Walking Therein

Posted By Jacque on March 2, 2009

I put the Gleaning the Harvest families’ ChipIn widgets on my sidebar several weeks ago. The LORD is so gracious and is taking care of these single-parent families, but I just wish I could do more for them. Creating a site, putting them on there and blogging, contacting companies for support and spreading the word about GTH is about all I can really do right now. And, yet, here it is the end of the month, and I hate seeing those low numbers on their donation widgets. They really need our support, and they have 30% of what they need for the month.

Doom and Gloom and Famine

A month or so ago, I was talking to mom about women staying home, families supporting widows and singles, and our economy. At that time, I told her that I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt that between my brother and sister and our family, we could support her to stay home. We CAN. I understand about the economy. I understand many have been affected by the economy. But if we are still buying Dr. Pepper, going out to eat, and buying frivolous things, then we have money to spare and are not in a depression. Even families who have lost their jobs have not fully cut back as they did during the depression.

Mark 13
4Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

5And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: 6For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 7And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. 8For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. 9But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. 10And the gospel must first be published among all nations. 11But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

I know that Washington keeps preaching doom and despair, and I know that some are in real despair, hoping to find a job to support their family, but many are not. It is at this time that the Body should come together and aid each other. It is just what we founded Gleaning the Harvest on – the people of God serving and providing for each other who are in need.

The Body Caring for Itself

I know there is enough out there in the Body to provide for these four families. I have about four or five more in need who we just have not gotten all the details worked out yet to put on GTH. I know God blesses his people. He is providing for these families, but we are a blessed people. We have SO MUCH!

If you come to our home, you will not find a large entertainment center, gaming equipment, new cars, fine furniture, fine clothes, the latest toys, the latest in home decor, expensive tools, and the like. We do not really buy much like that anymore. We buy the basics, the necessities.

We are sure looking forward to getting windows replaced in our home to save on heating and cooling, fencing in our field and putting some of our tax check towards some other things, but I would never consider those things to supercede the needs of God’s people. We have heat. We are getting our addition finished, we would love another laptop for Jocelyn to work on, but we are well-provided for and have very little need of much. Our refrigerator is full as is our pantry.  We are in want of very little.

Acts 4
32And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

36And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, 37Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

I read a blog post a year ago, entitled, “A Dangerous Immune Disorder by Mrs. E. It is about the disorder we as humans, and dare I say as Americans? have. It is a disorder we have with having stuff. We have been trained, programmed, and indoctrinated by our culture with the need for stuff, more stuff, and even more stuff after that. It is appalling. It has likely always been this way on the earth, but the apostles and Believers in Acts 4 found out how to be of one heart and of one soul and overcome their delirious need for STUFF. As a matter of fact, even though I already have done this many times, I think we will be making a project this week of making lists to see exactly else we can cut out to give more to the families on GTH. After all, they really need it.

Giving to Widows, Fatherless, Strangers

On this point, we are commanded to do so in Scripture, so this is not about whether we want to or not. We are commanded to leave some of our income to the widows, fatherless and strangers in Deuteronomy 24. James points out also, that if you want to practice pure religion, you must do two things:

James 1:27
“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

Lizzie made an observation and let me know that she does not mind receiving even a dollar or a couple of dollars as a donation. We have no idea of the need these moms have. We really don’t. We take things for granted that they just don’t have. I have a husband who provides for our family. They do not. I think a lot of times we feel as if giving a dollar or “just $10″ is a piddly amount and then just don’t give it. But it means so much to them, even a small amount.

So, I am asking you, with all we buy that is a want and not a need, Brother, Can you spare a dime, and I literally mean a dime, and help these families on Gleaning the Harvest?

About Gleaning the Harvest

To find ways to help single-parent families on GTH or in your own community, see How To Help A Single Mom Part 1, and also How To Help A Single Mom Part 2 by Lizzie Norris.

If you are interested in why we began Gleaning the Harvest, read about Our Mission.

To refer a family to Gleaning the Harvest, please see our Referring Families page.

For your convenience, there is a Site Map located on the ~:Welcome:~ page.

Subscribe to Gleaning The Harvest by Email

May you be blessed and have peace~

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Categories: Gleaning the Harvest, Heart and Home, Home Management, Oh Father, Help Me Live Biblically, Prayer Requests, Wisdom from the WORD
Tags: Bible, giving, Gleaning the Harvest, Scripture, widows