'Enough for others'

can be enough for another person. Here are a few thoughts:

 ·    First, you can’t help everybody. I did missionary work in Mexico for 9 months. There were beggars everywhere, and I was quickly emptying my pockets each day. That was unsustainable. I asked God to show me who to give to since the need was overwhelming, but my resources were limited. That gave me peace as I listened for God’s nudge as I walked about the city, and it was a delight to respond to those nudges. 

 ·    Second, I grew up being told to clean my plate because there were starving children in China. They wouldn’t have been interested in eating it after a month in the mail. But the point was valid. The world is much more intimately connected now. Two organizations that can help you feed those around the world are Compassion International and World Vision. Mary Kay and I have supported several Compassion Children over 33 years. It was powerful to know that when I was feeding my children at the dinner table, I was also feeding another child in Haiti.

 ·    Third, you don’t have to hand money to strangers. Jeanie Bischoff’s class created a way for their members to help people in need when they drive around town. They fill gallon zip lock bags with a protein bar, socks, drinks, toothbrush and toothpaste, and other things. They keep them in their cars to hand out. 

 ·    Fourth, you can give people a roof over their heads without it being yours. Mary Kay and I buy Salvation Army Vouchers for $10 each. Again, we have those in the car so we can hand them to people who say they need a place to stay. The Salvation Army does amazing ministry.

A great famine in Judea occurred during the time of the Acts of the Apostles. The churches in Turkey and Greece gave money to help feed the churches in Israel. A first century Roman historian noticed that gentile Christians generously gave for Jewish Christians. Caring for people in need makes an impact on the receiver, the giver, and the watcher. God has given us enough for others.