my friend and i were driving home from minneapolis having a conversation about how to love, reach out, and help people who are homeless. this is something i have been thinking about since i started hanging out downtown over the past three years.
i am not sure there is one exact solution for every person we see holding a cardboard sign on the corner of washington and 35 or sitting at the bus stop. part of the solution; however, has to be love. we are commanded to love our neighbor (mark 12).
who are my neighbors? i am quickly learning that they are more than just the people in the two houses next to mine. the people i need to view as my neighbor are those who i come in contact with. my coworkers, my family, the waitress, the checkout lady at the grocery store, the people i sit next to in church and every person i walk or drive by. no matter if any of these people have a home or not, they are my neighbor. they all should be loved.
this does not mean we are called to give a homeless person all the money we have in our wallet every time we drive by them. it does mean we need to acknowledge them, make them feel human and listen to the Holy Spirit of how it is we can best love them. maybe we will be prompted to give them the money or gift card in our wallet or the apple in our bag. it could also just be finding out their story.
i am often scared to give homeless people money because they might use it on alcohol or something they don't really need. i am not sure where this idea came from. everyone assumes this, but who really actually finds out how homeless people use the money they are give? i am realizing that i really need to trust God with however He tells me to love. this is with whoever i am in interacting with. i also need to realize that the Lord commands us to help the poor which could mean giving them the $5 i was planning to use on my lunch.
one thing i told my friend, who waits at the bus stop every day seeing the same homeless people is that if she learns their stories she will then be able to understand who they are. when we learn a person's story, we learn pretty quickly how they spend their time and money.
Lord, i pray that You help me love better, especially the people who i often do not know how to love. teach me to treat every person i interact with like they are Your creation. thank you God that each person, homeless or not, has a story. i want to know those stories. thank you that my money is not mine, but Your money God. teach me to view it as that. let me not hold my money tightly but loosely so that You can use it to help those in need. God, you are the Creator of every human being and the Giver of all things. i praise you. Amen.
Showing posts with label Lessons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lessons. Show all posts
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Tootsie pops help us listen
Stories- recollections of life being lived.
We all share them. We all hear them. We all have at least one.
Every time a person breathes they are living out a story. Today, my story included, the barista who poured my green tea, the woman sitting twenty-feet away from me eagerly typing with a contemplative look on her face as to whether she should hit backspace or not, the man who needs help walking out the door since his legs are not strong enough to do it on his own, and the random woman at Goodwill who helped me pick out a belt. Not only were they part of my story, they each have their own stories to share. Their thoughts, emotions, desires, and experiences can and should be put into words to share with other humans.
God created humans to be in relationship and community with one another. To share in those experiences I previously mentioned. He also created us with a voice to share our stories. A voice can help us learn, love, grieve, and grow. When creating humans, God did not stop with a voice. He also gave us ears. Not one, but two. He may have done this to balance out our face (it would look kind of funny if we only had one ear), but more than that I think He did this so we are reminded that listening often takes more effort or is more important than talking.
I love how bluntly James addresses the matter in James 1:19-21. We are to be quick to listen and slow to speak. One reason this could be is to hear the stories of the people around us. The more I spend time with people and the more coffee dates I go on with my sisters, the more I realize how one of the best ways I can love someone is by listening to them. Hearing their joys, their pains, and their life is what I am able to do.
Sharing stories is needed, yet the only way to do this is to have someone to listen to them. Listening is vital in any relationship you have, whether you just met the person or have known them your whole life.
A few months ago I heard this piece of advice from one the best listeners of my stories- eat a tootsie pop when you want (or need) to become a better listener. This sweet treat, or in my case a cup of coffee, can be a good reminder of what James was talking about with how we are to be quick to listen and slow to speak. It is rather hard to talk when you have a tootsie pop in your mouth.
We all share them. We all hear them. We all have at least one.
Every time a person breathes they are living out a story. Today, my story included, the barista who poured my green tea, the woman sitting twenty-feet away from me eagerly typing with a contemplative look on her face as to whether she should hit backspace or not, the man who needs help walking out the door since his legs are not strong enough to do it on his own, and the random woman at Goodwill who helped me pick out a belt. Not only were they part of my story, they each have their own stories to share. Their thoughts, emotions, desires, and experiences can and should be put into words to share with other humans.
God created humans to be in relationship and community with one another. To share in those experiences I previously mentioned. He also created us with a voice to share our stories. A voice can help us learn, love, grieve, and grow. When creating humans, God did not stop with a voice. He also gave us ears. Not one, but two. He may have done this to balance out our face (it would look kind of funny if we only had one ear), but more than that I think He did this so we are reminded that listening often takes more effort or is more important than talking.
I love how bluntly James addresses the matter in James 1:19-21. We are to be quick to listen and slow to speak. One reason this could be is to hear the stories of the people around us. The more I spend time with people and the more coffee dates I go on with my sisters, the more I realize how one of the best ways I can love someone is by listening to them. Hearing their joys, their pains, and their life is what I am able to do.
Sharing stories is needed, yet the only way to do this is to have someone to listen to them. Listening is vital in any relationship you have, whether you just met the person or have known them your whole life.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
What to do with all these lessons?
I am home. I am no longer the RA of pink hall and I no longer live in a hall of 22 of the loveliest, craziest, most precious girls! I cannot believe that it has already been one year since the last time I moved back home. And what is even crazier is that I only have one more time of moving everything into the Northwestern dorms (though, it will be in yellow hall next year and not pink) and back out again. This is a good thing though because I am sick of walking up those three flights of stairs with all my stuff!
I think writing down some of the lessons that I learned this year is going to help me process everything. God has been revealing to me so much about the experiences I had this year.
Starting with the most recent...
These past two days were some of the best and hardest 48 hours ever. The ResLife staff went on a debrief retreat and I absolutely loved it because of the conversations that took place, along with the relaxation and fun that happened. God showed me how real this ResLife community has been and how it was such an example of the body of Christ. My staff became my refuge. They understand who God is and what He is doing in their life and mine. I am beyond appreciative of each of the nine soul sisters that God gave me for this past year. During the retreat we went around and said something that we appreciated or loved about each other. This time was wonderful and so encouraging. I will never forget this KnuHa staff. The retreat was hard because I realized how much I wish we would have more time together as an entire ResLife staff. We were just becoming super good friends and now it is over. Thankfully, many of these brothers and sisters will not be leaving NWC. I learned that I want to spend more time and in conversation with these people. (Good thing I have next year to practice this lesson that I learned with the new ResLife people).
Another lesson I learned is how faithful the Lord is to His children. He loves each one of us way more than we can imagine. I never expected to learn so much about myself and God in one year. I am so weak without God's strength. I need the GRACE of God to do things. This year I realized that I doubt God so much, yet He still delights in me. I just started reading "The Knowledge of the Holy," and it has shown me so much about the Lord. A.W. Tozer says, "He is not exactly like anything or anybody." There is nothing like God. We cannot compare Him to anything because of how HOLY, POWERFUL, LOVING, AND GREAT He is (and so much more). God is incomprehensible. I have learned over time that God has done things to reveal parts of who He is. He sent Jesus to die for this world and that shows us His indescribable love. This is something I learned about this year. God uses so many things to show us His love. I learned that even though there were times this winter when I felt extremely lonely, God used His scripture and voice to tell me "Jillian, I love you. You are not alone." He also showed me in October how loved I am because He knows exactly what I need. I was at Vespers one time and I told my friend something that I was struggling with and she told me that when I am tempted to say, "In Jesus' name go away." So I did this and the temptation went away. Wow, that is LOVE. When we trust in His name and call upon it, He will not fail us.
This leads to another lesson I learned, how powerful the name of Christ is. There is no name above Yahweh's name. At the retreat two nights ago, we were sitting around the bonfire talking about casting out demons and I do not understand a lot about this, but I do know that Christ's name is powerful. I want to have His name on my lips and in my thoughts. God is our Sovereign Father, who never wants to leave us.
The song "Your Great Name," by Michael Neale and Krissy Nordhoff has really spoken to me this year. One day Christ will come back and we will not just be able to talk about God, but we will be with Him.
"So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the LORD had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands. Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” Exodus 34:4-7.
This passage shows what the name of the Lord is really like and who God is. After Moses was done speaking with the Lord and wrote down His commandments on the tablets, His face was radiant (WOW). This is so powerful because God describes Himself and His power and holiness are shown in this passage.
This also has to do with one of my favorite passages in Scripture, Psalm 34:4-7, "I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them."
I am so excited for this summer because God told me at Unite that I should study His Word because this school year it became something I did not do as much as I should have. I am excited, yet kind of nervous for this because I know that I can make myself very busy. I want to decrease my worldly desires and increase my desires for the Lord. His name is GREAT and I want to study more about who He is. I am extremely thankful for all the lessons I learned this past year. I will definitely be processing them over these next few weeks.
I am in awe of the Lord and I am surrendering my plans every day for His plans.
I think writing down some of the lessons that I learned this year is going to help me process everything. God has been revealing to me so much about the experiences I had this year.
Starting with the most recent...
These past two days were some of the best and hardest 48 hours ever. The ResLife staff went on a debrief retreat and I absolutely loved it because of the conversations that took place, along with the relaxation and fun that happened. God showed me how real this ResLife community has been and how it was such an example of the body of Christ. My staff became my refuge. They understand who God is and what He is doing in their life and mine. I am beyond appreciative of each of the nine soul sisters that God gave me for this past year. During the retreat we went around and said something that we appreciated or loved about each other. This time was wonderful and so encouraging. I will never forget this KnuHa staff. The retreat was hard because I realized how much I wish we would have more time together as an entire ResLife staff. We were just becoming super good friends and now it is over. Thankfully, many of these brothers and sisters will not be leaving NWC. I learned that I want to spend more time and in conversation with these people. (Good thing I have next year to practice this lesson that I learned with the new ResLife people).
Another lesson I learned is how faithful the Lord is to His children. He loves each one of us way more than we can imagine. I never expected to learn so much about myself and God in one year. I am so weak without God's strength. I need the GRACE of God to do things. This year I realized that I doubt God so much, yet He still delights in me. I just started reading "The Knowledge of the Holy," and it has shown me so much about the Lord. A.W. Tozer says, "He is not exactly like anything or anybody." There is nothing like God. We cannot compare Him to anything because of how HOLY, POWERFUL, LOVING, AND GREAT He is (and so much more). God is incomprehensible. I have learned over time that God has done things to reveal parts of who He is. He sent Jesus to die for this world and that shows us His indescribable love. This is something I learned about this year. God uses so many things to show us His love. I learned that even though there were times this winter when I felt extremely lonely, God used His scripture and voice to tell me "Jillian, I love you. You are not alone." He also showed me in October how loved I am because He knows exactly what I need. I was at Vespers one time and I told my friend something that I was struggling with and she told me that when I am tempted to say, "In Jesus' name go away." So I did this and the temptation went away. Wow, that is LOVE. When we trust in His name and call upon it, He will not fail us.
This leads to another lesson I learned, how powerful the name of Christ is. There is no name above Yahweh's name. At the retreat two nights ago, we were sitting around the bonfire talking about casting out demons and I do not understand a lot about this, but I do know that Christ's name is powerful. I want to have His name on my lips and in my thoughts. God is our Sovereign Father, who never wants to leave us.
The song "Your Great Name," by Michael Neale and Krissy Nordhoff has really spoken to me this year. One day Christ will come back and we will not just be able to talk about God, but we will be with Him.
"So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the LORD had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands. Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” Exodus 34:4-7.
This passage shows what the name of the Lord is really like and who God is. After Moses was done speaking with the Lord and wrote down His commandments on the tablets, His face was radiant (WOW). This is so powerful because God describes Himself and His power and holiness are shown in this passage.
This also has to do with one of my favorite passages in Scripture, Psalm 34:4-7, "I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them."
I am so excited for this summer because God told me at Unite that I should study His Word because this school year it became something I did not do as much as I should have. I am excited, yet kind of nervous for this because I know that I can make myself very busy. I want to decrease my worldly desires and increase my desires for the Lord. His name is GREAT and I want to study more about who He is. I am extremely thankful for all the lessons I learned this past year. I will definitely be processing them over these next few weeks.
I am in awe of the Lord and I am surrendering my plans every day for His plans.
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