It is written in *1 John 3:17 But if anyone has this world’s goods (resources for sustaining life) and sees his brother and fellow believer in need, yet closes his heart of compassion against him, how can the love of God live and remain in him?* Most people don’t realize it, and yet, 59% of Americans are currently at risk of homelessness, they are only 1-2 paychecks away from being on the street, with no place to stay. I have heard it said, “If you can’t feed the world, feed one person if you can”. A little while back someone close to me wrote an account of a local mission trip that they were not intending to be on. The title of it was “So today I pulled a dad today.” She wrote, “I pulled up to a stop light and met a lady named Jessica holding a sign saying ‘Homeless anything helps. God bless.’ I asked her what her story was. Jessica said she was homeless due to getting a divorce. The house she lived in for the past seven years was owned by her husband’s family members, so he got it which forced her on the street. She stays either in the woods or a cheap motel if she can get enough cash that day. The divorce happened due to him laying his hands on her. Her grandmother just recently passed away and that was all the family she had left. She mentioned that standing right here was degrading. She’s hit rock bottom and she’s praying that God will show her the way to go. We exchanged stories and I mentioned to her I know what she’s going through and explained how I knew. The last thing I said to her was ‘just because she’s hit rock bottom don’t give up.’ I was able to bless her with something to eat and drink, and drove away with her continually on my mind.” The purpose of sharing was not to bring attention to the person who gave, but attention to the situation of another, Jessica, and ask for prayer for her. Everyone has a story, and many times, the average person is too busy to listen or too self absorbed to even care. There are many ways to help the less fortunate and one of the most impactful is with a kind word and a caring hand. The story of Jessica was posted to Facebook. A little help was given, a little hope was restored, a little love was shared by another that had been in a similar situation before. After this story was shared, the attacks came. “Why didn’t you do more?”, “It would have been better never to approach in the first place than to do the little that you did.”, “Why didn’t you take her home and get her off the street?” I do not know the heart of the people that said the disrespectful things they did, but God does. The heart of the matter really is the matter of the heart. There were 3 primary people that were affected by this unintended mission trip: the person who took a step of faith with a heart of compassion for a person in a less fortunate situation to show the love of God; the homeless woman Jessica, who needed to know that someone cared and that God had not abandoned her; and the people who verbally attacked someone that they didn’t even know for encouraging the downtrodden. Beloved brethren, may we pray to have the boldness to help the less fortunate without judgment and not condemn others for the works that they do because even if it is something small, because even if it is just a smile and a wave, it may bring enough hope to help someone endure and maybe even save a life. Everyone has a story and I commend the person who stopped to encourage another because that is what Jesus was all about. For those of you who are tight fisted, remember what is written in *Acts 20:35 In everything I showed you [by example] that by working hard in this way you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed [and brings greater joy] to give than to receive.’* Every penny we have is God’s money, it has His name on it not yours. It says, “In God We Trust”. So trust Him enough and answer the call to encourage someone by showing them  that they have value simply by asking their name and situation, and when able, give money. In Christ Love, douglas. HE>i. pastord.blogTo any who are interested, please feel free to reach out to me with prayer requests, questions, encouragement, or for information on how to come alongside me with financial support for the ministry activities that God has entrusted to me at pastord.blog@gmail.com or I do have a Zelle account associated with my phone number, 5202720387 last name Blaser. Thank you my Beloved for your ongoing prayers and support.