Those who read this blog know that music is the thing that turns my heart and soul toward God. Today I was thinking about how much help others need now and when we are again able to gather together. We are called by Christ to help each other. I have sung this song so many times and for so many years but it still speaks of how we should live.
Category: give
What can I give?
As we move each day closer to the birth of Jesus think about what you can bring to him. This video is a wonderful example of that kind of thinking. Enjoy!
Do we really see them?
Psalm 41:1
Happy are those who consider the poor;[a]
the Lord delivers them in the day of trouble.
We don’t want to see the poor and needy. It disturbs us. Probably because we feel guilty about not doing something. We see homeless people on the streets and they are dirty, wear layers of clothing (have everything they own on their backs) and often smell bad. They are not pleasant to be around. They often beg for money and we generally assume that they will use the money for liquor or drugs. Hoe much we assume! I wonder if we would fee the same way if we knew their story.
Christ calls us to give out of our abundance. Maybe we think we don’t have much to give but by comparison we are very rich. The psalmist tells us that we will be happy if we help…that help will come to us in our time of need if we do. It reminds me of the saying “what goes around, comes around!” If we do nothing that could be a scary thought.
Prayer. God of the homeless and needy . Help us to not pass by when we encounter the poor. Le us see the incredible plenty that we have and inspire us to share. Remind us that we, also could be one of those in need but for your grace. AMEN
Prayer for those in distress after Dorian
Lord God, the people affected by Dorian need your loving and healing hands. Send your grace to uphold them. Their anguish is great. Give them peace and hope in the days to come. Remind us all to help where we can and be generous with the gifts you have given us. We pray to you in the name of your son Jesus Christ. Amen
caring and praying
It is a wonderful thing to care about others. Putting feet to the caring is the next step.
It is a wonderful thing to pray. Putting feet to the prayer is the next step.
Notice the girl in the clip. She is actually doing something.
Sometimes doing something is not possible but when it is… do it. Too often the caring stays in our minds and not in our actions.
Caring and praying are critical. Just remember to follow through with the next step.
Servants
Another one of my favorite songs. I always see it as the way I should live.
Too much?
We read this psalm in church this morning and I almost don’t think it needs much discussion except to say that we are the society that has to have storage containers to store our extra “stuff.” Think about it.
Psalm 49
The Folly of Trust in Riches
1 Hear this, all you peoples;
give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
2 both low and high,
rich and poor together.
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom;
the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb;
I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp.
5 Why should I fear in times of trouble,
when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,
6 those who trust in their wealth
and boast of the abundance of their riches?
7 Truly, no ransom avails for one’s life,[a]
there is no price one can give to God for it.
8 For the ransom of life is costly,
and can never suffice,
9 that one should live on forever
and never see the grave.[b]
10 When we look at the wise, they die;
fool and dolt perish together
and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their graves[c] are their homes forever,
their dwelling places to all generations,
though they named lands their own.
12 Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;
they are like the animals that perish.
13 Such is the fate of the foolhardy,
the end of those[d] who are pleased with their lot.Selah
14 Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
Death shall be their shepherd;
straight to the grave they descend,[e]
and their form shall waste away;
Sheol shall be their home.[f]
15 But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
for he will receive me.Selah
16 Do not be afraid when some become rich,
when the wealth of their houses increases.
17 For when they die they will carry nothing away;
their wealth will not go down after them.
18 Though in their lifetime they count themselves happy
—for you are praised when you do well for yourself—
19 they[g] will go to the company of their ancestors,
who will never again see the light.
20 Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;
they are like the animals that perish.
Pray and Do
It is important to pray for people. Prayer is never wasted. It is, however, not right to substitute prayer for helping someone in a physical way. We can so easily push aside what we ought to do and just pray. Keep praying but do what is needed.
Not just in church
Our concern is not how to worship in the catacombs but how to remain human in the skyscrapers. Abraham J. Heschel
Do we only worship in designated worship spaces? Do we take out God our into the streets. Christ did not call us to stay in church. He called us to care for the sick and needy. Most of the time they are not in our churches. Do we take our care outside the walls?
Do something!
A man of words and not or deeds, is like a garden full of weeds. English Proverb
Too often I see Christians not following through with the things Christ called us to do. If you have money it is much easier to throw money at a problem rather than do anything yourself. To get dirty actually helping is not what we want to do. Maybe those homeless will fix themselves.
Don’t ever forget that we are called to actually do something!
Hear God in Other Voices 