thanksgiving – Teens Opposing Poverty

November 21, 2012

An Exercise in Thanksgiving

In 25 years of ministry with homeless people, one of the greatest lessons I have learned is gratitude for the little things. I thought I would share with you what I’m thankful for first thing in the morning. But instead of just being thankful, I thought it might be a more fulfilling exercise to pray for others who don’t share my blessings.

I’m thankful I woke up this morning in a warm house.

I pray for the families of those who recently lost a loved one.
I pray for those who have to work long hours or who are going through trials and got no sleep.
I pray for those who have no home and for those who can’t afford to heat their homes.

I’m thankful for my wife, who is sleeping beside me, and my daughter, still asleep in her room.

I pray for people who are lonely.

I’m thankful I got out of bed.

I pray for those who sleep on the streets and have no bed
I pray for those who are bedridden. Lord grant them peace and strength.

I’m thankful for going to the bathroom (no, I’m not kidding)

I pray for those who can’t walk to their bathrooms or anywhere.
I pray for those who call a stream or a hole in the ground their bathroom.
I pray for those who suffer from infirmities that take away life’s most basic functions.

I’m thankful for hot coffee and a tall glass of clean water.

I pray for those who have little in this world to give them comfort or pleasure.
I pray for those who must drink contaminated water and suffer the diseases that it gives them.

I’m thankful for the Bible I get to read every day.

I pray for those who have never read this love letter from God
I pray for those who have read the Bible and have rejected its wonderful message.
I pray for those who earnestly desire a Bible but can’t get one.

I’m thankful for my relationship with Jesus and the opportunity to spend time with Him each day.

I pray for those who have never heard the Good News.
I pray for missionaries and evangelists who spread the Gospel around the world.
I pray for those who have turned their backs on the most beautiful relationship a human can experience.
I pray for people who do not have the freedom to worship God.

I’m thankful for the Holy Spirit, who leads me, guides me and strengthens me.

I pray for those who are wandering aimlessly through life. Lord, grant them purpose.
I pray for people who try to live their lives without following the Lord’s leading.

I’m thankful for my brief workout in the morning.

I pray for those who have lost the use of their limbs and who suffer from other conditions that prevent them from doing even the most basic things in life.

I’m thankful for eggs and fruit for breakfast.

I pray for people who might go through this day with no food.

That covers the first couple of hours of my day. I think the full day would be a rather lengthy blog, but you get the idea.

Take time to be thankful for the little things and say a prayer for those who can’t share your blessings.

God’s grace to you,

Steve Jennings, Executive Director

http://www.TeensOpposingPoverty.org

March 7, 2011

The New Invisible People – They’re Closer Than You Think.

You pass by them all the time and yet you probably never gave them a thought. I know I didn’t. They’re invisible, you know. Or at least they were to me until I discovered them. But even though you don’t see them you can probably find them in most towns and cities in the U.S. Who are they?

They are the “motel homeless” who live in low budget motels that offer weekly and monthly room rentals. O sure, they have a roof over their heads, but can you really call that a home? We’ve seen as many as 9 people living in one room. Imagine what that would be like day after day.

These motel homeless people work at temp jobs, low wage jobs, short term jobs or no jobs. Some are disabled or elderly. Others have injuries or conditions that aren’t serious enough to qualify for disability, but make it more difficult to find a job. Most of the ones who work are at jobs where they don’t get paid if they don’t show up to work. If they get sick, they’re in trouble.

Even in a good week, the room rent eats up 80 -90% of their income. Some weeks they come up short because they continually have to choose between rent, food and medicine.

Just like homeless people on the street, they defy stereotypes. I have met former business owners, published authors and people with college degrees at these motels. And, just like their less educated neighbors, they are subject to the great equalizer of hardship.

In the last two years I can’t count the number of motel homeless people who said to me, “I never thought I would end up like this.” It seems that once they get knocked down to living like that, one thing after another goes wrong to keep them there. For example, Christina and Michael had already been at one of the motels longer than they had planned when Michael was rushed to the hospital vomiting blood and with blood sugar levels of over 300. His recuperation will take a while. Until then, Christina, with two small children, is frantic with worry about what to do.

Most of them pay more in room rent than they would if they had an apartment, but because of job instability, bad (or no) credit and the inability to put together the money for a security deposit, they are stuck until they can grab that extra blessing that lets them make the move.

Yet despite the hardships, the people I’ve met in these motels have shown me an incredible resilience and faith. I have seen a tenacity and toughness that inspires me, and I see the the hand of God working on my heart as I learn anew the lesson of gratitude for all things. The people we serve at these motels are so grateful for some laundry detergent or toilet paper that I am humbled and ashamed of myself for the things I take for granted.

Since Teens Opposing Poverty began its motel ministry in 2009, I have been inspired, heart-broken, and blessed as I have shared in the lives of these wonderful people who are no longer invisible to me. I pray they will no longer be invisible to you.

God’s grace to you,

Steve Jennings

November 24, 2010

If He Can Be Thankful We Can Be Thankful

His “roof” is the sky. His “walls” are his blankets and tarp. His “heater” is a metal grate that belches out foul-smelling, pneumonia-inducing steam. Three days ago his backpack (with all of his worldly possessions) was stolen, and he is left with the clothes he is wearing.

A few months ago he was laid off from the job where he had been working for over a year. The pay wasn’t great, but the work was pleasant and it kept a roof over his head. He remembers that time especially on the cold nights. Unfortunately, the search for a new job has come up empty.

He has no family to turn to, no network to hold him up. His friends are on the street with problems of their own: addiction, mental illness, despair, broken families and relationships. He eats once a day when the Salvation Army food wagon stops near his “house”. Sometimes he gets up and walks the 20 blocks to the place where they serve breakfast.

With his mouth full of the hot dog we had just given him, he smiles at us and says, “thank you.” Then he begins to list the things he is thankful for: people who care enough to bring him food and clothes, his friends, warm places to go during the day, shoes with no holes in them, medical care when he gets sick, hope for the future, a friendly smile, a kind word, a country where he can make his own way, and Jesus who never abandons him.

The man I just told you about is one I have seen many times. He wears many faces. The color of his skin is often different. Sometimes he speaks fluent English. Sometimes he’s difficult to understand. Yet I have learned a valuable lesson from him – always be thankful. No matter how bad things get, there is always something we can find in our lives to stir up gratitude in our hearts.

Gratitude is the enemy of despair. Thankfulness gives us the power to press on.

May every day be your Thanksgiving Day.

God’s grace to you,

Steve Jennings