Showing Christ's Love

It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. Deuteronomy 13:4

Am I the only one growing weary of the childish stalemate in DC? It kind of reminds me of the Cold War between the Soviet Union and U.S. Difference being—we’re all supposed to be on the same side.

Last night, I attended the Miracle Hill annual fundraising banquet in Spartanburg, SC. Their ministry serves the homeless and addicted seeking to start over and build new lives.

According to their website:

In 1937, Miracle Hill Ministries began as a small rescue mission in downtown Greenville. Since then, we have grown with the Upstate — expanding to meet the changing and diverse needs of homeless, hungry and destitute people. With your help we have become a significant provider of homeless services in South Carolina. 

With locations in four upstate counties: Greenville, Spartanburg, Pickens and Cherokee, Miracle Hill operates four adult shelters, three youth shelters and ten thrift stores. We are home to two highly successful, Christ-centered addiction recovery programs: Renewal for women, and Overcomers for men. And, we also license foster care families in the upstate. 

The keynote speaker was Ron Hall, co-author of the book "Same Kind of Different As Me." If you haven’t read the book, I highly recommend it. It’s one of the most remarkable, motivational, life-changing books I’ve ever read. Definitely in my top 5. Or possibly top 3. J 

Ron, an upscale art dealer, and his wife Deborah worked in a homeless shelter where they met Denver Moore, an angry ex-con homeless man that everyone gave a wide berth—except Deborah. The three formed a bond that changed their community and eventually, the hearts of thousands nationwide. Here are a few Denver Moore quotes:

“Nobody can help everybody, but everybody can help somebody.”

“When people see homeless folks living under bridges, living in cardboard boxes, they ask, 'Why hasn't God done something about this?' One day, God is going to ask you the same question.”

“Mr. Ron, I never figured out why folks go to church on Sunday to worship one homeless guy and then on Monday ignore the first homeless person they see.”

To date, Ron and Denver’s ministry has raised more than $80 million for the homeless. I’m just scratching the surface of this amazing story of love and redemption, and it would take several blog posts to relay it. So…go buy the book! If you never read another book your entire life, this will be enough. I promise. J
 

Despite what goes on in Washington or around the world, what matters is that we “hold fast” to God and display His love that resides in us to others. That is the only security you will ever possess or offer to others in this world.

Whether this means volunteering in a homeless shelter, soup kitchen, your church, or helping your neighbor who’s struggling to feed her children because her husband’s been out of work for two years, you can do something to help. Offer to babysit, invite them to dinner, or just listen when she talks.

To paraphrase one of Ron’s comments last night: Anyone can hand someone a dollar. You make a difference when you take the time to show them the love of Christ.

What will that look like in your life today?

 

If you have a prayer need, please share it in the comments or e-mail me confidential requests. Our military personnel continue to be in harm’s way around the globe, specifically in Afghanistan. Information on one soldier we’ve prayed for over the past year is at the top of the blog, along with our permanent prayer list. Would you take a few moments to add these folks to your prayers today? Thanks!

Praise Report from Courtney after her appointment at Duke yesterday: It's a WONDERFUL day!!!!! All scans were awesome!! The PET scan was even better than the last one I had 6 months ago. I am getting off another chemo! Yay! That brings me down to just one which would be Avastin that I get every 3 weeks in Greenville. In another 6 months, they will do another scan....and if that's a good report, I will be done with ALL chemos!!! I go back in 9 weeks to do my routine MRI. God is so good! I'm blessed beyond blessed. Thank you all for the sweet messages and prayers!

There’s nothing I can add except Praise God from Whom all blessings flow! Hope you all have a blessed week.

Shalom,

Laura ✞

©Laura Hodges Poole

Book Description from “Same Kind of Different As Me” website: