The Forgotten. All the forgotten people who are in turmoil. Who have nothing to eat. Who are drug out of their homes, beat and killed for loving Christ.
This is something that has been weighing on my heart for awhile now, but the thing that did it in for me is this:
As I was cleaning up the kitchen after dinner, Layla was looking at a Voice of the Martyrs magazine. Lying on the table next to her was a Walmart flier. I absently picked it up and flipped through it. As I was doing so Layla said sadly, "Wow, look at this." It was a picture of a father mourning over his bloody, dead son in the rubble of their church that had just been bombed.
"Wow." I said as I shook my head. Then I realized. I looked from the Walmart flier to the magazine and back again. I began to tear up, not cry really, but a tear or two did fall.
As we hustle and bustle with our heads down, trying to get the last iPhone5 that's on sale, or maybe that Lego Ev3 MindStorm set that your son always wanted that's on sale for 350 bucks, we tend to forget about those people I mentioned above.
And just as our cheeks flame red with anger because we were too late for that 60" HDTV flat screen that was on sale for 800 bucks, someone on the other side of the world is being beat, maybe burnt at the stake.This is no light subject to just be shrugged off.
Believe me, I LOVE Christmas time. I'm no Scrooge, but you see? During Christmas time the gluttony and want for stuff, stuff, stuff, really shows whats in our hearts.
And of course, I want you to celebrate! But ought we to celebrate the real reason for Christmas? And I want you to see your family members faces light up as they open their gifts. I like to experience that just as much as anyone.
But just think of how you would feel to know that, as your children laugh and giggle over their stocking stuffers, some other child is laughing and giggling because they have clean, purified water to drink because you chose to share with them that happiness. Because you chose to step out of your comfort zone
Now I'm not looking down on you at all. And I most certainly am not judging you for spending money. I spend money. Everyone spends money. But we need to know where our hearts are and what our motives are.
Why are we going Black Friday shopping on the one Holiday that has anything to do with giving thanks?
Maybe we could spend less money on ourselves, who have everything we need, and a little more on those who don't.
We don't need to stop what we are doing, but some times we need to just change what we are doing.
This doesn't mean you have to go and return everything super expensive that you have already purchased, but why can't we set aside a small sum of money to help or support someone who is really in need? The answer is we can. We can die to ourselves! And we can share our luxury! The Lord says we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength!
If you feel convicted, don't shrug it off. If you feel like you should help those in need, I encourage you to! Don't be afraid to step out of the crowd, don't let the world trick you
( because really, it will try), you must not let the devil succeed in
your life!
Will you share Christmas with those in need? Will you show them the love of Christ?
If you choose to do so, please check out Gospel for Asia. It is a wonderful ministry that, as in the name, shares the Gospel of Christ through out Asia as they clothe naked and feed the hungry.
Thank you for reading and I hope you choose to step out for Christ.
Love,
Hagen
Of course we can't forget about the food!
