Ok… you are going to have to do a little bit of work when you read this. I know… I know…work? Just please read on. I want you to imagine a moment, or moments, in your life when you felt true love and connection with our Lord. I mean a real Holy Spirit filling, the next step is seeing Jacob’s Ladder, true love connection with Him! Whether its worshipping Him on Sunday, or you see a prayer answered when all hope seemed lost, or as I do when I listen to the King of Rock and Roll praise the King of Kings.

Meditate on it for a minute. Just a minute.

Now, picture those who have never felt that love. Did your joy turn to sadness? Did that love turn to pain? Look at the person next to you at the gas station or at the end of the aisle at Wal-Mart. What if they had never felt that love?

Picture those less fortunate. What if they never felt the love of our Lord? They may have little joy elsewhere, and to not have the Lord to lead them must be sad. What if they are a believer, and all the read written in red never comes to pass for them? They never feel the love of their fellow man, or all they see is us simply give money but never take the time to give them a cup a coffee and pray WITH them.

Take that love you felt earlier and try to multiply it by 2…or by 3… or by 10! He made the universe, so why can’t he fill you times 10 if you ask to it. Doesn’t He say, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!” (John 14:12-14 NLT)

Then take that love and shine His light on someone else. Just for a second. It can make a world of difference in someone’s life.

"In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." ~1 John 4:10-11

Too often we turn our backs to those who are in need.  Too often we look at the man poorly dressed, with ratty clothes, and disheveled hair, and we dismiss the efforts or true heart of our brothers and sisters who need guidance, love, and encouragement.  We say, "oh it's free to find a job" or "I'm not giving you money for drugs or cigarettes" and we get into our comfortable vehicles, drive to Starbucks to buy our fancy drinks, and then we drive to our warm and safe homes...leaving our brother standing on the street with no hope.  We close our eyes, we close our hands, and we close our hearts.  Is this what God intended from us?  Are we to let the needy wander the world, and never bring them into our hearts?  No.  In fact, it's quite the opposite.  Open your eyes.  When you start looking for the homeless or the visibly needy, you'll discover the overwhelming regularity of an encounter.  Open your minds.  Don't judge the needy.  Each person has a story.  We all come from something.  Not every homeless person is a drug addict.  And not every needy or homeless person would first buy cigarettes.  Open your hearts.  Don't dismiss them.  Use compassion and empathy.  Open your heart and give.  Give them bus fare, or buy breakfast and drop it off to them.  So many ways to help are right at your finger tips.  Take the time, show them