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Hope Lives, Week Two

May 5, 2008 · 14 Comments

Week 1: The Poverty Of The Heart
Week 2: God Is Not Silent
Week 3: Understanding Poverty
Week 4: Prayer
Week 5: Be The Change

Continuing in Hope Lives: A Journey Of Restoration the author, Amber Van Schooneveld, briefs us…

“God has provided a map for our journey in loving others. This week we’ll explore what the Bible has to say about serving the poor, the widows, and the orphans, and how God desires for us to show his love to those in need.”

Categories: Compassion · Hope Lives · Ian · Mindy

14 responses so far ↓

  • ian // May 5, 2008 at 8:18 pm | Reply

    Day Six – Downward Mobility

    A wise man once told me this: “The opposite of poverty isn’t riches. The opposite of poverty is enough.” I believe this with my whole heart. That’s what I work for in this world and in my own life–I want enough to truly be enough. But as try to move in that direction, I realize that “enough” has already been defined for me by dozens of sources.

    An example. A Christian finance expert says having a million dollars in life insurance is enough. Personally, I think this amount is high (understatement) and easy to debate. What’s not easy is to figure out how much life insurance is enough. One hundred thousand dollars? Is that enough? Is it enough to not carry life insurance but to place my faith in the Lord’s ability to take care of my wife and kids if I die?

    (I believe that the Lord will provide and I have life insurance.)

    “Give us THIS DAY our daily bread.” Is that enough? Really? I mean, should I just expect to have enough for the day? Really?

    Really?

    Yes, yes. I believe that wisdom informs each and every situation. But what if this wisdom has been too informed by the culture I live in? I know I’m guilty of mistaking the American Dream for God’s Will For My Life.

    Another example. Renting versus buying a house. By God’s grace, my family and I own our home. Before that, we rented for five years. Renting’s bad, right? I mean, if you can get into a house, your monthly payment may be just as much as your rent and you’re building equity. Yay equity. It’s wise. Is it enough? Maybe. If we had the money, should we add on so that our kids can eventually have separate rooms? If that’s the case, I believe we have the freedom to choose. Is it enough? Probably more than enough.

    Obviously (I hope), I’m just spouting. But I know too much now.

    Comma.

  • mindy // May 5, 2008 at 8:35 pm | Reply

    day 6, week 2…

    a few things whirling in my head today.

    Jesus told the rich young man to sell everything he had and give it to the poor and then come follow him. But the young man couldn’t do it because he was to attached to his possessions. He was carrying the heavy burden of all his wealth and couldn’t lay it down. And I’m asking myself, “what heavy burdens, or possessions am I carrying that would be most challenging to lay down?”

    Jesus says that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. He invites me to come to Him and lay down my heavy burden of wealth and possession and find rest for my soul. Then I am only burdened to depend on Him. To trust in Him to care for my every need. He modeled a life of “downward mobility”. Giving up the comforts of this life in order to connect with those in deep need. He gave more in His poverty than those with 100 times as much. He gave Himself.

    and I want to do the same.

  • ian // May 5, 2008 at 8:37 pm | Reply

    Wouldn’t it be funny if blogging was the only way my wife and I communicated?

  • mindy // May 6, 2008 at 8:02 pm | Reply

    Day 7, week 2

    “I want God to transform my heart by the Holy Spirit so that I love what God loves, so that mercy naturally flows out of me. I want to show others mercy because it was first shown to me; to offer mercy to others as fellow guests at God’s table, not as a benevolent queen offering scraps to beggars at my feet.” (pg.36)

    I am challenged to think of how all men truly are created equal. How it is only the world and it’s value system that makes it seem not so. In God’s eyes no one person carries more value than another. He loves us all individually and unconditionally. He gives to all without showing favoritism. What is my criteria? I shudder at the reality that it’s a substantial list and that I’ve given more as a “benevolent queen” than an unconditional lover of my brothers and sisters.

  • Jeana // May 7, 2008 at 11:28 am | Reply

    I recently listened to an NPR show about Mexico and one comment the interviewee made has really stuck with me. She said that most men in Mexico only work until they’ve made enough money for that day. If they only need $10 they only work a couple hours and then stop and spend the rest of the day with their family and friends. That seems to fit the picture of “daily bread” but as an American it’s really hard to grasp the concept of stopping when you’ve reached “enough.”

  • ian // May 7, 2008 at 4:06 pm | Reply

    That’s a valuable insight, Jeana. THANKS!

    A friend who is in real estate and I were talking about another friend who was getting into real estate. The latter mentioned that he only needed to average one sale a month to provide for his family. The former reponded by explaining that “that kind of thinking is one of the reasons people don’t make it in the business.” I understand what he meant but it also devalued just having enough.

  • ian // May 7, 2008 at 4:08 pm | Reply

    Day Seven – Old Testament Justice

    It’s true that it’s a celebration to give. I want to celebrate more. It’s also important to remember that it’s a celebration for someone who has given to you.

  • mindy // May 7, 2008 at 8:03 pm | Reply

    Day 8-week 2

    I’ve turned my head the other way so many times when someone on the streets has asked me for change. Truth: sometimes I don’t have a cent and they don’t take debit (or maybe they would!), sometimes I have my arms full of 4 kids and their stuff. But more often than not, I just keep on walking because I don’t want to take the time to dig in my purse and grab the pennies I have. Plus, I think it’s not significant enough a gift to really make a difference. And perhaps I feel a bit scared that I might actually end up having to talk with them! What’s wrong with this picture?? A whole lot! Sheesh. Being honest with myself is lame.

    Today I read this:
    “What Christ gave was attention, dignity, love and respect to people as individual images of God. When I treat people like that, I’m giving them the greatest gift I have to give.”

    OUCH! Not only do I need to grow in taking the time to give whatever I have, but far more I need to grow in how I see humanity. I am laid flat by my own pride and lack of compassion specifically for those the world would call “unlovable”. And Jesus’ words come piercing through like a knife, “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

    Lord have mercy on me, a sinner.

  • ian // May 7, 2008 at 10:44 pm | Reply

    Day Eight – Becoming Like Christ

    The author writes about a conversation she had with a man dedicated to serving the poor. He shared that “(Serving the poor) helps me see Jesus because I’m doing what he would be doing if he were there.”

    I’m grateful that I can even begin to relate to this.

  • ian // May 8, 2008 at 7:22 pm | Reply

    Day Nine – New Testament Community

    Here’s something that’s upside down. A church going through severe trial and extreme poverty that is overflowing with joy and marked by their rich generosity (II Corinthians 8:2). I can slightly relate to trial and poverty and I confess that I’ve chosen self-reliance and self-pity in the face of these two realities. However, I can also proclaim that trial and poverty have, at times, by God’s grace alone, resulted in joy and generosity. And it’s sweet.

    II Corinthians 8 has introduced a new angle to this “enough” motif that’s been rolling around in my head. Equality. Along with the challenge of figuring out–and living out–what enough is for me and my family is the question of what is enough for others. Could it be true that everything we needed to know about poverty we learned in pre-school? Share.

    I’m putting some of this stuff into action.

  • mindy // May 8, 2008 at 9:05 pm | Reply

    Day 9-week 2

    “If you see a brother in need and don’t have pity on them, how can the love of God be in you?”

    The early church got this. There seemed to be an equal distribution of wealth. Not too rich, not too poor.
    Tough in our day, in our country where everyone looks out for their own interests first. Building their own little kingdoms. But it’s clear that building the kingdom of God happened in the early church as the believers gave to everyone as they had need. They looked out for one another above themselves.

    Praise the Lord I have a good understanding of what I have that I can contribute to the building of the kingdom. Not money necessarily, although that’s part of it. But gifts given by the Father to minister to the needs of others. And whenever I give of these gifts…you know who’s blessed? Me :) I think that’s how it was designed. We were given gifts-to give them away.

    “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” Romans 12:6-8

  • ian // May 9, 2008 at 8:35 pm | Reply

    Day Ten – The Pursuit Of Happiness

    When I pray “lead me not into temptation” that may translate to me praying “Lord, please keep me in humble financial circumstances lest I wander from the faith and “pierce myself with many griefs.”
    ::
    Walking as Christ walked does make your life rich, by making you content with what you have (I Timothy 6:6).
    ::
    The story of Harriet shows how deeply poverty can effect people, especially children. The next time you see a child, any child, encourage him through a smile, tell her that she’s good at this or that, ask him what he wants to be when he grows up and affirm that she can do that.

  • mindy // May 9, 2008 at 10:37 pm | Reply

    day 10-week 2

    This week has been both challenging and encouraging.

    The predominant question I’ve been asking myself has been- Am I using ALL that God has given me to build His kingdom, OR am I building my own kingdom?

    In many ways, I believe I am succeeding in contributing to the building of God’s kingdom. Yeah! But what this study has been doing is showing me the ways that I am not. It has uncovered feeling and thoughts, that have been hiding deep in my heart, that fuel the building of my own kingdom. The uprooting of these are what God has in mind for me. Then, I pray, compassion, mercy, kindness, and love for ALL of His precious people-rich and poor-will take root in their stead. And Christ will be even more clearly seen in me.

  • ian // May 11, 2008 at 10:44 pm | Reply

    Week Two, Refect & Act

    This morning’s sermon at my church fit well with my reading this week. Poverty isn’t just an epidemic, it’s people who have names. Find out what it is. Really. Ask, “What’s your name?” If a two-year-old can do that…

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