Gods Solution to Homelessness, Isaiah 58

Isaiah 58

Your Prayers Won't Get Off the Ground

 ^1-3 "Shout! A full-throated shout! Hold nothing back—a trumpet-blast shout!
Tell my people what's wrong with their lives, 
   face my family Jacob with their sins!
They're busy, busy, busy at worship, 
   and love studying all about me.
To all appearances they're a nation of right-living people— 
   law-abiding, God-honoring.
They ask me, 'What's the right thing to do?' 
   and love having me on their side.
But they also complain, 
   'Why do we fast and you don't look our way? 
   Why do we humble ourselves and you don't even notice?' 

 ^3-5"Well, here's why:

   "The bottom line on your 'fast days' is profit.
   You drive your employees much too hard.
You fast, but at the same time you bicker and fight.
   You fast, but you swing a mean fist.
The kind of fasting you do
   won't get your prayers off the ground.
Do you think this is the kind of fast day I'm after:
   a day to show off humility?
To put on a pious long face
   and parade around solemnly in black?
Do you call that fasting,
   a fast day that I, God, would like?

 ^6-9"This is the kind of fast day I'm after:
   to break the chains of injustice,
   get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
   free the oppressed,
   cancel debts.
What I'm interested in seeing you do is:
   sharing your food with the hungry,
   inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
   putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
   being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on,
   and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
   The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
   You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.'

A Full Life in the Emptiest of Places

 ^9-12"If you get rid of unfair practices, 
   quit blaming victims, 
   quit gossiping about other people's sins,
If you are generous with the hungry 
   and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out,
Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness, 
   your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.
I will always show you where to go. 
   I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places— 
   firm muscles, strong bones.
You'll be like a well-watered garden, 
   a gurgling spring that never runs dry.
You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, 
   rebuild the foundations from out of your past.
You'll be known as those who can fix anything, 
   restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, 
   make the community livable again.

 ^13-14"If you watch your step on the Sabbath
   and don't use my holy day for personal advantage,
If you treat the Sabbath as a day of joy,
   God's holy day as a celebration,
If you honor it by refusing 'business as usual,'
   making money, running here and there—
Then you'll be free to enjoy God!
   Oh, I'll make you ride high and soar above it all.
I'll make you feast on the inheritance of your ancestor Jacob."
   Yes! God says so!

I love Isaiah 58 in THE MESSAGE version because there is no denying what God is saying, no doubt.

There are many things we don't understand about homelessness. How does it happen and what should we do about it? We may not have all the answers but its perfectly clear what God expects our role to be. In Isaiah 58 He is basically telling you that if you take care of your brothers and sisters He will take care of you. But first He calls us out on our bullshit facade of righteousness. God's just keepin it real people.

 I find when you ask people  for help and get involved or participate with serving the homeless they become fearful and say things like "Ok well let me pray about it". Just to let you know thats basically christianese for  "phuck you". Pardon my french but it is what it is. You pray, about things like uprooting your family from one city to a third world country or  leaving a job. Isaiah 58 clearly states that you DO NOT have to pray about wether or not to feed a hungry person or give them a home. You do not have to pray about clothing them or giving away something as simple as a pair of socks.You do not need permission from God to LOVE.

As a matter of fact God does not suggest that we love, He commands it. Those familiar with project 50/50 (those who aren't www.project50-50.com  ) there is no way you will ever convince me that God would  say to a  newly married couple, that travels around the United States feeding and caring for  needy people, " I wish you would have asked first"! Its easy to say love, it is right to DO love.

Love Letters

Tonight at bible study we talked about trusting God. Which is essential because the two things you will find yourself having to do most as a believer is waiting and trusting.
During worship,when the last song played, I found myself prostrate on the floor face down.I was so overwhelmed with His Holiness and His presence that I couldn't get my face close enough to the ground.Than something happened and I will have to get back to that because it was sparked by something that happened earlier today.
As I was purging my closet I came across an old journal that I used to write God letters in. Love letters just between my Father and I. I couldn't get over how transparent ,honest and lovely they were. I also wondered why I didn't do it anymore.To understand what I mean I want to share this journal entry with you.
February 03,2003
Father,
I fall prostrate at your feet with my face to the floor where I belong. Once again asking for things I don't deserve,can never earn,or payback.
I am indebted to you forever for the sacrifice you've made for my pathetic excuse of a human being. I am an absolute mess in my own shallow existence. But, in your presence Oh Lord I am precious in your sight .
I am your diamond in the rough and all my flaws you see finished. You love me too much to leave me this way.You love me too much to trust me with myself for I am your most sacred treasure and you don't trust anyone else to watch over,guard and protect your treasure.Because if you want something done right you have to do it yourself,right God? In your arms I am safe. Nothing or no one can harm me and with you as my fortress who would be foolish enough to try. Such wonder I have seen. Such wonder I have yet to see. There is so much to wonder about there is so much to know about you and I have eternity to find out.You are The Lilly of the Valley, The Rose of Sharon,The Bright and Morning Star.You are the fragrance in my favorite flowers, the cool and gentle breeze in my favorite season.You are the love my husband shows me, you are the smile my children give me and you are the joy in my laughter.  Goodnight  Love ,Lori


What a coincidence that in my entry , I was face to the floor just like He found me tonight. That is the position I needed to be in to hear Him . For two reasons, one so I am not distracted and two to let the enemy know that not only am I willing to bow before my King but also to lay at the feet of my Master.
What happened to me was a rekindling . A  reigniting of  a fire I allowed to be quenched by circumstances, selfishness , and excuses . He was telling me He missed the intimacy between us we shared in those letters. I missed trusting My Father so freely. I feel like He wants me to share some of these letters with you. Over the next few days I will but take them for what they are or what they could be A love letter,a prayer,a journey.I look forward to our correspondence again God and mine and I believe it is fair to say we have a love /hate relationship.He loves me always and I never hate Him.