Call to Prayer

There's snow on the fields

by Christina Rossetti, 1830-1894

There's snow on the fields,

And cold in the cottage,

While I sit in the chimney nook

Supping hot pottage.

My clothes are soft and warm,

Fold upon fold,

But I'm so sorry for the poor

Out in the cold.

This was our poem today from our Ambleside Curriculum. I have for some time now had a burden to pray for the homeless especially at this time of year when nights are often cold and damp, but today I felt God's leading to share this poem with you and ask you to join me in prayer. We cannot begin to imagine with a warm dry bed to lay in and sleep safely each night, with clean clothes and a clean, warm place to eat and bathe, what the life of a homeless person is really like. I know people who have at one time in their lives been homeless and it is not a life that is chosen by many of them. Most of you I'm sure are well acquainted with the attitude that "they choose" to live the way they do, and in some cases that may well be true. However, in most cases, it is circumstance beyond their ability to control that leads them into this hard and struggle-filled life. It breaks my heart to witness the attitude that many seem to have that the homeless do not have value and are merely "disposable" - there but for the grace of God do we stand my beloved !!

Please I beseech you, in your intimate time with Father God, lift these children of the Most High God to Him and seek His favor, blessings and safety upon them. These "invisible lives" need our prayers.

Matthew 25:34-46:

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' 41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' 44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' 45 "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' 46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Pray with me won't you please ?

Learning as I go,

Leisha