To Make Him Known

After many struggles, and way too much time and effort on my part, I have decided to move this blogging venture to a new address.  Since I’ve already paid for a full year on this site, I’ll leave this here.  If you forget what the new address is, and still have the old one, you can always come back here and follow this link:  http://tomakechristknown.wordpress.com/ 

Hopefully, you will even go back to an earlier post, where I had to try to describe the picture, since I couldn’t get it to upload.  The new site has it on there, and it makes much more sense!  Thanks for hanging with me in the meantime.

Kay

If you read the December 20 post, you know that my husband and I paid off our home mortgage early.  Never having done this before, other than when we were selling a house to buy another one, we really didn’t know what to expect.  We assumed it would be like when you pay off an auto loan.  First, you receive something from the finance company indicating that you no longer owe them money.  A few weeks later, you receive the title to your car.  I don’t know about you, but I get a sense of satisfaction in having that piece of paper proving ownership.

Being new to the home pay-off experience, we anticipated receiving something from the mortgage company as proof of our completed obligation, even if nothing else.  After a few weeks passed, I was told by the company that it had been sent to the Register of Deeds, who would be sending us something.  Upon calling a few weeks later, I found that it was on record as having been paid.  The woman was very nice and helpful, telling me we had been given the deed when we first bought the house years ago.  What I was looking for, she told me, was the deed of trust, which proves our full ownership.  If I really wanted a paper copy, I could drive downtown and get it there, or I could go online to a title site, sign up for a free 7-day trial, and get a copy right on my printer at home, which I did. 

Talk about anti-climactic!  At least a car company sends you a letter recognizing you have completed your obligation to them!  Here we have a mortgage paid off ahead of time, a much bigger a deal in our minds, and I had to print the paperwork off the internet - with no one around to congratulate us.  At a time when the whole industry is struggling, you’d think they’d have been especially glad to have all our money early!

Okay, so sarcasm and self-pity aren’t pretty at all - ever.  After all, why did we pay off the mortgage in the first place, when we could have continued making our monthly payments for years down the road?  I’ll refer to the December 20 post Scripture reference:  Romans 13:8 NIV  “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.”  That is the verse the Lord used many years ago to give us the desire to be debt-free in the first place.  At the right time, He made it clear that it was time to complete the process, and we willingly obeyed, all glory to God.  We didn’t do it for man’s accolades, though once it was done, we came to expect them.  Did we fail to pay attention to the great cheers coming from heaven when we paid off our debts simply because He told us to?  If we had done this for the applause of man, we would have lost our true reward, which is so much greater than anything human could possibly be!  Glory be to God!  Truly, we did what we did because it was the right thing to do, the Scriptural thing to do, and what the Holy Spirit had made clear we were to do right now.

The hidden motives of our hearts ensnare us so easily, even in the midst of doing the right things.  It’s the subtlety of pride - “look at what I’ve done,” rather than “look at what the Lord has enabled me to do!”  Thank God for His mercy and His Holy Spirit, Who helps us see the sin and sets us right once again.  It’s time to return to being thankful the Lord has made the way for us to pay off our financial debts, so we can focus on paying the debt to love - because it is right.  Kind of like Jesus, Who went about doing good . . . because it was right.

Not long ago, I had the opportunity to hear myself on a recording of a meeting I had helped lead.  It’s been a long time since I had heard it, and I cringed, as I always have.  I’ve always thought everyone else sounded exactly like their recordings, but didn’t want to believe that I did, too, for it was really bad to me.  I’m not talking about the southern accent or the alto tone.  It’s the sound the whole package makes.  Ugh!

Not long after I had experienced this, I was in prayer and heard, in my spirit, the most wonderful thing from my most wonderful Father!  He said, “I like your voice.”  Wow!  God likes my voice!  If He likes it, who am I to dislike it?!  After all, He created me in His image.  I’m always praying to see people the way He sees them.  I guess He wanted to remind me that I need to see myself the way He sees me, as well.  I can’t tell you how freeing this simple revelation is.

I don’t know any Bible verses that talk about God liking my voice, but there are those that remind me of how much He loves and delights in me, and that’s what I’m reminded of in His simple statement of approval.  While you read these verses, think about how much He loves and even likes the you He created.  Then, purpose to think of yourself and those things you see as bad about yourself the way God does.  As you begin to grasp this truth for yourself, you will be better able to think of others in the same way, and that’s what it’s all about. 
       
Zephaniah 3:17  “The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior [Who saves]! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest [in silent satisfaction] and in His love He will be silent and make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them]; He will exult over you with singing.”  AMP
   
Song of Solomon 2:4  “He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love [for love waved as a protecting and comforting banner over my head when I was near him].”  AMP

Right up front, I want to let you know this is a lesson I have not yet completed.  Even writing about it has been a struggle, which makes me more determined not only to write about it, in hopes of helping you who read it, but also to get it working consistently in my own life.  I’m talking about living in the now.  Let me share with you the simple way the Lord brought it back to my attention.

Not long ago, there was an article in the Parade magazine by Cesar Milan (Dog Whisperer) about the lessons we can learn from our dogs.  One particular part of it really caught my attention - about dogs just being happy to be alive, and celebrating each thing they do, no matter how many times they have done it.  To them, it’s the best walk they’ve ever had, the greatest dog food they’ve eaten, or the most wonderful tummy rub they’ve ever received!  They definitely live in the now. 

I do realize that dogs don’t have all the issues of life that we do, and part of their living in the now really comes from living for the now, which is not what we need.  I do believe, though, that we could find much more contentment if we tried things their way a bit more.  They are so delighted with whatever it is they are doing right now because they are not focused so much on what comes next, or in the next day, or week, or month.  They give their all to whatever they are engaged in that very moment.  When that is over, they give their all to the next thing - even if it is merely sleep.  The Bible addresses this kind of attitude with clear admonishment.

Matthew 6:34  “So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.” AMP
   
Psalm 118:24  “This is the day the Lord  has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”  NIV
   
Whether I am worried or anxious about all the tomorrow issues I’m not certain, but I do know that I think about them - a lot.  Because I have an administrative gift from the Lord, I plan and organize.  On its own, that is not a problem, and is a necessary part of life.  When it’s not kept in balance, it keeps me from living in the now, for I’m always thinking about what I will do in the next hour, day, week, or month.  This means I’m really living in the future right now.  Even when I’m supposed to be in rest and recreation, my planning mind is mulling things over.  Rarely do I truly engage fully in an activity, because at least part of my mind is elsewhere.  I know this is not how the Lord wants me (or any of us) to live.  This is the day, or the hour, or the moment the Lord has made.  I want to rejoice and be glad in it - fully and completely giving my all in it, even if it’s rest!   I know this is what God wants for me, and I know it is possible.

Jesus, our example, had a very full life.  In reading the gospels, though, I never get the impression that He rushed from one place to the next, or that He was only partly engaged with whoever was in His presence.  He knew that what He did this very moment, not just this whole day, was the most important thing for Him to do, regardless of what was to come.  The person who was with Him was the most important person to Him at that moment.  He gave His all day in and day out, not just when He went to the cross.  Even when He knew He was about to be arrested and crucified, He gave Himself fully to teaching the disciples during the last supper!

Besides this, when it was time to sleep, Jesus lived in the now.  It’s pretty amazing to think about His ability to sleep in the bottom of a boat that was in a major storm and filling with water!  He wasn’t in a coma; He was just living in the now in His rest!  Those times He pulled away to be with His Father, He was fully involved.  He may have been tempted to dwell on things that had happened, or things He knew were coming up, like we are, but He made the choice to put His entire focus on the Lord Himself.  Can you imagine how those times must have been?  He didn’t miss one single thing the Father wanted to show Him, say to Him, or prepare Him for, nor any of the refreshing of just being in His Presence.  The most encouraging part of this is knowing that, if Jesus could live in the now, we can, too. 

My heart yearns to spend uninterrupted time like that with my Father - uninterrupted by my own thoughts and plans; to be fully involved with the person in front of me, not thinking about the next person I need to see or the next activity I need to accomplish; to relax and rest, as Jesus did when He was on the earth.  It’s not impossible!  Jesus wasn’t able to live in the now because He was God, but because He lived by the Holy Spirit, the same Holy Spirit that lives in me.  I am determined to live this same way by the Holy Spirit, so that Jesus can be seen in me - in attitude, action, word, even inaction.  Because of His completely sufficient grace, and by His Holy Spirit, I will live in the now, despite the intense battle to the contrary.  I am determined to live in the now!  To God be all the glory - right now and forever!

Genesis 3:7-11  “7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.  8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’  10 He answered, ‘I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.’  11 And he said, ‘Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?’”  NIV

When we read this passage, we might, among other things, imagine the wonder of hearing God walking around in the garden, and hearing Him speak audibly.  Is it possible, however, that Adam and Eve could actually see God, too, before their eyes were opened to the knowledge of good and evil?  Think about it.  It’s not like they walked around blind before they ate of the forbidden tree.  Prior to this, there was nothing in them that was evil, nothing that would hinder them from complete and unbroken relationship with God.  God had breathed His breath, His life, into Adam, and made Eve from him.  There was no sin yet.  All they could see was life as it was created to be, so it is probable that they really could see Him with their natural eyes. 

Imagine, however, going from that place of knowing and seeing God to hiding in fear from Him - the very One Who created them and filled their beings with His Presence.  Because of sin, their eyes were opened to a completely different realm.  Now they cringed just hearing His steps.  How far they fell in one quick moment, bringing all of mankind with them!  The only difference was that the rest of us never had a chance to see Him face to face and fellowship with Him in the garden, completely unhindered.  What good news we have, though!  Because of the blood of Jesus Christ, we can be restored to fellowship with the Father! 

Even when we receive the glorious salvation of Jesus Christ, making Him Lord of our lives, our natural eyes are still assaulted by the sin in the world all around us.  We still don’t see as Adam and Eve saw before the fall.  We can’t see our Father with our natural eyes, but God hasn’t left us without hope and help.  He has given us His Word. 

Philippians 4:8 “For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].”  AMP 

As we think on, weigh, and take account of the things that are true, worthy of reverence, pure, etc., even fixing our minds on them, we, too, will begin to “see” God.  We won’t have to fear the sound of His nearness.  The descriptive words in this verse certainly apply to Him; so, if we will do what He tells us to do in it, we will see increasingly with His eyes - from His perspective - even if we don’t physically see Him.  We will be able to see past the sin all around us, because we aren’t focused on it, but on all that is lovely and lovable, kind, winsome, gracious, worthy of praise, etc.  After all, God is not blind to the things in this world, yet He looks upon them through the finished work of Christ at the cross.  He looks upon Jesus Christ’s righteousness - and He ministers from that place.  When we see the way He sees, we, too, will minister in mercy, grace, and love.  From this place, and only from this place, we will actually be able to help others see Him!

Romans 13:8 NIV “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.”

Okay, so I’m going back to the same verse one more time.  That’s only because I have more revelation of it than before, and I want to share it in a way that you will see it, too, and find the freedom of the Lord in greater measure!  In my telling of this part of my life, I am not bragging on my husband and myself, but on God.  To Him belongs all the glory! 

Yesterday, I woke up as a “servant to the lender.”  By the end of the day, after making a transaction and following it’s path via the internet and phone, when I called the automated line of my mortgage company and heard the words, “Your loan is paid in full,” servant was no longer my identity.  When the Lord made it so clear to my husband and me that now was the time to pay off our remaining debts, despite the economic downturn, He also spoke to my heart that we were getting in position.   I didn’t really know what that meant, but I had such an expectation inside that we were about to walk in places in Him that we never had before, all because of financial debt.

This morning, as I entered this historic life-moment in my journal, the Holy Spirit helped me see the Romans verse from a whole new perspective, because I’m now on the other side of it.  Do you realize that the debt to love is bigger and more daunting than any mortgage, any car loan, any credit card debt, etc.?  It is a debt as big as what Jesus did for us, so it can never be repaid in full!  That knowledge, however, isn’t meant to make us throw up our hands and declare that there’s no use trying.  Even knowing I can never repay it fully, my desire now is for my whole life to be invested / spent on paying that debt of love to others.  That’s what Jesus’ whole life was about, and He lives in me, so it’s the whole purpose of my life, as well.  Before, there was a heavy weight (though it didn’t feel so heavy because it was “manageable”) that held me back.  I was pulled in two directions without realizing it.  Financial debt pulled me one way, and the debt to love pulled me the other way. 

Now, I am in position to be able to walk fully in His path for me, and that’s what He wants for all of His children!  That’s why He told us to owe no man anything but the debt to love.  It wasn’t so we couldn’t have things on this earth.  It was to protect us from those things that would ensnare us, hindering us on His good path for us.  Our heavenly Father cares so much for us that He wants us to live in that freedom for which Jesus Christ paid in full.  He is not a God of laws, rules, and don’ts.  He wants us to walk on His path of life for us - unhindered, and He has clearly shown us the way in His Word! 

I can only imagine how much greater this revelation will become as I begin to walk it out - now that I’m in position.  Really, it’s more of the lesson He has given about taking Him at His Word.  Wow!  It still amazes me how simple, yet how powerful this is - and so many of us have not walked in it before, or only in small measure.  Join me in this walk, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we discover the freedom of taking Him at His Word, and find ourselves in position to walk as Christ walked - that our Father might be revealed.

There is a present under our Christmas tree this year that has been there for many years.  We store it with all the other decorations, but it is not an ornament.  We open it each Christmas morning, before opening any of our other gifts, and then we put it back, but not before we pray and add something else to it that wasn’t there before.  I don’t remember just how or when this tradition began, but I’m so thankful that it did.  You see, this gift is for Jesus’ birthday.

I know many people make a birthday cake for Jesus, making the effort to remember He is the reason for all the celebration, but the Lord put it on my heart many years ago to give Jesus a gift.  When you think about it, that’s pretty amazing.  After all, what could I possibly give to Jesus as a gift?  However, each year He has made it clear just what He wanted from each of us.  We write those things down privately on separate pieces of paper, then come together to pray as we offer these gifts to the Lord, putting them in the box and returning it to its place under the tree. 

What kind of gifts have I given my Jesus?  I have “given” him family members when He’s shown me that I am holding onto them, trying to be the Holy Spirit and force them to be who I think He created them to be.  One year, He spoke to my heart that I was to give Him my sadness.  I wasn’t even aware it was there until He spoke that to my spirit, and then I saw, with spiritual eyes, a low level of sadness in everything I thought and did - even in the happy times.  There have been gifts to Him of all my regrets, my busy-ness of mind, my prayer life and the expectation of what it “should” be, etc.  There have been years He has asked me to give Him something I had previously given, but apparently had taken back or not totally released to Him; but He is always so gentle when He asks.  One year, He told me to give Him anything I wanted to.  Wow!  I don’t know what I’m giving Jesus this year, but there is excitement in me as I begin to wait on Him to direct me in this. 

Jesus wants so much more for me than I currently experience, and He knows that as I give more and more of me to Him, I am able to experience so much more of Him!  It’s as if He always gives me something wonderful in place of what He has asked me to give Him.  For instance, when I give Him my loved ones, I am released, as well.  I no longer try to carry the weight of responsibility for someone else’s actions, and instead take on His easy yoke and light burden.  When I gave Him my sadness, the lightness I received in return was wonderful!  I was able to walk in His joy and peace even in the midst of sad times, without the shackle of sadness that had been attached (illegally!) to me for so long.  When I gave Him my regrets over a particular season in my life, I was able to see the whole picture and realize those places I failed were only a minor part of the whole story.  From that point on, I could think about those times differently, and realize how the Lord had never turned away from me, always urging me on in His grace and mercy!  Condemnation no longer had a hold, all glory to God!  I truly cannot out-give God! 

Jesus Christ is absolutely the best Gift we could ever ask for or receive!  Our heavenly Father prepared Him to be a perfect fit, color, and match for our every need!  We will continue discovering more aspects of this most precious Gift for the rest of our lives, as we continue abiding in Him.  So, on this special day of the year, let’s be sure to give Him a gift from our hearts in response to what He has given us.  Happy birthday, Jesus!

“As surely as God is trustworthy and faithful and means what He says,”  2 Corinthians 1:18 (Amplified)

God means what He has said in His Word.  I can’t tell you why I am only now seeing it this way.  I have always agreed, mentally, that God’s Word is true.  What is different now, somehow, is that I’m not reading the Bible with the religious filters that have been attached by well-meaning preachers and teachers over the years - or even by my fleshly opinions.  I’m seeing the Word of God as so real, just as it is written.   In the past, I have been one to whom Matthew 15:6 applied, and I didn’t have any idea:  “So for the sake of your tradition (the rules handed down by your forefathers), you have set aside the Word of God [depriving it of force and authority and making it of no effect].”  The Lord has begun to expose the blinders to me, those filters of men, glory to His Name, and I want the rest of the body of Christ to see and be set free, too!

One example that has come alive to me recently is Romans 13:8: “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.”  NIV  The Amplified starts out with, “Keep out of debt,” and the King James says, “Owe no man anything.”  But, just what does that mean?  Well, my lightning-fast mind has come to realize that it really means what it says.  How many of us in the body of Christ have lived this way?  Most of us have thought that it is a great ideal to wish for, but it’s just not possible in today’s world; however, God saw today’s world when He had Paul make this statement.  It wasn’t just for then, before the advent of credit cards and home mortgages.  No, it is still true for us today, and achievable, if we live out His Word by His Spirit.

Almost every day now, no matter what book or chapter of the Bible I read, I am convicted that God really means what He says - for me.  Can you imagine how different our lives will look when we really get a revelation of the clear and simple truth of God’s Word?  When we believe that God means what He said, our lives will be radically different than they have been.  We will look so much more like Jesus, act so much more like Him, sound so much more like Him, think so much more like Him, and love so much more like Him.  We will live in the peace that He left for us, that peace we have only wished for, but not abided in.  The world will see a difference between us and them that hasn’t been there before.  Even those who are religious, without a true connection to Christ, will see a difference - and possibly become like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day.  I am certain, though, that if the world really begins to see Jesus when they see us, they will want to know more about Him.  They will see their need of the Savior.
       
If it’s so simple - and it is - what do we do?  We are only able to live by the Word that we know.  Jesus made it clear to His disciples (that includes us today) in John 8:31-32 that we must hold to His teaching to know the Truth and be set free by it.  We have to know what’s in His Word to be set free by it.  What is it that we set ourselves to know?  How much of the world’s wisdom do we continue to feed on day in and day out?  First Corinthians 3:19 makes it clear that the world’s wisdom is foolishness with God.  When we spend so much time with the world’s wisdom, we begin to be conformed to the world.  But we are told in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].”  Our minds can only be renewed by the Word of God.  Our lives will only be changed for His glory as His Word has room to grow in us.  We will only know what the Lord’s good, perfect, and acceptable will is for us when we renew our minds with His Word.  He really means what He has said.

I purposely haven’t given many examples in this post, for a couple of reasons.  I fully expect this to be the foundation piece for future life lessons, as this is truly a life-changer for me, so you will be seeing more examples if you return to this site.  *  Also, if you will choose not to let this be just another message you read, but will consider it, meditate on it, and take it with you every time you open the Bible, on your own or as it is preached, you will be amazed as He begins to give you your own examples while He exposes the filters of men, changing your old mindsets - and your life - to line up with His Word.  God will be able to move in mighty ways in and through you, all because you take Him at His Word.

*See December 2008 issue of Prayer Nuggets, Speaking His Way:     http://www.prayforthenation.org/prayernuggets.asp

How quickly the Lord began to work on me after writing Even If I Forget.  As I prayed for the people our congregation was bringing to receive a Thanksgiving meal, I realized that, though we desire to love the people we bring in, we look at them as inferior.  It’s quite hidden, even from ourselves, but it’s there.  I really believe it’s this way throughout the body of Christ - with a few bright spots here and there who have already grown past this.  You see, we reach out to the poor, homeless, drug addicts, alcoholics, etc., and we truly want to love them and bring them to Christ, or to a greater knowledge of Who He is.  Underneath, however, I believe the majority of us are judging the very ones we are trying to love.  We know that they have chosen the things that got them into that predicament, so we give with the attitude, “Here’s God’s love.  If you take it, you’ll be better off.  If not, it’s your problem.”  While that may truly be the case, will they be convicted of what God’s love really is?  Or will they just see another group of people doing what they think they need to do? 

I know this is strong, but it’s so important to let the Lord reveal these deceptions in us so that we will begin to deliver His love - not ours - when we reach out to others.  God sees each of us beyond whatever sins, problems, and mindsets we may have.  He sees past the drugs, adultery, gossip, pornography, etc., though He does, indeed, see them.  He knows that those involved in sin will face His judgment if they don’t repent, but He goes so far past those things as He loves with unconditional love.  He doesn’t look down on them at all, though their sins are repugnant to Him.  Nor does He look down on us, though our sins of arrogance and pride are equally as repugnant to Him. 

We have made a distinction in our minds between those who, through no fault of their own, are in dire straits and those who “got themselves where they are.”  God doesn’t differentiate with His love.  It is always unconditional, for those who are saved and for those who aren’t, for those who make bad choices and for those who make good choices.  Those of us who know Him are to love in this very same way, but not in our own strength - for that’s impossible.  We must get so full of His love by investing time with Him in prayer, studying His Word and His character and nature revealed in His Word.  It’s only then that our limited fleshly love is overtaken by God’s love - not only for us, but through us, to others!  It’s when we begin to reach out to others in the name of the Lord in this way, regardless of the fault, that we will see permanent kingdom results for the glory of God!

(Until I can figure out how to import my picture, I will have to settle for describing it to you.  When I find someone to help me with what I am sure is a minor adjustment, I will edit this post to include the picture.  My description doesn’t adequately convey what I see, unfortunately.  The picture is titled  ALIVE:  BUT HUNGRY, and is of a 4 year old girl in a Doctors Without Borders Hospital in Haiti.  This child is being weighed in a sling-type scale, where she is suspended.  Her body is no more than skin and bones, with legs and arms no more than toothpicks, and a distended belly due to malnutrition.  She is so small that it’s hard to believe she is four, and is looking up with weary and hungry eyes.)

I was totally arrested by this picture in the paper today.  What immediately went through my mind was, “Through no fault of her own, she has no food to eat.  Through no fault of her own.”  So many millions more are like this little girl - born into a life of abject poverty such as most of us have never seen or experienced.  Almost as quickly as my first thought came the conviction of how quickly I will forget about this little girl or the many other such children in pictures and stories to which I am exposed.  Jesus spoke into my spirit, “I never forget her.”  
   
Isaiah 49:15  “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?  Though she may forget, I will not forget you!”  NIV

Even if I, being too concerned with my own interests, forget this little girl and all those she represents, Jesus will never forget her - not for one instant.  I don’t want just to rest in the fact that she will not be forgotten by Jesus.  I want Him to be able to say to me, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave Me food. . .”  When I answer Him, “Lord, when did I see You hungry and give You food?” He will say to me, “Truly I tell you, in so far as you did it for one of the least [in the estimation of men] of these My brethren, you did it for Me.” (from Matthew 25:34-40 Amplified)

So, what do I do with this?  What do you do with it?  All I know at this point is that we are to bring each one before Him in prayer that He brings before us.   That’s the starting place, but it won’t always be the finishing place.  The Holy Spirit will make clear to each of us what we are to do about each one in need.  He could call us to give financially to an organization already serving the needs of those particular people.  He could call us to go, or to help send someone who is going.  He could call us to adopt an orphan in a poverty-stricken land.  He could call us to publicize the plight of a particular group of people, and organize others into doing something to help.  He could call us to do some combination of these things, and more.  I don’t know specifically.  All I know, at this point, is that Jesus never forgets these precious children.  As one who calls herself a Christ-follower, neither can I!