So what does walking in the spirit look like? I can't give you the 100% complete definition, but I know that by sharing with you Keith's afternoon.... you will get a better idea of what it looks like. Keith left the house to "run errands" about 1:00. He returned about 5:30 with some amazing stories so I would like to share them with you. Keith had to deliver some equipment today in the lower valley and then on his way home he thought he might go hit some golf balls at the golf course since it was so pritty out. He asked the Lord what He had for Keith today and which way he should head home. Well.... Keith felt the Lord prompting him to go down first street and to stop at the restaurant that lets us use their parking lot on Sundays. He stopped by and talked to the owner and his family, thanking them for the kindness that they have extended us. Keith bought some tacos from them and went on his way. Again he asked the Lord which way he should go... the way he went just happened to be the way that went by two of our homeless friends that we had visited with on Sunday. Keith pulled up and offered them the tacos. They were so happy- their faces lit up like a light bulb. "We saw you over there!" they exclaimed. "God Bless you!" yelled Keith as he drove off.
As Keith continued down the road he saw a man trying to get across traffic with his wheel chair. As Keith got closer he could see that the man had one leg amputated and was using his good foot to get across the street. Keith pulled off and parked in the nearby apartment parking lot. As the man approached, Keith could see that he was an older black man holding a carton of eggs. They struck up a conversation and Keith asked him, "What do you need?" The old man replied, "Nothing." After explaining that God sent him and that He has not forgotten the old man, Keith said, "Now, will you please tell me what you need?" The man said that he could use some food. He had just gone to the mini mart and gotten some eggs but he said that he only had 4 boxes of cereal and some milk. Keith asked, "What would you buy that is a treat for you?" The man replied, "Strawberry Icecream." Keith asked if he liked steak... and the man said that he hadn't had it for 3 months. Keith got in the car and grabbed a box of clothes that were there from the past Sunday. He gave the man the clothes and said he would be back. As Keith was walking to the car, the man said, "This is a good day." Keith zipped to Safeway on 5th. and gathered some groceries then returned to the old man's apartment. Out came two grown boys and a woman who Keith later found out were his sons and wife. They helped with the groceries then the old man rolled his chair out with Keith. They talked a bit about Jesus and then Keith asked the wife what she needed. She was twitching like a lot of the druggies that we see on Sundays as were the boys. The wife replied to Keith , "I don't need anything." Keith spoke boldly and said, "Look, the Lord sent me to come here so it is like God sent you an angel so will you please tell me what you need?" The woman's guard fell and she softened with a smile, "Clothes, I could use some clothes." Keith told them he would see them later in the week. "God Bless you!" he said. "Thank you" the old man called out, "This has been a very good day."...... "This has been a very good day," this statement makes my heart smile.
When you walk in the spirit, you never know what the Lord is going to ask you to do or what you will encounter... the awesome thing is that you have a really good chance of making someone's day, "really good." I want to live my life this way... I want to go through my day following the Lord's lead, being sensitive to His voice. I do not share this to boast about how Keith is "all that" (even though I think he is because he's my husband lol) No... I share this because I boast on the Lord... I want to be God's cheeerleader, to share how amazing it is when we follow His lead. How "the little things" of God make incredible differences in people's hearts. We all have access to this. The Lord tells us in Hebrew 4:7 “Today if you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” Lord I pray that you will help my heart to soften and stay soft... that you will help me to hear your voice and put your request into action! Give me strength to be bold, to reach out, to put my self out there as your servant. In Jesus Holy Name... Amen
Monday, February 20, 2012
Oops Forgot the Pics from this week :0)
On The Radar...
I love Keith's take on our day this past Sunday.."We are now on the radar..." "Of Who?"I asked...."Of the demons". O.K.... in the past I would have been really freaked out, but since I was there... I agree with him. No fear though because God says, "Do not be afraid, I am with you." :0)
Well let me back up to the beginning.... This past Sunday we set out to North First Street with our rigs full and our hearts excited to see what the Lord would bring. The previous two days bags of clothes arrived on our door step and we were busy cooking up a storm. I may not enjoy cooking dinner a whole lot, but I sure enjoy cooking for God's people :0) Keith baked up a bunch of cookies while Olivia and I wrapped a load of baked potatoes in tinfoil because this week we wanted to serve baked potatoes, nacho cheese, chili, chips, and some kind of dessert.
So with rigs full and hearts beating fast.... we pulled into our regular spot. A group of people were waiting for us when we arrived and were happy to help unload. We had a number of new volunteers so we took some time to organize then lickety split... the back of the trailer was opened... tables were passed along assembly line style and food was strategically placed to allow for the easiest access. As the line of people continued to grow, we called people to press in a little closer so that we could pray... but first God gave me a word. The past two days He had been laying it on my heart that our guests were ready for a little more "meat" --- Not the kind that you eat... but more meat for them to chew on in their hearts... So I proceeded to give them the word that I felt the Lord wanted me to share. It was simply that we had all been together for almost 4 months now which meant that they were becoming like family and if they were becoming like family then I would be wrong if I didn't share with them the truth that I knew about Jesus. I explained that I would do the same for my actual family, so I needed to do the same for them. I told them how Jesus died for their sins and that He wasn't asking them to quit drinking, drugs, or smoking... He just wanted to be invited into their hearts. I showed them my typed out A-Admit that your are a sinner, B- Believe that Jesus was real and died on the cross for your sins, and C- Choose Jesus as your Savior to be the head of your life. Nothing fancy, just the same thing that we tell our Sunday school kids. We continued by praying for our meal and then we proceeded with the food.
What was interesting was that from the beginning of my "talk" there was one particular man who was cussing and arguing in the bunch but it sounded at first like murmurs. You couldn't really identify where it was coming from. Part way through my talk I even said, "Hey- let's give God some respect here." Many of the homeless people said, "Ya.. Listen Up" but this one particular man continued to be argumentative and eventually punched another guy in line. Keith quickly worked his way into the bunch and escorted the man through the line quickly. He did not want anything to eat and ended up walking off across the street- he was not very happy, but we were amazed how one person could cause such confusion and chaos in such a short time.
Most of the day was very peaceful after that. People were eating, finding clothes, and talking in small groups. Some of us were able to walk around and talk to our guests as they ate. It was really neat because this one group of men said something that really touched me. This man said, "Thank you so much for this. You bring happiness to us every week." He continued, "Look around at all of these people. Do you see that they are happy? It is you people who come every week. Thank you for bringing happiness." Wow! This touched me so much because if you just glanced at the crowd, you would see people eating and getting some bags of clothes but so much more happens that we don't see. God things happen, things in the spiritual realm that we are not even aware of.... David came today and stayed the whole time again. He had such a peaceful look on his face. He seemed sober and "in the present". He even had a smile on his face that was so different than the haunted look that we had seen in the past. David shared that he had gone to Westside Baptist to church that morning... I about fell over. It wasn't just my imagination that he was softening... he really was starting to seek the Lord more than we had ever seen. Spiritual things in the Heavenly's were happening....
Partly through the afternoon two ladies came up that we had not seen before. They went through the food line and started looking at clothes. Eventually they wandered down the alley but not for long. Shortly after, one of the women came back came back along the alley way and started yelling profanity at a young guy who was standing by the street. Earlier he had been ranting and raving by himself- yelling into the air at enemies that could not be seen... When the lady approached him with cursing and threats, he directed his rants to her. He called her very crude names that included the words "crack whore". Let's just say that they were not received well. The lady continued to approach the guy as she screamed a line of profanity that took care of teaching Olivia (our 10 year old daughter) the complete unabridged list of curse words. I guess I don't have to worry about her learning them from her peers. (funny, but not funny). When I saw what was occurring I quickly walked over and gently put my hand on the young woman's shoulder and tried position myself between the two. I steered her in the opposite direction while Keith and Will intercepted the guy.
What was so crazy was what seemed to calm her down the most. I said things like, "You don't really want to go to jail tonight, just ignore him, he is drunk- just walk away." Those things didn't do much to calm her... but when I said, "It was wrong of him to call you a whore. You are not a whore, you are a woman and you are someones daughter. That was really disrespectful." She stopped and looked at me and said, "Thanks, thanks a lot, I appreciate that." In all of her layers of hardness- lay a person who may sell her body to support her drug habit, but she is not a whore. She went on to tell me that she could kill him if she wanted to and that he doesn't want to mess with her... which I am sure that she could... but the point is that even this extremely tough hardened drug addict who would risk going to jail or even prison for murder still had a heart that did not want to be crushed with the hopeless degrading words of a "crack whore". God knows that even the most hurting person .... wants to be "acceptable"... wants to be loved or at least not be called "the worst". She eventually softened a little bit and I was able to tell her that I hoped to see her next week. "Keep yourself safe this week God Bless!".
Well that was only 1/2 of the story because what was happening over with Keith and Will was flat- "freaky!" Keith and Will kept talking to the guy- they tried to get him to calm down a bit. He was upset and ranting when suddenly he stopped and started quoting Ephesians. Keith said there was something weird about his voice and his eyes. Keith looked directly into the guys name and said, "What is your name?" The guy responded with his own name, but there was a defiant look in his eyes. Keith continued to ask, "What is your name?" Keith pointed at the guy and said, "You have demons inside of you. Come out!" The guy screamed out loudly a few times and dropped down to his knees, then he started sobbing. Will bent down and asked him if he wanted prayer. Will proceeded to pray for the guy and then Keith did the same. In Keith's prayer, he spoke to the demons and commanded them to leave. The guy rose to his feet with a completely different look on his face. He was crying and smiling. He said, "Come on let's go pray with the rest of them" (By this time, the volunteers and some of the homeless were praying together in a circle as we do every week at the end.) The Keith, Will, and the guy joined us in the group and we prayed again. The guy asked for a bible and opened it as soon as it was in his hands. Keith and Will continued to talk to the young man and give him some encouragement for his week. He has a job interview this Thursday- so they encouraged him with this too.
- Wow, wow, and wow!! I don't think it has the same effect in black and white as it had in 3-D live action, but all I can say is wow!!
Was that comfortable? No... was it familiar??? Besides reading it in Mark 5..... No... but thank you Jesus for stretching us and helping us grow as we listen to your voice! Thank you for helping us to get beyond ourselves and to peek into the heavenly's a little bit... We want to serve you every day... please help soften our hearts so that we can hear your voice and see with "Jesus eyes". We love you always!
Well let me back up to the beginning.... This past Sunday we set out to North First Street with our rigs full and our hearts excited to see what the Lord would bring. The previous two days bags of clothes arrived on our door step and we were busy cooking up a storm. I may not enjoy cooking dinner a whole lot, but I sure enjoy cooking for God's people :0) Keith baked up a bunch of cookies while Olivia and I wrapped a load of baked potatoes in tinfoil because this week we wanted to serve baked potatoes, nacho cheese, chili, chips, and some kind of dessert.
So with rigs full and hearts beating fast.... we pulled into our regular spot. A group of people were waiting for us when we arrived and were happy to help unload. We had a number of new volunteers so we took some time to organize then lickety split... the back of the trailer was opened... tables were passed along assembly line style and food was strategically placed to allow for the easiest access. As the line of people continued to grow, we called people to press in a little closer so that we could pray... but first God gave me a word. The past two days He had been laying it on my heart that our guests were ready for a little more "meat" --- Not the kind that you eat... but more meat for them to chew on in their hearts... So I proceeded to give them the word that I felt the Lord wanted me to share. It was simply that we had all been together for almost 4 months now which meant that they were becoming like family and if they were becoming like family then I would be wrong if I didn't share with them the truth that I knew about Jesus. I explained that I would do the same for my actual family, so I needed to do the same for them. I told them how Jesus died for their sins and that He wasn't asking them to quit drinking, drugs, or smoking... He just wanted to be invited into their hearts. I showed them my typed out A-Admit that your are a sinner, B- Believe that Jesus was real and died on the cross for your sins, and C- Choose Jesus as your Savior to be the head of your life. Nothing fancy, just the same thing that we tell our Sunday school kids. We continued by praying for our meal and then we proceeded with the food.
What was interesting was that from the beginning of my "talk" there was one particular man who was cussing and arguing in the bunch but it sounded at first like murmurs. You couldn't really identify where it was coming from. Part way through my talk I even said, "Hey- let's give God some respect here." Many of the homeless people said, "Ya.. Listen Up" but this one particular man continued to be argumentative and eventually punched another guy in line. Keith quickly worked his way into the bunch and escorted the man through the line quickly. He did not want anything to eat and ended up walking off across the street- he was not very happy, but we were amazed how one person could cause such confusion and chaos in such a short time.
Most of the day was very peaceful after that. People were eating, finding clothes, and talking in small groups. Some of us were able to walk around and talk to our guests as they ate. It was really neat because this one group of men said something that really touched me. This man said, "Thank you so much for this. You bring happiness to us every week." He continued, "Look around at all of these people. Do you see that they are happy? It is you people who come every week. Thank you for bringing happiness." Wow! This touched me so much because if you just glanced at the crowd, you would see people eating and getting some bags of clothes but so much more happens that we don't see. God things happen, things in the spiritual realm that we are not even aware of.... David came today and stayed the whole time again. He had such a peaceful look on his face. He seemed sober and "in the present". He even had a smile on his face that was so different than the haunted look that we had seen in the past. David shared that he had gone to Westside Baptist to church that morning... I about fell over. It wasn't just my imagination that he was softening... he really was starting to seek the Lord more than we had ever seen. Spiritual things in the Heavenly's were happening....
Partly through the afternoon two ladies came up that we had not seen before. They went through the food line and started looking at clothes. Eventually they wandered down the alley but not for long. Shortly after, one of the women came back came back along the alley way and started yelling profanity at a young guy who was standing by the street. Earlier he had been ranting and raving by himself- yelling into the air at enemies that could not be seen... When the lady approached him with cursing and threats, he directed his rants to her. He called her very crude names that included the words "crack whore". Let's just say that they were not received well. The lady continued to approach the guy as she screamed a line of profanity that took care of teaching Olivia (our 10 year old daughter) the complete unabridged list of curse words. I guess I don't have to worry about her learning them from her peers. (funny, but not funny). When I saw what was occurring I quickly walked over and gently put my hand on the young woman's shoulder and tried position myself between the two. I steered her in the opposite direction while Keith and Will intercepted the guy.
What was so crazy was what seemed to calm her down the most. I said things like, "You don't really want to go to jail tonight, just ignore him, he is drunk- just walk away." Those things didn't do much to calm her... but when I said, "It was wrong of him to call you a whore. You are not a whore, you are a woman and you are someones daughter. That was really disrespectful." She stopped and looked at me and said, "Thanks, thanks a lot, I appreciate that." In all of her layers of hardness- lay a person who may sell her body to support her drug habit, but she is not a whore. She went on to tell me that she could kill him if she wanted to and that he doesn't want to mess with her... which I am sure that she could... but the point is that even this extremely tough hardened drug addict who would risk going to jail or even prison for murder still had a heart that did not want to be crushed with the hopeless degrading words of a "crack whore". God knows that even the most hurting person .... wants to be "acceptable"... wants to be loved or at least not be called "the worst". She eventually softened a little bit and I was able to tell her that I hoped to see her next week. "Keep yourself safe this week God Bless!".
Well that was only 1/2 of the story because what was happening over with Keith and Will was flat- "freaky!" Keith and Will kept talking to the guy- they tried to get him to calm down a bit. He was upset and ranting when suddenly he stopped and started quoting Ephesians. Keith said there was something weird about his voice and his eyes. Keith looked directly into the guys name and said, "What is your name?" The guy responded with his own name, but there was a defiant look in his eyes. Keith continued to ask, "What is your name?" Keith pointed at the guy and said, "You have demons inside of you. Come out!" The guy screamed out loudly a few times and dropped down to his knees, then he started sobbing. Will bent down and asked him if he wanted prayer. Will proceeded to pray for the guy and then Keith did the same. In Keith's prayer, he spoke to the demons and commanded them to leave. The guy rose to his feet with a completely different look on his face. He was crying and smiling. He said, "Come on let's go pray with the rest of them" (By this time, the volunteers and some of the homeless were praying together in a circle as we do every week at the end.) The Keith, Will, and the guy joined us in the group and we prayed again. The guy asked for a bible and opened it as soon as it was in his hands. Keith and Will continued to talk to the young man and give him some encouragement for his week. He has a job interview this Thursday- so they encouraged him with this too.
- Wow, wow, and wow!! I don't think it has the same effect in black and white as it had in 3-D live action, but all I can say is wow!!
Was that comfortable? No... was it familiar??? Besides reading it in Mark 5..... No... but thank you Jesus for stretching us and helping us grow as we listen to your voice! Thank you for helping us to get beyond ourselves and to peek into the heavenly's a little bit... We want to serve you every day... please help soften our hearts so that we can hear your voice and see with "Jesus eyes". We love you always!
Sunday, February 12, 2012
2nd Hand Story....
In the beginning of Luke it talks about how Luke was a physician and a historian. He did not walk with Jesus, but he spent a lot of time interviewing and hanging out with the people who did. Today I had a meeting at the church that made it so that Keith went down to first street without me and I was supposed to meet him. Good intention but…. I walked home and realized that I didn’t have keys to the house so I couldn’t get in. I decided to walk up to Wray’s and go grocery shopping since I couldn’t do anything about it. I had God’s peace that said, “Well I guess I am not supposed to be there today.”
After I got home I sat on the front steps and waited. Before I knew it the suburban pulled around the corner pulling the little trailer. My face lit up and I started waving like crazy because I couldn’t wait to hear how things went. So….. like Luke… I can now give an account of what happened from a 2nd hand perspective. (It is a blessing to be a reporter of God sightings!!! )
And yes… He really showed up!! (As if He wouldn’t. You would think that by this time I wouldn’t be so amazed… but I continue to be.)
Keith said that when they pulled up on North First St. there were a handful of people waiting for them. Within minutes 20+ people were gathered around waiting for things to get going. Keith thought that between 75 and 100 people wandered through in the two hours that they were there. He said that it was really peaceful out there today. There were a lot of people, but he said that so many needs were met… hunger, blankets, clothes…. He said it was so neat to watch. All throughout the day- people would come up and ask for a certain size or particular need and he would think we didn’t have it, turn around and check, and find the exact size or specific need…. He said it was so evident that God was there…..
Keith and I have come to see that if we get a lot of something donated throughout the week- then there will probably be a lot of people specifically needing that item on Sunday. This week it was XL t-shirts and size 34-36 pants. Today was also different because of the 75-100 people, there were only about 20 who were our regulars… the rest were new people. They came with new fresh needs as well as new fresh brokenness…… At one point it was “awkwardly” quiet. People were milling around but it was strangely silent. I asked Keith why he thought that was and he wasn’t sure….. I think it might have had to do with the fact that a lot of the people were new, broken, non-trusting, and trying to figure out what we were all about. I think a lot of our regulars have learned through time to trust us and so they hang out and visit. - When Kasey (One of the committed teen volunteers that is on fire for the Lord) said that there were a lot of new people who seemed really broken… my heart seemed to crack a little bit… I want so badly for them to be set free with the LOVE OF JESUS!
I love what Keith told Kasey… he said, “We are the vessels of God’s word to go out to the world”.
The AWESOME thing is that God’s word is getting to them… we are seeing the fruits of that. David (the David I have spoken of earlier) stayed both last week and this week to the very end. He stood around and waited 2 hours- not really visiting with anyone, just watching….And then at the end….he came right up to the circle of volunteers to join with them in prayer. ……. He was actively seeking the presence of the Lord!!! This is a miracle to me… David is the first person that I met out on 1st street that seemed possessed to me…He was twitching and his face was contorted. His eyes were bloodshot red from the drugs he had done…. He didn’t smile or speak…. Today at the end, David came up on his own, joined hands with the group as we prayed, and then he looked at Keith and said, “Thank You” in his drawn out speech that sounds almost like he has had a stroke. Wow God… You are so so amazing!!!
Chris… the young gal that I have also spoken of on many occasions…. Came up today at the end. She was hunched over and kind of limping. When she looked up, Chris had fingernail claw like marks down the side of her face from her forehead, down her cheeks, and also her neck. Her ear was bleeding and she had a large bug bite on her back that made it so she couldn’t stand up straight. She lifted the back of her shirt up to show us… she had a nasty infection. Kasey approached her and asked her how her week has been. She said the week was fine up until this morning. Kasey asked if she could pray for her and Chris agreed. This was a first. She is a tough independent gal who has never received prayer before. Chris cried today…Jesus is softening her heart. I just pray that she does not get any more seriously hurt. Dear Jesus- Please protect Chris and help her to find your loving, healing truth!
A guy who looked about 18 yrs. old drove up and dropped off a bunch of bags of clothes. He handed them to Keith, turned around, and left. When Keith looked inside, he couldn’t believe it. There were brand new shoes, boxers, and shampoo. We don’t know who it was or where he came from, but we were so thankful that he did. God supplies our needs in the most unpredictable ways! Needless to say… all of the things he donated…. Were gone within no time! Only God knows the needs, and only God provides what is needed to fill them. Thank You God!!!
One more interesting story….. An old man walked up pushing a shopping cart that was an engineering masterpiece…. He was in his 50’s ….. pushing a shopping cart that had been jacked up on bicycle wheels. It was filled with pop cans and an array of other possessions obsessively organized to perfection. This gentleman was not in a very good mood but he wanted to check out what was going on. Someone asked if he would like a sandwich and he just about bit their head off because- he doesn’t eat bread- “that stuff is bad for you”. Someone else offered him water and he yelled- “There is stuff in the water…. I don’t drink that stuff”. The things that were offered to him were good nutritious things that would benefit him but he thought we were crazy to try and get him to take it. He yelled at our people and then took off with his cart…..What is ironic is that earlier he had been spotted dumpster diving around the corner. We can look at him and see that something is not quite right with him because who would reject food and water when he had so little? Isn’t this how some people feel about God??? We know that God is good for them and would benefit them, but some people react to us like we are offering them poison….. They fight off the idea and run the other way feeling insulted and untrusting. Hmmmmm…. Just like you can’t force food onto someone that doesn’t want it…. You can’t force Jesus onto someone that isn’t ready for it…. I guess they both need to be a little hungrier.
Thank you Lord for letting me experience You through 2nd hand stories that I treasure because they reflect Your Glory!! I can’t wait for next week to see what you are up to…. You truly amaze me, encourage me, and draw me in…week after week!
Monday, February 6, 2012
City on a Hill
In Matthew 5:14 it says, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." Matthew 5:16 continues "Let your light so shine before men." Jesus is the light of the world and His Holy Spirit lives within us. This is such a beautiful picture that Jesus has painted for us..... A picture of millions of Christians walking the earth as little twinkling sparkles....that bring encouragement and life to a dying world. We have been blessed with the chance to see first hand what that looks like every week on North First Street. Our adventure began as 6 boxes layed out on the sidewalk with Keith and I nervously wondering if anyone would actually stop and take something.... We were literally two little lights standing in the dark... now 3 1/2 months later... the number of volunteers that shine their light has expanded significantly. We usually have about 8 regulars but the number of new volunteers that have started coming is amazing! It is so fun to see friends, family, church friends, work friends... from all over.. come out and shine their light. The cool thing is that when you put a lot of little lights together, the illumination is so very bright!
This week was no different... Our tables were layed out in a nice straight line with clothes layed out and ready to go. Fish and loaves.... there always seems to be enough. We had a variety of people bringing sandwiches, hard boiled eggs, homemade cookies, and cocoa. The sun beat down on our backs and seemed to warm us down to our toes. The day went by in a very easy, laid back way. People came in a steady stream, but didn't seem demanding or rushed. They filled garbage sack after garbage sack with clothes and food... but they didn't leave in a hurry. Our friends seemed to want to hang out... to stay around and visit- amongst each other, but also amongst us. What was so neat was that the volunteers weren't the only lights shining in the darkness. Some of our new friends have started turning towards the light and an inner light in them is starting to shine. Mike- one of our homeless friends went to a church speaking function down in the lower valley that lasted a couple days... he was different this week. Mike had a peace in his face and more of a purpose in his step. He wanted to help us and didn't just want to receive.
Hector has recently gotten back on his prescription medication and seems to be in the "here and now." This is a great change for him. The last few weeks he has chosen to stick around and hang out til the end. Hector as well as David, Mike and about 5 other homeless friends stayed with us and prayed at the end- hand in hand. From heaven it must have looked like a beautiful twinkling ring of light. Another great thing was that a table of homeless friends that were sitting off to the side asked us to hold on and not start praying until they got over to us. Wow!!! Jesus was there... He was all over the lot... shining through so many people... people on both sides of the box :0) Jesus asks us to let our lights shine and to not keep our lights under a bush. What ever hill you live on.... let your light shine!!! Whether it be a city on a hill or a desk in a corner office... let your light shine!!! Never worry that it won't be bright enough.... If you have ever been camping deep in the forest where it is as dark as the inside of a cow... then you know that it doesn't take much more than an ember to cast a bit of light into the darkness. Jesus always fills in where we fall short... Thank you Lord for your mercy!!! He doesn't say- "let your light shine, but only if you are 100 watts or brighter... no, The Lord just calls us to let our light shine... we need to trust that it will be enough.
Our cocoa container broke and we lost all of our cocoa on the rocks, but no worries, because Jesus' light was shining so bright that it didn't really make much of a difference. All of the food went, the cookies-eggs- and sandwiches.... Jesus is always enough!!! Fish and loaves.... we unpack a trailor filled to the brim with clothes and we see bag after bag walk down the street, but in the end we still have boxes of clothes that we pack back into the trailor because as we give clothes out.... wonderful kind people are bringing bags of clothes to us that they have collected from friends or family. Our job is to let our light shine and Jesus always holds up his end of the deal and provides.... Thank you Jesus for calling us to show up and love.... and thank you for providing for all of our needs and for covering the whole thing in your amazing love!!! In Jesus Holy Name.... Amen :0)
This week was no different... Our tables were layed out in a nice straight line with clothes layed out and ready to go. Fish and loaves.... there always seems to be enough. We had a variety of people bringing sandwiches, hard boiled eggs, homemade cookies, and cocoa. The sun beat down on our backs and seemed to warm us down to our toes. The day went by in a very easy, laid back way. People came in a steady stream, but didn't seem demanding or rushed. They filled garbage sack after garbage sack with clothes and food... but they didn't leave in a hurry. Our friends seemed to want to hang out... to stay around and visit- amongst each other, but also amongst us. What was so neat was that the volunteers weren't the only lights shining in the darkness. Some of our new friends have started turning towards the light and an inner light in them is starting to shine. Mike- one of our homeless friends went to a church speaking function down in the lower valley that lasted a couple days... he was different this week. Mike had a peace in his face and more of a purpose in his step. He wanted to help us and didn't just want to receive.
Hector has recently gotten back on his prescription medication and seems to be in the "here and now." This is a great change for him. The last few weeks he has chosen to stick around and hang out til the end. Hector as well as David, Mike and about 5 other homeless friends stayed with us and prayed at the end- hand in hand. From heaven it must have looked like a beautiful twinkling ring of light. Another great thing was that a table of homeless friends that were sitting off to the side asked us to hold on and not start praying until they got over to us. Wow!!! Jesus was there... He was all over the lot... shining through so many people... people on both sides of the box :0) Jesus asks us to let our lights shine and to not keep our lights under a bush. What ever hill you live on.... let your light shine!!! Whether it be a city on a hill or a desk in a corner office... let your light shine!!! Never worry that it won't be bright enough.... If you have ever been camping deep in the forest where it is as dark as the inside of a cow... then you know that it doesn't take much more than an ember to cast a bit of light into the darkness. Jesus always fills in where we fall short... Thank you Lord for your mercy!!! He doesn't say- "let your light shine, but only if you are 100 watts or brighter... no, The Lord just calls us to let our light shine... we need to trust that it will be enough.
Our cocoa container broke and we lost all of our cocoa on the rocks, but no worries, because Jesus' light was shining so bright that it didn't really make much of a difference. All of the food went, the cookies-eggs- and sandwiches.... Jesus is always enough!!! Fish and loaves.... we unpack a trailor filled to the brim with clothes and we see bag after bag walk down the street, but in the end we still have boxes of clothes that we pack back into the trailor because as we give clothes out.... wonderful kind people are bringing bags of clothes to us that they have collected from friends or family. Our job is to let our light shine and Jesus always holds up his end of the deal and provides.... Thank you Jesus for calling us to show up and love.... and thank you for providing for all of our needs and for covering the whole thing in your amazing love!!! In Jesus Holy Name.... Amen :0)
Monday, January 30, 2012
The Power Of Love
In John 13 God commands us to "Love one another as I have loved you." Christians know this verse... even non-christians often know this verse.... It is so common that it sounds like something you would learn in kindergarten class- "Love your neighbor as yourself." We say it so easily but do we really know the power of love? Do we really know what it looks like to love your neighbor as yourself? Because I don't know about you... but I think I love myself a lot... but I don't necessarily in my flesh love strangers the same way I love myself... so the big question.... how can I love people that I barely know... or even people that I don't know???
The Answer..... (hint... it is not me...) God is love... It is who He is... it is His character... God isn't just loving... He Is Love!! When we walk in the Holy Spirit, we walk in the power of Jesus which means that we also love in the power of Jesus' love... so what does this love look like???
It is only through His Love that our Sundays can be transformed into a time of fellowship, provision, and celebration of God's Creations... yes... celebrating truly special people who are hurting unbelievably- not so much from the outdoors and the conditions, but rather from broken hearts... past hurts that have ripped them to pieces.... crumbled children's hearts in big people bodies. ....... Jesus' love heals all.... His love is always enough... His love conquors all!!!!
Close to 90 homeless were fed, they were able to hear the message that has poured out week after week- "Jesus has not forgotten you!!!" "You are worthwhile and special" "God has a purpose for your life". God provided clothes, blankets, sleeping bags, toothbrushes, shoes, deoderant, socks, hats, and gloves. He provided these things through the hearts of people who love Jesus... the message passes on from one side of the box to the other....
It truly is amazing - "The Power of Jesus' Love"..... shown through so many genuine acts of kindness... Yes it does make a difference!!!
Jesus, It is an honor to serve you every week. I feel like my heart is being formed week by week... a little more defined than the week before. Thank you for protecting and loving our 1st Street friends... thank you for oozing your love- through us... your broken little pots :0)
The Answer..... (hint... it is not me...) God is love... It is who He is... it is His character... God isn't just loving... He Is Love!! When we walk in the Holy Spirit, we walk in the power of Jesus which means that we also love in the power of Jesus' love... so what does this love look like???
- This love looks like 20+ volunteers showing up on a Sunday afternoon to stand out in a parking lot serving food to the homeless. (Thank you all of you!!)
- This love looks like pans of homemade cookies still warm on the plate as weathered hands reach for them... and then ask, "Can I take a couple more?"
- This love looks like a truck overflowing with bags of clothes that the Riverside Basketball Team brought because their coach challenged them... rather than making them... The boys stepped up to the challenge and overwhelmed us with their generous offerings!
- This love looks like kind women stirring piping hot chocolate and laddeling it into paper cups.... to be later sipped while resting at a nearby table... a time of safe, non-threatening rest for the weary.
- This love looks like homemade hats made of warm flannel... placed lovingly on the head of a homeless man by a caring volunteer... with the unsaid message- yes you are worthy... you are not despicable...
- This love looks like a friendly smile, a hand shake, direct eye contact, and true desire to know your name.
- It looks like.... the want to find a hairbrush for someone who has such a simple request.
- It looks like... taking off your gloves, belt, or jacket and handing them to a stranger who needs them more than you.
- It looks like... praying with a stranger beside a busy road.
- It looks like... a cup filled to the brim with meaty hot stew... in the hands of a hungry new friend.
- It looks like....a woman pouring out her heart in tears with a new friend that she just met....worlds apart.... yet belonging to the same God....
- It looks like... a group of volunteers and homeless holding hands together... praying to the Lord God Almighty as one family.... thanking, requesting, trusting, and celebrating!
It is only through His Love that our Sundays can be transformed into a time of fellowship, provision, and celebration of God's Creations... yes... celebrating truly special people who are hurting unbelievably- not so much from the outdoors and the conditions, but rather from broken hearts... past hurts that have ripped them to pieces.... crumbled children's hearts in big people bodies. ....... Jesus' love heals all.... His love is always enough... His love conquors all!!!!
Close to 90 homeless were fed, they were able to hear the message that has poured out week after week- "Jesus has not forgotten you!!!" "You are worthwhile and special" "God has a purpose for your life". God provided clothes, blankets, sleeping bags, toothbrushes, shoes, deoderant, socks, hats, and gloves. He provided these things through the hearts of people who love Jesus... the message passes on from one side of the box to the other....
It truly is amazing - "The Power of Jesus' Love"..... shown through so many genuine acts of kindness... Yes it does make a difference!!!
Jesus, It is an honor to serve you every week. I feel like my heart is being formed week by week... a little more defined than the week before. Thank you for protecting and loving our 1st Street friends... thank you for oozing your love- through us... your broken little pots :0)
Monday, January 23, 2012
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