This year, the Christmas season has left me feeling confused. Out of place. It's so easy during this time of year to fall in to the ways and trends of this worldly place we call home. In a way, its quite disgusting. I know in church I always hear about how Christmas is about Jesus and that's why we give presents. Does that really make sense to anyone? Are we really acting like Christmas is about Jesus? If we were, would we be spending half the amount of money that we have most likely already spent? Would we make Christmas lists and high expectations? I don't believe so.
This Christmas I get to go to Atlanta and hand out bagged meals to my friends. I'm not trying to sound high and mighty, that's just what I feel called to do. Christmas should mean so much more than buying presents. Yes, it's Jesus' "birthday", cool. Do something for HIM! It's not your birthday for goodness sake.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
My Friend S.
Before God called me to Atlanta, I had a very stereotypical view of homeless people. I assumed that all of them had some horrible kind of addiction and that they were just after peoples money. I basically reduced them to an in-human level, although at the time I would have denied it. Now that some of my closest friends are homeless people, or "clients" as Safehouse Outreach refers to them, I wish that everyone could realize that they are people just like we are. They have favorite foods, seasons, colors, sports teams, pastimes, places and favorite days of the week just like we do. People are people no matter what.
I met S. on the second night of my first week long trip to Atlanta. He was reading a book and I decided to ask him what he was reading because reading fascinates me. A question turned into a conversation and before I knew it a friend and I had been talking to S. for half an hour. The next night we looked for S. and after finding him started up another conversation. S. broke my heart. He had only been on the streets for two weeks on the day that I met him. Meeting S. forced me to the realization that aside from being considerably older than me, and a man, he and I weren't that different. We both grew up in the suburbs, going to church every Sunday and the only times we really ever went to Atlanta was for the occasional baseball game. S. never imagined that he would one day be living on the streets of Atlanta and getting his nightly meal at Safehouse.
The fourth night of those first five days that I spent in Atlanta was the night that changed life as I knew it. It started out as any other night, our team headed outside the doors at Safehouse promptly at five-thirty to greet the clients before the service at six-thirty. Two of my friends and I set off to look for S.. That night was different because the service was being held outside in the late July smoldering heat. The parking lot was crowded and uncomfortably warm but we eventually spotted S. sitting with a few other guys. We sat down on the warm parking lot near S. and began talking about his day. He was sipping a sweet tea from McDonald's that he had purchased on the way back from the odd job he had found that day. S. was and still is a very hard worker. He had walked three miles to and from the work that day but he was grateful for any work at all. The next event is what changed my heart towards the people in Atlanta forever.
An elderly African-American man (also a client) had been sitting to the left of S. He hadn't said much during our conversation but I noticed that he seemed to be in pain. He had some pain medication that his doctor had given him for his knee (which was very swollen). The man began looking worriedly around as it appeared that the volunteers were running low on the iced tea that they were handing out. He apparently needed to take his pill to make the pain from his knee bearable. Without being asked, S. offered the man the last sips of his sweet tea to take the medication. I was speechless. For me, that wouldn't have been a big deal. I'm not rich but an iced tea for a dollar every now and then is by no means going to break me.
In the few seconds that it took for S. to pass his sweet tea to the elderly man, I realized that he had just given me and anyone else paying attention a perfect illustration of God's love. S. gave the man his only drink without expecting anything in return. Just like God sent this world his only Son. God loves us unconditionally without any strings attached. The choice that the man had was whether or not to accept the gift that S. was holding out to him. It's the same way with God's love. He isn't going to make us take it, it's our choice. The man did nothing to deserve the iced cold tea that S. had but it didn't matter to S..
We, as Christians, are saved by grace. We were born into sin and we did absolutely nothing to deserve the wonderful gift of salvation that God offered us after He sent His only Son to die for our sins. It seems like an obvious choice. Take the tea. Accept Jesus as your personal Savior. But to some people it isn't. When you accept Jesus as your Savior you have to make Him Lord of your life. You have to realize that you have done nothing to deserve salvation, just as the man had done nothing to deserve the tea that S. had bought. We are born into sin and deserve nothing more than death and hell. After the realization you have a choice. You can forget what you heard and live your life by the worlds standards and in the end get exactly what you deserve. Death and hell. Or, you can take up your cross and follow Jesus. You can choose to accept the gift that you don't deserve and live your life for Jesus on this earth before joining Him at your true home in eternity. It seems like an obvious choice.
That night I cried myself to sleep thinking about how S. had given the man all he had just to make his pain more bearable. It brought me to this question: Would I be able to do that? Would I be willing?
Here I am Lord, send me.
I met S. on the second night of my first week long trip to Atlanta. He was reading a book and I decided to ask him what he was reading because reading fascinates me. A question turned into a conversation and before I knew it a friend and I had been talking to S. for half an hour. The next night we looked for S. and after finding him started up another conversation. S. broke my heart. He had only been on the streets for two weeks on the day that I met him. Meeting S. forced me to the realization that aside from being considerably older than me, and a man, he and I weren't that different. We both grew up in the suburbs, going to church every Sunday and the only times we really ever went to Atlanta was for the occasional baseball game. S. never imagined that he would one day be living on the streets of Atlanta and getting his nightly meal at Safehouse.
The fourth night of those first five days that I spent in Atlanta was the night that changed life as I knew it. It started out as any other night, our team headed outside the doors at Safehouse promptly at five-thirty to greet the clients before the service at six-thirty. Two of my friends and I set off to look for S.. That night was different because the service was being held outside in the late July smoldering heat. The parking lot was crowded and uncomfortably warm but we eventually spotted S. sitting with a few other guys. We sat down on the warm parking lot near S. and began talking about his day. He was sipping a sweet tea from McDonald's that he had purchased on the way back from the odd job he had found that day. S. was and still is a very hard worker. He had walked three miles to and from the work that day but he was grateful for any work at all. The next event is what changed my heart towards the people in Atlanta forever.
An elderly African-American man (also a client) had been sitting to the left of S. He hadn't said much during our conversation but I noticed that he seemed to be in pain. He had some pain medication that his doctor had given him for his knee (which was very swollen). The man began looking worriedly around as it appeared that the volunteers were running low on the iced tea that they were handing out. He apparently needed to take his pill to make the pain from his knee bearable. Without being asked, S. offered the man the last sips of his sweet tea to take the medication. I was speechless. For me, that wouldn't have been a big deal. I'm not rich but an iced tea for a dollar every now and then is by no means going to break me.
In the few seconds that it took for S. to pass his sweet tea to the elderly man, I realized that he had just given me and anyone else paying attention a perfect illustration of God's love. S. gave the man his only drink without expecting anything in return. Just like God sent this world his only Son. God loves us unconditionally without any strings attached. The choice that the man had was whether or not to accept the gift that S. was holding out to him. It's the same way with God's love. He isn't going to make us take it, it's our choice. The man did nothing to deserve the iced cold tea that S. had but it didn't matter to S..
We, as Christians, are saved by grace. We were born into sin and we did absolutely nothing to deserve the wonderful gift of salvation that God offered us after He sent His only Son to die for our sins. It seems like an obvious choice. Take the tea. Accept Jesus as your personal Savior. But to some people it isn't. When you accept Jesus as your Savior you have to make Him Lord of your life. You have to realize that you have done nothing to deserve salvation, just as the man had done nothing to deserve the tea that S. had bought. We are born into sin and deserve nothing more than death and hell. After the realization you have a choice. You can forget what you heard and live your life by the worlds standards and in the end get exactly what you deserve. Death and hell. Or, you can take up your cross and follow Jesus. You can choose to accept the gift that you don't deserve and live your life for Jesus on this earth before joining Him at your true home in eternity. It seems like an obvious choice.
That night I cried myself to sleep thinking about how S. had given the man all he had just to make his pain more bearable. It brought me to this question: Would I be able to do that? Would I be willing?
Here I am Lord, send me.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
A lot on my mind...
I used to make fun of bloggers. They always seemed a little bit out there to me, of course, now that I have become one that is no longer an issue. I recently got back from a mission trip to my city, Atlanta, where I received a list of ways to "get involved in the homeless cause."Starting a blog about homelessness in my area was one of the ideas on the list and I decided that it was definitely doable. I love Atlanta. I love the people there, I love the dedication that the inner-city outreaches and ministries have towards reaching the people, but most of all, I love what God is doing in Atlanta. I love to see how He works in and among His people. I love being able to see hope offered to the hopeless. It is truly incredible.
Last Spring I felt God calling me specifically to Atlanta. I wasn't sure what exactly that meant or what to do but God is sovereign and He knew. One of my friends caught the vision and pretty soon, along with the help of our youth pastor, we were able to begin planning a mission trip to inner city Atlanta. The planning process was difficult but God it taught me so many things. I learned that God's will is always the best way and that He does everything for a specific reason. Before I knew it we had planned a week long trip at the end of July 2008 with Safehouse Outreach.
That week changed my life on so many different levels. The people I would have ignored a few months earlier had become some of my closest friends. God taught me that loving Him and loving people would change your viewpoints on everything. He me that He is so much larger and more powerful than I can ever imagine. He taught me that even though I am insignificant according to worldly standards, I can make a difference. He taught me that He created these people who where ignored and pushed to the side and that He loved them just as much as He loves me. Those five days in Atlanta completely turned life as I knew it upside down and left me with the only option of putting all of my trust completely in God and His will for my life. That was exactly what I did and although it certainly isn't easy, I know that beyond a shadow of a doubt it was and still is the right choice.
I cried myself to sleep for weeks after that trip. The thought that my dear friends were sleeping under the stars rain or shine still brings tears to my eyes. My heart was completely broken for the beautiful people of Atlanta and God had given me a burden for them that I could barely understand much less explain. One of my closest friends had felt the same burden and had invited me to join her and her family as they faithfully returned to Safehouse Outreach in downtown Atlanta. I always looked forward to these trips and prayed about them as far ahead of time as I had known about them. My heart was still broken for the people in Atlanta and I clearly felt God's calling to reach out to them. A month and a half ago, I felt God leading me to plan another trip to Atlanta. Thankfully I had a big support team this time and with their help we figured out the details to plan a trip for the weekend after Thanksgiving.
I got back from the Thanksgiving Atlanta Trip three days ago and I have never felt more sure that God is in control ever in my life. Over the trip I realized that God is specifically calling me to Atlanta right now. I realized that no matter how hard I try I will never be able to convey what I feel for the people in Atlanta or make anyone feel the same way I do. I also realized that God had given me some of the closest friends I will ever have who share the burden and calling that I do. God is such an awesome God!!!
I don't fit in at my school anymore. I hope and pray that I never will. After seeing how alive God is in the city in Atlanta and realizing that the same God who holds the world in His hands and created the world in 6 (rested on the 7th :)) days has a plan for my life, it's hard to be "normal." A friend pointed out that it was hard to adjust back to normal life and that was when it hit me. We aren't supposed to! This world is NOT our home! Why would we want to try hard to fit in inside a world where we don't belong. As Christians, eternity is our home. Our home is with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. No worries, I'm not planning on dropping out of school and selling everything I own unless God specifically tells me to :). But I am planning on living radically. Why not? You can have all this world, give me Jesus!
Last Spring I felt God calling me specifically to Atlanta. I wasn't sure what exactly that meant or what to do but God is sovereign and He knew. One of my friends caught the vision and pretty soon, along with the help of our youth pastor, we were able to begin planning a mission trip to inner city Atlanta. The planning process was difficult but God it taught me so many things. I learned that God's will is always the best way and that He does everything for a specific reason. Before I knew it we had planned a week long trip at the end of July 2008 with Safehouse Outreach.
That week changed my life on so many different levels. The people I would have ignored a few months earlier had become some of my closest friends. God taught me that loving Him and loving people would change your viewpoints on everything. He me that He is so much larger and more powerful than I can ever imagine. He taught me that even though I am insignificant according to worldly standards, I can make a difference. He taught me that He created these people who where ignored and pushed to the side and that He loved them just as much as He loves me. Those five days in Atlanta completely turned life as I knew it upside down and left me with the only option of putting all of my trust completely in God and His will for my life. That was exactly what I did and although it certainly isn't easy, I know that beyond a shadow of a doubt it was and still is the right choice.
I cried myself to sleep for weeks after that trip. The thought that my dear friends were sleeping under the stars rain or shine still brings tears to my eyes. My heart was completely broken for the beautiful people of Atlanta and God had given me a burden for them that I could barely understand much less explain. One of my closest friends had felt the same burden and had invited me to join her and her family as they faithfully returned to Safehouse Outreach in downtown Atlanta. I always looked forward to these trips and prayed about them as far ahead of time as I had known about them. My heart was still broken for the people in Atlanta and I clearly felt God's calling to reach out to them. A month and a half ago, I felt God leading me to plan another trip to Atlanta. Thankfully I had a big support team this time and with their help we figured out the details to plan a trip for the weekend after Thanksgiving.
I got back from the Thanksgiving Atlanta Trip three days ago and I have never felt more sure that God is in control ever in my life. Over the trip I realized that God is specifically calling me to Atlanta right now. I realized that no matter how hard I try I will never be able to convey what I feel for the people in Atlanta or make anyone feel the same way I do. I also realized that God had given me some of the closest friends I will ever have who share the burden and calling that I do. God is such an awesome God!!!
I don't fit in at my school anymore. I hope and pray that I never will. After seeing how alive God is in the city in Atlanta and realizing that the same God who holds the world in His hands and created the world in 6 (rested on the 7th :)) days has a plan for my life, it's hard to be "normal." A friend pointed out that it was hard to adjust back to normal life and that was when it hit me. We aren't supposed to! This world is NOT our home! Why would we want to try hard to fit in inside a world where we don't belong. As Christians, eternity is our home. Our home is with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. No worries, I'm not planning on dropping out of school and selling everything I own unless God specifically tells me to :). But I am planning on living radically. Why not? You can have all this world, give me Jesus!
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