I didn't DO anything...

 It is hot here...like 110 degrees, melt anything, burn my buns, HOT! This is the part of the summer I dislike the most. (dare I say 'hate' the most) All I want to do is get all my errands done before 9am and then lock myself in a quiet, cool house and wait until sunset, which seems to take the edge off the heat. Of course that is not possible every day...today was one of those days. I found myself out running a quick errand in the middle of the day. As I drove into the parking lot I saw a man, with a sign saying "Homeless Veteran, please help." My heart sank. Who, on purpose, would sit out in this oppressive heat? Or was is completely out of necessity? As I drove past him I noticed he was clean shaven and groomed fairly well. My mind went straight to judgement. I thought, "Oh, you are one of those who sit here and prey on the hearts of others in hope to get money from them for your inappropriate reason." Ouch...yes, I just wrote that because I actually thought it and I am overwhelmed with sadness at my own judgement of this man. I have no place to make such a harsh judgement. Do I really believe a man would purposely sit there, in the 110 degree sun, just to make money? (Lord, I hope not!) I had to stop and take a good look at myself. God in his grace brought to mind the following verses...(from The Message)

^34-36"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why:

   I was hungry and you fed me,
   I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
   I was homeless and you gave me a room,
   I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
   I was sick and you stopped to visit,
   I was in prison and you came to me.'

 ^37-40"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.'

I am sad to say I kept driving past him, not offering this man anything from my surplus and I feel terrible. I feel like regardless of his reasons or intentions, God has blessed me abundantly. I have WAY more than I could ever ask for and yet I didn't even stop to offer him a few water bottles which I had in the truck. Thankfully, I serve a gracious God, one who hears my confession of judgement and forgives me. I will stop next time...because God knows the hearts of all men regardless of what I see with my human, sin-filled eyes. I am praying this afternoon that someone, anyone, will stop and offer this man water, food, or what ever he needs. I pray He gives me more conviction every day to reach out to the least of these, because frankly, we are all the least of these in the eyes of our Savior. 


Today, in this moment I am thankful to a God who can in one moment change my heart, turning it more towards His path, so I can give to others from my abundance.