In Response to Megan's post

I was starting this in the comment section, but soon realized it was going to be too much for it. This is one area where I too am SO weak. I take for granted that I was brought up in a wonderful home, with wonderful parents who taught me about God, who supported me, guided me. I am so glad that God is opening our eyes. I am reminded of a few verses;

"The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me, To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;" Luke4:18 NKJ

Alot of newer versions omit that small section about the brokenhearted, which is my favorite section. I can not imagine how brokenhearted that woman must feel. I have never lived such a life, its just so foreign to me. We often look towards people like this with disdain, as if they have made all of the wrong decisions that lead them to this state. We think, "All they have to do is pull themselves up by their bootstraps". I am thinking some people, they just don't even have a bootstrap to pull on. Its a downward spiral that they cannot escape without the power of Christ. I think of Vicki, and oh how we love her, but would we have been so loving if we knew her at the bottom of her journey? Brokenhearted, that is it, that is the truth for so many people. Thanks be to God that broken hearts CAN be healed by Him....and we are going to have to get involved. We are his hands, we are his feet.

"But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:30-32

I think its no accident that Luke, being a doctor, uses these terms, "Sick", "Brokenhearted", "Blind". His gospel speaks a truth that we sometimes don't see, that people in these conditions are ill, in need of healing. Spiritually malnourished, to the point of death. That is their condition. If years down the road, all these Hot and Ready's finally take their toll on me and put me in the hospital, I doubt many of my church family would think "Well, he deserved it, you saw how he ate". I would imagine people would be praying for my healing....but spiritually, we can be so judgmental. There is sin-sickness all around us, Jesus came to make them better, and we are his medical team. Will we be disappointed? Yes, but its worth it, worth it to see one life changed, one soul saved, so that we can rejoice just as the angels in Heaven rejoice.

Open our eyes Father. Open our hearts.

"And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha." 2 Kings 6:17

Spiritual battles are happening all around us. Help us to see Father.