My Last Week!!

Matthew 9:12 & 13, 36 & 37
¨...It is not those who are healthy that need a physician but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means, ¨I desire compassion and not sacrifice for I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.¨
¨Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to the disciples, ¨the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.¨¨

This morning as I was reading my Bible, these verses really stuck out to me. Our God is such a compassionate God (if you ever doubt it, read Matthew) and I know that the sin, suffering and pain in this world breaks His heart.

I get really frustrated sometimes because I see all of these horrible things down here such as rape, prostitution, abandoned children etc. and I feel so helpless. What can I really offer these people that truly will help them. I can give the homeless a meal but it won´t satisfy them eternally. I can hug the children and tell them I love them but when it is all said and done, I too will be leaving them. I can teach English, make bracelets, have Bible studies, give gifts and sing songs but when I leave here what have I done?

Today after church some of us were talking about whether we feel like we are truly making a difference here or not. I didn´t contribute a lot to the conversation because I was really thinking and taking into consideration what the others were saying. The truth is that unless we are sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with these people we are not making a lasting difference. These people NEED Jesus desperately. We can teach and preach and run around in circles for days but if the Good News isn´t being taught we are only temporarily helping these people. This life is truly just a vapor...one single moment in all of eternity. I may not be able to solve the many problems I see here but I can use the resources that God has given me to bring more people into His kingdom.

In fact, the whole world is in need of a Savior. That is something I have been thinking about a lot here. Missions is not something that only takes place outside of the United States. There are so many hurting, broken and lost people right in my neighborhood that are crying out for help. It is so easy to ignore those that we see every day though. I really want to be more pro active about sharing Jesus with people. I don´t know where God is calling me in the future. It could be in a different country or it could be in America. Either way He wants us to fulfill the Great Commission wherever He places us.

I just finished reading the Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning (good book) and I want to end this post with a quote from that book...¨Risking everything on Jesus: the Ragamuffin gospel says we can´t lose because we have nothing to lose.¨ Its a good thought...without Christ I am nothing and it is only by His grace that I am able to do ANYTHING!

This post was just a few of my thoughts typed out quickly so I apologize if it doesn´t flow or read well. Please pray for me this final week, pray for the kids, pray for the staff of Orphan Helpers and pray that the love and message of Jesus will be received with open hearts by those who hear it!