Chicago!

Chicago Title that is. Today we closed/sold our home. It's the house we brought both boys home from the hospital too, where they took their first steps, where they said their first words, where they zipped through the house on tricycles, chased each other with light sabers, and put hand prints (and sometimes footprints) all over the walls. It was a good house, but it served it's purpose. Now we are officially homeless. We have moved our crew into my folks house (they cleared out two rooms and took in two crazy dogs) for a couple of weeks. Looking at March 16th till we close on our 'new' and third home... Crazy to think it's our third house...makes me feel that much older. Sigh. In the meantime, we are happily homeless!

Can you deal with that??

You mess

with the big dogs

and you

are going

to get

sprayed!!

...at least till big brother comes to your defense!

To the least of these

Ever wondered what it's like to rub shoulders with the homeless? Ever wondered their stories, their needs, their struggles. We attend a Sunday school class willing to stand for truth, willing to serve, willing to put FAITH to FEET. A class that teaches the bible, turns our focus on our Almighty, Sovereign, Living Lord. A class that supports a range of ministries (from the unborn, the hungry, to the local youth to name a few), that encourages us to live outside ourselves, outside the 4 walls and daily live with a heart pursuing that of our Lord's. To open our eyes, give of our time, giving to those who are 'the least of these.' This morning it was to live out Matthew 26:35-40 'for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in. I was naked and you clothed Me...The righteous will answer Him saying, 'Lord when did we see You hungry...And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'

We made 7 lbs of hash browns, loaded up with a friend and drove to Lewis Park in Conroe. While the surrounding area reminded me of my time in Compton, the park itself was well maintained. How many people know what lurks just inside this tree line? Dozens of men and women struggling to eat... Compassion United, the founders of this ministry know very well. Every weekend they serve these people, they cloth them, they minister to them. Minutes after CU arrived and set up about 80 people slowly came out of the woods and gathered around the man in charge for a time of prayer.

A morning like this reminds me, that we are called to serve, called to love, and called to step out and do as Christ Himself taught us. I was blessed more than these individuals were this morning.

Slowly come from every direction

Some bring food, while others bring clothing, gloves, blankets...and they measure them for a 'close' fit.

They bring empty bags and leave with them full.

They are overwhelmed with gratitude for their new clothes.

Listening to the guy from Compassion United talk about God's love for them.

They formed a line faster than I have EVER seen. Quiet, exact, and patient...I was taken a back by it.

They tuck away food for later...

But we come to do more than fill their stomachs. We come for fellowship, to be the listening ear, to be the physical form of Christ's love.

Children are encouraged and involved. She comes out every Saturday and this time made sure that her 'friends' got Valentine's candy. This girl has a heart of gold. She's 5.

Gratitude abounds....

A man that leads by example. A man that loves the Lord.

It sure was cold!

We don't come to just give them a hot meal. We come to serve them.

A gentle face of one of the 'least of these.'

Taught by example.