with a heavy heart

Today I come to you with a heavy heart for so many reasons. Compassion is something that Jesus had for the people He met who were hurting and living without direction. He did something about the hurting around Him, and we must do the same.

Proverbs 3:25-26 NASB

Do not be afraid of sudden danger, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; 26 For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.

Yesterday there was a shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Such a sad tragedy in so many ways. Many students and a few adults lost their lives in this event, and it breaks my heart.

Pray for those impacted by the shooting. Pray for those who touched by tragedy and who are victims of things outside their control. Ask God to protect the innocent and to have mercy and justice on those who have responsibility.

My heart is heavy due to a report given to my denomination earlier this week about sexual abuse it’s cover up. There were so many things in the report that give us more and more need to stand up for those who cannot stand for themselves and to ensure justice. My calling in life fits right here and such happens make it even more evident. See Proverbs 31:8-9.

The enemy is tearing apart all he can get his hands on. He wants to send families and marriages to ruin. That breaks my heart. He was to make churches powerless and turning from God. That breaks my heart. Our enemy is about the business, the same business he has been about since the beginning of time.

Be careful to not let the fallen world around us turn us away from God. It is easy to get distracted. It is easy to give our power to others by choosing to live without faith and without integrity.

What should be do in light of the pain and struggle around us? We should pray. What should we do for those who are hurting? We should practice compassion and show up in the lives of the people who are in need.

What should we do for ourselves in times like this? We should shore up our faith and choose to live with integrity!

Proverbs 11:3 NLT

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

The world needs to see what faith and honesty look like. It is Christians who must stand on truth. It is you and me that need to run to and be with those who are hurting.

May God use each of us to make a difference as He allows our hearts to be heavy for those in need.

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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