It has been a while since my last blog because I have wanted to make sure what I write had a purpose and my blog didn’t turn into another boring religious blog. Recently I had the opportunity to teach an evangelism class at church. The goal of this class was to help people see through the eyes of their demographic and practice the approach Jesus took.
If you follow Jesus foot steps and how he interacted with people, he was very laid back and showed interest in them whole heartily, looking to build relationships with his people. It was through these relationships he was able to show them how God fit into their lives. He ate with tax collectors, talked with prostitutes, walked through towns no Jew of his time would walk through, and talked with people others turned their faces to. His heart was open to anyone who had a listening ear, and he made sure he understood his audience before he spoke.
The class is a four week course and in week four the class goes out and helps out a ministry to put what they learned to the test. We choose to help out City on A Hill, and it was here that I realized how lucky and unworthy I really am. You see City on A Hill is a ministry that helps the homeless and financially hurting on the North Side of Milwaukee. They touch all aspects of helping these individuals from holding medical clinics, handing out food, hosting great meals, clothes, and so much more.
Our job was to sit down at the tables of those eating, chat with them and see where we could pray for them. I was so excited because as most know I’m a yapper, but most of all I love bringing a little light into the lives of those that could use a good laugh. The first thing that hurt my heart was seeing a cafeteria filled to the brim of people without jobs and shelter waiting for the best meal they will have for the month. I choose to sit down at a table with two older gentlemen and asked if I could join them, they agreed.
My goal isn’t to hit them with scripture, or bible beat them, I wanted to get to know them on a personal level and understand what they were going through. The first gentleman had a smile on his face and I asked him what was making him so chipper, His reply was he was blessed. When I asked how he was blessed he said he knows God loves him because he has his health, a place to sleep, a set of clean clothes, and a place to go for a warm meal. He looked at me and whispered, “Do you know there are people in other countries so poor they are forced to eat mud mixed with sugar called mud pies, I haven’t been that poor before”.
Here’s a man who is experiencing greater poverty then I have ever had to go through considering himself blessed and through the simplest items seeing the love of God in his life. I felt so unworthy to even sit down and pray for this man. Here I am driving in my car, going back to my house filled with food and material items with a closet full of clean clothes, with the ability to wash them with my washer and dryer, money in the bank, and food we waste on a daily basis. It was then I realized how much I take for granted in life.
As the day progressed I had the privilege to chat with many awesome people and hear the pains they were facing. The theme to the message put in my heart was never give up on God, he hears your prayers, and feels your pain.
Mathew 6:25-34 – a scripture I live by
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
You may have prayed the same prayer 100 times with no answer, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. I was shocked how none I talked to spoke out against God with their situation and most still believed in the power of prayer, and still had their faith.
I must admit I ended up leaving 20 minutes early, because my heart couldn’t bare seeing all this pain while I was taking for granted how blessed I really was. My whole car ride home I prayed out for the individuals I talked to who needed a job, homes, health coverage, etc…and I ended it by thanking him for what Hannah and I have been blessed with and so unworthy to have.
It was such a humbling experience, and I think I will be back volunteering at City on A Hill next month. I encourage all reading this to think about your life and take an opportunity to thank God for how good you have it, for the food in your stomach, for the roof over your head, for the money you may be receiving, for the job you may have in this hard economy, for the interview you have lined up, for your health you may have, or the car you may be driving, for the family you may be blessed with, or for how far he has taken you from your old self, for the relief of any addictions, or the reuniting of your marriage, what ever God has done in your life don’t take it for granted and don’t be selfish with it either. Give to those who need it the most. God bless
