A Measure of True Religion

I went looking after a lost cause today:  close friends, sharing God with each other, and the people
we met.  5 dreamers full of bright eyes, blankets, food, and love, we went to the poor and the homeless in Oklahoma City.  They swarmed us, accepting whatever we offered, with joyous thanks
and praise to God.  But I found no joy in their smiles.  I found no happiness in giving.  It was not
that I had no desire to give, for I gave with all my heart.  My soul was screaming out for me to help
them.  But I found only tears.

I cry for them.  Not because they are poor or homeless, but because nothing I ever do can help them.  We gave out food, and blankets, yes.  But we didn't address these people's needs.  Only their bodies.  These people need love.  They need hope.  They need Christ.  And as small as I am, as little as I feel I did, we did God's work today.  And it makes me feel awful.

No one can say that the work of the Gospel brings joy and happiness to all.  There were so many to help...To turn them away after we had run out of supplies was heart breaking.  We have to help them.

We met a man there.  He told us, that everyone we were helping, was homeless and poor because of what they had done to themselves.  As much as I can agree with that, I will not resign these people to a life of beginning neglected and forgotten.  I will not leave you.  
Because God did not leave me.  When I was still a sinner, God loved me so much,
to give his son, Jesus Christ for me.  

God, have mercy on us for not doing this earlier.  For not caring.  For letting these people suffer.
Dad, convict us!  Teach us to sacrifice!  To give what we have to those who need!  Teach us to
love.   To love and to not look back.  And to give until there is nothing left.