The Least Of These

Even Jesus did not spend every waking hour helping the poor. He dined with the wealthy, celebrated at weddings and feasts, taught in the synagogue, and perhaps even did a bit of carpentry. Still, there is no question that His love for the poor found consistent and concrete expression in His life and ministry. The question for you and for me is this: will Christ find evidence of our genuine concern for His beloved poor when He looks at the fruit on that day? Further, what might He be calling you to do today? What new steps of faith might you take to demonstrate your own concern for "the least of these"?

The Hole In Our Gospel, Rich Stearns

The Ministry of Small Things

The unglamorous and little publicized words of mercy, the ministry of small things, feeding and sheltering, visiting the sick and incarcerated, educating, correcting, speaking a healing word, bearing wrongs, listening creatively, counseling, washing dirty feet, praying with people, are all ways of living the life of compassion. This is no minor matter. When Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:48, "Be perfect... as your heavenly Father is perfect," the same commandment is translated in Luke 6:36: "Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate."

The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus, Brennan Manning

The Ugandan American Partnership Organization

Have you ever felt like the world was too big and you were too small to make a difference? Have you ever thought that you were just one person, so what could you do to significantly help others?

Brittany Merrill, a local Atlanta woman, proves that even one person can make a difference. While teaching literature in the summer of 2004 in Uganda, she had the opportunity to travel to nearby villages. Brittany met local people and learned of their struggles to provide for the many orphans in their country. Based on this experience, she founded the Ugandan American Partnership Organization. 

Read More Here.

Feed The Forgotten

How can we creatively find ways to give food to these families who are hungry and weak? Thanks to Children's Hope Chest we can all take part in bringing meals to people who desperately need them - what a great way to spend a weekend! We get to Feed The Forgotten.

I know...there may be many of you out there like me who have already given financially to this and other projects and are feeling like there might not be much left to give. But since we can provide a meal for only $.14 for someone in Uganda I suggest we swap something we have planned for this weekend in order to feed these precious, hungry people. Are you in? Here are some ideas:

Who has plans to go out for lunch or dinner? Would you consider swapping your meal to Feed The Forgotten. Get this: The $30 dinner that you swap can provide 214 meals for Ugandans! (When you swap your meal please remember to note "Feed The Forgotten" in the notes section.)

Who is planning on shopping for new summer clothes? Would you consider swapping one of your items to put food in the bellies of hungry people? Giving up that $25 shirt will provide 179 meals for people in Uganda!

Whose children are anxious to do their first lemonade stand of the year? How about talking to your kids about swapping their profits from the lemonade they sell to Feed The Forgotten? One $.75 lemonade can feed 5 children a meal. What a great way to show your children that they CAN do something too!!

Who is planning on paying a babysitter so you can go out this weekend? How about swapping babysitting services with a friend so that you both can donate the money you saved to Feed The Forgotten? A $40 savings in babysitting can provide285 meals for Ugandans!!

Who is looking forward to that Saturday morning coffee at the coffee shop? How about swapping your $4.00 coffee drink for 29 meals for hungry people? It doesn't take much!

Who has plans to catch a movie this weekend? How about swapping one movie ticket (about $9.50) for 68 meals?? Hard to believe that sacrificing one movie can give so many people food!

Who is planning a trip to the local ice cream shop? How about swapping your $10 ice cream visit to fill up 71 peoplewith a meal?

We CAN do something and we can do it together this weekend! When you give (being sure to identify "Feed the Forgotten" in the notes section) please pray for these people who are suffering and have such tangible needs. It's humbling that God chooses to use US to be His hands and feet. These people will NOT be forgotten this weekend!!

$0.14 will provide 1 meal
$2.86 will feed someone for 20 days
$1 will feed a family
$20 will feed a family for 20 days

YOU can Make a Difference

*Originally posted by Brandi

Stand In The Door

When Charles Spurgeon was once asked if the heathen who had never heard the Gospel would be saved, his reply is reputed to be, 'Will you be saved when you do not bring them the Gospel?' What a responsibility we have to every creature in every place: even the unexpected.

Plenty For Everyone, Corrie Ten Boom

'Stand in the door' means that we must be obedient and go where God tells us, whether it be a call to the mission field or a call to work for Him at home. He can use us only when we are in the place where he wants us to be.

Plenty For Everyone, Corrie Ten Boom

The Kingdom Of God

The Lord's command to go out and make disciples is a direct invitation to join God in what He is doing - a call to action.  Speaking to each of us, God is saying, You, Me, let's go! We have work to do, and it's urgent! Join Me!  How amazing to see our participation in kingdom work in this way, as God's partners.  And if we really are partners with Him, then it follows that we are not to stand by, "looking into the sky" (see Acts 1:11) and casually waiting for Christ's return.  No, we're to go about the Master's business, carrying the good news through our words and deed, thereby ushering in the kingdom of God.

The Hole In Our Gospel, Richard Stearns