40acts: The Lent Generosity ChallengeSample

We are now halfway through this reading plan but, as Galatians 6:9 says, ‘Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.’ We have been on a journey of generosity over the last 20 days, expanding our comfort zones, educating ourselves on issues we may have not heard about and being kind to those that we know and love.

One day I came out of Sainsbury’s and started chatting to a homeless lady outside. I’ll never forget what she said to me: ‘I want to go to the soup kitchen to eat, but I don’t know where it is.’ Later that same week, I was chatting to an elderly lady who told me that when her seniors’ group didn’t meet in the holidays, she only saw her daily carer, and had no one else to speak to, leaving her feeling lonely and isolated.

I realised that I could help both these ladies and connect them to our community. I now have a weekly chat on the phone with my elderly friend and I researched the soup kitchen and passed on the information to my homeless friend.

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In living life like Christ, we are taught to love our neighbour as we love ourselves. This is a commandment. God places huge importance in first loving Him, having a relationship with our Lord and Saviour and, flowing from that, a love for those around us.

Today we are looking at the area in which we live and how we can help. Jesus did good works wherever He went, healing, teaching and listening to those in need. 

Imagine if people talked about your neighbourhood as a place where people are known to be kind. Today we’re championing local causes and the best people to help out locally are the locals. Let’s be the ones who’ll rise to the occasion and help out those in need around us. 

 Find more about today’s 40acts challenge on our blog:   

https://40acts.org.uk/act-20-close-to-home/