Authentic Compassion - A Non-Political View

I've moved to a new address - but there are some bugs that need to be worked out. Here's a new post until I get that figured out . . .

There are a lot of ideas circulating these days about who's compassionate and who is not  - especially on the American political scene. Politicians paint one party as being more compassionate while another is painted as being more cold and uncaring.

God has written the message of His compassion across my heart and laced it through the landscape of my life. He has poured His compassion out on me, and He has allowed me to rally people together to practice it in and through the local church as a former Director of Sending Ministries. I have had the privilege of watching Him perform miracles as He reshaped hearts and mobilized people in acts of compassion that dramatically impacted the lives of those sharing it - and the lives of those receiving it. I have spent time in the trenches working face to face with people in need and have listened to the stories of many able-bodied people whose life mission and career goal was to convince our government they are disabled so they could receive a regular disability check. 

Here's something God has taught me about authentic compassion. Maybe this will help you as you warm this world with your own demonstrations of compassion.

Authentic compassion does not make people dependent on systems, organizations, ministries, or governments.

• There is a time and place for emergency assistance and even long-term care (i.e., orphans), but authentic compassion never desires to make that assistance a permanent lifestyle.
• Authentic compassion always desires to build people up and make them stronger.
• It sees the potential in every person.
• It seeks the best for that person.
• It seeks to encourage them toward their fullest potential and the fulfillment that comes from living out their God-given purpose on this earth.
• It allows people to realize the deep satisfaction and dignity that come from a day of hard work.
• Authentic compassion is proactive.
• It empowers and makes people stronger.

Let's stop allowing politicians to define compassion. The view is distorted when the only aim is self-serving re-election based on creating a sense of dependency among the people. How about wrapping our minds around authentic compassion? Demonstrating authentic compassion helps and empowers - it never hurts, enables, or limits.

What are your questions or comments about authentic compassion? 

Please circulate and share this post if you want to rally people toward authentic compassion in our world today.

Taking a Stand to Warm the World Together . . .

Lisa~

The Drifter

"Tex"

Every Thursday my husband, Mike, takes our son to Bible study at the local McDonald’s. It’s a great weekly ritual of Micky D’s breakfast with friends and a dedicated teacher who helps them unravel the meaning of scripture and apply it to their lives. This is something I love about our community. Throughout the week, you'll see groups of people gathering for Bible studies at many local restaurants.

Leaving McDonald’s last week, Mike noticed a homeless man sitting on the curb at the corner of the building.  This man was having his own private and personal Bible study. Mike thought about stopping to talk to him, but he wasn’t sure what to say. That thought was twisting in his conscience as he pulled out of the parking lot. At that moment, his phone rang. He answered to hear our 12-year-old son say, “Dad, did you see that homeless guy reading his Bible? You need to go give him some money.” Josh had noticed him too as he had gotten in the car with his Bible study leader to head to school. Well it hardly took a second for my husband to turn his car around. He parked his car, squatted down on the curb next to “Tex Squires”, and began a conversation that lasted 30 minutes. That’s a good long time for a man who wasn’t sure what he was going to say! Actually, Tex did most of the talking. As Mike listened, he observed that Tex was sober, smart, and articulate. Not your stereotypical homeless man.

During their exchange, people streamed in and out of the restaurant. Mike sure got some weird looks and second-glances sitting there on the ground with this weathered drifter.

So why is he a drifter? Well – he has a back-story just like every other person on this planet. In his own words, he articulated that he has a “messed up family.” Growing up, his daddy always told him he was worthless. The precise words Tex heard repeatedly throughout his childhood were: “You are a worthless bastard.” Can you imagine hearing that day-in and day-out? In addition to the verbal garbage about being worthless, Tex’s Dad constantly threatened to kill him. His most recent exchange with his dad included the words, “I’ve got a bullet waiting for you.”

Tex’s mom wasn’t much better. When she actually wore clothes at home, she dressed provocatively – wearing Daisy Dukes when his friends came over. She was an embarrassment to Tex and eventually had an extra-marital affair.

Tex loves Jesus and believes strongly in obedience to God “like the Bible says”. But he’s seen too many Christians act one way on Sunday morning, then turn into different people outside of church. So Tex doesn’t trust anyone – only his dogs. He declared to my husband that he has willingly and intentionally checked out of society. Hearing his back-story, I can’t say that I blame him.

God has established a tender spot in my heart for those our society views as “outcasts” and “undesirables”. Truth is, everyone has a back-story. Everyone has value. And everyone needs someone who believes in them – beginning with our own children then working its way outward.

There are lots of people like Tex on the byways of this world. Problem is, how often do we "see" them? How often do we sit down on the curb or start a conversation with them? You know what I love? I love the fact that our son actually noticed this guy. An overwhelming majority of society would just walk on by without even seeing him there. If they did notice him, many would judge him or turn their heads the other way without a second thought. But Josh saw him and called his dad. That’s a whole lot like Jesus who noticed the beggars, the lepers, the blind, and so on. When they crossed His path, He loved on them (and listened to them) because that’s what His Dad wanted him to do. Christ followers – there are people who cross our path each day that we never "see". They all have back-stories and struggles. They all have value. What would it take for us to open our eyes and see those people through God’s eyes. He made them in His image after all - even the "outcasts".


And God calls us to love them.  


"In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another . . . if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us." 1 John 4:10-12

Oh yeah. Tex says he’s going to write an e-book about his life and call it “Worthless Bastard.” If you ever see that title out there you’ll know where it came from.

And if you're one of those people whose back-story is a little like Tex's, hear the truth from me now. God loves you deeply. You are extremely valuable to Him - and to me.

Thanks for stopping by . . .


Lisa~

An Idea for Nurturing a Spirit of Giving in Your Family

Fireside ~ Conversations by the fire about nurturing home and family


" . . . whoever is kind to the needy honors God." Proverbs 14:31

Does your family do any year-end giving? If so, why not include your kids? 


Here's an idea for nurturing a giving spirit in your family:


Make a List of Non-Profits
In our family, we compile a master list of Christian ministries and charitable organizations we would like to give to. My husband and I research and have confidence in the integrity of each one. We print a copy of this list for each member of our family. At the bottom, we always include a spot for "Other" in case someone has another non-profit they would like to support.


Determine the Amount
We then determine the amount of our total year-end donation and split it between each family member. For instance, a $2,000 year-end donation in a family of four would give each person $500 to donate.  (Give your kids the option to include their own funds in this as well.)


Include the Whole Family
Each family member prayerfully reviews the list and allocates funds to the ministries/organizations of his or her choice. After all the sheets are turned in, we tally the results and report the total amounts designated for each non-profit. It's really fun to see what your kids choose . . . gives you a picture into their hearts. This year our son wrote in a donation to the Humane Society (on the "Other" line) from our dog Suubi.

Year-end giving provides a great opportunity to teach children about:

• Compassion
• Using personal resources responsibly 
• The joy and beauty of giving
• Recognizing the needs of others (i.e., "it's not about me")
• Being a "light" in a dark world as a family unit

If you're looking for organizations to give to, here are a few that are precious to us. (Of course, there are many others we love as well, but I don't have room to list them all!):


As Our Own
"As Our Own is a Christ-based, community-driven movement in India that rescues vulnerable children from certain enslavement and exploitation, caring for them as our own."


Click here for statistics on orphans and s-x trafficking in India and here for a photo album of a child's path into slavery. This world-wide crisis is absolutely heartbreaking and an evil we all need to battle.

Kanakuk Institute
The Kanakuk Institute equips men and women with Biblical skills for a lifetime of ministry. Amazing is all I can say! What this ministry is doing is so desperately needed in our world today.

Kids Across Africa Camps
Kids Across Africa Camps enables and equips the youth of Rwanda by teaching them life skills, self-confidence and leadership through experiential learning. As they work with youth - and in partnership with churches - they are aiding in the continued restoration and healing of Rwanda.


Watoto Child Care Ministries
Watoto is a holistic care program that was initiated in response to the overwhelming number of orphaned children and vulnerable women in Uganda. Their purpose is to rescue individuals and raise each one as a leader so they will in turn rebuild their nation. 

Danita's Children (Hope for Haiti Children's Center)
Danita's Children rescues, loves, and cares for orphans and impoverished children. This ministry is incredibly legit in their love for Christ and the sweet children of Haiti.


 

Joplin Tornado Relief
Joplin is courageously rebuilding, but there is still tremendous need there! Now you can help Joplin and receive an amazing tax credit as well. Missouri residents and businesses are eligible to receive a direct reduction on their Missouri taxes. I believe there's a federal tax incentive as well. For an example of how a $10,000 donation could ultimately cost only $3,000, visit:


http://joplincc.com/businessrecovery/


Donations can be sent to:
JACCF (Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation)
320 East 4th Street
Joplin, MO 64801

College-town Churches
Consider a gift to the church your college student attends. (Churches in college towns provide numerous ministries to college students with very few financial resources coming in.)


Get the word out! Use the comments section or my Facebook page to share links to your favorite ministry.


Warming the World Together . . .
Lisa~

How Can You Ease His Pain?

On the Wooded Path - Impacting the World with Compassion

When our middle child was in the first grade, his dad took him and his older sister skiing over the President’s Day weekend.  This was an annual ritual for our family; however, that year I stayed behind to care for our new baby. 

One day during their trip, I arrived home and checked our answering machine.  The caller ID showed a call from a hospital in Colorado.  Naturally, my heart panicked. 

I anxiously dialed the number of the hospital.  The woman who answered the phone told me that my son was there.  Without any explanation of his injuries, she casually threw out the comment that he wasn’t too seriously injured.  Then she put me on hold to ring me through to his room.  Those were agonizing seconds as I waited for the call to go through.

My husband answered the phone and explained that the ski shop had set my son’s bindings incorrectly.  They were too tight.  When our son fell on the mountain, one of his skis did not release.  He had spiral fractures in both bones of his lower leg.  Not good.  The bones were broken all the way through.  When I spoke to my son, it was very clear that he was in agony!  What made it worse was that I wasn’t there to comfort him.

My husband’s “vacation” became a trial as he took our son back to the hotel to care for him.  I called repeatedly throughout the day to check on him.  Each time, excruciating pain was evident in his small, quiet voice.  Later that evening there came a point when he refused to talk to me at all.  His suffering was so great that he couldn’t tolerate anyone even slightly bumping the bed, and he couldn’t talk on the phone – even to me.

Because of the distance between us, the only way I had been able to care for my son was through my voice on the phone. It was such a small, insignificant thing in light of his circumstances and was truly a helpless feeling. Now, even that tiny avenue of care was ripped away from me.  I was left with nothing.  No way to reach him. No way to help him. All I could do was pray . . . and rely on those who were with him on the trip to care for him in my place.  I prayed they would!! 

When Christ sees people suffer, his heart aches - just as I ached for my son; yet many people reject him in one way or another eliminating a point of personal connection. There is no way for him to personally reach them or help them. He then relies on those who are in the physical presence of the people who are hurting. We are Christ’s ambassadors and representatives.  As we make ourselves available to Him, the people of the world have the opportunity to experience the love and grace of the living Christ through us. As we care for others, we ease His pain too just as those who cared for my son in my absence eased mine.

 “The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church.  The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.”  Ephesians 2:22-23 (The Message Bible) 

 How does it make you feel to know that when you ease the pain of someone Christ loves, you are easing his pain too? As his ambassador, how can you comfort someone today?

Warming the World Together,
Lisa~

You are Not Forgotten

Mountain View - Stealing Your Breath with Views of the Heart of God

       On a mission trip to a Russian orphanage, I met a 17 year-old "orphan" named Roma Kholodkov. His father, an alcoholic, had passed away prematurely. His mother abandoned him at a young age with no word of explanation or even a “goodbye”. In Russian culture, parentless children are often discarded by society, viewed as second-class citizens, and automatically labeled as being mentally “slow” just by virtue of the fact that they are orphans. 

        Roma and I developed a close relationship. A Russian interpreter shared, “You and Roma are kindred spirits."

        On the last day of our trip, Roma walked with me to our bus. Before boarding, he lowered his head and said four simple words that broke over me with the force of a hurricane.  “Do not forget me.”

Each day I am reminded that there are a whole lot of people who suffer in the dark shadows of the world – the homeless man under the bridge, the exhausted single mother who feels completely alone, the orphans of Africa who have become “parents” to younger siblings, the unemployed father who feels like a failure, the battered woman in the house down the street, the young girls suffering the horrors of sexual slavery, the mother ripped in two by the death of her child, the couple who has been defrauded by a trusted friend, the spouse facing the crushing truth of betrayal, the mother in poverty helplessly watching her child slip further into the grip of starvation, the wealthy man struggling with the emptiness of his life, the captives held in the unrelenting claw of addiction, the man in prison drowning in guilt, and the ones ruined by unmerciful disease. Many of these people feel as though they’ve been completely forgotten. Their cries seem to go unheard and their pain is not noticed. You may know these feelings in your present situation right now. I know I have felt them in my life at times too.

          My adolescent years were filled with turmoil as my parents divorced and my mom had a nervous breakdown. Subsequent years held three additional marriages (before I was 18), a stepdad who had addictions to alcohol and gambling, another who physically abused my mother and acted on an unnatural attraction for me, a parental "kidnapping" incident, a child custody battle, and suicide attempts by my mother. After my mother's death in 2008, it was confirmed that she suffered from borderline personality disorder (something that had been suggested by many in her later years). 

       No one in our family ever talked to my brothers and I about the things that had happened in our family. No one ever asked how we felt or how we were dealing with the circumstances in our lives. (I don't fault them for this. I'm just stating facts.) As a result, I can remember feeling very alone. However, one summer my mother did a very good thing. She started taking us to church and forced me to attend youth group. There was a moment at a youth retreat when I experienced God’s presence around me in a very real way. Not sure how I knew it was God – but I knew. He made it very clear to me that he had seen everything that had been happening in my life. I felt his overwhelming sadness and compassion as he let me know that he cared about me and the pain I was suffering. This knowledge changed my life. I literally melted into his "embrace" and have been walking in that embrace ever since.

Friends, this is something I want you to plant way down deep in your soul:

God forgets no one. He sees what is happening in our lives, is aware of our individual needs, and is distressed over our personal pain. We see evidence of this awareness and concern in many passages of scripture. One of those places is in the book of Exodus.

        The Israelites had endured 400 years of oppression, hard labor, and persecution at the hands of the Egyptians and they pleaded with God to help them.

“The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God.” Exodus 2:23

       What was His response? Did He ignore them? Did He have better things to do? Had He forgotten them?

“The Lord said, I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.” Exodus 3:7    

       God sees. He hears. His heart is moved with concern. In later passages, we also see him take action.

       When I left Russia, I left with the commitment to stay in touch with Roma and to communicate the message to him that he matters and neither God nor I would ever forget him. No matter what you’re going through today – no matter how insignificant this world has made you feel, I want you to know that the same is true for you. God cares about you deeply. He has not forgotten you! 

 With great confidence in the character of God,

Lisa~

How Do You See?

The Warming House

Hi friend. Glad you're here. If you've visited The Warming House before, you know by now that God has emblazoned the message of compassion across my heart. Actually, he's etched it in the depths. One of my purposes is to encourage people to consider a compassionate way of life because from my observations (and from research data compliled by the Barna Group) compassion has been lost in translation in the lives of many Christians today. That's a problem because 1) God is compassionate by nature and we're meant to be a reflection of him; 2) our apathy, inaction, anger, and judgment are turning far too many people away from Christ; and 3) there are far too many who suffer. Today's post is an excerpt from a book I've been working on. It asks some hard-hitting questions. If you have questions, feedback, something you'd like me to address here, or a story/ministry you'd like me to share on my blog, please post a comment. Thanks!

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.” Zechariah 7:9-10

If a pregnant, unmarried teenage girl were to walk into your world, how would you see her?  Would you see her as someone who has low moral values?  Would you point your finger at her and whisper behind her back, “How did she get herself into that position?”  Or would you see her as someone who had a choice, and had the courage to choose life? 

If you were to encounter a homeless woman as you walk down the street, would you see her as a lowly non-entity?  Would you see her as someone who is irresponsible and has no ambition?  Would you see her destitute condition as being her own fault?  Would you even see her at all?  Would you turn your head and look the other way?  Or would you see her as someone who once had dreams that have now been broken by addictions she can’t overcome?  Would you see her as someone who has the same basic needs as you do for shelter, love, and friendship? Would you see her as a living, breathing human being who has feelings just like you? 







istockphoto



If a poor working father attended your church on Sunday morning, would you pass judgment on him because of his thrift store clothes and run-down car?  Would his poverty cause you to see him as a “loser”?  Would you make a point to greet him or would you turn your back?  Would you see the weariness in his eyes from working two jobs?  Would you see the sadness in his face because he can’t find a way to adequately provide for the family he dearly loves?



copyright Mike B. @ The Warming House



If you were to see the picture of a gang member on the news, would you feel fear?  Would you only see evil?  Or would you see the child he once was?  A child whose mother worked three jobs.  A child who was left alone day and night because there was no money for child care.  A child who has never met his father.  A child who had such a need for family that he settled for the only kind of family that presented itself – the sense of family found in a gang.

If you were to see Christ face-to-face in our world today, would you see him as a social outcast?  He was. Would you see him as a convicted criminal?  He was that too. Would you see him as a homeless person with no place to lay his head?  Would you look down on him because of his lack of material belongings and simple clothing?  Would you turn your head and look the other way?  Or would you see a man full of God’s love, wrongly accused, sacrificing everything for mankind?  Would you see the perfection and beauty? Would you see the mercy and grace?

Jesus whispers to us, “If you have room in your heart for me, then you need to make room in your heart for the least of these.”  How we see those in need defines our actions toward them.  He wants us to see others as He does. 

“When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:36

God brings people into your life each day who need His touch . . . His love . . . His grace . . . His truth. Pray about your perception of people. Ask God to help you see people and situations through His eyes, not your own. Align your eyes, your thoughts, and your heart with His.

Warming the World Together,

Lisa

*This message is important. Please consider sharing it with someone you know.

How Would You Treat Someone Who Robbed Your Church?

Wednesdays on The Wooded Path

Years ago, our pastor made a shocking announcement in church. He told us that someone had broken into the church office and stolen the previous week’s offering. I can remember just sitting there stunned. Anger swelled up inside of me. I wanted to go find this guy and share a few very unchristian thoughts with him.

The pastor went on to explain that the church security cameras had helped the police locate this man, and that most of the funds from the offering had been recovered from a field by his house. Whew!

 What the pastor said next didn’t compute or make logical sense within the normal workings of my mind. I wanted this guy to pay dearly for his offenses, but the church had decided not to press charges. But that wasn’t all. Apparently, this man had been living in captivity to severe alcohol and drug addictions. An associate pastor from our church had gotten him into a rehab facility and had been visiting him regularly throughout the week. Pastor Jeff shared that this man had a load of delinquent bills, then quietly set an offering plate at the front of the church. He invited the people in our fellowship to come forward and contribute to a “special offering” if they wanted to. The money would be used to help pay this man’s outstanding debts. I’m sure he wondered how everyone would respond. I know I did.

 What happened that day is one of the most beautiful scenes I have ever witnessed. Hollywood couldn’t have written it any better. In my memory banks, this one sits on hallowed ground. One by one, I watched my church family rise out of their seats and walk down the aisle to the front of the church. Entire families, children holding their parents’ hands, older couples, young couples, affluent, middle class, those with modest incomes . . . individuals from every walk of life filtered to the front. So many in fact that a line stretched down the center aisle of the church. People actually waited in line to extend grace and compassion to this man who had committed such a heinous act against the church!

To me, this was an incredible real-life lesson of the grace God has shown each of us! We’ve all rebelled (committed crimes) against the God of the universe. We’re all guilty, and He has every right to want to see us pay dearly for our offenses. God is a just God and I am thankful for that; but instead of giving us what we deserve (punishment), he had compassion on us and chose to give us what we don’t deserve. He saw our back story, our human condition, and our need then sent His Son as his “special offering” to take our punishment and pay the debt we owe for the “crimes” we’ve committed. 

If we’re going to be people of compassion, it is imperative for each of us to remember what God has done for us.

A couple of weeks later, the robber spoke to our church. With deep remorse, he confessed his crime, expressed his shame, and gave us a sincere and humble apology. He was incredulous about the money we’d given him and thanked us sincerely. He then shared that our actions had led to his decision to change the way he’d been living and put his trust in Jesus Christ.

So what do you think about this story? Do you think the pastor and this church accurately reflected the heart of God? Have you seen this kind of compassion in the church today?  Or did the thief deserve to be punished? How would you have handled this situation?

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. Psalm 145:8-9

(New International Version)

Thanks for coming to The Warming House. You are so loved! Maybe you've never felt love from the church or people who are important to you - but here at The Warming House you are loved - imperfections and all! Never forget it.

Lisa

If you'd like to be entered in the drawing to win Monday's giveaway, be sure to post your answer to this question in the comment section or on my Facebook page (see sidebar):

Whether you pick them yourself or buy them pre-packaged, where is your favorite place to get blueberries in the summer?

*********

Send your worst family photos to thewarminghouse@gmail.com for consideration for use in Fireside Friday's post.

Our "smurf" photo of kids with Grandpa and Grandma

Find Your Wings

When I started this blog, my goal was to post consistently (at least once every 10-14 days) - but sometimes life creates a pause. We have recently paused to celebrate our son's graduation (see "Fireside" for more) and I have had minor surgery. So here's my latest post. The "Mountain View" section contains an excerpt from a book I've been working on that explores how we can become more compassionate in this broken world. It begins with a story a friend of mine shared with me. Feel free to give me your feedback on this piece. It's good to be back!

Mountain View

“A mountain view can literally take your breath away. Getting a clearer view of God can do the same. Here at the Warming House, you’ll find truth that will help you know and understand who God is and how He feels about you. What you find here may cause you to live your life a little differently.

 

Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8

  

It was a cold day in January.  Typical of what we usually have here in the Midwest.  The sky was gray with winter clouds and there was a cold biting wind that blew strongly from the North.  I was returning from a funeral in the city and decided I would make a stop at the inner city church where I helped coordinate my church’s homeless mission. My suburban church supported this inner city church by providing sack lunches that were offered to the homeless each day as well as a monthly hot meal that we prepared and served.  I hoped to be able to meet with the leaders at the church to confirm our schedule for the new year. 

As I pulled up to the back door of the church where we normally entered into the kitchen area, I noticed (without much attention), a figure rummaging through the trash dumpster.  Not an uncommon sight.  When I tried the door and knocked several times, I heard a voice behind me say, “They’re not there.  They’re gone.”

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/

            She could have been 30 or 60.  She wore several obviously discarded old sweaters.  Some buttons were missing and the elbow was torn from one.  She had a dirty stocking cap pulled down over unkempt straggly hair.  Her face . . . how could I ever forget her face?  Her lips were swollen and cracked.  Her eyes, watery and red, were matted nearly shut.  Her nose had been running for who knows how long, and the mucus was smeared across her face.  She was not beautiful!  But my heart went out to her. 

I asked if she had gotten anything to eat.  She nodded her head slowly indicating that she had.  I said, “Are you cold?  You look so cold.”  She didn’t reply.  After a moment, I turned from her and went back to my car.  I opened the door and removed my topcoat.  I went to her and put the coat on her and did up every button clear to her chin.  It didn’t matter that it was a man’s coat.  It didn’t matter that it was many sizes too large, or the possibility that within the hour she would be in some alley trading the coat for alcohol or even drugs.  It didn’t matter that tonight while she slept in some abandoned building or on the street that the coat would be taken from her by someone stronger or more desperate.  It only mattered that at that moment . . . she was warm!

I told her that Jesus loved her and that she was never alone.  Then I got back in my warm car and drove away with my eyes full of tears . . . tears of thankfulness that I had a home to go to, and a loving family and friends.

I changed that day.  This simple act of kindness awakened me to the fact that God was working through me when I helped the homeless.  I had always felt real satisfaction working with this mission of our church.  I knew it was well worth my time and energy, but that day I realized that we truly are the “hands of Jesus,” and it humbled me.  Good intentions and sound theology are wasted if those we minister to don’t feel that we care about their immediate needs.  Having everything we need can numb us and actually hold us back from the wonderful privileges and responsibility we have as Christians in a very needy world.

Written By: Len Bennett

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“Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient.  We were misled by others and became slaves to many wicked desires and evil pleasures.  Our lives were full of evil and envy.  We hated others, and they hated us. 

But then God our Savior showed us his kindness and love.  He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy.  He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit.  He generously poured out the Spirit upon us because of what Jesus Christ our Savior did.  He declares us not guilty because of his great kindness.  And now we know that we will inherit eternal life.”  Titus 3:4-5 (New Living Translation)

Before we knew Jesus, we too dug around in life’s “rubbish”. We chased after worldly things, and made vain attempts to satisfy ourselves with superficial and empty pleasures. In our sinfulness, we were not beautiful and looked very much like the homeless woman - dirty and revolting. God saw our depraved state and did something about it. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to put His coat of righteousness on us and button us up in His unconditional love and saving grace.

It didn’t matter to God that many would reject His Son when He sent Him to earth. He sent Him anyway.  It didn’t matter that many of Jesus’ teachings, claims, and promises would be ridiculed, thrown out, and traded for the world’s trash. It didn’t matter that others would allow life experiences, pride, rebellion, bitterness, apathy, and sin to steal His coat of righteousness from them. It didn’t matter that one day even His closest friends would abandon Him in His greatest hour of need and fail to show Him any compassion at all. It didn’t matter that some of those He tenderly healed would one day spit in His face, call for His execution, and pound spikes through His body.

      Like the man who shared his coat, Jesus generously gave to those in need – without judgment or expectation. His merciful actions held no ulterior motives that those He ministered to would believe what He taught and accept Him as their Savior. He didn’t use His gifts as a way to “open the door”. He showed compassion because He truly felt compassion. He was sincerely moved by the suffering of the people and cared about their struggles. Jesus purely loved and so He purely gave. He met people where they were at and freely administered God’s kindness and love.

     Sometimes we lose hindsight as we progress toward spiritual maturity. Forgetting where we came from, we begin to strut around like a rooster in a barnyard thinking we have spiritual things figured out. We begin to pass judgment on others analyzing them in an effort to determine whether or not they deserve our help.  Their lifestyles are deplorable.  Their situations are a culmination of poor choices.  They don't measure up. We judge. We condemn. We withhold grace. We measure the return on investment before we act. Anyone can see that there is very little hope of improvement for some – so why do anything for them?

    Judgment and expectation tarnish our witness by preventing us from being what we are meant to be - the hands of Christ in a broken world. So this week, do something radical. Participate in an act of mercy toward someone the world has given up on. Drop your measuring stick. Show them kindness and unconditional love even though they cannot repay you and may have little desire to alter their way of life.



Fireside
Join me by the fire for conversations about how to nurture your family and create a warm and inviting home for family and friends.



Ten years ago, I made a life-changing decision. We were members of a large metropolitan church and God had graciously allowed me to be a part of His ministry there in a variety of ways. In my position as the Director of Sending Ministries (Missions), I discovered one of the greatest passions of my life. I am extremely grateful for each opportunity God gave me to serve Him through that church. In each one, I experienced great intimacy with Him as He led me; grew me; revealed Himself to me; and poured Himself through me. Through these experiences I developed a great love for the local church, and around the year 2000 experienced a strong inner call to become a pastor. As I sorted through this nudging, I prayed and received many affirmations that this was indeed something God wanted me to do. I eventually spoke to the head pastor of our church and was soon formally recommended by the church as a candidate for a pastoring school within our denomination. After more prayer and considering the needs of my family, I eventually walked away from this calling. The idea was that I would reconsider and possibly pursue this again at some point in the future when my children were older.  Putting this on hold was not easy. God’s call is strong. My love for Him, and my desire to serve Him, is overwhelming. 

I can honestly tell you today that I am so happy I made the decision ten years ago to place priority on my “domestic church” ministry. No regrets. This really hit home this past week when my oldest son graduated from high school.

 He is an exceptional young man of compassion and outstanding character. We have so many wonderful memories with him and have greatly enjoyed his presence in our daily lives. I can remember how he used to toddle around our home with his curly blonde hair, piercing blue eyes, bright smile, and stubborn “Tazmanian Devil” spirit at the age of two. When he was a child, I can remember how fascinated he was by the intricate details in nature. I also remember the way my heart ached when he struggled in peer relationships and was bullied in the 4^th grade. I can remember praying fervently, consistently, and urgently for him through the years – particularly before his heart surgery.

I can remember times I failed as a parent and the way God filled the gaps where I fell short. I can remember my son’s grace in my inadequacies like the time I was preparing for a speaking engagement. It was a stressful time and I had been very short-tempered with everyone in my family one evening. The next morning as I got ready to leave, the smell of food drifted down the hall from the kitchen. I went in to find my sweet son, who I’d been so grumpy toward the night before, fixing breakfast for me because he thought I needed a good breakfast before going to the retreat. He had gotten up 30-40 minutes early, made waffles from scratch, served my breakfast on our “You are Special” plate, and even lit candles. He was 12-years-old. Such extravagant and undeserved grace! I can remember shuttling him to practices and endless activities; and sending him off on mission trips and to kamp. I remember him getting his driver’s license, and hanging out at our house with his teenage friends. I recall the joy of sitting in the stands watching him play his high school soccer games and tennis matches.

There were times when I thought some of the seasons of his life would never end, but they have all passed so quickly. This season of his life is over. He will be leaving us in August to go to a school that is a ten-hour-drive from home. There are parents who think we’re crazy for allowing him to go so far away. If I had my choice I’d keep him at a college closer to home, but doing this would clip his wings and short-change his future. He deserves better. He deserves God’s best. Truthfully, he is ultimately part of God’s story. God has specific places and ways for him to influence his world, and a path for him to travel as He brings him to maturity in Christ. God’s destiny is what I want for my son – not a destiny I might choose for him that would satisfy my own selfish desires.

God has taught me so much, matured me as a person, stretched me spiritually, and blessed my life so richly through my son (and my two other children). I can tell you without a doubt that the greatest ministry God has ever shared with me is the ministry to my family - and I am so grateful that He chose to entrust this boy to me.

Find Your Wings- Mark Harris

(You can find this song in my playlist)

It's only for a moment you are mine to hold
The plans that heaven has for you
Will all too soon unfold
So many different prayers I'll pray
For all that you might do
But most of all I'll want to know
You're walking in the truth
And If I never told you
I want you to know
As I watch you grow

Chorus:
I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage
To dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings

May passion be the wind
That leads you through your days
And may conviction keep you strong
Guide you on your way
May there be many moments
That make your life so sweet
Oh, but more than memories

Chorus:
I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage
To dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings

It's not living if you don't reach for the sky
I'll have tears as you take off
But I'll cheer as you fly

Pinecones and Twigs:

Just like gathering nature’s treasures on a hike through the woods, you never know what you’ll find here – a great read, an inspiring photo of nature, or maybe the latest bargain. Check out this spot at The Warming House for something fun.

I am becoming more “social” by the minute and have recently established a Facebook page for the purposes of better connecting with those who visit my blog. Would you please consider "liking" my new Facebook page for The Warming House?

When I first heard of Twitter, it sounded like something that was completely narcissistic and I was adamantly opposed to being a part of it. Well . . . I’m now on Twitter. My goal is not to use it to help you keep up with my life. You have much better things to do! I will use it to randomly send you quotes and scriptures to inspire and encourage you in the middle of your week – kind of like a “cheerleader-in-your-pocket”.

See the link below if you’d like to connect with (and "like") my Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/The-Warming-House/220298727984031?sk=wall

A Steaming Hot Mug

Stories of Compassion to Warm your Soul from the Inside Out

Submit your stories (150 word maximum) to thewarminghouse@gmail.com for publication to this blog. Your stories must fall into one of the following three categories: 1) Stories of a time when you experienced God’s compassion directly or through the actions of another person; 2) Specific things you’ve done to teach your children compassion; or 3) How your church or someone you know has demonstrated the compassion of Christ. Can’t wait to hear (and share) your stories here at the Warming House!

 

~A church in Kansas City recently adopted an entire elementary school! The student population at that school is primarily comprised of children from financially disadvantaged families. For their initial point of contact, church members provided backpacks filled with food items for each of the children in the school. This is just the beginning of a wonderful new relationship that is being forged with families in need – all in the extravagant love of Christ!

      Thanks for stopping back by! I'm happy you're here.

Enjoy the view~

Lisa