2 Cor. 1:3 NIV
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Halleluia!), the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."
Moving forward to election days across the nation will be an opportunity to be compassionate about others the way Christ has compassion for us. As Apostle Paul teaches us in 2 Corinthians, we can indeed comfort others the way we have been comforted by God the Father. In this context, God has comforted us to be able to deal with our trials and tribulations with school, social security, prescriptions, and He will comfort us all on housing as well.
We have learned that patience and loving thy neighbor are laws of God that we must live by. During this upcoming election, we will have an opportunity to obey God's law, too. Understand that our children will soon become adults who must live by the laws, policies, programs that we vote for. Understand that persons who cannot vote will also have to live by those same programs, policies, etc. Thus, we must not be selfish and we must stay committed to advancing God's Kingdom despite mud-slinging, gossiping about officials, slandering, etc.
Understand, God is a God of compassion. God would want for homeless persons to have a quality of life. (Psalm 24 NIV). If a person is lacking food,shelter, healthcare, he or she is lacking a quality of life. God wants to use each of us to give Him the glory. Be encouraged to vote for God's Kingdom that includes homeless persons with an untreated mental illness, too.
Affordability: This is when a household pays NO more than 30 percent of its annual income on housing. If the 30 percent is exceeded, that family cannot afford basic food, clothing, medical care, etc. For example: using the $600.00 Social Security Income hypothetical, 12 months times $600.00 each month equals $7,200.00 per year.
If standard housing is $595.00 per month for one bedroom, the annual cost for housing is $7,140.00. This leaves $60.00 per year for food, healthcare, clothing. etc. We understand this is not advancing the Kingdom and we can see how children become easily persuaded into criminal behavior and how others develop a mental illness (i.e., depression). We can see how fear of having no resources that can lead to evictions and being in a worst off condition, will prevent persons from tithing 10 percent of that income. (Ten percent of $600.00 is $60.00 and right away, a person cannot pay rent).
Men and women of God, understand that fear of homelessness is a very strong spirit that leads to hopelessness (depression). Understand that presenting alternative options or resources for housing and building up hope defeats the spirit of fear. Thus, we must show compassion in addressing the national issue of homelessness this election season and be patient to intercede to break the spirit of homelessness fear. (Acts 4:23-27 NIV).
Understand that the goal under the Affordable healthcare Act to reduce homelessness is enforcing that the maximum amount of housing cost for those receiving SSI is 30 percent. If a person receives $600.00 each month from SSI, then 30 percent of that amount is $180.00. Thus, affordable housing for a person receiving SSI is $180.00 which then leaves $420.00 for food,clothing, etc.
Transforming the mind of the person who fears eviction is possible because God is able. Ideally, then, we pray corporately for persons to be able to tithe and obey God's law understanding t hat the battle can be won with a person realizing that $600.00 minus 10 percent if $60.00 for tithes. Then $540.00 per month is sufficient to pay $180.00 for housing cost. That leaves $360.00 per month for food, clothing, healthcare needs. This is hope.
Stay encouraged that we must break the generational curse of mental illnesses through housing as well. We must pave the way for our children to be able to afford housing. While greed may cause unaffordable housing, God's compassion has given us the sufficient grace to defeat goliath in all things.
Posted By: agnes levine
Monday, October 25th 2010 at 8:37AM
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