Wednesday, August 29, 2007

I think about this a lot

Ever since the Lord opened my eyes and heart to the condition that much of our world is in today (eventually leading us to adopt), and especially ever since going to Ethiopia, I think TONS about, how much more can/should we be doing to help others? I struggle with finding a balanced perspective, but then wonder if seeking balance is just a cop-out? Anyway, I happened upon this blogpost that was really thought-provoking for me. I loved the post, and loved some of the comments challenging it. Anyway, if anyone's interested, here's the link:

http://justinmasterson.blogspot.com/2007/08/for-my-100th-post-id-like-to-offer-you.html

6 comments:

BeckyandTroy said...

Brianna- thanks for the link. The issues seem so overwhelming. Justin is right, we can't save them all, but we can encourage others to help.
I think of Corrie ten Boom during WWII, she didn't save very Jewsih person, but she also made herself available, right where she was.

Maybe part of it is being sensitive to God's small voice and picking up the starfish right in front of us. Most of us will never do one great act for God, but a livetime of small acts of obedience.

Jeannett said...

Great blog post. Such a melancholy topic. The realization that you can't save them all. That the only reason one was saved was it's location only inches away. But, as Jesus said when Mary poured the perfume worth a year's wages on His feet...there will always be the poor among us. Hurts my heart.

shell said...

how fun to see you link to justin blog-my hubbys bestest friend. :) he is a good guy with a great mind.

Samantha said...

I think that this is the reason that God gives us each individual gifts and talents. There is so much work to be done, and we can all serve the body and the world in different ways. We can't all be the same body part and God never intended it to be that way.

I don't think that any of us should feel guilty about how the Lord has blessed us. Just being born in America guarantees us alot more ease of life than say being born in Ethiopia. Truly having a heart that mourns and prays for those less fortunate and that asks God what He would have us do about it is better than living a life without any comforts to either punish ourselves because we feel guilty or because we are trying to win points with God by being "holy." (Really just trying to be our own savior)

God delights in blessing us. We would feel awful if our kids rejected the gifts we give them out of love.

Satan would have us feel guilt, God gives us a thankful heart that is also generous toward others.

Brianna Heldt said...

shelley, i know! that's how i found his blog a long time ago, and from time to time go back, b/c his posts are so interesting! anyway, both kev and i LOVED this post!!!!

you all make good points, samantha it's true satan wants us to despair. one thought i have though is, do we live a life of self-denial (well to US self denial, we'd still have more than most people in the world) in order to offer more to others who truly have nothing...how far do you take it i wonder. just thoughts i wonder about.

Larissa said...

That is a great post! I think about these same things so much too.
I get so discouraged by my own lack of action sometimes, but I also get so excited and motivated by the potential the church as a whole has for bring good to the world when we each do our part.

I love posts that get me thinking, pondering and praying.

 

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