Diamonds in the Dust

January was an up and down month.
Many battles won and lost , lots of experience gained and knowledge gathered from dealing with unforeseen situations.

These are photos of a troupe of grass cutting ladies who came to our church yard. They belong to a nomadic tribe which travels
as migrant workers seeking employment on building sites.They are very poor and often sleep on city side walks out in the open. They gather grass and sell it to cattle owners for a paltry amount.

During the freezing weather we allowed many poor people take grass and fire wood from our church yard.

By God 's grace we are doing good. Mama and I have a little cough and cold. We are taking hot vapor inhalation with eucalyptus oil, works well. Today was a very peaceful and 'kind ' day. My younger sister 's wedding anniversary too.

The following is a devotional from Joni Eareckson Tada

The Poor Shall Be Rich

"Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?"
-James 2:5

George is an evangelist in Malawi who uses an old badly battered wheelchair. Not long ago he wrote to ask me to send him my husband's used shirts - his were wearing out, and he wanted to dress his best as an ambassador for Christ.

George wheels himself from village to village over bumpy, rutted dirt roads that connect the small towns in Malawi. He longs for a power wheelchair during such exhausting journeys but realizes such a luxury is beyond his grasp. Despite sore muscles and calluses on his hands, he keeps going. His deepest desire is to share Christ with others who are handicapped, to tell them that despite their poverty, God is in control for their good and His glory.

George is dirt poor. The people to whom he ministers are even more poor. But there is none so rich in faith as George.

Remember, Christ willed to be born poor, and He chose disciples who were living, for the most part, in poverty. Christ made Himself a servant of poor people. And He reminds us that whatever we do to help the least of the brethren - those most poor - we are personally ministering to Him.

"All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do" (Galatians2:10).

Lord, let me see those who are poor through Your eyes. And when I see them, may I not turn my back on their need... for if I do, I would be turning my back on You.



Taken from Diamonds in the Dust. Copyright © 1993 by Joni Eareckson Tada. Used by permission. Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

Blessings,