approached him asking if he was hungry, stood up and shouted, “Yes! Thank you Jesus, I was just talking about being hungry!”

Not every person we talked to wanted to get their life straight with God. In fact, two men I talked with were angry with God. They couldn’t understand why He had put them in this situation. They told me to “tell God to leave [them] alone!” These are the people who we have to reach even more. The lost. The ones whom God tells us to stretch His love out to. The simple act of feeding them and clothing them is one way to do this.

I remember, as a child, going out with our church and my family to feed the homeless. I remember visiting the shelters and giving out clothing. I remember visiting the women’s shelter. Reaching outside, beyond our walls, is important! It leaves a lasting impression not only on the people that you touch, but on yourself as well.

Matthew 9:35-38 lays out just one example of Jesus’ way with people, the lost:

³⁵Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. ³⁶When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Emphasis added)

We have only wet our feet with this outreach. What are we going to do? What are we going to give? How can we help? Where is our compassion? We need to be workers in His harvest and look beyond “I.” We truly are blessed! Thank you Jesus!