Hungry and Homeless

Sometimes, I wake up at night. And I find that I have left the TV on. And just before I turn off the tube, to give sleep my full attention, I notice the info-mercial that pulls at my heart strings. It happens to be a 'Feed The Children'-esqe advertisment imploring viewers for their donations to help starvings boys and girls in third world countries. There's nothing like waking up late in the midnight hour to see barren-eyed, pot-bellied children staring at you as if they can see you through the screen.

It is a sad reality that many in other countries are living only breath to breath, instead of paycheck to paycheck. However, this week, God has revealed to me that this problem is not simply a demographical issue. It is not even solely a social or political issue. It is also a spiritual issue. One that the United States knows all too well.

Maybe, some of us have been naive enough to think that being hungry and homeless are conditions that only manifest themselves physically and only effect less wealthy nations. Yet, upon visiting my old church this past Wednesday, I'm convinced that neither is completely true. At this prayer meeting, I saw several kids, all less than age 16 that were hungry and homeless.

They were not hungry in the sense that they didn't have any food to eat. Nor were they homeless in that there was no roof over their heads. Yet, when each child walked up to the podium to state their prayer requests before the members of the church, the same barren-eyed, pot-bellied look came across their faces. It was bitterly and painfully obvious that they needed some nourishment for their souls and a place that they could safely call home.

The enemy is working over-time right now to weed out the next generation. And he is doing so by continually dismantling the institution of the home. Home is the first place that you understand the basic concepts of what role the Church should play in your life. Home should be safe. Home should be a place of hope and guidance. Home should provide you nourishment and edification. Much in the way the Church should. Yet, these kids...these wonderful and beautiful children of the Most High God are out here in the world fighting alone against powers and principalities that they should not have to contend with at such early ages.

Where is the Church? Where is the Church when so many of our babies are Hungry and Homeless? Where is the Church that is actively showing our youth that God will never forsake the righteous nor leave His seed begging bread (Psalm 37:25)? Where is the Church that donates its time, talents, and treasures to ensure that not another child must face their burdens alone?

It is our earnest prayer, that in this time of learning to become more Occupied with the things of God, that we will all take a little bit more time to pray for, edify, and uplift our neighbor, especially our children. Don't give them a present. Present them with the filling Word of God. Nourish them with prayer. Feed them with love. So much that they will never again feel Hungry and Homeless.