Praise the Lord everyone, I read a blog about helping others this Christmas season that was a great reminder but I wanted to take it one step farther….as it is just who I am and we all must be who we are…so this may not apply to you or what you feel but this is how I feel and what is on my mind.
I know there are a lot of desolated places in the world, there are a lot of third world countries where the government is not about the people and in some places it is not even a government but kings still running things and they are running things for themselves and their citizens are suffering – trust me I feel for them…but sometimes I think we do not give enough here in the United States. I am not saying not to help, but it really amazes me how many hungry people right here in the US that we have.
It amazes me how many young children we have right here in the US who need adopted, how many people who need homes built for them, or a place to live. There are services here in the US that is struggling to maintain their financial balance to help others yet and still they are striving to help.
I have given a good amount of money to not only the United Way, Salvation Army but WL4J too. To me there are just so many people in need and we need to remember them. We need to make the United States a better country. I live in a neighborhood that I am not afraid of getting robbed, but being shot because of the drug dealers in my neighborhood, but yet and still we are trying to do outreach. People see Minister Merv coming and RUN in the other direction. They know he is the minister in the area who is truly out there talking. Yet we are out there doing outreach…so it started dawning on me.
Why is it easier to help those overseas…I believe it is because you do not have to leave your home to do that. You can donate and just feel better about yourself, what happened to reaching out to your neighbor? We have neighbors who are hungry, we have neighbors who are in need of things and we ignore them but will write a check to some organization to those in other countries. Now I am not saying that you should not help others in other countries but I grew up being taught to take care of home first.
It is clear that the problem of the US is so vast that many are falling short in the finances…yet the Lord is blessing many others in this area too…we need to take the focus off of the world’s perspective and start thinking like Jesus…as He walked through this world, He reached out to those right in front of Him. We need to reach out to those in front of us. We need to start taking care of all those that are in our neighborhoods those that are in need of help. If you stop and take the time to talk to your neighbors and fellowship with them – the Lord will bring you to understand what they need.
Here is yet another thought…why not do it all? Why not give to organizations that deal with overseas, give to organizations here in the US? Give to those that you know are in need, and while you are at it spread the gospel of the Lord to all those that you meet? Isn’t that what Jesus did? Did He not take care of everyone? He did not think of himself, He gave freely to all – all of Him! He is the perfect example of how we are to be! We need to remember this not only during this upcoming holiday season that they are just throwing us into, but all year long 365 days a year.
If we stop asking for blessings and start being a blessing – guess what…you will be blessed!!
My honesty thought today is that we are too dag on greedy!!!! Lord help us get over the greed within ourselves and know that the Lord will bless us in giving to others as He has given to us. I love to give, so much so that my hubby wants to smack my hands on a regular basis. I love to give and it is because so much was given to me all my life. I look at what the Lord has blessed me with, no I do not have a lot but I have enough. I think sometimes I upset Minister Merv when I tell him that if we had a lot of money, we would not live as such as I would be giving it away to all those that are in more need than I am. I want to cry when I see someone who has no place to lay their head down, or when I see children with holes in their shoes. It breaks my heart to know that so many are suffering…yet it pushes me still to move forward with getting WL4J where it needs to be to be able to offer others help in all areas of their lives. We are coming to a time where we need to be out there giving the word of God and feeding people too. We have to be a blessing to others…God is calling us to do so. If you have a BMW – great but my prayer is that you are reaching out to others and giving a hand up and not a hand out but the opportunity to others to be a better person and getting to where they need to be.
There is a young woman on my street who is the mother of 3 children; she is striving to get two of her children back with her permanently because she had a bout with drugs and mental illness. She has come out of that and truly striving to live her life right. She is not saved, yet, as I am still talking to her and praying that she comes to church with me soon. Yet this young woman has no furniture in her home, she sleeps on an air mattress and she is not complaining, she is thankful to be in a home. She is still struggling with things, yet I am praying for the finances to be able to reach out and help her get a few things. I will be approaching her to join us for Thanksgiving dinner as I do not think she has the means to do so. Yet there are many others just like her…we need to remember that the Lord is calling us to be a help to others everywhere we go…come on my sisters and brothers …take care of home and be a blessing to all those that are in need of blessings from you!
Until tomorrow,
Love your sister,
Sister Alissa Lynne
Praise the Lord! I am sorry I am late today, as I am not feeling well. I am sitting here thinking that the Lord is truly keeping my mind in this place called life. I am thinking about seeing Jesus yet again, the fact that one day I am going to see Him and know that He loves me is just worth all the gold, money, fortune, fame, and happiness in this world. I have committed my life to the Lord.
Minister Merv is watching “Blue Streak” with Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor, and he made a comment that stuck with me...a criminal will help another criminal no questions asked. Richard Pryor’s character had no problem helping Gene Wilder’s character. In real life, the loyalty that criminals have with each other to a certain extent, yet and still we as Christians, children of God, do not do the same. We are afraid to step out and help others.
We as Christians need to break down the walls that WE have allowed to be built. We allowed the deception of the enemy to keep us apart from each other and meeting each other’s needs. We are called to serve the Lord and the Lord wants us to serve each other and bless each other. The Lord blesses us to be a blessing. We have to understand that this life is meant for greater things…why do I say that…Jesus said it Himself…
John 14:11-13 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. 12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Look at verse 12 – if we believe in Him – greater works than we will do in His name. I am not talking about healings and things like that, even though it is possible in the name of Jesus. But today I am talking about reaching out to our sisters and brothers in Christ along with the unsaved. We have to understand that the Lord means for us to help each other. We have to understand that we need to be there for each other.
Greater works to me in my walk is greater communication, greater compassion and greater love. We are in need of reaching the world with the love of Jesus. It is truly something when we do not have the compassion for others, when we do not have that compassion, then we will surely die. Jesus is all about compassion and love…remember that this day.
My question to you is what are you doing…are you doing greater works in the Lord or sitting back waiting on others?
My truths for today…My heart goes out to all my sisters in Christ who are in bondage of their past, bondage of life, bondage of the mess of this world. I want to spend some with my sisters in Christ. My desire is to be able to travel over the world to visit, encourage, and just minister to them in body, spirit, and minds. I really do the best I can with those that want to talk with me, but would love to do this full time free of charge. You know how some people want to be Christian Coaches, Christian Counselors, Christian Life Coaches and speakers to get paid for it, but I want to do that without charging a fee. I want to go about encouraging each other and doing whatever the Lord tells me to do. I want to just get out amongst the sisters and just be there. If there is a need, do it. I do what I can now, but there is so much more that I want to do. I want to be able to help financially along with ministering the word, helping soothe wounds and pain with the word of God and the love of the Lord in me. We cannot afford at this time for me to not work and do that, it is not time yet. It is sometimes hard knowing what God wants you to do and not being able to do it yet. As to do it before the time is called to do it, there will be failure for it is not in the Lord. There is no failure in the Lord. So waiting on God is what I have to do as I know when He says to go forth, there will be no failure in what lays ahead.
I am trusting God for the visions I see to come to be and I trust God for the love of the Lord to spread in me to share with all those that I meet. I need the love of Jesus just as everyone else and I am determined to live the life He has chosen for me and to do what is necessary for all those that He sends my way.
Have a blessed and wonderful day in the Lord!
Love your sister in Christ,
Sister Alissa Lynne
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