Aching Heart Priorities

Dear Church,

Why does my heart ache when I see a homeless person? My heart aches as
I see they need clothes or cleaning or a place to live or a job. I
feel sorry for them because they have few, if any friends. Nothing like
we are blessed with, having each other just a phone call away. I
realized today there must be a 100 other reasons why my heart aches for
them. THEN, I realized my priorities for their welfare was missing the key
ingredient, Jesus! I have been praying for them as I walk down town
for their safety and their warmth and their ability to find food and
never thinking to ask God for their salvation to be foremost in their
minds. I realized the same is true when praying for my church. I ask for
marriage closeness and financial success. I throw in health and job
happiness. And never stop to think about you folks and your actual
salvation. I know from experience that some days faith might as well be a
million dollars. I know from experience that pursuing the Lord 24/7
does not come along very many days in the month. How in the world have I
left that out? You people should hang me up and whip me. So from now
on I promise, when praying for you by name, to include "pursuit of
knowing Jesus" as a priority. And I ask that you do the same for me.
PLEASE!!! Left to my own devices I will fail. Knowing all of you are
behind me and beside me and circling your love around me while asking God
to draw nearer to me is all I could ever ask for. Like Zach says, if we
draw nearer to Him and He draws nearer to us, then all the other stuff
will take care of itself. I love you guys so, so much. Thanks for
your patience with me and putting up with all of my noise!!!

Doug Kemp