"Heavy Heart of the Homeless"
They see me on the street
with my head hung low.
No one wants to help me.
I have no place to go.
They see me under bridges.
Because of heat, I find shade.
I thirst, daily, for water,
but it's provided when I pray.
They pretend not to see me.
I'm judged by what they think -
that I'm addicted to alcohol,
and want money for a drink.
I stay away from people;
from hurtful words they say.
I only beg for mercy.
I never asked to live this way.
My clothes are ripped and torn.
This foods been old for days.
I'd be accepted for a job
if I had some place to stay.
"Be of good comfort;
this world is not your home.
In Christ, you are rich.
Heavy Heart, you're not alone."
By Jennifer Lynn O'Connor
God's Love in Poetry
*Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor!
The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble.
The Lord protects them
and keeps them alive.
He gives them prosperity in the land
and rescues them from their enemies.
The Lord nurses them when they are sick
and restores them to health.
(Psalm 41:1-3)
*God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. (Matthew 5:3)
*If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded. (Matthew 10:42)
*A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
(Proverbs 11:25)
*A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
(Proverbs 22:9)
*Blessed is he who is kind to the needy. (Proverbs 14:21)
*Helping the poor honors Him. (Proverbs 14:31)
*He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done. (Proverbs 19:17)
*Warning only that we should remember the poor - the very thing which I was eager to do. (Galatians 2:10)
*...laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, and longing to eat...The time came when the poor man died, and the angels carried him...and now he is comforted. (Luke 16:20-22;25)
*"For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,” says the Lord. “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word." (Isaiah 66:2)
*He stoops to look down on heaven and on earth. He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes, even the princes of his own people! (Psalm 113:6-8)
*My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives? Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? But you dishonor the poor! (James 2:1-6)
*He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker;
He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
(Proverbs 17:5)
*He who gives to the poor will lack nothing.
(Proverbs 28:27)
*Jesus said, "When you give a banquet, invite the poor...and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
(Luke 14:13-14)
*Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
(Mark 12:41-44)
*Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do. There will always be some in the land who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share freely with the poor. (Deuteronomy 15:10-11)
*And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.
(Hebrews 13:16)
*Defend the poor and orphans; Defend the rights of the poor and needy.
(Psalm 82:3)
*Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.
(1 Timothy 6:18)
*Give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.
(Matthew 19:21)
*I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me...And the King will say to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."
(Matthew 25:35-36, 40)
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A True Story:
Years ago, I had the opportunity to
minister to a beautiful, young woman
at a homeless shelter. Her heart was
broken, yet tough; her face was
downcast, with no emotion. I talked
to her about Jesus. I encouraged her,
that, although, she may be poor down
here, she is rich up there. I gave her
the perspective that there were many
other homeless people outside of this
shelter, living under bridges, enduring
the cold or heat, the rain, and no water
or food to eat. I looked up and pointed
up, helping her to see the bright side,
that there was, indeed, a roof over our
heads. I pointed up again, to reassure
her that Heaven was her home - not
this world. Her soul is priceless - and
there's nothing more valuable than a
person's soul. All that pain that Jesus
endured for us, was all worth it to Him.
She didn't say one word while I spoke,
yet her eyes were fixed on me the whole
time. When I visited the homeless
shelter, never did I come empty-handed
- if I did, I'd at least carry my smile with
me, a heart full of love, and a message
about Christ. I asked her if she would
like a Bible, as I had several with me of
her choosing. She chose the pink one...
they always chose the pink one. When
I saw her the next time, she was walking
with a group of new friends, holding
the pink Bible in her hands. There was a
big, warm, smile on her face - so
much joy! And she told me how she had
shared Jesus with others, and now they
all attend the church service there.
I'll never forget it.
In memory of my friend, I would like to
give a pink Bible to any one of my readers
and fellow poets, who doesn't have the
money to buy one; every Christian should
have a Holy Bible in their homes and hands, as
it's our daily bread, and the only way we can grow.
