But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

"Jesus, make us brave today in the midst of adversity and injustice. Give us the strength, your strength, to not cower to fear so that we can make a difference in the world today, making it a more just place to live until you come, I pray." — Pastor Gregory A. Johnson, founder of LovingGodFellowship.org #ThankYouJesus

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (ESV).

I keep the Lord always before me; 
because [the Lord] is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
my body also rests secure.

For you do not give me up to Sheol,
or let your faithful one see the Pit.

You show me the path of life.
In your presence there is fullness of joy;
​in your right hand are pleasures forevermore (NRSV).

The Kingdom includes love, grace, peace, and life with race equality, gender equality, health equality, and economic equality for all. Is this list of Kingdom attributes exhaustive? No, but it is a start, and it is based on the teachings and the life of Christ. — Gregory A. Johnson

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin (ESV).

I believe that the greatest way to break the cycle of poverty is through providing a means for children to receive adequate education. In the next several weeks, children will be heading back to school, with many of them coming from families that are poor. These children go to school without adequate supplies to aid in their learning. We want to help all that we can by providing school supplies to these children. If you are able to help in this endeavor, will you join other Christ-followers and click here, giving a donation to this cause today?

My prayer is for God to bless you in your continued generosity. His word declares, “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25, NIV).

Know that you are loved, 

​Rev. Gregory A. Johnson
Founder and President
LoivingGodFellowship.org

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

-- Philippians 2:3 NIV

"For [God] delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper. [God] has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence [God] redeems their life; and precious is their blood in [God's] sight."

-- Psalm 72:12-14

"Christianity is being concerned about your fellow [people], not building a million-dollar church while people are starving right around the corner. Christ was a revolutionary person, out there where it was happening. That's what God is all about, and that's where I get my strength." - Fannie Lou Hamer

"If you're going to care about the fall of the sparrow you can't pick and choose who's going to be the sparrow. It's everybody." - Madeleine L'Engle

Then Jesus used this story: "There was a rich man that had some land. His land grew a very good crop of food. The rich man thought to himself, 'What will I do? I have no place to keep all my crops.' Then the rich man said, 'I know what I will do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger barns! I will put all my wheat and good things together in my new barns. Then I can say to myself, I have many good things stored. I have saved enough for many years. Rest, eat, drink, and enjoy life!' But God said to that man, 'Foolish man! Tonight you will die. So what about the things you prepared for yourself? Who will get those things now?' This is how it will be for the person that saves things only for himself. To God that person is not rich." -- Luke 12:16-21 (ERV)

"Sell the things you have and give that money to people that need it. The riches of this world don't continue. So get the kind of riches that continue. Get the treasure of heaven. That treasure continues forever. Thieves can't steal your treasure in heaven, and moths can't destroy it. Your heart will be where your treasure is." ~ Jesus, Luke 12:33-34 (ERV)

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?" - Martin Luther King Jr.

Wealth and riches, that is, an estate above what sufficeth our real occasions and necessities, is in no other sense a 'blessing' than as it is an opportunity put into our hands, by the providence of God, of doing more good.

-- John Tillotson

The next day, Jesus traveled through some cities and small towns. Jesus told the people a message from God, the Good News about God's kingdom. The twelve apostles were with him. There were also some women with him. Jesus had healed these women of sicknesses and evil spirits {from the devil}. One of the women was named Mary Magdalene. Seven demons had come out of her. Also with these women were: Joanna, the wife of Chuza (Herod's helper), Suzanna, and many other women. These women used their own money to help Jesus and his apostles. -- Luke 8:1-3 (ERV)

"[Jesus] looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, 'Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.'"

- Luke 21:1-4, NRSV

When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be left for the alien, the orphan, and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all your undertakings.

- Deuteronomy 24:19, NRSV

This nation is affluent and has more than it needs. The realization that what we have is a free gift can deepen our desire to share this gift with others who cry out for help. When we bless the fruits of the harvest, let us at least realize that blessed fruits need to be shared.

- Henri J. M. Nouwen, from his book The Genesee Diary

If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your needy neighbor. You should rather open your hand, willingly lending enough to meet the need, whatever it may be ... Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, "Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land."

- Deuteronomy 15:7-11

Look, whatever thoughts you have about God, who God is or if God exists -- most will agree that God has a special place for the poor.  In fact, the poor are where God lives.

     ~ Bono, lead singer of U2 and co-founder of one.org