Charity Starts At Home

If you are anything like wife and I, you are routinely asked to give to one cause or another. This can often be overwhelming. I often wonder, just how much more can I give? These causes are important but I wonder if we are missing the point sometimes. Is it right to give to these causes and at the same time make our children take out loans to go to college?

These many causes often have lots of trained people trying to convince you that their cause is the most important. We should support some of these. But what about the least of my children?

Jesus in the gospels tells us to clothe the naked and feed the hungry. My wife is helping with vacation bible school this week. One woman came with a large number of children. Their clothes were ragged and worn. Moved to action, my wife came home and went on hunt to help provide this woman some clothes for her children. All of the closets were cleaned out. If we didn't have a size that she needed, she contacted friends that might.

This is what I feel it is really all about. Seeing a need and meeting it without being asked. The woman did not ask for anything but my wife saw a need and was moved to help meet it.

Jesus is the same way. Sometimes we don't see our need or are too embarrassed to ask for help, but Jesus knows what we need and He will provide at the appropriate time. 

Luke, It is your destiny

While we don't all have a Sith lord as our farther, we do all have a destiny. We will all be held accountable, one day, for our actions and words.

Always speak and act as men destined for judgement under the law of freedom. Merciless is the judgment on the man who has not shown mercy; but mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:12-13

My wife has told me, and it is true, that I often speak before thinking. This gets me into trouble at times. There are times when I speak out of anger or hurt not thinking about what kind of damage I might inflict on others along the way. This happened again yesterday. I could come up with all kinds of excuses for my behavior but the bottom line is that I am an adult and I must take responsibility for my actions and words.

The other half of this comes just as hard. Do I show mercy for others who may be having a rough day just like me? Do I forgive others easily or do I hold onto hurts, real or imagined? 

While I am getting better, sadly the answer is no to both of these questions. Because of our sinful nature we will all struggle with these things. What am I doing to get better?

1. Pray
2. Scripture(read and prayed over daily)
3. Pray
4. Practice patience
5. Pray

We live in a world where we are told to demand our rights. To never back down. To go for the kill. The world may look at me as weak for being merciful but Christ demands something greater of me. 

I keep praying that I will be able to show mercy in everything I do and with everyone I meet.