James 1:17<\/a>).\u00a0 So, we looked closely at that fact.<\/p>\nIt doesn’t stop there, though.\u00a0 God has provided so much to so many of us, what are we to do with these incredibly abundant blessings?\u00a0 It seems that we who are Christ-followers, a part of the Church, are to hold those blessings with open hands, looking for opps to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and being the answer to that prayer for those who don’t have daily bread.<\/p>\n
How quick and easy it is to lose sight of our mission and it seems the more we get the tighter our fists are clinched around it.\u00a0 I had Adam Farris, a member and leader in our church, tell a story of how his tribe lived this out in college:<\/p>\n
I was a part of [a group] in college [that] shared most of our possessions-if someone needed a car (which is the only way to travel in LA) one who was “blessed” with a vehicle could use it, if someone needed an interest-free loan for a need-that need was met. \u00a0Thinking back we were quite liberal with our possessions and that was one of the ways community was fostered all the while, needs were being met. \u00a0A specific story related to that-My junior year, my best friend won tickets to a movie premiere, we borrowed someone’s car from the fellowship and drove to Hollywood for the movie. \u00a0On the way back we were stopped at a light and a homeless looking man crossed the street in front of us. \u00a0Not anything out of the ordinary for that time of night and being in Hollywood. \u00a0When the light turned green my friend said to me, ‘I don’t think that guy was wearing shoes.” \u00a0I told him I didn’t notice so he circles the block to find the homeless man. \u00a0He parks the car on the side of the road and gets out to talk to the guy. \u00a0He starts talking to him and pointing at the man’s feet, then my friend bends down, unties his shoes and gives them to him. \u00a0He gets back in the car and tells me, “Yeah, he didn’t have any shoes, I’ve got a couple of pair back in the dorm room that I can wear.” \u00a0And he drove back to campus barefoot. \u00a0That story still humbles me.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
It humbles me, too.\u00a0 I realize how much I hold onto what I have, forgetting that blessings are not meant to terminate on me, but carry on into the lives of others.\u00a0 The question I have to ask today and everyday is, “How can I use what God has given me to be a blessing to someone else today.”\u00a0 I may or may not have the opportunity, but if I’m at not at least asking the question, I may totally miss the opportunity when it comes my way.<\/p>\n