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Daily Archives: March 31, 2023

Homelessness

Homelessness

3.31.23

Meet my friend Mickey! We met last weekend. While on my way home from visiting a member, I noticed Mickey pushing her cart on Camp Bowie. I couldn’t pass by without offering help, for in the gospel, Jesus stopped to aid people on the road. I asked Mickey if I could pray for her, and she said yes; then, unexpectedly, she asked if she could pray for me. On a busy road in Fort Worth, I eagerly accepted.

Everything Mickey owns is captured in this picture. Mickey joined us for worship last Sunday, and we provided her with temporary housing and other essentials. However, what’s more important is that we took the time to acknowledge and greet her. Mickey is a homeless veteran who served in the Marines for seven years, but due to life’s circumstances, she’s currently living on the streets while waiting for her VA benefits. She is actively working towards getting off the streets.

Countless individuals like Mickey are homeless, and it’s essential to understand that sometimes, it’s due to circumstances beyond their control. As Christians, our duty is to provide assistance, not to judge. What if, in the coming week, we each stopped and offered help to someone and prayed for them?

This Sunday, after worship, a few of us will go out to feed our friends in the Lancaster and surrounding areas. If you’d like to contribute anything, please bring it Sunday. If you can join us, we would appreciate your help. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Pastor Sela

Thank you for allowing me to share Mickey’s story. I received permission from her to post it.

 

Companionship

Companionship

Day 33: Friday, March 31, 2023

Companionship

Scripture: Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them. As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. (Luke 24:13-15, 28-29 NRSV)

Devotion: There are times when we all long for the companionship of Christ. When we are facing some deep loneliness that seems to darken the brightest day, some great sorrow that has broken our hearts and changed our lives, or some heavy burden that comes through no action or fault of our own. At times like these, we long for the presence of the one who speaks our name, understand our plight, and can break the hold of loneliness, sorrow, despair, and burdens we bear.

At times like these, it is good to remember that the risen Christ walks beside us, awaiting our invitation to stay with us, break bread with us, interpret life for us, give us hope, and share in our thanksgiving. As we continue our walk this Lenten Season, may we, like the disciples before us, have our eyes open to recognize Christ as he walks beside us this day.

Prayer: Oh God, forgive us when we fail to recognize you in others. Continue to walk with us and help us to see. Amen

AW

 
 

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