See, we don't need to be tryin to drag the homeless, or any kinda needy people to ''programs,'' to ''services.'' What people needs is people.

And needy people don't need no perfect people neither. When Jesus sent His disciples out, He sent Peter right along, knowin Peter had a bad temper and a potty mouth and was gon deny Him three times. He sent John and James even though they was full a' pride and fightin over the best seat at the table. He even sent Judas, knowin Judas was gon' betray Him. Even though Jesus knowed all a' their sin and weakness, He sent 'em anyway.

Listen, if the devil ain't messin with you, he's already got you. If you is waitin to clean up your own life before you get out and help somebody else, you may as well take off your shoes and crawl back in the bed 'cause it ain't never gon' happen. Jesus don't need no help from no perfect saints. If He did, He wouldn't a' gone up yonder and left us down here in charge.

Denver Moore

from What Difference Do It Make?

Broken Jar

Where to begin... Well, I've been in Central America for about 2 months now. Six days left. This trip has been incredible and full of so much. I have experienced and learned so much. It has been just as much a journey of the soul as a journey of the feet. When I left home, I was unsettled and full of questions. I found what I needed down here. Before I left I was in a way, trying to consolidate myself and make sense of who I had become. When I stopped looking at myself and started looking at God, I gained clarity. One hugely important thing God has pressed on my heart is that He longs for a relationship with me. He doesn't care that I am a complete mess. He wants to be with me in the mess. He is never far away from me. One of my problems is that when I sin and mess up I get the feeling that God is mad or disappointed in me, so I distance myself when I'm not ''perfect.'' Guess what? I AM NOT PERFECT!! So I must remain in God's presence with my unperfect state and allow His love to change me. When I'm doing good: go to God. When I'm doing bad: go to God. And know that I am unconditionally loved by Him. I need Him. And I must allow Him to fulfill my every need instead of turning to other empty things. When I am fulfilled in God my heart is able to be at rest. No more striving--rest.

No more façades, no more masks... the bare, stripped down me. I am what I am; I've done what I've done. But I have also been forgiven and God's love sets me free!

For the past month I've been camped out in 1 John. That book has come alive to me. Three passages that God has spoken to me:

''If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.'' 1 John 1:6

''By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.'' 1 John 2:5-6

''I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.'' 1 John 2:14

I'm now so excited about going home. Not because I'm homesick and not because I'm tired of traveling... because I await a new adventure.

Books that have impacted my journey recently: Captivating by John and Staci Eldridge, The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer, and What Difference Do It Make? by Ron Hall, Denver Moore, and Lynn Vincent