Moving into the new year, we know the needs are great of families all over the country. Our main objective at Samaritan House is to help meet those needs with the donations that come in from donors who have a heart for giving a helping hand up. Requests for necessities have never been greater than they are now.
After all the hustle bustle of the holiday season there will still be families needing our help, so please remember that as you are thankful for what you have, there are families that still need your help.
I’ve noticed that after the first of the year comes along, donations decline. I believe we tend to think that we’ve given our “Christian-giving campaign” a good shot during the holiday time, but then we tend to forget that “one shot-giving” doesn’t last for most families struggling to pay bills. They still have to get through the tough western NY winter that doesn’t end December 25th.
Deuteronomy 15:7-9
When you happen on someone who's in trouble or needs help among your people with whom you live in this land that God, your God, is giving you, don't look the other way pretending you don't see him. Don't keep a tight grip on your purse. No. Look at him, open your purse, lend whatever and as much as he needs. Don't count the cost. Don't listen to that selfish voice saying, "It's almost the seventh year, the year of All-Debts-Are-Canceled," and turn aside and leave your needy neighbor in the lurch, refusing to help him. He'll call God's attention to you and your blatant sin.
The year of release.
This year of release typified the grace of the gospel, in which is proclaimed the acceptable year of the Lord; and by which we obtain the release of our debts, that is, the pardon of our sins. The law is spiritual, and lays restraints upon the thoughts of the heart. We mistake, if we think thoughts are free from God's knowledge and check. That is a wicked heart indeed, which raises evil thoughts from the good law of God, as theirs did, who, because God had obliged them to the charity of forgiving, denied the charity of giving. Those who would keep from the act of sin, must keep out of their minds the very thought of sin. It is a dreadful thing to have the cry of the poor justly against us. Grudge not a kindness to thy brother; distrust not the providence of God. What thou doest, do freely, for God loves a cheerful giver, 2Co 9:7. (De 15:12-18) BibleGateway.com
Please search your heart and ask yourself this question: “How do I respond when I see someone less fortunate than myself?” Do I say to myself, “why don’t they just get a job” or does compassion arise from my heart and say, “what can I do to make life better for this person? How can I be a part of helping this person? What can I do?”
You have to get to know someone before you can have an understanding of their situation.
Helping the poor is a hands-on ministry, reaching out means doing something. We need to put some action to what we believe.
Be a good listener, take action when we know it will be helping and not enabling. BE JESUS!! (after all, HE lives in us, so we need to reflect HIS character!)
It’s a huge step of Faith to reach out and BE JESUS to a world that’s failing around us, but let me encourage you in this, the rewards are great, try it and see!
Blessings for 2009!
Maureen Schafer, Dir. Samaritan House
716-962-2246
www.samaritanhouse.us
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