In 1 John 3:18 Amplified version, we read:
Little children (believers, dear ones), let us not love [merely in theory] with word or with tongue [giving lip service to compassion], but in action and in truth [in practice and in sincerity, because practical acts of love are more than words].
In case you’ve missed it, Hurricane Harvey has wreaked havoc and destruction on southern Texas over the past week or so. Estimates state 52” of rain fell in 4 or 5 days. Compare that to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 dumping 17” of rain, from which the area continues to recover. Hurricane Sandy in our area dumped a mere 7” of rain. Imagine, 52” of rain. Some people estimate that to be 19 trillion gallons of water.
In today’s society, because of the national US budget and its debt being in the trillions of dollars, we have grown used to what a trillion looks like. Or have we? Here is what 19 trillion looks like to me.
If I were to take $1 bills and lay them on this lectern, 1 every second, it would take 602, 486 years to lay those 19 trillion-dollar bills. I don’t think I have the persistence to last that long.
19 trillion gallons of water. Water supplies mix with sewer treatment tainting the water so it is no longer drinkable. Roads and bridges are destroyed. Ability to get in and out or around the area is completely shut down. The whole area totally devastated.
President Trump has already asked for $7.9 billion dollars in relief funds. Will he get it with the political maneuverings happening in our Congress today? I don’t know.
He has also designated today as a National Day of Prayer for not just the victims of Hurricane Harvey, but for all of the United States that we might be healed and unified and stop all the bickering and fighting.
I am proud to say Convoy of Hope was already responding to the crisis before the crisis happened and had trucks rolling to the area as the storm hit. We, as a church, support Convoy of Hope through our missions giving and other special offerings. We are making a difference in those people’s lives.
Let’s get an update from Convoy of Hope on their service there.
As our verse said, let’s not pay mere lip service. Here are three steps we can take to put action to our faith:
- Pray for safety and salvation for all victims as they go through the long process of recovery. Pray for and stand behind our President as he takes actions to help those people and to stand against the false criticism he is enduring. Pray for the healing of our country. Pray for Convoy of Hope and the safety of its workers.
- Give regularly to missions so we can give generously to Convoy of Hopes ministry. They not only give food and clothing to people, they provide the salvation message of Jesus Christ.
- Consider. Consider a special offering to Convoy of Hope at this time. The $7.9 billion President Trump requested is a drop in the bucket needed to fully recover from such devastation. By giving to Convoy of Hope, 100% of those funds go to help the need and not to administration costs. That is important to me. I hope it is important to you.
#offeringthoughts
Copyright © 2017, David A. Zimmer, All Rights Reserved