give to make a difference

Yesterday I shared about #GivingTuesday and how this single day impacts so many organizations doing great work to serve others. Here are just a few of the organizations that we personally support on a regular basis.

The Community Fellowship. Our church, and it is our belief that God calls us to tithe to the church we are part of. We serve many who are hungry, hurting or homeless through the church. We do this each month, and in the Christmas season we have a special mission offering. Join us in giving here.

The Community Dream Center. This is the one I shared yesterday that serves our homeless friends around Martinsville and Henry County. Through the transitional house program as well as the warming center this is accomplished. Please help here if you feel led.

Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). FCA southside Virginia led by Robert Hicks is sharing Christ with coaches and athletes in schools and colleges. It is an honor to give and be part of this organization.

And a few more we support are Raceway Ministries, Acts 4 Ministries, Samaritans Feet and others.

Each is a worthy cause sharing Christ and meeting needs. It is important that we count and use what we have been blessed with to support those making a difference and helping those in need. All of this I believe is so we can share the love of God.

1 John 3:17 NLT

If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?

I want to close with that same truth, or to make it a little stronger.

Jesus told us that Christianity does something about injustice, His love shows compassion, serving means being a servant and helping others. I like this quote…

When someone asks us if we are Christians, I think the best answer is to tell them to ask the poor, the incarcerated, the immigrants and refugees, the widows and orphans, the least of these. They will tell you who the Christians are. — Shane Claiborne

Jesus said it this way:

James 1:22,27 NLT

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves… Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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