In this though I have re-awakened my love for those who are persecuted. For the orphans and widows. For those who don't have a voice for themselves. My sister described it perfectly by saying:
Being truly pro-life means loving and rescuing both the unborn and born. How can we care more about a fertilized egg within a womb that those outside the womb? Human beings that are being tortured and dying? Why can't the answer be both? I urge fellow Christians in this time, to remember the story Jesus told of the good Samaritan. Ask yourself...
Are you the "Priest", the Levite or the Samaritan?
Luke 10:25-37
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
"You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
I was truly struggling yesterday to put into both thought and words the things that were on my heart. Many of you know before I was married I had the honor and privilege of traveling all over the globe working with, loving and providing for those who where being persecuted. Refugees, orphans, widows, prostitutes so many became like family to me. I have met people who were persecuted because of their faith, skin color, origin of birth..... I met a man who spent 10 years in jail due to his beliefs not lining up with those of the country's at the time. I had the honor of learning first hand your religion, skin tone or country of origin does NOT determine your character or personality. I have had and still do have friends who are Atheist, Agnostic, Wicken, Christian, Jewish and more. My heart is truly breaking for the blind eye and/or justification we as Christians are giving for not helping those in need. This is not to say that I think our screening process is perfect. It does need to change but in a way that doesn't turn a blind eye to those who might die tomorrow due to something we could have changed today. I'm not asking you to agree with me. But I can't just sit back and say nothing. I will be a voice for the voiceless.
I happened to look up the numbers of those who have died in Syria alone during 2016:
That is appalling and breaks my heart. I went and looked through my pictures of my travels and came across a picture from my trip to Suriname of some refugee and tribe children I was able to love on and work with back in 2008.
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
"You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
I was truly struggling yesterday to put into both thought and words the things that were on my heart. Many of you know before I was married I had the honor and privilege of traveling all over the globe working with, loving and providing for those who where being persecuted. Refugees, orphans, widows, prostitutes so many became like family to me. I have met people who were persecuted because of their faith, skin color, origin of birth..... I met a man who spent 10 years in jail due to his beliefs not lining up with those of the country's at the time. I had the honor of learning first hand your religion, skin tone or country of origin does NOT determine your character or personality. I have had and still do have friends who are Atheist, Agnostic, Wicken, Christian, Jewish and more. My heart is truly breaking for the blind eye and/or justification we as Christians are giving for not helping those in need. This is not to say that I think our screening process is perfect. It does need to change but in a way that doesn't turn a blind eye to those who might die tomorrow due to something we could have changed today. I'm not asking you to agree with me. But I can't just sit back and say nothing. I will be a voice for the voiceless.
I happened to look up the numbers of those who have died in Syria alone during 2016:
That is appalling and breaks my heart. I went and looked through my pictures of my travels and came across a picture from my trip to Suriname of some refugee and tribe children I was able to love on and work with back in 2008.
I know this isn't what I normally would write about. But this is something that is weighing heavily on my heart. If I could I would take in all of the children who are hurting, broken, orphaned. I would love the widows and be there for them in their time of distress. I want to stand up for the injustice of this world and let those who don't believe the same way as me know that it is okay! You are still loved! You are so special in the eyes of our creator! He loves you just as much as he loves himself. In fact He loves you even more than He loves himself. I can not imagine the heartbreak that is taking place in heaven right now.
God forgive us. Forgive us as a nation that claims to be serving you when in fact we are doing quite the opposite. We persecute those who don't believe as we do claiming self defense. We hate what we don't understand. We think we must put ourselves first and foremost yet your word says he who wants to be greatest in the kingdom of God must put others first. God help me to love those that others deem as unlovable. Let me be the light to them as you so desire. Give our nations leaders wisdom to know what to do and how to go about it. Let us stand up for those afflicted who don't have a voice for themselves. Let us be your hands Lord Jesus. ~Amen
God forgive us. Forgive us as a nation that claims to be serving you when in fact we are doing quite the opposite. We persecute those who don't believe as we do claiming self defense. We hate what we don't understand. We think we must put ourselves first and foremost yet your word says he who wants to be greatest in the kingdom of God must put others first. God help me to love those that others deem as unlovable. Let me be the light to them as you so desire. Give our nations leaders wisdom to know what to do and how to go about it. Let us stand up for those afflicted who don't have a voice for themselves. Let us be your hands Lord Jesus. ~Amen
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