Open your mouth

         for the mute,

for the rights of all

   who are destitute.

Open your mouth,

judge righteously,

defend the rights

  of the poor and needy.

           Proverbs 31. 8-9

(What is my purpose?

As a follower of Christ,

we are to be marked as

        fully engaging in

        acts of restoration.

To restore this world

every which way we are able.

No act of kindness

       is insignificant.

No act of grace ignored.

And all efforts

     --no matter what--

are not separated

      as great or small

but for restoration of this world

            and for His glory.

The "poor and needy"

    are all around us

and not limited

    by mere economics.

Poor and needy are,

designated not by

material wealth or net worth,

but by those who are

burdened by despair,

loneliness,

lack of deep relationships

    with others and God,

a striving after wind,

and sitting in sheer darkness.

As a friend once said to me,

 "God calls us to love others."

No matter who they are.

There is no us and them.

Everyone struggles with something.

And we have no idea.

But we can love.)

O LORD,

Make us aware

       of what we can do,

how to love others,

what is in our reach,

who is on our path,

and when we need

   to go off-road

to fulfill Your Word

   and Your glory.

We know that

    we can't do everything,

but as we seek You in this,

    we can do something.

Guide us into this day

and into Your divine appointments

for the restoration of Your Kingdom,

    step by step,

    brick by brick,

    love by love.