New Day

Today is strange, today is new, today is much different without you. Part of me is completely excited while another begs to hold on. I know change can be good, but I still feel misunderstood. As I came into Memphis today all I could see were HUGE fancy churches and people starving in the streets.
God?
Surely this isn't your will.
This can't be the Kingdom you've willed.
These people need help, but all we care about is how nice our church buildings are.
Forget about love.
We don't care about starving children or desperate men and women.
Just give us three million dollar buildings, huge projection boards, flashing lights, expensive clothes, safe sermons, fake smiles, big programs, and nobody feels guilty.
Eventually we don't even notice the poor anymore.
And if we do notice we assume they deserve to be in the situation they are.
Hypocrites.
We all deserve hell. Yet Jesus died for each one of us and took on the wrath that you and I deserve. We are so willing to accept all that we are given, but we become selfish and greedy.
"For God so loved the world that He gave...."
The evidence of love is giving.
Think about it. When people love, they give. They give time, love, patience, gifts, forgiveness, whatever is desired or needed.
But what are we giving?
In James 2:15-17 it says "If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food (sounds a lot like homeless people) and one of you says, go in peace, be warmed and filled, (a lot like our ritual of God bless you) WITHOUT giving them the things needed,
WHAT GOOD IS IT? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Did you catch that?
James, the brother of Jesus, tells us that all the kind words in the world don't mean junk if we don't actually help people in need. Especially when we have the means to do so.
And that doesn't always mean money.
I'm not pointing fingers at anyone.
This was written to me.
But maybe God can speak to you also.
I love you dearly.
:)