When we forsake the lives of others, we actually forsake our own.

"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for some have entertained angels unaware." Hebrews 13:2


I have a sign that has that verse in the doorway of my house. It wasn't until today that I realized how big of a hypocrite that makes me. What strangers have I let in? How many times have I said no to somebody who knocked on the door?

How many times have I looked down on somebody asking for money on the street? Or worse, how many times did I not even look?

"Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." Hebrews 13:3


Maybe we may not know the pain of the man we pass on the road, but don't we all suffer? Don't we all know pain? Have we not all been imprisoned by something? If we know what if feels like, why don't we choose to help others who are still there? What makes us think we're any better just because we're not in that place anymore?

I'm tired of living selfishly. There is no joy in that. The money, food, house and everything else I have wasn't meant to stay with me. We've been given the opportunity to reach out and proclaim the goodness of the Lord with those who have been told by the world they are worthless.


"One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want." Proverbs 11:24

"Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor." Proverbs 14:21

"Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him." Proverbs 14:31

"Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered." Proverbs 21:13


You may not have much or think you can contribute enough to make a difference, but don't let that stop you. Jesus used 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed the five thousand.


Don't you think He can use you too?

consider the birds.

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" Matthew 6:25-26

Well it's been a while since I've updated and something HUGE has happened that needs to be said. All of my money for Africa is in. Did you catch that? Let me say it again just in case.. All 4,700 dollars that I needed to raise by April 2nd was raised in time. Praise Jesus.

morning of April 2nd: I still needed $1,200. That was a pretty discouraging number. I wasn't really that anxious about the money until the week of. All of a sudden I began to panic. Can you imagine the size of my panic when on the day the money was due, there was an impossibly huge number staring back at me from the computer screen? If you need a visual, that kind of panic involved tears. And perhaps some misplaced blame.. whoops. I never claimed to be perfect :)

BUT He mopped up my tears and covered my words with grace and placed people in my life that have blessed me beyond anything I could ever imagine. He says in Matthew that he takes care of the birds that have far less value than we do. He feeds them. He keeps them safe. He loves them. He does all of that for birds. Birds! How could I not realize that He would do even more for me??

"But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the world seeks after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:30-33

Seek. Pursue. Desire. That's what He wants from us. To seek Him. To pursue Him. To desire Him. I think that's what we should be striving for. And then, all those questions we have about life, they'll seem so mundane. They wont matter. Because we don't have to question things we know. And when we're seeking His righteousness, we KNOW we are taken care of.


so next time doubt creeps in... just consider the birds.