Journal for 11/11…the poor

5:41 AM

Almost slept through the night, Lord…but tried to pray for some folks as long as I was awake. Thank You for always being there. You are God…the one and only God. And yet, You take a personal interest in me -- my soul, my life, my day, my feelings, my circumstances. Thank You for the blessings and benefits that come from knowing You. If only I could live up to the service and worship You so rightfully deserve.

Psalm 41

Happy is the man that cares for the poor (1)…I believe that to be true, Lord. Christians have the responsibility to care for those that are truly poor. The problem I struggle with is this: The government has taken on that role and robbed the church of its responsibility--or maybe we abdicated and abandoned our responsibility years ago…I don't know. But this is the problem. I can't tell who is really "poor". So many of the poor have wide screen TVs and cable; they choose to be poor and not work; they game the system and take advantage of the true givers in society.

Lord, I have no doubt there are truly poor people -- like that home in Waco for adults with mental disabilities, they have no one and no money except that home--but Lord, so many people are not, or don't have to be, economically poor.

Now, there are those that are "poor in spirit" -- I can help those people should they want to be helped! Lord, give me the wisdom to help the truly poor, but also give me the resources, too. All I have is yours.

I don't have much money (I'm rich compared to most of the world), but if I don't use my resources for You now, it will be too late in eternity to do it. Give our church the resources to do a better job in ministry, discipleship and worship.

Thank You for the jobs you've given at least 3 members of our church this past week--others are still trying. Please bless them with good paying jobs. The ones I'm thinking of would be tithers, too, Lord.

Well, I guess what I'm asking for is wisdom and resources. LOL… who wouldn't want those?! Whatever You provide me with, Lord, remind that it's all for You. Be Lord today. I am second.~