Count It All Joy

In a recent article by the Houston Chronicle, which can be found here, a christian couple from Houston are being told by city officials that they will be required to shut down their food outreach to the poor.  Bobby and Amanda Herring have been feeding the homeless in Houston for over a year, that is until this past month when police informed them that permits are required to feed the homeless.  Apparently city laws require anyone publicly producing food to obtain a food dealer's permit.  The requirements include a licensed food preparer and approved location for the preparation of that food.  [All the requirements and laws can be found here, here, and here.]

I can only imagine the heartbreak the Herrings are now experiencing after having worked with the homeless in Houston.  Now that the city of Houston has told the Herring "thanks but no thanks" for the work they have down within the community, they must choose their next move.  This cold shoulder to people who have actually taken action to help those who are in need may come across as silly, unproductive, or perhaps hypocritical.  But, I urge you not to think of the wrong that has been done to the Herrings or the homeless by the city of Houston, but rather encourage people like the Herrings and perhaps the Herrings themselves to press onward.  Though we may encounter trails of many kind, we must "remember the poor"(Galations 2) for "when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed"(Luke 14). 


In a situation the Herrings are experiencing we must remember James 1 where we are told: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."  Instead of giving up on living out our lives for Christ when early things get in the way, let's press even harder.  Encourage one another to keep the faith, keep persevering with an understanding of what the true future holds.


Blessings.