Beggars .....

Beggars.....

Everyday, no matter what part of town I am in, I see beggars sitting at intersections with their signs, "even a smile is welcome", "anything will be welcome", etc, etc.. This year they have here in the winter as well, with our mild weather...all ages, both genders, singles, families....

There are at least two shelters, several place for teens, and homeless camps around the area..some groups regularly visit these places with medical care, food, miscellaneous supplies...

A small group that I attend made up ziplock bags for women's personal supplies to be given out by a low income medical office as they go out to help women. The supplies were collected at a women's luncheon and 

Bible study. 

Another group collects diapers for low income families..

There are thrift stores which will outfit people for job interviews and work and get job training if needed....coats and sleeping bags to those living outside,....blankets, shoes, school supplies for foster and low income children, 

AAA collects suitcases for displaced children...

Another donates prom dresses for low income girls to attend their school proms...

There are shelters from domestic violence, people trafficking, parents and families of sick children, help for the mentally ill,.....the list goes on..and on..even garden plots for those who like to raise a garden...food stamps, low income housing, phones for low income people, cars for low income....

In other words, we have no excuse for not seeing the poor among and around us...our country as a whole is among the first to respond to disasters around the world...with supplies, manpower, equipment...thank you, America, for being so giving...

but, thank YOU GOD, for giving us so much, with giving hearts help us to follow You in compassion for others ... Seeking You first of all and then loving and helping others as You love them...

Matthew 25:31-46 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 

All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 

“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”