Loving the Lost

     I have been increasingly becoming more sensitive to my Father's heart for the lost.  In that I mean I have begun to see people with new eyes.  I feel their pain as if it were my own and I know the Lord is preparing me for something different. 
     Do we really understand how Father feels about His people?  All of His people which includes every person on the face of this vast world with no reference to race, color, creed or religion. As "Christians" we have taken Biblical truths to beat people up and have shown intolerance for anyone different than us.  The church has certainly missed the boat in that aspect.  Not judging just making a statement.  It's time we get back to the truth and start loving one another.
     I have always been interested in the Justice system, and now with the wonders of television I can watch criminal trials and I am always amazed at the twisted way we can turn the law into what ever we want it to be.  The church for the last 100 years has done that very thing.  We have taken a gospel of good news and love and turned it into rules and condemnation for those that don't follow "our" rules.  We need to get back to the basic simple spiritual laws that God has set before us and stop trying to twist them into something to suit our own selfish needs. 
     My Father has recently opened up my little world, in this little bubble of Reno Nevada to seeing that not every one lives like us. As I grumble about having to sweep all the dirt in my house daily (and there is a lot :)  ) the thought came to me that I could have a dirt floor like many other people live.  I sometimes complain about my transportation and I have come to realize there are people serving God with everything they have in other countries that have to walk miles just to get to their church or to help others and they do this unselfishly and without complaining. We are so spoiled here, so very spoiled. We voice our opinions loudly everyday about the politics of things going on this country and yet we forget to thank God that we still have our freedom to express our opinions and we forget to shut up long enough to actually look around and find someone, a real person, right in our path that we can help. 
     There are so many needs right here right now, right in our faces that we can be fulfilling for people and showing the love of God instead of pointing fingers. 
      I became aware of one particular group of kids that I had never heard about. They don't tell you this stuff on the news.  Once a child becomes 18 and they are in a foster home the foster parents stop receiving funds for the child so they get thrown out to live on the streets.  I was devastated to learn this takes place everyday right here in our community. These children need love and need to know someone cares about them.
     So I challenge you for the next week, step outside of yourself and look around to see what you can do for someone.  It can be as simple as holding the door for an elderly person at the store, letting the guy wash your windows and instead of giving him change, give him a twenty, it won't kill you.  Take the time to smile and start conversations with those in the grocery line, just be pleasant and nice.  Slow down, stop complaining, start thanking the Lord for all the blessings you do have and love on someone and show them who Jesus really is.