How Openhanded are You to Those in Need? 3 Questions to Ask Yourself

Friends of a Feather

Since my last blog I traveled to visit my college roommate.  Every few years we get together for a girls' weekend to refresh ourselves. We have a lot in common: husband, kids, work, and thrift shopping.  This year we did some "free style pickin'" from north Atlanta, GA to Asheville, NC. We had a great time catching up and sharing about ourselves, our families, our triumphs, our challenges, and God's latest leading in our lives.  

You see, God gave us both the same heart and passion to serve others. I was thrilled to find out that she is leading a community project through her church over the summer where volunteers are serving meals to students in a low income neighborhood.  These are some of the same kids her church serves throughout the school year with backpacks of food each weekend to ensure they get adequate nutrition even when school is out.  

This is what I love to see: God speaking and laying an issue on our hearts and then we act to live out His love to bring Him glory.  If you have family serving activities planned for the summer or serving ideas from anytime in the year, please share them so others can be encouraged.  

Be Openhanded

Below is a scripture that I referenced in my last blog "3 Steps to Finding Needs in Your City".  I came across this devotional written by a friend of mine a few years ago that is relevant now.  As you know, God's word is always on time!

Reach Up:   There will always be poor people in the land.  Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land. 

Deuteronomy 15:11

Reach In:  We live in a culture in “The West” of being used to seeing the poor, whether across the world on our TV screens, or on our everyday commute to work, although in this country we don’t really see utter poverty as experienced elsewhere.  Unfortunately even the church has “gotten used” to seeing the poor and we kind of take the first part of our scripture verse and stop there and say: “Well, there will always be poor people, and it’s such a big problem, what can anyone really do about it?”  Mother Teresa once said; “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.”  Why?  Because it matters to that one doesn’t it?  And if each one of us “feed one” we’d change the world overnight.

Reach Out:  God has commanded us to be openhanded toward one another.  It’s not multiple choice.  

• How is God working on your heart to notice the needs of others?
• Where is the opportunity God has laid before you to “feed one”?
• When will you move in obedience to God's calling? Today?

Heavenly Father – Give us YOUR eyes to see the poor and needy in our own community and in your world!  Prompt our hearts to love and serve someone today.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

http://arethesekidsallyours.blogspot.com/ 

Devotional written by Jason Wright from Tampa, FL - check out his blog "Are these kids all yours?" as he and his wife Dawn share about their experiences in adopting and raising 9 children and encouraging and supporting other families to consider adoption.  

Coming Next 

I am still in the gathering process to find places we can serve around town with my 10 and 7 year old boys. This is their last week of school.  They go off to church camp next week.  This is when I will finalize our summer schedule and serving plans.  I am so excited about our weekly family "field trips" and sharing our experiences with you.