Caring like Christ

"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."

~Matthew 25:35-36~

That girl walking down the hall with her head down scared of being overlooked and judged. That boy you see in the stairwell with defeat written across his face. The 'weird kid' sitting alone at the lunch table. The kid you see needing a word of encouragement and hope. That person...

We all have these people in our lives that we could care less about, and simply act like we don't know them. Am I guilty of this? YES. Am I ready to stand up and be light to them? YES. Am I ready to quit caring about what others think? YES.

I struggle with all of these things, and it's right then that Satan works his way into our minds and whispers to us that it's okay to sit back... That it's alright to watch people deal with pain and hurt... That it's not a big deal for another soul to spend eternity in hell with him. And what do I do? What do we do? We buy the lies he tells us and accept it as TRUTH.

Then I am reminded of Matthew 25 and the awesome truth it holds. Jesus plainly tells us that when we CARE for others that we are doing exactly the same thing to Him. When we feed the hungry soul with loving words, when we give the hopeless heart water in hopes of replenishing their pain in life, when we allow that person to lean on us, when we cloth them in the apparel of a child of the King, when we allow God to use us so He can heal their bitterness, when we simply reach out...

The next time you find yourself staring at the new kid, or judging the girl who made a mistake, remember this... God wants YOU to be His hands and feet. He wants His body of believers to get out of their comfort zones and find happiness in caring for others while caring for Him.

So, my question is this: When will you allow Christ to sear a hole through your pride or worries in fulfilling the work He has called His people to do? I know I want this, and I hope you do too.

His Plans

Do you ever wonder what purpose your life has or will have? I know I do. I know I wonder all the time what God has in store for me and how He will use me. It was until recently that I truly realized what God was trying to tell me... It was simply this: I am right where I need to be for now. Here in little old Blairsville. Here in my school, my sports teams, my

community, my church. Who ever said you have to be in a foreign country to spread His word and be a witness? I believe Satan works this into our minds to discourage, trick, and dishearten us so we won't have the courage to do the work God has for us. The Bible states it like this:

He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, BEGINNING AT JERUSALEM."

Jerusalem can be compared to Blairsville or Union County. All nations compared to all types of people at our schools and jobs, all the different groups and cliques within our community. My point of this is to plainly say that if you are willing to sacrifice whatever it takes, God WILL use you if you seek His face. I know that's what I am doing. Stay in the Word, prayer, and Christian relationships and you will see God use your life in ways you wouldn't think.

Look for these opportunities-- they are everywhere! So, the next time you question your purpose in this world, run to Christ and He will use YOU.

"Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations."

-Isaiah 42:1

A Faithful God

Do you ever feel lonely? Forsaken? Defeated? If so, there is a man who knows exactly how you feel... Jesus, the perfect man, felt the same way you may feel at times. While hanging on the cruel cross, feelings and thoughts invaded His mind. "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning," Jesus proclaimed. Personally, I have felt this way before as you may have too. Psalm 22 talks about how Jesus felt while shedding His blood for you and me. He felt defeated, alone, and afraid-- just like you. He cries out to God through the pain and hurt and then says, "you have answered Me." When thoughts and emotions overwhelm you, hold on to this passage. Jesus UNDERSTANDS what you feel and what your going through! Cry out to Him and then just wait and listen... He could be answering you. Until then, trust that you have a faithful God who will NEVER leave you.

A Stronger Testimony

Many circumstances in our life leave us hurt, broken, and confused. It's in these times that God wants our TOTAL trust. Even when we don't understand a single thing. We have to realize that God, the Creator of you and me, wants us to realize that we are a tiny part of this big plan He has for us. Even when we can't see how this plan will work out and how it could possibly be good, it will. 


I can honestly say that in the past month, my life has felt like it's gone down the drain. I have experienced true brokeness, sorrow, and confusion. My Uncle died, I got in a wreck, and my grandpa's in the hospital with serious lung issues. I say these things not for pity, but to simply say that God is going to use this to build a stronger testimony in me. When I feel like I'm hopeless and hurt, alone and afraid, broken and bitter; I remind myself of this: EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON. We have all heard this saying before. It wasn't until recently that I really started believing and clinging to this truth, though. You see, God has this BIG plan, and he wants YOU in it. These horrible times and trials are some way or another going to evolve into a beautiful masterpiece that God created. It's hard to see how this could possibly be true, but believe and cling to it. 


I hope this will be a word of encouragement to you, and that you will hold on to the hope that God gives you. Praise Him in your storm, and good will come out one way or another.