Bible Teachings:
Thanksgiving
Hello Brothers and Sister, for this day and tomorrow I want to express something many of us forget or take for grated. It's the holiday known as Thanksgiving, a day where many of us have much great food and a day we give our thanks. Sadly that day isn't very world wide as many of us would have believe, if anyone in America is reading this then you know what I'm saying.
First let me say that while us in America may feel safe and secure under many achievements that sometimes we do in history. Let us consider the other parts of the world, the world filled with many people living in the streets without any food, money, jobs, homes, friends, or family, even more when it's brought down to our basic needs. What makes this worse is even in what is considered the riches country doesn't provide this for everyone. Folks we live in a world where we place ourselves above people, we gain more wealth to feel we achieve something and gain attention. Yet anyone outside of your home is someone living in the streets, with nothing more then what clothes they have and what little they have of their dignity.
Let me tell you about this year, how there were encounters with people that had little to nothing. The first time starting to follow Christ, I was hesitate and unsure of what I was doing, I went towards the library that was open earlier before this happen. I had no idea what I was doing, but soon walk over to him and started to talk. He was at least 10 years older or around the same age as I am. He's had hard times with his job and his goal is to have decent job earning enough money to never live that life style again. He had a friend that lived the same way, the only reason they went towards the library is because the place provide comfort from the coming winter. He smoke lots on his own time, yet sometimes would have some way to find food, only for a short while. After many months I never saw him after this happen, if there was an redo button that can rewind time, I would try and talk about Jesus Christ more for his life.
Another encounter came from walking in the streets, I like to say his name is Joshua but I don't want to say it's his name because I haven't seen him since. When I was walking for a workout, I was just doing some exercise. But then from no reason or understand he approach me and we began to talk about Christ. He and I became instant friends like we known each other since childhood. In this we talk about Christ and how we felt in our situation, for him he wanted to become follower of Christ was uncertain about some subjects. Yet at the same time I was also uncertain about things I didn't understand. It was around summer time I suppose, but what came from our talk is encouragement. Looking back, I truly know now that God was watching, and he brought us together for that one time we encounter each other. God is always watching and knowing our struggles, mistakes and when we have sin when we should have flee from them. I didn't see him again, yet that moment when looking back is still incredible. He has a wife and kid, yet despite what troubles. He remain joyful, a man who has nothing, and no one to turn is joyful. That kind of joy when having little to nothing can only be given by our Lord Jesus, for when we lean towards him, he'll always the unending streams of water.
While driving this encounter wasn't a homeless, but had the misfortune of walking home that would have taken him 1 hour drive. And he was force to walk at nighttime, in the middle of driving I saw him and stop to see if he's alright. And from this I drove him back and tried to talk more boldly. Our conversation was causal but I can say that despite this something had told me to stop and pick him up. That would be strings being pulled in my soul to help the man. When we depart he offered some pizza and I had a meal on the way back.
The next encounter came from near Walmart. At the time I had some coupons, then right as I drove in saw the man sitting at the edge of the road. Minding his business, his story has him place where his family is supporting him, yet is still looking for a job to find himself a home. When I reach to Arby's seeing him sitting by himself with no one to talk to him, or help him. That moment my compassion lead me towards him, for most of our talk I listen to him and hear about himself and what he's doing. In the middle of the conversation went back to getting that Arby's coupon. But instead of driving off, I gave him the most expense coupon meal he can enjoy. We talk for sometime, and then offer him a drive towards where he would met up with someone. After that we depart and haven't seen him since.
Folks can we take this moment to understand how when we have some wealth, if some of you live in neighborhoods or cities with people living on the streets. How many of us can truly look at them and just walk away as if it's not our problem. If we are truly followers of Christ, when you see someone on the streets begging for help or is in need yet couldn't speak for themselves, would you turn them away? God made all of us in his image, and if we turn them away we are turning God away as well. I can truly say we need to allow God to guide us, for when someone is in need, God always provides even by having us provide in fellowship. Lets take this moment to be most thankful and grateful to our loving heavenly father who has done more then what we understand. Thankful for the family and friends, the homes and food provided, the life we live because it could have been worse, and most thankful for when our lives are worse, we are able to use what little we have and find ourselves joyful by our Lord's love for us. Around the world there are people who already have it hard, from neighborhoods to cities, even in countries they can't even find water for themselves. Yet in that thankfulness, we should allow ourselves the time and day for those who are in need of help. Folks as we live on this earth, the troubles, storms, evils that are slowly consuming this world will remain until the second coming of Christ appears. It will be on that day no one will ever shed a tear and feel sadden by this world's troubles. But as of now as reborn followers of Christ, we have to open ourselves to people in need and those who asked for help. Jesus Christ lived by serving others, are we living that same life as Christ-like?