re: Katrina — What pleasures will I give up?

I’ve been sickened, saddened, shocked, and discouraged by the horrible suffering as well as the wickedness of Man brought out in the devastating events of last week re: Katrina. Of course, I’ve also been rightly humbled, lavishly encouraged, and truly edified by God’s ministration of grace through His Word, His Spirit, and His people.

Have you, too, been riveted to your tv? (And we only get three channels in Billings, so that’s saying something strange for us!)

Fred and I pray, talk, and wonder … how are we to respond? What is God calling us to do? Give money? Absolutely. Pray? Yes, yes, yes. What about taking in a family? Coordinating even more relief efforts through the local church? Helping in other ways?

I keep thinking about the spiritual, emotional, and relational needs of these precious displaced people and all of the relief workers there to help. I can’t help but think that the desperate conflicts and situations they will face will be another wave of devastating disaster. Grief over loss will be tempted to turn a corner into bitterness and vengeance. Marriages and families will be stretched to the breaking point. Financial and legal burdens will multiply exponentially and uncertainty as to the future will lead many to despair.

Beyond a shadow of a doubt, this is an opportunity for the Church to serve!

One question that keeps ringing in my ear concerning how our family is being called to serve is this … What pleasure will I give up so that I can more substantially help those in need? That is, instead of giving merely from my “excess” or “comfortable margin” … how will I experience discomfort as a result of my giving?

Of course, then I think … isn’t this how I should be living every single day? So fixed on eternity, so committed to missions and evangelism and church planting that I am always living a little (a lot?) tight? Whatever my income level, not living at the same level of comfort and luxury as other similarly-situated people because I’m giving too much away to do so?

Because it’s all His!!

O, Lord, use me today I pray. Amen and amen.