Give Away Your Life

For over 2 years now I have had the desire to spend time on a regular basis with those who live on the streets.  Not to tell them they need to make the choices I make, to live like me but to begin a friendship and maybe just maybe they may see a hint of Jesus in me.  As I write that sentence I feel as though some may think I am boasting.  It is not that, it's just I'm sure people I encounter each day do not always see Jesus in me, because I am not always being the person he has asked me to be.

I've wrestled all week with the words "Beauty in the Broken".  We are currently working on an piece of art to unveil during Hunger and Homeless week in November.  Kris, the photographer, told me she chose a particular spot in the chapel to shoot each picture because this spot reflected the beauty in the broken. If only we could all see the beauty we are missing out on each day.

Today, I'm traveling to Nashville to meet with the leader of The Bridge Ministry.  Tomorrow, I will lead our first meeting for our Homeless Outreach at HOTEL INC.  I don't know what to expect, who will show, but I know that God has a greater plan - a plan of life for us to live and live with others.

As I am reading in the book of Luke this morning the title of the text begins to resonate with me " Give Away Your Life". The words pierce, prod and promise me.  Then I begin to look through other pages of Luke and the titles of An Event for Everyone, Blessings, Son of Adam - Son of God, Tested by the Devil, To Set the Burdened Free, He Healed them All, Push Out into Deep Water, Invitation to a Changed Life, You're Blessed, Work the Words into Your Life, Is this what You were Expecting,  His Touch, Keep it Simple, Bread and Fish for Five Thousand, Don't Run from Suffering, Your Business in Life, Defining " Neighbor", Ask for What you Need, Keep your Eyes Open, Can't Hide Behind a Religious Mask, Steep Yourself in God Reality, The Way to God, Invite the Misfits, Figure the Cost, The story of the Lost Sheep, The story of the Lost Coin, The story of the Lost Son, God sees behind Appearances, A Rich Man and Lazarus, A Kernel of Faith, Zacchaeus, God's Personal Visit, All Intimacies will be with God, Get Ready for Trouble, The Road to Emmaus.  This is not all of them for the story of birth, death and resurrection are in the book of Luke too but these titles...today these titles beckon me.

I could write a story about each of the titles above and maybe someday I will but for this moment I just reread them and allow the words to penetrate my soul. I am reminded of my true genealogy, of miracles, of walking away, of redeeming love, of moving beyond my self and my selfishness, of blessings, of no discrimination, of the cost.

Lord, make me an instrument of you.  Your love, your kindness, your grace so that I may always see the beauty in the broken and be willing to give away my life, for you.       amen

A Hike in the Rain

For the last several weeks I haven't felt well.  Nothing serious just not feeling my normal self.  Over the weekend I began to feel much better and today I awakened to no pain, lots of energy and an excitement over both.  I text a friend to see if she would like to join me for a mid-morning hike.  She herself wasn't feeling very well so I decided to go anyway. I had no idea it was raining! My destination was Lost River Cave.
I've never taken the time to stop at the Cave and boy have I been missing out.  I can't wait to go back on a day that it is not raining to be able to enjoy all of the aspects of nature there.  Maybe, I will take the boat ride too.
I chose a simple hike of 2.5 miles so I could see the Blue Holes.  I knew from having been to Yellowstone and seeing the Geyser's that the Blue Holes would be water holes from the underground river.  So today I enjoyed three of them.  At first I thought it was a fish that had jumped up but on second look it was the largest frog I've ever seen.  He had the kind of legs my grandpa would have went giggin' for!  And there sound was different from any I'd ever heard before, a higher pitched voice.
There was a small detour to see the Lost River spring.  It was worth the detour.  It reminded me of the water the springs from the side of the mountain in Pocahontas County, WV.  So clear it doesn't even show up in the pictures I took.  Running as a small waterfall down the knoll of rocks to the underground river.

I will journey back there...for it is a quiet place to sit, put your toes in the water and just enjoy a small part of God's creation.

I look forward to another hike even if it's in the rain. The raindrops falling through the leaves kissing the wildflowers that grow in the deep woods were a gentle reminder...I'm never alone.

Making a Statement that is heard by Few

Today possibly millions of people went and stood in line or sat in the car for hours to buy a chicken sandwich all because the CEO's son made a statement in an interview that they agreed with.

I am using my blog that will not be read or seen by millions, thousands or hundreds to share some of my statements.

1 in 4 children in Kentucky are going hungry.

I've spoken to 4 homeless families living in their vehicles over the past two weeks and I have no housing options to suggest to them. The waiting list are up to 2 years long.

Human trafficking currently involves 27 million victims in the world.

There is no where you can live in the United States on $7.25 an hour.

Over 88,000 military families use SNAP benefits (food stamps).

Matthew 25: 34-40, The Message
Then the King will say to those on his right, "Enter, you who are blessed by my Father!Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why: I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me." "Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, "I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me - you did it to me.'
vs. 41-43 - "Then he will turn to the 'goats', the ones on his left, and say, 'Get out, worthless goats! You're good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because - I was hungry and you gave me no meal, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was homeless and you gave me no bed, I was shivering and you gave me no clothes, sick and in prison, and you never visited.'
paraphrase of vs 44 - The goats go on to ask Jesus what are you talking about when did we ever see you hungry, thirsty, homeless, shivering, sick or in prison and didn't help?
vs45 " He will answer them, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me - you failed to do it to me.'

Today as millions stood as "one" with a person's statement, I'm left to wonder where they will be standing in line tomorrow and the next day and the next. I imagine there will be no lines at soup kitchens, prisons, food pantry's, hospitals, nursing homes, or rooms being made available but today their stomach was filled.

I'm only one person but this I know.  God created us all in His image to bring glory to him!