{"id":3572,"date":"2023-10-02T12:59:23","date_gmt":"2023-10-02T12:59:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.firstpresvaldosta.org\/?p=3572"},"modified":"2023-10-02T13:14:59","modified_gmt":"2023-10-02T13:14:59","slug":"rise-against-hunger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.firstpresvaldosta.org\/index.php\/2023\/10\/02\/rise-against-hunger\/","title":{"rendered":"Rise Against Hunger"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rise Against Hunger<\/span>
\nPsalm 25:1-9 and Philippians 2:1-13<\/span>
\nOctober 1, 2023<\/span>
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Today we have read two beautiful scriptures. \u00a0Psalm 25 could be read as a daily prayer, in fact.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In Lectio Divina at our First Friday Contemplative service, we read scripture, sit with it a moment or two, and then examine and discuss how a particular scripture speaks to us.\u00a0 We discuss what words or phrases stand out to us.\u00a0 For instance, let us consider for a moment Psalm 25:4:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMake me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lead me in your truth, and teach me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

(Pause to consider)<\/span><\/p>\n

Some thoughts that come up for you may be, \u201cknow the ways of the Lord,\u201d and we might ask, \u201chow do we know the ways of the Lord?\u00a0 And one might respond by saying we know by reading scripture, and through prayer and discernment.\u00a0 Other phrases or words might be, \u201cteach me,\u201d and \u201clead me,\u201d and how do we allow ourselves to be led?\u00a0 And an answer might be again through prayer as we rest in the Spirit of the Lord so that we know the ways he is teaching us and leading us.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s consider Philippians 2:1-5a:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf then, there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.\u00a0 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.\u00a0 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.\u00a0 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

(Pause to consider)<\/span><\/p>\n

So think about what stands out or speaks to you in this scripture.\u00a0 Maybe some thoughts are, \u201cbe of the same mind, having the same love,\u201d or \u201cdo nothing from selfish ambition, but in humility,\u201d or \u201clook not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.\u201d\u00a0 So when we read these lines of scripture, are they not speaking to us the ways of the Lord?<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, we are doing another thing that Jesus taught us to do, and that is feeding people.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus, in his journey of life, fed and shared meals with many.\u00a0 For years, First Valdosta has been doing this through Break Bread Together, feeding students at The Center at VSU, and again today, we do it through Rise Against Hunger, as we having been doing together as a Presbytery in the last several years.<\/span><\/p>\n

The beautiful thing about Jesus is that he didn\u2019t feed one group, and stop there.\u00a0 He fed many time and time again.\u00a0 Perhaps Jesus understood that through the human body being fed, so too can the spiritual body be fed. \u00a0Perhaps Jesus understood that you learn to know people when you share a meal with them, when you are in community with them, and sharing meals together can be teaching moments as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

For many of us, we are familiar with Rise Against Hunger, and all the beautiful mouths that are fed throughout the world.\u00a0 They are indeed following in the path of Christ, as are we as a church family helping feed others here locally in our community, and helping feed others in a broader community in the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

For those who need a refresher or maybe have never heard of Rise Against Hunger before, let me give you a few facts.\u00a0 This year is the 25th<\/sup> Anniversary of Rise Against Hunger, and through providing a meal, they:<\/span><\/p>\n