Family

Living Free Thursday with Suzanne Ellers.  I follow her on twitter and she is one amazing person. Her books are my some of my favorites, The Mended Heart and The Unburdened Heart.  Her blog focuses today on “Your Family Might Be The Answer To Someone’s Prayer.”

I grew up in Dodge City, Kansas. My mom was a magnet for stray family members, kids, dogs and cats. I had many sleep overs with my friends. Hospitality was my mom’s gift. I think her spiritual gift would have been helps. Not only was she a magnet she was an excellent cook.  From the time I was little we always had someone extra in our home.  My cousin Lois spent her last year of high school with us and my mom helped her with her wedding. My aunt had problem in her marriage and she lived with us bringing her three boys. My Uncle Fred stayed with us many times. When we moved to California in my sophomore year of high school, we had my cousin who was in the Navy at our home and another young man stayed with us who was in the Marines. Our family was an answer to someone’s prayer.

I carried on the tradition,  I had my cousin stay with his fiancé and I gave them a wedding. I had my aunt and my brother stay with me. I have had my niece and nephew and a cat stay with us. I have had both of my sister-in-laws stay with me at various times. I had my niece and her husband and children at my home. Hospitality is ingrained in me. Our family was an answer to someone’s prayer.  By the way I adopted the cat.

Family is a gift. I have been blessed with two sons, two daughter-in-laws and six grandchildren.

Beloved, is there an unmet need in your family? Beloved is your family an answer to someones’ prayer. Recently I became aware of a family not in our area that was homeless. I started to pray and felt led to help with a monetary gift. God answered our prayers, there were many of us that helped this family. Two weeks ago God’s provision for this family was to give them a house and I have a new life long friend because we cared enough to help.

[Tweet “Family matters but a stranger may need your prayers and help just as much. “]

Today, I see the homeless person standing on the corner, and is most likely pan-handling but what if my kindness makes a difference in her or his life.

I might be the answer to someone’s prayer. Beloved, your family might be an answer to someone’s prayer.

For the homeless,

I have bottles of water to give.

I have Subway gift cards to give.

What about supporting a missionary family? Or loaning an extra car to the church for missionaries?

Where can you volunteer?

One of my favorite movies is Blind Side. It was a true story. The mom saw a need in a young man’s life and she met his basic needs. From that she was the arms of Jesus to this young man. Henry Blackaby wrote a bible study called Experiencing God. He says that God is at work already around you and He invites you to join Him in His work. Perhaps, as your family helps another family, you will be an answer to someone’s prayer.

Father God, help me to be aware of those who need my help. Thank you for loving me and giving me a giving caring heart. Let me be the answer to someone’s prayer.