This winter finds me rooted in James.  I'm two weeks into the study and the treasures God has stored in this book are not only being engraved on the pages of my book, but also in my mind.  In the first chapter he addresses indecision, temptations, the purpose trials hold, etc.  

and... the poor

I'm learning that James, Jesus' half brother, had a heart for the poor.  Perhaps this was stirred by his ministry in Jerusalem to Jewish believers stripped of their possessions after they confessed faith in Jesus as Savior. He was their shepherd.  My study asked why God places such an emphasis on the poor in his word.  All I could write was, "because he loves them."

Often, in the depths of my spirit I strongly hear him say, "I love them."  I tell him, "I know you do, otherwise I wouldn't love them this much."  We have this conversation and the faces begin flashing in my mind. God was faithful to honor my request to engrave the people and children in Tanzania on my heart and mind.  

I know that God does everything with purpose.  We will keep having these conversations until he makes it very clear the way he's preparing.  Right now, I don't know what he has planned, but I do know the ministry I served with is in great need of teachers.  Please pray for this.

Tonight, I came home processing this and found Jenna had posted pictures of her trip to Tanzania in November.  You should check them out.  You'll see the faces in my mind.