Are the homeless really 'HOMEless?'

   So, I have a secret...  We are the one's that hold up traffic when we come across a homeless person on the street. We are the ones that can't just pass the money out the window to someone and just keep going, knowing we have given to those less fortunate.  We just have to know at least a piece of each souls story!   Through horn orchestras, beautiful birds, and colorful words, we have gathered that finding a parking spot and walking to our cornered friends is a much more pleasurable method.

    While working, Vince came across a homeless man that was distraught in his situation, but surprisingly honest and positive.  When Vince sat down next to him to talk, he acted surprised that he would sit with him.  As they talked, Vince told him that he would like to come back to see him later that evening and bring him a hot dinner.  When asked why he would do that for him, Vince said he just wanted to, because he lives his life not for himself but for his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  This man, Dale, said "I knew it! I just knew you must be a Christian because you really talked to me."  Now, we know that people, saved or not, do feel compassion toward the homeless, but this was confirmation that Jesus is shining bright in the homeless community.

   This started me thinking.  Are our homeless really 'homeless'?  Are they so distracted by their situations that they seek only survival here on earth?  I know, many do drugs and/or are alcoholics.  Some have made horrible mistakes and committed horrible crimes!  They don't always talk nice and can even be downright nasty to their fellow human beings.  They take what they cannot or will not give back.  But wait... doesn't that also describe people who are not homeless? So tell me again why they can't be filled with reason, compassion, wisdom and kindness like the rest of us?  Even more, why do we assume that because they are homeless physically that they must be homeless spiritually? 

Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 1 Peter 2:17

   The more we interact with the homeless community, we find that many of them were once very important people.  Government workers, nurses, firemen, and professional chefs.  Some are even doctors and lawyers!  I know it sounds so unlikely, but it is the truth of it.  They really have a lot to offer in so many areas.  We have learned so much from them, but the most astonishing thing to me, was that many of them have so much love amidst the minimal amount they receive from others.  They are able to draw love solely from the one and only true source of it. God. 

  What a concept.  Look for love where it truly comes from and love others from that source.  Let God be your well you draw from. Love is God and God is Love.

"Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." Isaiah 12:3

  Why do we wait to love? What are we waiting for? According to God, if we do not love, we don't know Him.  It is important for me to remind myself time and time again, that society's description of love should not be what I base my actions on, but that of my heavenly Father, filled with grace.

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:8

Serving Opportunity...
   A continuous concern that has been expressed by our homeless community is their need to be able to heat their food.  
   Join HEAT THE STREETS in providing warmth to our homeless community.  HEAT THE STREETS provides single burner propane camp stoves so that homeless individuals can heat their water and food.  The idea behind the single burner stoves is the compact size for easy hauling so they can take them anywhere.  PLUS, they use much less propane than the double burner models, so they will be able to use them longer.  Individuals will receive additional propane on a weekly basis using a voucher system.


   How you can help...

• Donate a single burner propane camp stove
• Donate propane bottles that fit single burner propane camp stoves
• Donate matches
• Donate money to be used for purchase of these items
• Pray for our homeless community

To help, just use the email link for this blog, with Helping the Homeless in the subject line and how you would like to help in the body of the email.  Please don't forget to specify if you would like to be contacted by method other than email and give that contact information.  Otherwise,  you will receive an email with the drop off locations in your area or an address that support can be mailed to.  Thank you for taking a stand and helping HEAT THE STREETS succeed in serving our homeless community!

100% of items and funds received go directly to our local homeless community! Items will be hand delivered by the HEAT THE STREETS team immediately, so act now!  Every day you wait is a day that someone doesn't have a hot meal before the dropping temperatures! 

                                                                Thank you!


Blessings!
Angie

Something to linger on...
And in that day you will say:
"O Lord, I will praise You;
Though You were angry with me,
Your anger is turned away, and You
   comfort me.
Behold, God is my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
For Yah, the Lord, is my strength
   and song;
He also has become my salvation.' "

Therefore with joy you will draw water
From the wells of salvation.

And in that day you will say;
'Praise the Lord, call upon His name:
Declare His deeds among the
   peoples,
Make mention that His name is
   exalted.
Sing to the Lord,
For He has done excellent things;
This is known in all the earth.
Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of
   Zion,
For great is the Holy One of Israel in
   your midst!

Isaiah 12