Consideration With Promise

September 15, 2012 by 27 Comments
Blessed is the one who considers the poor!
In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him;
the LORD protects him and keeps him alive;
he is called blessed in the land;
you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.
The LORD sustains him on his sickbed;
in his illness you restore him to full health.
Psalm 41:1-3 ESV

This weekend, may we remember those who suffer with poverty of community, those that grieve alone, neighbors poor in eternal promise. Because poverty reaches beyond an empty plate and consideration comes with promise.

Welcome to the Weekend Friends!

Photos taken in Rwanda

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  • http://writingapplesofgold.wordpress.com Pam@Writing…Apples of Gold

    Yes! Poverty is so much more than economy. Beautiful, beautiful light in these photos. And of course, in the words too!

    • http://myredeemedlife.wordpress.com Redemption’s Beauty

      It seemed I was having a week of responding to emails and phone calls and bumping into people at the grocery store feeling an emptiness, a poverty in areas of life. It’s what inspired this post.

      • http://writingapplesofgold.wordpress.com Pam@Writing…Apples of Gold

        Yes, it struck me so as I read your words. I think because I’ve been praying again so much this week for someone of great earthly wealth — that he truly has God in his heart and does not leave this life without Him… Wondering if he is feeling hope-less, and praying he will recognize the Lord’s lifetime of wooing…

  • http://www.thelettersinnovember.com Kulasa

    my heart cried out….thank you for this reminder that many out there need our time and attention….

    • http://myredeemedlife.wordpress.com Redemption’s Beauty

      I think if we knew how many suffer poverty, we would be on our knees at all times.

  • http://www.upliftingwordsonline.com/2012/09/15/quote-4/ Stefanie Brown (@stefanieybrown)

    Thank you for tackling the difficult and bringing such heart.

  • http://sandraheskaking.com/ Sandra Heska King

    These photos tug at my heart. I just did a quick word study in the Blue Letter Bible on the word poor (dal) here. In the NASB, it’s translated as helpless in this verse. In other places, it’s poor, weak, thin–even depressed. That’s a lot of poverty in 3 letters.

    “Poverty reaches beyond an empty plate, and consideration comes with promise.” I’ll be chewing on those words this weekend.

    • http://myredeemedlife.wordpress.com Redemption’s Beauty

      Oh my goodness Sandra, you are so awesome to do a word study on that verse. Keeping me on my toes. I love that! Thank you for sharing.

  • http://wynnegraceappears.wordpress.com wynnegraceappears

    Shelly, your words stir in the deep down places. And they carry an important reminder….thank you for your obedient heart and for picking up the pen to stroke this one out with a bold gentle intention. May we each reach those in our community today in need. You are a beautiful steward of your God Gift.

    • http://myredeemedlife.wordpress.com Redemption’s Beauty

      I love the people of Rwanda, thinking about my friends there recently and missing them. Thanks Elizabeth.

  • http://twitter.com/AlwaysAlleluia Kris Camealy (@AlwaysAlleluia)

    Beautiful, Shelly. I love that you chose this for this scripture, these images for this weekend. Thank you for reminding me. XO

  • http://danisejurado.com Danise Jurado

    Amen! and Amen! May we all always be looking for the opportunities around us everyday to fill a need and shower others with generosity! Blessings to you :)

  • http://twitter.com/nancyfranson Nancy Franson (@nancyfranson)

    You have been keeping my soul well fed with your reflections on the Psalms lately–both here and on Facebook. Happy Sabbath, Shelly.

    • http://myredeemedlife.wordpress.com Redemption’s Beauty

      The psalms are feeding my soul lately Nancy. I read the daily office from the Book of Common Prayer every day and they just resonate with me. There were years that I never read them, maybe its the writer in me that falls in love with the poetry.

  • http://www.facebook.com/patricia.hunter.351 Patricia Hunter

    Oh that our eyes would be open to see and our hearts and hands open to respond to the poverty all around us. {My Emily went to Rwanda when she was 18 – she has longed to return.}

    • http://myredeemedlife.wordpress.com Redemption’s Beauty

      I took my kids five years ago and my daughter also wants to go back. Hope she will one day.

  • http://messymiddle.com Amy

    Poverty of community. What a rich phrase. This week I joined a SDG group and nearly fell over to see that you were in the group. I felt like I’d hit the jackpot :)

    • http://myredeemedlife.wordpress.com Redemption’s Beauty

      Oh, you are so sweet Amy. I have to admit I haven’t been the best at keeping up with our small group. I’m going to try to be more focused about it. I loved seeing you on the trailor for the release of Everything. So fun hearing your real voice and seeing you across the seas.

  • Laura Rath

    We sponsor a boy in Rwanda, so when I saw that’s where these pictures are from, it really hit home. Bless you Shelly!

    • http://myredeemedlife.wordpress.com Redemption’s Beauty

      That is awesome Laura. I led a fund raising effort for 80 orphans in Rwanda for five years. Met many of them, interviewed several on video. I love that country and the heart of those precious people.

  • http://www.facebook.com/Caryjoe Joanne Norton

    Moved to Uganda 4 months after the Rwanda horrific event. Heard so much, saw a number who had left. And Dave and I were in a position to not give money to any of them individually, but we DID buy bread for them. ["Cons" would force them the beg for money and then it would be taken away from them in a small exchange; we made sure the food was in their hands and wouldn't be grabbed away.] And watching poverty over there … and here … has been a real heavy-hearted aspect of life. You have opened eyes and expanded thinking… thank you. It’s a good and necessary gift from you.

  • http://alifesurrendered.wordpress.com Michele {A Life Surrendered}

    Oh, these pictures and words… Just in rhythm with His heart.

  • http://www.justfollowingjesus.com Elizabeth Stewart

    Beautiful photos and convicting truth. My brother was a missionary in Rwanda, as well as Uganda and Ethiopia. My daughter has done missions work in Ghana, which I visited in April. What a beautiful land, so rich in many ways that we aren’t, yet so poor in others.

    • http://myredeemedlife.wordpress.com Redemption’s Beauty

      Love the African people Elizabeth, we have so much to learn from them about how to live life to the full.

  • http://www.ordinaryinspirations.blogspot.com Traci Michele
  • http://www.sharono-somethingtothinkabout.com/ Sharon O

    We sponsor two little girls in haiti, they are both age 5.

    • http://myredeemedlife.wordpress.com Redemption’s Beauty

      That’s lovely Sharon. I’ve thought about sponsoring a child myself in Rwanda. I helped 80 orphans for several years but that came to an end with their maturity.