In the Midst of the Storm

We lived in Louisiana when Katrina hit and saw first hand the devastation storms can bring, but we saw so much more! We saw communities unite, churches and Christians mobilize, and a blanket of love encompass the area.

 A short time after Katrina, when our city was full of storm refugees, the Billy Graham crusade came through. Storm victims were living in our cities' churches, surrounded by Christ's love, and our cities were filled with an influx of caring, serving, giving Christians coming to see the crusade. As I saw people actively demonstrate Christ's love, I was reminded that even during the storm--especially during the storm--God was there.

God is always here—ever-present, but let us never forget, He often reveals His presence through us, His children. He has chosen you and I to be His hands and feet, to pour out His love through us to a hurting world.

He asks us to comfort those who mourn, to carry one another’s burdens, to speak out for the oppressed, and to care for the widow and orphan. In essence, how we love reveals the depth of our faith.

James 1:27 reminds us, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

The world tells us it’s all about what we can get and achieve, but God tells us its all about how freely we can give. To focus on those things that are eternal, joining in His forever-love plan.

Today, I invite you to live out James 1:27 … in a unique way. A friend and I have the potential to win $5,500 for two fabulous orphan ministries, and you can help. And all you have to do is click your computer mouse a few times.

Simply pop by the Mary Kay website (https://www.mkmakeovercontest.com/gallery.jsp?id=163379 ) and voting for Jennifer Slattery’s not-so-lovely mug shot. If her photo wins, Mary Kay will donate a total of $5,500 GoThreads (http://gothreads.org/) and the Raining Season (http://www.therainingseason.org/). As an added incentive, Mary Kay consultant Sharyline Cochrane (http://www.marykay.com/sharilyne/default.aspx) is giving away $10 gift certificates and free make-overs (in person or via Skype) to everyone who votes then lets us know they did so in the comments of this post. You can vote up to five times per day, so start clicking! J

And if you feel led, you can also meander over to the orphan ministries’ websites to give them a personal donation. I know they’ll put it to eternally good use.

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Jennifer Slattery lives in the Midwest with her husband and daughter. She writes for Christ to the World Ministries, the ACFW Journal, Internet Café Devotions, and Jewels of Encouragement. You can connect with her online at her devotional blog at http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com or via Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte