We Saw Jesus in the Flesh

Yesterday, we saw Jesus in the flesh. How can that be? Jesus put it this way: “ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:35,40

These photos capture a day of Christmas "love" unlike any other. Last year, I met Susie Jennings, who is the Founder and President of Operation Care. Susie stepped out in faith and obedience to God when she resigned from her nurse supervisory position at Baylor University Medical Center, to become a full time missionary to those in need. She desired to serve God and her community after the tragic death of her husband when she asked God "What do you want me to do for you?" Then she said, "Don't ask God that question, because He will tell you." At that time, Susie didn't like homeless people, but that's where God took her -- right to where most of the homeless live in Dallas. Her first mission was to buy blankets for them. She rallied her friends to help her in November, 1993. The homeless called her, “The Blanket Lady.” That beginning was the start of Operation Care which, for the 15th year, ministers to homeless and impoverished families here and in nations around the world. Her spunk, energy and obvious love for God's "misfits" inspired us so much last year, that we knew we wanted to be a part of the event again this year.

When the call-out came several months ago for volunteers to fill the 76 committees that make this “machine” work for this year’s event, my daughter and son, Staci and Larry, and their children went to see how they could get involved. Little did they realize that when they said “Yes” to do anything for God a few months earlier, that they would say “Yes” to be the Event’s Coordinators this year There are no adequate words to express what that “Yes” has meant in terms of their time, travel, technological support and commitment. Suffice it to say they assumed “full time responsibilities” that changed the course of their lives. I can’t begin to express how proud I was and am for their hearts that are so passionate about seeing the lives of these beautiful people impacted.

Apparently, my sunny disposition qualified me to be with former NFL Football Player for the New England Patriots, Devin Wyman, to welcome all the homeless and homeless veterans that came into the convention center, some of whom were camped out for nearly 14 hours. My elf-ness and my sense of humor and cheer seemed to warm them up on a very cold morning. What a joy it was to reach out my arms to give hugs and handshakes. One time I reached my arms way out and the gentleman threw his arms out sideways. He assumed I was getting ready to frisk him because he’s so used to being frisked going in and coming out of places. Reality check! Oh the stories they could tell!

Dallas Mayor, Mike Rawlings, welcomed us at one of Dallas' Top 10 most highly appreciated and respected events. Nick Vujici, New York Times bestselling author, was the featured speaker for both main stages: the homeless side and the children’s side. Nick, born without arms and legs, inspired the guests and the volunteers with his “nothing is impossible” attitude in overcoming obstacles and achieving dreams. He gratefully attests to God’s grace when he speaks of his beautiful wife and four children under the age of 5. He says “I don’t have arms to reach out to hug my children, but my children arms to reach out and hug me.”

I wish you could have seen the faces of the children receiving toys, playing on the blow up equipment, the zip line, riding the ponies, hearing the “true story of Christmas” from St. Nicholas, having their feet washed and receiving a new pair of shoes and coats. The same is true on the adult side where they too have their feet washed and receive shoes and coats, medical attention and so much more. It is a day packed full of being the hands of feet of Jesus. What a birthday party He puts on for Himself! Unless you can see it with your own eyes, it is unimaginable – mostly, because we are people of so much “plenty”. It’s easy to remark, “What a shame”, and go on our way. But, God shows up with His people and organizations that go the distance in making a difference.

This Christmas season beckons us to have hearts of giving – pitching in a little cash into the Salvation Army kettle, donating coats from our overstocked closets, buying a gift for an Angel Tree child, or volunteering at an organization that does so much for the underprivileged on a daily basis. We can do something. While the recipients experience so much love, GIVERS of that love and compassion are sincerely on the RECEIVING end of so many blessings -- way beyond what we give. Here’s some examples:

1) Our eyes our opened to the blessings we have, and to the "little things" we take for granted and we become more thankful.
2) Our hearts of compassion are opened.
3) The dissatisfied and grumpy attitudes that we have dwindle to softness and appreciation.
4) Blinders fall off our eyes and we see the needs of others far greater than our own needs.
5) We start to re-evaluate spending senseless dollars on gifts for family and friends that we know will be tossed in a corner within just a few minutes or hours of having received them.
6) We start to desire to help support volunteers do what they do.
7) We have unmistakable and contagious joy because we gave.
8) We start to realize WHY we are here on this earth.

God demonstrated how to give when He gave His only Son to us. That's what Christmas is all about. The Reason for this Season. Could it possibly be that God has been waiting on us to live with PURPOSE -- making a difference in the lives of others? Mother Teresa said, "What we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But if that drop was not in the ocean, I think the ocean would be less because of that missing drop,"
"For God so loved the world that He GAVE......." John 3:16

Is Jesus an Invited Guest at Your Table?

This day after Thanksgiving comes with relaxation for those that poured their hearts and souls into their grand Thanksgiving feast day – preparing for days, baking, cooking, cleaning up – with the best part that makes it all worth it, being so thankful to serve and embrace family time together. We had a special invited guest that joined our Frisco crew, a beautiful single mom that admitted she would be alone on Thanksgiving. Well, we weren’t about to let that happen, so this precious woman joined us. We held to our annual tradition as each one at the table shared what they were thankful for and I could almost see Jesus sitting with us at the table. Scripture says in Psalm 22:3 “God inhabits the praises of His people!” When we are thanking and praising our Lord, He takes a seat at the table with us.

The big day is past now, but I’m still basking in the joys of yesterday. Though Christmas is already in full swing with the hustle and bustle that Black Friday holds for so many, Black Friday will be glorious Friday for me as my Austin family will arrive (after having been with Shawntel’s family in Muldrow, OK) and we’ll have our “Good” Friday Thanksgiving together today. We’ll have more opportunities to give thanks and praises and welcome our Lord Jesus to the table with us.

Yesterday, my scripture reading was about Jesus weeping over Jerusalem because the people were missing Him so much. (Luke 19:41-42). He, their greatest gift, had been with them every day, talking with them, feeding them, teaching them, loving them. And they missed Him. They missed Him because He didn’t seem like anything or anyone special. He looked and talked like them. They didn’t fully understand (or agree with) what He said. Many knew Him from childhood. They knew who His parents were, where He grew up, and what He did for a living. Nothing special. Nothing impressive. Our Lord was among them and they didn’t notice Him.

And here’s a very important matter to consider: because every human person is created in the image and likeness of God, our Lord visits us in every human person we encounter. Every. Single. Person. Did you miss Him at your dinner table yesterday? You know, the one who served and waited on you after working for days on a meal that is consumed in a matter of minutes? Or did you miss Him in the one who sat at the table and might have been concerned and worried and couldn’t really get into the Thanksgiving conversation? Did you, by chance, get past “passing the sweet potatoes” to take a moment to put your arm around them because you saw Jesus in them. Oh, pray tell, you noticed Him. “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.” Matthew 25:35

The closer we get to Jesus, the more we’ll recognize Him in both strangers and those who eat at the table with us. The more of Jesus in us actually makes us more aware of His presence in other people. If we truly deeply care about others, as Jesus cared about others, we’ll pattern our lives after Him and He will help us see Him in others and respond to their existence with profound thankfulness (even those who are hardest to love).

Come One. Come All.

Come one. Come all.
I saw the Mother Teresa movie a few nights ago. It made me even more inspired about the work this wonderful saint did. She was relentless in caring for the poor. She went "against the grain" when it came to pleasing the status quo, and those who represented the status quo. From sun up to sun down, her love for humanity was seen as she reached out to the homeless, the sick and suffering. She worked so zealously that it affected her physically. When her doctor told her she must get some rest. Her reply was "I have the whole of eternity to get rest."

I thought about her love for humanity that drove her to untold hours of making a difference in the poor and needy, but to the wealthiest, they, too, were affected by her compassion. She left everyone better off after she had spent time with them. She didn't see through the eyes of comparison and measuring up to a certain standard. She just was.

If she had been in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and she saw one of those "beggars" that stand on the street corners with a sign that says "Please help", I don't believe she would have ever passed them by. Somehow I think she would have gotten out of her car and managed to figure out a way to help them. To her, they were Jesus. "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in." (Matthew 25:35) She was accustomed to picking babies up out of garbage cans. Those little ones discarded by leper parents, perhaps, who could no longer care for them.

I heard a speaker tell about a wealthy individual that drove up to his church in a Rolls Royce and was concerned about the security of his car when he went into the church. An attendant parked the car in a locked and secure area that the church provides. Then a homeless man came up to the church pushing his grocery cart with everything in the world he owns in it. He, too, was concerned about the security of his grocery cart. The attendant took his cart and parked it right next to the Rolls Royce. I loved that story. They cared equally for both individuals.

That's what Mother Teresa did. That's what Jesus does. He loves us unconditionally. And isn't that how we should love, too? After all, God didn't give us a measuring stick to use on who measures up and who doesn't. He did give us a measuring stick, and it's the Golden Rule stick and it says. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." And another measuring stick that says "This is the first and greatest commandment. Love the Lord with all your heart, your soul and love your neighbor as you love yourself." (Matthew 22:35).

In a world that needs this love and compassion, how can we rest on our laurels? Maybe it's time for us to get busy loving and caring. After all, like Saint Teresa of Calcutta, we have the whole of eternity to get rest!"

This, That and The Other

Often our lives are made up of having a little longing for THIS or being a little offended about THAT or complaining a little about the OTHER. Being dissatisfied about THIS, THAT or the OTHER.

I’m guilty. Sometimes I have a longing for something on my bucket list. I was offended when an online merchant deceived me. My yard has ruts in it from when my yard man mowed way too low. I deserve to feel all these dissatisfied emotions about THIS, THAT or the OTHER. Or do I?

Then comes a reality shake-up on really what matters. Heaven met earth when my Life Group and I headed to James Mission on Tuesday Night to take a look at their operations. We thought they may be a good outreach ministry that we could volunteer for and support.

James Mission, here in Tulsa and Nowata, is all about restoring hope through God’s love by providing resources, encouragement and support to orphans, foster and displaced families. What started in their home, is now their own location at the Resource and Visitation Center. The visitation rooms give biological parents and their children a safe and friendly environment for their visits together. And their newest project is Loads of Love for those children who are removed from their home for various reasons, and all the things they hold dear (favorite toys, books, clothes and keepsakes, etc.) are left behind – sometimes forever. This “on-call” delivery of filled suitcases & bags for kids who are newly placed into Emergency Foster Care helps soothe the pain these kids face..

We saw their many tubs of neatly folded “like-new” or new clothes arranged according to ages and sizes. We saw loads of diapers, toys, Bibles, toiletries – all the things that help that precious child feel loved in spite of their unfortunate circumstances.

Love and compassion built James Mission. The Reyes, foster and adoptive parents themselves, run this ministry because of their undaunted love and care for needy children. Marisa, their own foster, and now “adopted” daughter, was our guide and it was easy to see how what was meant for her demise, became the vehicle that brought love and care (a hope and a future) from the Reyes family. After moving three times in foster homes and a youth shelter for over a year, Marisa met the Reyes family. Marisa says "After about eight months of living with such a great foster family, I was adopted in February, 2015. Their love for me reminds me that I was chosen, special, and loved. I now have three brothers, a sister and two dogs. My family means more than you could ever imagine and I couldn’t have done better for myself without them."

Our Life Group has already determined to be a part of James Mission because we hold dear God’s Word that says in James 1:27 “The worship that God wants is this: caring for orphans and widows who need help and keeping yourself free from the world's evil influence. This is the kind of worship that God accepts as pure and good.”

In the light of so many needs all around us, we’ll find those who LONG a warm bed and a family that loves them. If any have the right to be offended by negligent family members, and have reasons to complain about their mistreatment, these precious children do. How can I justify longing, being offended or complaining for those really non-vital issues in my world. I know God expects more from us. He expects us to be His hands extended to a hurting world. He expects us to be a light in the darkness to the hurting: THIS child. THAT broken-hearted widow. The OTHERS who are just a hug away from our making a difference in their lives. Indeed THE WORSHIP God wants from us is loving, caring and helping His children – those who can’t help themselves.

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in." Matthew 25:35