Scripture Reference: Philippians 1:20 (KJV)
According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
Reflection
When I think back at what I have seen and done in my life, it gives me great pleasure to know that God was always with me through my trials and through all of my life’s many failures. Whenever I struggled and was lost, God still patiently awaited me. Because he loves me, he loves his one-of-a-kind son.
God knows my many faults and strengths. When we give up control and truly accept the way God made us, even though we struggle, we learn that we are worthy of God’s love. We must love ourselves (see Matthew 22:39) or suffer a kind of mental poverty that will rob our joy, leaving us lacking purpose and love.
Even though I was homeless, I came to realize God had instilled in me a love for life and abundance that I had always searched and looked for. All along, this connection with God has always started with me loving myself and feeling at home in my own skin. Christ sacrificed everything, yes, to have this faith in God, which is unlike any other. By releasing so much control of our own lives and then letting Jesus start a new work in us, we can experience newfound peace as we connect with others. It’s our heart that matters the most. The mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Life is not so much about the material possessions we accumulate. Sure, having things is nice, but nothing compares to the spiritual gifts God provides. You will find God’s love deep down in your heart and soul.
Heart for the Homeless
Having lost my wife and kids, I became homeless. I had to learn to give that pain and suffering to God and accept His unconditional love during my darkest days. Through other Christians loving, I learned that I could love, too. But I had to love myself enough before I could help anyone else. When I finally gave myself to God, fully repentant, and prayed, I started to experience the peace of God deep inside. Everywhere I went, I was home. Jesus took whatever bad situation in life and turned it into good. I don’t know if I have helped many people along the way, but it was worth it if it was just one.
Author: Zeca Andrews
Many times in my life, I have experienced homelessness because of poor choices, selfish ambitions, or resentment toward others. But the Spirit of God assures me that He is with me for however long it takes to realize God is with me, that I am unique and loved. He keeps reminding me to have a thankful and grateful heart. For as long as it may take to lay my addictions down, God will be there, loving me and waiting for you to surrender. I will feed you. I will clothe you with raiment. You shall lack nothing short of the grace and the glory of God. In all my wandering, I will keep my faith in God. Faith in something bigger than me. It may sound strange, but I had to lose everything to make room for the new by experiencing this darkness and using it to grow closer to God despite the challenges and obstacles. Instead of relying on the love and affection of others, I relied on the love of God. God’s love was something I was never able to find in the world. No person, place, or thing could fill my heart except God.
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