Thoughts From the Hollenbachs

Dear Friends,

Today I pass along a “thought” written and sent out by two members of my church (which they do weekly), John and Judy Hollenbach. Their thoughts are all good, but I thought this one was especially good, so I share it with you. It has to do with our need to "see" the need that’s in front of our eyes so we can reach out to minister to that need. Sometimes we truly do not see the need (even when it’s right in front of our eyes) because we are distracted, while other times we do “see” it, and may even be struck by it, yet continue on our way and fail to do anything to alleviate it, because we know the cost of involvement.

After all, involvement would add to our already busy schedules, and drain our already stretched-to-the-limit resources. We can pass right by because we know how deeply it will cut into our free time and reduce our special "just for me" fund. That's why (in this world) John and Judy’s thought “Doing or Not Doing” is a needed reminder. Enjoy.

“The pharisee and the priest walked by the man who had been beaten and robbed. Then a Samaritan saw the man, and having compassion, helped him, taking out of his own money, and giving of his own time, to bring the man healing. The widow gave her pennies, even though she didn’t have much, yet she gave what she could (“all she had to live on,” according to Jesus in Luke 21:4). Boaz instructed his employees to leave the edges of the fields unharvested so that the poor could harvest from his fields and be able to eat. Boaz ‘did’ yet in doing so did not rob the poor of their dignity.

How often do I become so busy doing, that I miss what needs to be done?
How often is the problem what I didn’t do, often because of what I may find in the doing?

As Jesus traveled, with His disciples, He never missed the need around Him, but the disciples, so many times, didn’t see or understand.

…Hush, they said to the blind man, whom Jesus would heal!
…Go away, they said to the children, whom Jesus would sit on His knee!
…It is unlawful to heal on the Sabbath they said, as Jesus healed the withered hand!
…She is unclean they said, as she washed Jesus’ feet and He forgave her sins!
Need I go on?

Please, Lord Jesus, forgive me for failing to see. Forgive me when you give me the opportunities to give – a word of encouragement, a dollar of healing, an opportunity of dignity for another to help themselves, or to be a brother and sister to someone in crisis. Let me not be so wrapped up in what I believe to be important that I miss the importance of what is important for another.

“Let your light so shine that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
“In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, for I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

May His grace allow you to give grace!
Under Grace, John and Judy"

Sometimes we just need to hear the “still small voice” of God as it speaks through another brother and sister and reminds us to look and really “see” -- just like Jesus did. For we all know from the experience of living in this fast-paced and self-focused world, it can be so easy to run past need, or turn our head away when we see it up ahead pretending we don’t see it, because our schedules are already so full and our giving (we feel) is maxed out.

Jesus’ life and words always challenge us, because we are often all-too-well aware of the cost involved in being a disciple. A disciple whom the Lord Jesus calls to do something about the need we do see in this world.

Lord, though it's hard, help us to be the people we know we should be, Pastor Jeff