My Journey

I haven't really written about my spiritual journey as of late so I thought that I'd take a moment tonight to catch you up a little.

About 2 months ago I came across Isaiah 58. I've read it many times in my life, but this time it spoke to me. In the NIV it give it a title of "True Fasting", but really this passage is not about fasting at all, but true religion and it's activities. Verses 1-5 basically rip into the reader(s) about what they are doing in the name of religion and then expect God to act on their behalf. Verses 6-12 are INCREDIBLE! It explains that true religious activity or "fasting" is breaking the chains of injustice, setting the oppressed free, sharing our food with the hungry, providing shelter for the homeless, and clothing the naked. Vs 8 tells us if we do that then...Your light will break forth, healing will apear, the "Righteous One" will go before us and have our back (thus protection). Vs 9 You will call for help and he will respond "Here am I". Vs. 11 The Lord will guide us and satisfy our needs. Then verses13-14 talk about keeping the sabbath and the joys and rewards for doing so. Finally in this passage, in case anyone wonders it says, "The mouth of the Lord has spoken". Scripture doesn't say that too often.

Well, I've taken this passage and combined it together with James 2: 14-26 and it describes what good our faith is without our actions. Without our deeds our faith is dead and we cannot be saved etc. Eye opening stuff!

And, if that wasn't enough if we combine this together with Matthew 25 and the separation of the sheep and goats stuff that Jesus describes we have to come to the conclusion that many people of our current church generation are going to be called out and separated as the goats are because their faith is dead without their actions. There are some who say that 1 of every 10 verses in the bible talk about meeting the needs of others or caring for others.

Becasuse of all of this, I have been leading my small group through this intense bible study on what it really means to be a follower of Christ. In doing so, we have decided to begin acting on our faith. Because we have two teachers in our small group, we've decided to adopt their classes for this upcoming year. They are to inform us of any and all needs that they can discover from their students. Some of their students do not have the money to get their school supplies or pay their school fees. We are going to make sure those are taken care of. Some of the kids parents never come to their plays, shows, concerts etc. We will be there. We will be in contact with these kids through personal contact as in visits, but also through letters, cards etc. We don't have it all figured out yet, but we have to start somewhere.

As for the spiritual side of my business...The business could be doing better, but it's not too bad. We are making our bills and able to set aside money to be used for the ministry. I am excited about what lies ahead and continue to ask for your prayers as I will continue to pray for you.

Blessings