From: Emie Locke
Date: Dec 27, 2006 10:55 AM
Subject: It's Party Time!
To:
Dear Friends,
We are throwing a party but we need help. If any of you are
available on January 1st, here are the details and the needs. Some of
you are in another state or country and unable to help physically but
you can certainly pray for us! That's why you're getting this
invitation.
Luke 14:12-14
"WHEN you put on a luncheon or a dinner don't invite your friends,
brothers, relatives and rich neighbors. For they will repay you by
inviting you back. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame,
and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the godly, God will reward
you for inviting those who could not repay you."
A few of us want to throw a party for those who cannot repay. But
we need some help. First I'll share of the needs and then I'll give
you some background for why we are doing this.
We need:
1) A big house that you are ok opening up to the homeless. Maybe big
is irrelevant and we just need someone who will be ok opening their
home to the homeless.
2) Food. I will provide the meat and anything else that won't be
covered. That leaves drinks, salads, fruit trays, your favorite
holiday dish, etc. We're looking for the feast idea here.
3) Servants. We would love to have some help with serving the people.
4) Drivers. We may need a couple minivans or SUV to go down and pick
up and drop off the people.
5) Donations. We would love to give the people gifts. Coats, socks
are a huge hit I hear, hoodies are a big hit too, blankets, sleeping
bags, or anything the Lord lays on your heart. Please don't give your
worst worn stuff. Homeless people like nice things too.
6) Prayer. If you can't join us or help us out, we can definitely
use your prayers. The Kingdom of God belongs to the children, to the
poor, to those who are persecuted, to the gentle and lowly. We want
the Kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. We want to be found
where Jesus is found, among the needy and the sick, not the healthy
(Matthew 9:12-13).
Just to make it clear, we aren't gathering these precious people to
preach to them with our words. No tracts needed and you don't have to
have the Romans Road memorized! We are inviting them to love on them,
to share the Good News with our lives and our possessions and our
actions. We beg you not to come with the attitude of superiority but
to come with an attitude of servanthood. These are incredibly
perceptive people who have been in contact with plenty of people doing
their "duty." They just want to be treated as your equal as they
truly are. We are ministering with the poor not to the poor!
When I was in Africa, Heath and I were talking on the phone and he
was sharing his heart to throw a party for the poor. The very next
day, someone taught on the verses at the top, Luke 14:12-14 and I got
so excited. It's not "IF" you throw a party. It says "WHEN" you
throw a party, invite those who cannot repay you.
The vision of New Year's Day:
We have a twofold vision for the day.
1. To love the homeless. We want to bring them in. Give them
showers (logistically we can either have people take them to their
homes for showers first or to designated shower houses before we bring
them to the house to eat). To let them hang out, watch football, have
a feast to eat, give them some gifts, and give them a reprieve from
the harsh reality of the streets. It's a bit brutal to think of
taking them back to the streets to sleep, but it helped me when Heath
said it's kind of like taking the front line soldiers off the
frontline for an afternoon before they have to go back out. Just
because their life is hard doesn't mean they don't want or appreciate
a break now and then. We would like to pick them up around 10:30 or
11:00 and take them home around 4:30 or 5:00. That is subject to
change but that's what we're thinking.
2. The second vision for the day is to give people an opportunity to
start the New Year with a different perspective; having the poor and
broken be a very near reality rather than a distant knowledge. We want
to experience Jesus among these people. We want to give a relatively
comfortable environment to walk over the bridge to their side. We
want to give the opportunity to come face to face with questions the
Lord is making us ask of our own life: Who is Jesus for me? Who IS
Jesus for the poor? Do I have Jesus or religion? What happens when
the package answers don't touch these precious people's needs? What
happens if we don't use our resources for poor and the orphan? It just
may send our year in a totally different direction.
It's ok to be uncomfortable and have a bit of fear, just push past
it and sit and listen. We will all be amazed once we are sitting next
to someone and realize they are just people and this is easier than we
thought. They will love sharing with someone who is willing to
listen, and they may tell you a really good whopper. Nonetheless, you
will have crossed the bridge.
I have no anticipation of who or how many will be able to join this
party so please don't feel pressure. I also know that many of you
already have New Year's Day plans and that's great. Maybe you could
pick up the guy on the corner on your way to the party you're headed
to and make him your new best friend for the day!
I may have just created a logistical nightmare but when I was in
Africa, someone prayed over me and said that the gift of
administration will be coming forward in me!!! I just laughed and
said, "I doubt it! I really hate administration!" We'll see what
happens. The first thing I will be waiting to hear about is the house
situation. After that, I'll respond to those who can help with food
and donations and serving. "Whatever you do, whether in word or deed,
do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the
Father through him." Colossians 3:17
Romans 12:5-13
We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work
to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each
other, and each of us needs all the others.
God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So
if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have
faith that God is speaking through you. If your gift is that of
serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job
of teaching. If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have
money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability,
take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing
kindness to others, do it gladly.
Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate
what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with
genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be
lazy in your work but serve the Lord enthusiastically.
Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and
always be prayerful. When God's children are in need, be the one to
help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for
dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night.
May God bless you this New Year!
All for the glory of Jesus,
Emie Kay Locke
http://isaiah555.blogspot.com/
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