“Make Every Mile Matter” Campaign
Miles Traveled Today: 8.6 miles
Total Miles Traveled To Date: 76.6 miles
Current Location: Lake City, Florida
Tomorrow’s Destination: Will be right here until next Friday ministering to the poor and needy of this city!
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“I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the poor.”
Psalms 140:12
I think it’s fair to say that American attitudes toward the poor– and perhaps not just in America– are mostly disdain and fear. They’re dangerous and different. Sometimes there’s a suspicion that their condition is their own fault, that they’re simply lazy or inferior. Other Americans are more kind-hearted, but prefer not to look at the poor too closely; it’s depressing, and they’re surely not fun people to be with.
These attitudes are a world away from God’s attitudes. Neediness arouses compassion in God– and action. How about you?
We may think: “Of course God loves the poor; he loves everybody.” But it’s not so simple as that; God’s character is presented as a model for our own. If God values the poor, we have to think about what that means for us. Do we value them as people or simply see them as the invisible nuisances that some look at as the scourge of society? What about those who work so hard to serve them for the Glory of God? I am talking about the rescue missions, homeless coalitions, soup kitchens, and day centers who provide these men, women, and children with at least the basic necessities of life. I am even speaking of the members of Saved Life and its outreach partners. If it wasn’t the determination of myself and several Board members, our ship would have been sank months ago!
I am grateful for what God has done in my life and what He continues to show me. I am not at all surprised by the comments that are made to me by almost every mission, shelter, or outreach ministry I have encountered thus far. “Our funding is being cut and we may be out of business.” This statement coming from a homeless coalition director whose services cover a five county area. There annual budget only being $150,000, but the same city can spend $250 Million dollars on a new courthouse! Or how about, “We have no funding to buy even basic necessities for our clients anymore.” This coming from a Mom & Pop outreach ministry who has been serving the community for over 40 years and is being forced to shut its doors because they lack the finances.
You know, I totally understand! We launched from the Jacksonville Beach last Saturday. Today is Day 7 for Steve and I. We have raised a total of $30 towards helping the homeless. But, I am grateful! God has spoke to me concerning this matter! As I laid in the back of the trailer last night with the rain beating down, having not showered in 6 days, He told me everything will be alright! I now understand that it is a lot easier to use the ole’ “We will be praying for you.” line. God gave me a great sense of discernment many years ago. It is a gift that I cherish. I appreciate all the prayers we receive daily! Don’t take what I said out of context! I am just saying I know the difference from those who really do it and those who just say it because it is convenient and cordial.
For instance, if I go buy you a cup of coffee from McDonalds and you respond by saying “Thanks Jason, I really appreciate the coffee!” with a smile on your face lit up like a Christmas tree, then I can believe you really were grateful for that cup of coffee. If you say, “Well, thanks!” with a frown on your face like I just ran over your cat, well it might be the same words “thank you” coming out of your mouth, but your “actions speak louder than your words”.Your attitudes and your actions speak for themselves.
I am on a mission, I believe ordained by God quite some time ago. He will provide for my needs! He always has and He always will. I am sure of that! I am doing my Father’s business! I am truly blessed to be able to spend time with these individuals I love so dearly. But, I truly have had a revelation on how the general population, I believe look at the homeless as a whole. It’s a nice gesture to talk about helping the homeless, might make you feel all warm and fuzzy, and then you forget about it by the time dinner comes around! Every service provider I have talked to in the last week is either on the way out of business or seriously worried about it. If it wasn’t for several personal loans I have took out, Saved Life would be out of business! They shouldn’t be focusing on worrying about finances, they should be focused on their set missions! We as Americans should be ashamed to let fellow citizens suffer the way they do! I will do everything in my power to help these organizations stay in business and also take out another loan if I have to in order to continue my mission. A simple $5 donation would buy enough socks for 6 people! Is that really too much to ask? Apparently it is! I apologize if I offend anyone, but I am tired of seeing my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ suffering a slow agonizing death (like the man in the picture, he simply has lost hope and awaits death, he told me so…) because most Americans are greedy and they think their status depends how how many material things they collect in this life. I never seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul trailer! Let’s be honest with ourselves!
How can we as human beings or Christians look at this man and not feel compassion on him? talking to him almost broke my heart!
March 26, 2010
Categories: Saved Life: Coast to Coast Daily Journal . Tags: A Mile In Their Shoes, addiction, alcoholism, Bike Charity, Cross Country, Homeless, Homelessness, SavedLife, savedliferide . Author: savedliferide . Comments: 1 Comment
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