Christmas Devotion - Day 8

Today's devotional is written by Robert Lehrer, Board President for Breaking Bread.

Restart, Remodel, Re-do.

The beginning, again.  Not really a rebirth but surely a new start.  The “Re” is a thing of hope from what has been.  Something to “Re” from.  

From; with history. 

But with history comes experiences, hurts, sufferings.  Paul’s letter to the Romans says to rejoice (joy…again) in our sufferings that they will produce endurance and endurance will produce character.  And character produces hope.  However, at some point suffering needs to stop and hope needs to hurry up. 

A few years ago, I needed a “re”.  A restart from the life that had been.  I moved to Midland and virtually re-invented my life and began a new career and a new life.  There was suffering and struggle but there was always hope.  Hope knowing that God was there.  Hope that, He had me where He wanted me. 

I come from a family of fighters, endurers, and survivors.  I have a support that many others do, but many do not.  Though small, I have family and community.  I get hope from those that know me and are me.  I have no debilitating addictions. No habits that can cause severe harm.  So, my worst is not the worst and my restart had support.

Farther down the page, in Romans chapter five, Paul continues…

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  For one will scarcely die for a righteous person, though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die.  But God, shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.  For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.  More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.  –Romans 5: 6-11
 
Reconciliation; re-uniting. 

Another “re” that brings us closer.  Closer to each other.  Closer to our God.  Closer to hope. 

I begin with the above so that you see where we draw hope, where you can draw hope.  As you live your life day to day, you are probably not in need of a redo in your life.  Your path has been directed well and you are living a very joyful life.  However, as we encounter those in our community, we find many that life has not left them with hope.  Or, at least that hope left a long time ago. 

They need a redo. 

They need reconciliation. 

You and I can have the opportunity to see to that “re”, done firsthand in the lives of others right here in Midland.  We have the chance to participate in a re-model of a life. 

Whether you help fund a re-model or help with the construction, the opportunity is now.  I truly believe that once you are involved then the rejoicing will be abundant.  Whether you agree with the idea of helping the homeless, under-resourced or less fortunate is truthfully not for discussion.  We are called to it.  How you go about it is up to you. 

Through my work with Breaking Bread Kitchen, I have found that there are many that are not in my situation.  They do need help.  Whether from just an evening meal, to help with an addiction, to the far reaches of a completely new start.  The abundance of God comes from those that are willing.

As The Field’s Edge moves forward with the idea of lifting up, those on the streets, your time is now to begin a walk with someone that truly needs a “re” in their life.