Your Justice Flows Like the Ocean's Tide: Preach the Gospel to the Poor

"People often ask, 'Were you called to minister to the poor?' We are all called to minister to the poor. Such a ministry is the logical obedience of any discipline imitating the attitudes, character, and teaching of Jesus. He commands everyone to renounce all (Luke 14:33), to give to the poor, and live simply. But we would need a special call to minister primarily to the rich or middle-class, for the focus of Christian ministry is 'good news to the poor.'"

*The above quote is taken from a book I am currently reading, called "Companion to the Poor: Christ in the Urban Slums." by Viv Grigg. When I read this, I felt that it was everything I needed to read and more....that as much as I have felt a calling from God to be in the inner-city, and that might mean possibly overseas one day....that it is not just MY calling to be among the poor...but Jesus calls EVERYBODY to be with the poor...because that is what His ministry is about. We are currently also inductively studying out of the book of Luke, and it brings light to what Jesus' ministry is about from His early days:

"And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brough up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord. ' And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, 'Today this scripture has been fuflilled in your hearing.'" (Luke 4:16-21)

Living in Los Angeles for the past month or so, has been quite interesting....every day has been an adventure with something always new going on....I pray a lot lot every day for the "little" things that God sees as HUGE. God cares so much for the people in Los Angeles, from those that are oppressed through homelessness, drugs and alcohol addictions, racism, unjust education systems, and many other things that are going on here. Sometimes I become so overwhelemed with learning about more and more unjust issues...but I remember that we have a God that is faithful and sees people in their needs and meets them where they are at...and He sends his people to GO and make His Kingdom here on Earth.

Here are some Praises/Prayer Requests!
PRAISES:
-God has blessed us with conversations and interactions with our neighbors
-God has blessed me with a job to work at an after school program in the downtown LA area....I will start working there once I have my clearances
-God has blessed 1/2 of our team with jobs
-God has opened my eyes to wanting to seek more what it looks like to go beyond praying, giving $, and advocating about justice issues....

PRAYER REQUESTS:
-Pray that God opens more doors to talk with our neighbors and seek friendships with them
-Pray that I will really get involved with learning Spanish, since it will help me to getting to know Spanish-speaking neighbors, and it will also help me at my job
-Continue praying for jobs for the rest of my teammates
-Pray for our team as we are figuring out finances as a team....and also for my teammates that are still fundraising money for the Servant Partners internship

Here are some pictures from my birthday party a couple of weeks ago: