The Voice of the Poor
Hello Friends,
Welcome to my cottage! This is a place where I want to meet with those remnants the Lord intends to use to change the future; a place where I can share my heart with likeminded people and relate God’s extra-ordinary stories in my ordinary life. The journey is going to be awesome!
My church is preparing for a Christmas service. In fact they have asked me to speak at this special gathering. All my staff are leaving on a holiday. My family is making plans as well.
“But I am going to do it differently,” I talked with myself recently.
“What?” My thoughts went back and forth like the shuttle of a weaver.
Finally I settled on this idea to spend some time with the street people distributing clothes and food on the Christmas day in addition to all other events of the day. I shared it with Suchitra, Dicku and Kittu. They liked it too.
I believe it’s going to be an awesome day. Suchitra wanted to add the widows and leprosy patients in the program so they may receive some new clothes. That would be a “Joy to the World” celebration.
BEING THE HANDS OF JESUS!
Some times we do not want to dirty our soap-washed, sanitized hands on a holy day. We think like the Levite who did not want to stop by and help the man that lay bruised and helpless. We like to avoid walking on a muddy road to keep our shoes clean. We don’t want to sit with the people who are in shabby clothes and smell the stench coming from the midst of the malnourished, street children.
But someone has to. If Jesus lived today, he would be thronged by such multitudes even on December 25. He would serve them, speak to them and finally say, feed them.
Anyone who believes that he/she is the hands of Jesus and the feet of the Savior, they will be driven to the multitudes to serve them, speak to them, know their situation and feed them as well.
My Friends, could you please share with me how you are planning to spend your Christmas this year.
Any plans yet?
SHARING JOY WITH SOMEONE NEEDY!
Enjoy your sleigh rides with friends, if you can. Eat some Mince Pie or Snowballs in addition to your Coronation Turkey Rice, Potato Pierogies and roast partridge. You may even try some Indian savory Chaklis. Get on with your delights and pleasure. But it is also a time to remember those who have nothing.
At a great celebration near the Water Gate one day, a towering leader of the people stood up and proclaimed, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Neh. 8: 10).
In Hebrew, the word used for strength is ma-ooz which means fortress. The joy of the Lord therefore is not just our strength but a mighty fortress wherein we have our safety.
May the Joy of Christmas be your mighty fortress, my friend, during this joyful season and through the New Year.
Joab Lohara.
“HAPPINESS IS A PERFUME YOU CANNOT POUR ON
OTHERS WITHOUT GETTING A FEW DROPS ON YOURSELF.”
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Good to hear from your heart.
0 degrees farenheit here with winds blowing at 40 50 mph. It’s a blizzard.
Our Christmas Day is very quiet …a good but simple meal and a few family members. Our church ministers to about 30-40 families who have no money and children with needs.
Merry Christmas,
John.