“Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You give a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, yet you neglect what is more important in the law - justice, mercy, and faithfulness! You should have done these things without neglecting the others. Blind guides! You strain out a gnat yet swallow a camel! (Matthew 23:23)
The picture above that I included in this reflection blog is that of a Homeless tent city ablaze with fire. Last week when the weather was brutally cold and roads covered with ice, all the residents of a homeless tent city. which included men, women, and families, were helped into a warming shelter them so they would have a warm bed, shower and food. Also with roads iced over no ministries would be able to reach them. With all the residents in a warming shelter the rent city was empty. The residents were supposed to move back into their tents yesterday.. However, the night before, someone I guess who did not want the tent city in their neighborhood, went through and burned tent city to the ground. Now all the families, women, and men who lived there, who are already poor, already homeless, and marginalized, have lost everything they own now and have nothing.
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.
There will be a special place in hell for the person who did this. Jesus had a heart for the poor and the marginalized. And those of us who follow Jesus are called to imitate Him and share in His compassion. We as Christians are called to build up, not burn down. The actions of this individual are unfortunately indicative to the rise of hate and polarization of groups in this country. We need to pray over our nation to rise above the hate and division that overshadows us.
My family, I pray you will join me in praying over our country. I pray you will join me in praying over those person who lost what little they had in the fire. I pray you will, as I asked yesterday, intentionally plan to do or join in an act of kindness in your community, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Want to help the people and families affected by the the fire?
Click on the easy tithe link below. When you log in, select the “Tent City” account. All funds donated to this account will be used to help those affected by purchasing tents, clothing, hygiene articles, and and meet other needs.