God of This City

As I walk the halls of my school watching the faces of the children eager to learn and be accepted by their peers and most importantly by their teachers.  More often than not they come to us with so much bagagge and what do we do we add to their heavy load.  Compassion is the word that comes to my mind. We need to have compassion while broading their learning. It is up to us to build up not tear down...

 I was honored this past week to attend a workshop entitled The Other Side of Poverty.  What is the other side of poverty. Is it the child growing up in the middle of it looking at what everyone on the other side has or is it those of us who have looking at those who have less and wishing they would disappear or as I have heard many say " get off their lazy bottom and do something.  When God gave us a tongue I believe it was to build up and not tear down " our tongue is as sharp as a two edged sword and we need to stop and let the brain catch up before.  I personally know what it is to be on both sides of that fence. .......

..............You see I grew up in poverty, I was what many of you referred to as " trailor trash" a word that I have never understood. Not only was most of my life spent in a trailor, which moved about every six months, I didn't even have a bedroom until I was seventeen. Our trailor was two bedroom and I have two brothers.  As an adult I  worked with many people referred to as impoverished, lower class, some so low they are homeless others so close to it they don't know where their next meal will come from .  In my ministry, God has allowed there to be many relationships formed and in those moments I see more of JESUS than I do in most Christians. We become complacent,  believe you me I am not pointing fingers at no one.. ... I never want the fire that started in  me many years ago to go out....yet the world has a tendacy to cause it to grow dim....unfortunately  I find myself being distracted  and you know its okay because its only for a moment.

There is so much change in the wind its like a tornado..... A part of me wants to hit the let me off button... but instead I am going to find Compassion and make a positive impact on  those who path I cross. A kind word, a gentle smile, a soft touch all three can save a life......