PLEASE PRAY FOR THE HOMELESS

Published by

Heidi Viars

January 7, 2014

I pushed against the heavy, ice-covered, glass front door
To take a peek into a frozen world.
I was reminded of the many
Who don’t look from a warm inside out,
But have to look from a cold outside in.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE HOMELESS!

Here are some practical things you can do …

keep a gift card for a fast food restaurant in your wallet –
it provides a warm place to get out of the cold
(Five-dollar gift cards for McDonald’s are great!!!)

keep a public transportation ticket in your wallet –
many homeless ride the trains in this cold weather

support the homeless shelters in your city.
Donations of baked goods, long underwear, warm coats, sleeping bags, and blankets are very much appreciated.

PRAY FOR THE HOMELESS

“God, open the door of our cold hearts.
Show us how to provide warmth
For those who are freezing.”

44 responses to “PLEASE PRAY FOR THE HOMELESS”

Anna Waldherr

October 4, 2020

Thank you for raising awareness of this important issue, Heidi. ❤

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riverlifepsalms1

January 31, 2019

Reblogged this on New Life in Christ Jesus.

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1. Heidi Viars
  
  February 1, 2019
  
  Thank you for the reblog!
  
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  1. riverlifepsalms1
    
    February 1, 2019
    
    My pleasure!
    
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Heidi Viars

January 30, 2019

Reblogged this on Wings of the Dawn and commented:

Some time ago, I posted this. Today, I again feel the same way. I had decided earlier today to take the kids to McDonalds. It gave me an idea. I asked all my family to look around their rooms/wallets for spare change. We were able to collect quite the amount for 5 dollar gift cards to McDonalds (it helps if you have a lot of kids).
Each card will go in some homemade envelopes. We will write some encouraging notes to go along and send them to
Timothy’s Ministry (Chicago)
https://timothysministry.org
It’s actually is making us feel pretty warm 🙂

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Dennis Cardiff

January 17, 2014

These are very good suggestions. Thanks for your generosity toward the homeless. ~ Dennis

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PLEASE PRAY FOR THE HOMELESS | ladylinchpin~Supreme Art Advocate!

January 10, 2014

[…] PLEASE PRAY FOR THE HOMELESS. […]

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1. Heidi Viars
  
  January 11, 2014
  
  Thanks for the re-blog 🙂
  
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Nancy Ruegg

January 10, 2014

Heidi, your ideas, and your long comment to Debbie above, have inspired me! I love that idea of $5 gift cards. With Leyda (also above), I pray God blesses YOU as you bless others–including me!

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1. Heidi Viars
  
  January 10, 2014
  
  Nancy, thank you for your kind comment. God has over and over shown me how He longs for His children to show His kindness to those the world thinks very little about (Isaiah 58). Just this morning, I talked with my friend in Chicago (who has a ministry to the homeless). She told me that as she handed out gift cards -which God has provided over the past months OVER and OVER and ABUNDANTLY more than I could have even imagined. People felt so loved.
  The cards provide a homeless person with such dignity. As a paying customer, they can now sit and enjoy the warmth. She told me that one person has said it’s like having a “peace card” in his pocket. Many don’t know where their next meal comes from and this does bring some sort of peace.
  She also told me that many people had no place to go on Christmas. Some rode the el train in Chicago all day.
  Our Ladies’ Bible study recently cut out envelopes and made small cards. We attached Scripture verses and pictures (which I take on my walks). Then I wrote each person an individual note, about how much their Father loves them. I am thinking about writing a few blogs on how it all got started.
  While the ministry to the homeless encompasses so much more, this is small part of a big picture! Thanks again for your comment, Nancy … as you can tell I get very excited about this 🙂 Sending you much love!
  
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greenlightlady

January 8, 2014

These are wonderful practical suggestions, Heidi. The food certificate idea is my favorite (aside from all powerful prayer).

Warm Blessings ~ Wendy

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1. Heidi Viars
  
  January 9, 2014
  
  mine too, Wendy! Yes, prayer is a powerful weapon … God shows us in it how to love … (see Isaiah 58) … warm blessings to you!
  
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Leyda Hope

January 7, 2014

Shhh, it’s me Caddo. I’ll be liking/commenting alternately from one of my blogs or the other. God bless you BIG.

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1. Heidi Viars
  
  January 8, 2014
  
  sounds good, dear friend 🙂
  
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melodylowes

January 7, 2014

Oh, how much we have to be thankful for! Thanks Heidi…

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1. Heidi Viars
  
  January 7, 2014
  
  Indeed, Melody! Thanks for stopping in … and stay warm!
  
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  1. melodylowes
    
    January 7, 2014
    
    This afternoon it warmed up to only -22C and wow, did we have fun playing outside at recess! Balmy in comparison to the past few days!! Relativity is quite the thing. 🙂
    
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    1. Heidi Viars
      
      January 7, 2014
      
      We were still out of school … but I did give my kids a science lesson … the one where you throw hot water out of a cup into the cold air… it turns immediately into snow … it was pretty amazing … we are still at -18C now … but are getting better … only one pipe froze in our house … got it all worked out though!
      
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      1. melodylowes
        
        January 7, 2014
        
        Ooh, I should try that! How cool. My students would love it! Does it have to be boiling hot to work??? Ouch on the broken pipe – people don’t realize just how nasty sudden drops in temperature can really be.
        
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        Heidi Viars
        
        January 7, 2014
        
        The water needs to be very hot. We boiled some water in a tea kettle. You could probably heat it up in cup in the microwave. I tried hot tap water and it was not hot enough. Good luck!
        
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        melodylowes
        
        January 7, 2014
        
        Ok – thanks!
        
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Debbie

January 7, 2014

Thank you, Heidi, for helping us to pray and to help. Would it be appropriate sometime for you to share with us the woman / place in Chicago that you have sent gift cards to in the past? God bless you!

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1. Heidi Viars
  
  January 7, 2014
  
  I actually have another blog where I have written about how God provided gift cards to Sandy victims. There I wrote about how God allowed me to connect 13 individuals who lost everything, with churches in our area who send boxes filled with gift cards. After those efforts, the Lord shifted the idea of the boxes to the east coast to fast food cards to the homeless in Chicago. Since the beginning of last year, God has allowed me to send many packages filled with five-dollar gift cards to Chicago. One of the most recent ones contained 120 (that’s 600 dollars worth). Through all of it, I actually have spoken to the manager at our local McDonald’s and we have talked about the Lord. I AM BLOWN AWAY.
  I have often wanted to write about it but then get hammered by the enemy… (I guess I need that devil-whacker)
  Hey, thanks so much for your encouragement … I am seriously thinking about blogging about it.
  Stay warm, dearest Debbie!!!
  
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Caddo

January 7, 2014

Adding my prayers always.

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1. Heidi Viars
  
  January 7, 2014
  
  You are one heck of a prayer-warrior … How grateful I am to God to know you! Love <
  
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Rene Yoshi

January 7, 2014

Really good suggestions, especially the gift card, because many homeless shelters provide overnight stays but do not allow guests to hang out during the day. Some churches or other organizations provide ‘warming shelters’ during the winter so the homeless have somewhere to go during the day, but if there isn’t one, the gift card can provide a way for them to get out of the cold and get something to eat. 🙂

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1. Heidi Viars
  
  January 7, 2014
  
  Yes, the gift card idea came from a woman in Chicago, who ministers to the homeless. I heard her once on the radio, contacted her and we have gotten to know each other since. God has provided an abundance of cards for me to send to her… I think I will have to blog about how that all came about … It blows my mind how God works … when we lift our empty hands, He fills our hearts!
  
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  1. Rene Yoshi
    
    January 7, 2014
    
    Yes! Please share how it all came about. 🙂
    
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heavenlyraindrops

January 7, 2014

Wonderful ideas Heidi. Thanks.

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1. Heidi Viars
  
  January 7, 2014
  
  Thanks, Sue, for reading and commenting … Stay warm, friend!
  
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  1. heavenlyraindrops
    
    January 8, 2014
    
    😉
    
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Kathie at hisglorysm

January 7, 2014

Thank you Heidi for the reminder and the good ideas. I love your heart!

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1. Heidi Viars
  
  January 7, 2014
  
  I love it that when we care for what God cares for, He gives us the ideas along with the resources…. what a blessing to watch Him work on behalf of His beloved!
  
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  1. Kathie at hisglorysm
    
    January 7, 2014
    
    Amen!!!
    
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theywhoseek

January 7, 2014

Amen Heidi . . . I support our local homeless shelter with money for food. This year the Lord has put on my heart to buy blankets. So I went out with my Christmas money and bought some. We are not as cold as the East coast but it does get into the teens and twenties plenty of time. ~ Blessings ~

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1. Heidi Viars
  
  January 7, 2014
  
  That’s so neat, Deborah! How generous of you to use that money for those in need! I know that the homeless are blessed and God is glorified 🙂 Blessings to you, sister!
  
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Tom Raines

January 7, 2014

I join you and great suggestions. Praying now!

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1. Heidi Viars
  
  January 7, 2014
  
  Thank you for your prayers, Tom! Warm blessings to you!
  
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blmaluso

January 7, 2014

Thank you for the reminder and the well thought out ideas!

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1. Heidi Viars
  
  January 7, 2014
  
  Thank you for reading and commenting! Warm blessings to you!
  
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JC

January 7, 2014

Amen. Yes!
I read this post this morning…it thoroughly blessed me and it is right in line with what you have written…

Suspended Coffee

Blessings
JC

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1. Heidi Viars
  
  January 8, 2014
  
  that’s a powerful post … thanks so much for sharing it, JC! Blessings to you.
  
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Skye

January 7, 2014

Amen, Heidi!!! Planning on calling our local shelter today!!! Many hugs…much love sent your way!

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1. Heidi Viars
  
  January 7, 2014
  
  I am praying for God to lead you! I praise God for your kind and compassionate heart, sister!
  
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