Summer Sundays....

Today is August 12, 2012.... School starts in 2 weeks and I will be back in the routine of work, kids, school, etc.  My last blog was back in June right after school was over for the summer.  For whatever reason, I have not felt the urge to write over the past few months.  It may be that I needed to relax and take a break from "producing" something... It seems like so much of our lives are going through mental lists of "to do" items, completing them, and then checking off our accomplishments.  I think I needed a break from any "to do" items for a while. 
     Taking a break from blogging did not mean taking a break from the homeless though.  On the contrary... we have been going down every Sunday at 2:00 to bring food and hope to our North 1st. Street friends.  There were some days when they did not think we would be there because it was so hot, but there we were.... setting up our canopy tents, lining up the tables, arranging the food, and passing out the water... lots and lots of water... and sometimes even popcicles :0)  
      The heat has not kept us away, nor have the long lines of people, the summer schedules, or the thunder storms.  Amazingly we have always had enough volunteers.  There are no sign up sheets or scheduled workers...we just get the people who show up... and to my amazement... we always have enough people to help.  I shouldn't be surprised, but I am.  They show up in the blazing sun with smiles on their faces... ready to serve the Lord.  It is humbling and so appreciated.  There is something wonderful about standing shoulder to shoulder with other people who have "like hearts" for the people we serve.  Our volunteers this summer have ranged from grade school age to 80+ years old- (bless their hearts!). 
      We have also not lacked for food or clothes to distribute.  See... the Lord has spent the last few months working on my heart.  He is in the process of growing it and transforming it to be in alignment with His Will.  Throughout the summer, I felt like the Lord was trying to teach me something... but from week to week, I couldn't put my finger on it.  Today I felt like I had a glimpse of some of the things that I've learned. 
1.  The first thing that I can see the Lord working with me on is to give up control... control of all the details.  As I have mentioned before, I tend to worry about where we will get what we need, if we will have enough, and how it will impact our family.  The Lord has shown me this summer that He has it all under control.  God has shown me that all that we have belongs to Him and that my job is to just obey what I have been asked to do... Specifically- to feed and clothe the people on North 1st Street.  I am not to worry about where the things come from, God provides.  If food is not donated, then I am to go out and buy what is needed.  God will take care of our needs. 

2.  The second thing that I have learned has been to stop questioning "why" we are doing what we are doing and to not "add" extra tasks on to our directions.  God said very specifically to "feed" and "clothe" the people on North 1st with food, clothes, hope, and love.  That is all.... We are not to try and fix their problems, give them rides,  find them housing, or "church" them.    Our job is specifically to feed, clothe, and speak hope/love to the poor.  Our message is clear.... "Jesus loves you very much and so do we."

3.  Finally, I have learned that God is infiltrating North 1st St. and that I can not even  begin to understanding all of the amazing things that He is doing in the hearts of our volunteers as well as the hearts of our First St. Friends.  We have seen a wonderful number of people find jobs this summer.  We have watched them transform as hope continues to grow in their lives.  Some people have opted to go into rehab while others have found better housing.   One man replied after Keith inquired about his week, "It has been a really good week.  I am not sure why things have  gotten better.  Maybe because I have been hanging out with you guys."   It was not us... that made the difference... it was  God in us... that he encountered. 

Today a lady made an interesting statement.  She said, "I watch you guys give every week to these people who chose to spend their money on drugs instead of food for themselves and their children.  You never judge them for this or make them feel bad.  You just give and give.  You dont' ask anything from them.  I want to start giving back.  Can I help next week?"   (She is homeless, but observed this over the past weeks.) To me, this was very humbling and rewarding.  She gets it... she described how Jesus loves us.... Somehow it is showing through. That is all I want... I just want them to know that this way of loving... is how Jeus loves us!

We have met homeless people from Yakima as well as people who have ended up here from clear across the country.  One special lady I was able to pray with is not much older than I am but she is suffereing from the late stages of pancreatic cancer.  She is so thin with a beautiful sunny smile.  Unfortunately she is homeless and has so much pain that she uses alcohol for pain relief.  A year and a half ago I lost my own mom from ovarian cancer.  Her last weeks were mostly incoherant to her because she was so heavily medicated with morphine due to the severe pain.  I can't blame the lady I met for self medicating with alcohol... when I think of the pain mom was in.... I can only pray that this lady is able to find pain relief in this last stage of her life.  She is a believer, but is also suffering from a painful disease.  Today she told me that she was beaten up last week.  My heart cried for her...I stopped and prayed with her for protection and relief from the pain.  This summer has helped me drift down the spectrum of "judgementalness"....We just never know what we would do in someone else's shoes. 

Over the past few months we have seen people thrown into jail and people released.  We have seen couples broken up and reunited.  Babies have been born and babies have been removed from homes.  People have been filled with hope, jobs, and a future as well others filled with depression and despair.  New people have come and filled in the places in line where old friends once stood.  Some of our regulars have disappeared while others have remained and grown.  The Lord has taught me this summer that "He" is responsible for the growth and development of each invidual and that each person is at a different point along the path of life.  My job is to be obedient to what is asked of me by God and to do my part with joy.... God takes care of the rest.... All of the rest!!!

Through this summer I have gained a peace and contentment with my life... I have become comfortable with a simpler, less stressful day.  It is not necessary to make "busyness".  God has specific things that He calls us to... and sometimes we need to be quiet enough to hear what those things are so that we are not just running around being "busy". 

Thank you Jesus for being my Lord, for loving me, and for continuing to grow me.  I love this adventure that you have us on.  Please keep my heart soft and open to you.  In Jesus Holy Name- Amen!  :0)

Can you see air?.......

Genesis 1:1  "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...."  fast forward in time.....and Keith is standing in the lot on North 1st street asking a 20  year old  "Can you see air?"  "Well you can see the wind blo...", Keith interupted, "Can you see air?"  "Well you can see condensation.." replied the young man.  "No, can you see air?  So you think your lungs are working?" Keith continued.."No you can't physically see the air that is going into them, but you know that they are working and that the air is traveling into your blood stream...."  This was the conversation that lead to a young man who proclaimed to be an atheist  accepting Christ as his Lord and Savior. 

What a day on North 1st Street....The day before had been rainy and stormy with thunder and lighting.  The morning had traces of hail falling from the sky with threats of further storms.. but by the time we were ready to head down to North 1st street the weather had cleared and the sun was shisning!  On our way back from Seattle on Friday, Keith announced that he would love to bar-b-cue for our North 1st Street friends.  By the time that we got to Ellensburg we went from "maybe we can bar-b-cue sometime this summer" to "We need to do it this weekend!"  So with coolers filled to the rim with hotdogs and hamburgers, iced bottles of water, and a ton of treats... we were off... off with expectation that the Lord would show up!  That the Lord would be in the mood for a cook out! lol :)

I should have known from the line that was already formed out to the side walk that it would be a busy day!  Usually when we pull into the lot there are people waiting, but this day we had a line formed that almost reached the sidewalk before we were even parked!  We lined up the tables, layed out our food, and gloved up!! We had a lot of hungry friends to take care of.  Keith led us in prayer and the day began... We had already cooked some hotdogs to get started then we fired up the bar-b-cue and cooked the rest right there... there is something really nice about smelling the bar-b-cue smoking away that just makes the food taste so  much better.  It was awesome!  We had wonderful volunteers that brought homemade cup cakes,  apples, candy, and cookies! 

Our homeless friends had plenty to fill their stomachs with today... There was a enough for seconds and thirds if they wanted.  Keith grabbed a couple boxes of hamburger patties "for an emergency" in case we ran out of hotdogs.  Well... it wasn't long before the hamburgers were cooking... yes... we went through all of the hotdogs and all of the hamburgers....

As soon as most of the people got through the food line, we started taking out the boxes of clothes.  Every where I looked seemed to be filled with people.  People eating, people talking, people digging through boxes for clothes...people visiting... I loved the day... It was neat to meet new people as well as to see some of my old favorites.  Part way through the afternoon someone called for Keith... they wanted to speak to a young guy who had a lot of questions about the Lord.  It turns out that this guy had been in jail for a period of time and while he was in jail he decided to pray... he was a self- proclaimed atheist and had never prayed before.  He prayed while he was in jail and then his circumstances improved and he was released from jail.  One of the volunteers asked him while he stood in the food line if he would like a bible.  He said "yes", but he wanted to know more about "this Jesus guy".  The volunteer called Keith who then was able to share the Lord with him.  Keith addressed his questions and disbelief  using the example of "seeing air" because the young man kept saying that he didn't believe anything that he couldn't see. 

 The story continues though... because a man had been following Keith around all day.  Every time he turned around this guy was there.  Keith didn't know who he was but as Keith was getting ready to speak with the young man, he noticed this stranger standing by him.  Keith shared about Jesus then the stranger started telling his story.... He shared that he also had been in prison.... for 4 years... he had been in the wrong place at the wrong time and had to serve 4 years for a crime that he saw, but did not commit.  The man shared that instead of being bitter, he chose to dive into the bible and learn more about Jesus.  He was able to relate his relationship with the Lord to the young man in a way that made sense to him.  The young man could easily relate to the 60 some year old stranger's story becasue they shared similar circumstances so they were able to share peer to peer.  Keith jumped in and shared, "We are here because of Jesus! God is real!  You felt it in jail or you wouldn't have prayed!"  God knew what this young man needed to hear because when Keith asked him if he wanted to give his life to the Lord... the man agreed enthusiastically.  He gave his life to the Lord Sunday 6/24/2012 in an empty lot on North 1st Street!  Praise God!!!!  If for no other reason but that..... these last 8 months have been worth it!  His life will never be the same.

This was such a cool example of how one person does "a little something" (volunteer offers young man a bible);  that "little something" turned into a "someone" (the young man); And that someone's life was dramatically changed by the power of the Holy Spirt!  The 60 something year old stranger also chose to do a little "something" by sharing his story which spoke directly to the young man's heart!  If our church wouldn't have done their "little something" and donated the bibles, the topic may not have come up.  We all can do a "little something" and God takes care of the rest!!! Thank you Jesus!!!

Other wonderful things happened this week,  a husband who has been coming all winter handed me his cell phone.  "It's my wife...she wants to talk to you."  I took the call and spent the next few minutes encouraging his wife who is in treatment.  She is pregnant and is is treatment for 3 months.  I encouraged her to hang in there, that she could make it.... for their baby and for their family!  After ended the call her husband told me that he was going to go into treatment at the end of the month.  I was so happy for him and was able to breath life giving words into him also. 

Shortly after that, "Freeman" (the name we have give one of our friends who we met the first day he was out of jail) shared how long it had been since he drank and how long it had been since he had smoked weed.  Again I encouraged him to stay with it!..... That is the only way that the future is going to crack open for him otherwise he will be locked in his own personal hell.  After giving him a big hug and squeeze... he was off... "I'll be praying for you!" I called after him.  He returned my encouragement with a quick flash of a smile and wave of his hand.... I pray that he is able to stay dry!

This must have been the day of encouragement because fianlly, a lady who has come all winter shared that her husband had been dry for 4 months but that he was angry that he had to take a breath alyzer test now after all this time.  As I was walking the field picking up garbage I was able to catch him before he left..."Wait!" I called after him....."Do it for yourself!" He looked at me with a question on his face.  I explained that his wife had shared with me how he was feeling.  I felt like I was the North First St. cheer leader!! "You stay clean for you!  Don't worry about the law... they have to follow their rules, but stay clean for you... and your family!  God made you special... he made you because he has a purpose for your life!"  The husband's eye brows went up and his eyes widened as I continued....."You are special and if you can stay dry... then you have a future!  A life!!! The world breaks open with possiblities for you!"  A wide smile broke out over his face and he thanked me.  He trotted off and joined his wife with a little bit of "joy" in his step. 

These are just a few examples of the wonderful things that God is doing out on North 1st St.  They are just little glimpses into the things that I was able to experience.  I know that each volunteer has their own wonderful stories... the little bright spots that they see from week to week.... the places where they see God shining through!  I think God sends us each other.... and that He works through each of us to breath life and hope into each other so that we can get a glimpse of the Glory of God!!! Our actions and words are used by God to further the Kingdom of God! They are not said and done to point back to ourselves.... the joy comes when we listen to the promptings of the Lord and let His words encourage, heal, and breath life into the people around us..... In doing so, we are healed, encouraged, and filled with life.

Thank you Lord that You have made it so easy for us to receive You.  It only takes looking out the windows at your creation to know that you are real!  I pray that all of our friends on North First St. will come to know you and invite you into their lives... because even though life will always have trouble of its own.... with You Lord.... It will never, ever be the same!!!! In Jesus Holy Name..Amen

Audacious Faith!!

I want "Audacious Faith" just like Joshua!  Our pastor has been preaching about Joshua's Audacious Faith from Steven Furtick's book "Sun Stand Still."  Joshua had such amazing faith in the Lord!  In Joshua 3:5 Joshua tells the people , "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you."  And amazing things He did do... for the Israelites crossed the Jordan river- not by swimming it, or boating across, but by walking in their sandals across a dry river bed.... during the flood season... how is this possible?  Of course because our God is amazing and because Joshua believed... he had "Audacious Faith". 

Later in Joshua...10:12 "Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: 'Sun stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon."  Joshua prayed an Audaciously Huge prayer!! He asked the Lord to stop time... for the sun to stand still and for time to stop.... ' so the sun stood still and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies.'  Wow!! Can you imagine having such huge faith in God that you would ask for such a huge prayer to be answered .... and expect it to be answered??? God dammed up the water and dried up the riverbed so that His people could cross the Jordan.  As soon as they stepped onto dry land, the riverbed started to fill with water again.  His people had not doubt that it was God that performed the miracle... It was God that loved them so much that He kept his promise to protect them and never leave them. 

Fast forward to June 2012 on North First Street in Yakima, Washington.... we stand with our North First Street friends and with Audacious Faith we ask God to supply the needs of the people.  We ask for specific sizes to appear, for shoes to be located in the bottom of a box that would  be the perfect fit for Heidi or Melissa, or Raul.  As we walk back to the car after holding our finger up to someone, "Just a second, I will check and see if we have that..." we pray "Lord please let there be one more roll of toilet paper left in the car for this person, or please let there be more food back here for the hungry couple standing in front of me."  We don't pray these prayers in vain so that we can be the heroes or so that we get great thanks... we pray the prayer so that we can then turn to the person in need and say, "Wow! Look how awesome God is... He saved one more roll just for you"...... or "Look- God knew just your size... He will never leave you or forsake you." 

It is so cool because God just keeps growing my faith... I don't test Him... but by the nature of what we do on North First St... it demands this kind of faith because we never know what we are going to get.  We don't know who will show up, what they will need, or what will be donated... it is all on faith.  We don't know how many people will show up to eat or if we will have enough... We don't even know most of the time if we are going to have the time to put it all together.  But guess what?.... we always do have enough.... and clothes always do show up... and there is always enough time... and food always comes from somewhere... and the sizes do appear... not always immediately... but in those cases we tell our North First St. friends that we will pray for their needs during the week and see what God brings us.

Please do not think that I believe that my God is a genie because I surely do not!  I do believe that God knows our needs and that He makes a way.... it may not always be the way we expect... but He always makes a way.... My own faith is not yet "Audacious" but it is growing... daily.....weekly as we step out in faith and head down to "the lot" where we meet "the least of these"... "the desperate and the broken....". 

I think one thing that is hard for me is that I want to be able to give them an answer to their questions... I want to fix their needs... When a 31 year old guy named Chris says that "His mom asked him to come to Yakima, but wouldn't let him live with her..."  "She lied," he says, "My mom lied to me."  I want to say something that will fix it... that will bring first aid to his broken heart.... God is the only one who brings words to my lips... He is the only one who can minister to Chris' heart... We give him words of hope, but only God can direct his path.  I step out in "Audacious Faith" as I say..."Hang in there... we will do what we can and God is taking care of you."

At church today I was truly inspired and moved by a young man.  He has Down Syndrome, but it sure didn't seem to stop him from having "Audacious Faith".    During the few seconds between worship songs I heard him free worshiping.  He said in a wonderfully full voice, "God, You are my Father... Happy Father's Day... I love You God!"  It was so beautiful.  The sincerity in his voice made it clear that he fully believed that God is his father and that God loves him so much that there was no doubt in his mind that God was listening to his prayer right that moment... You may say that we all believe this... but do we really? Do we really believe that God is listening to us and loves us individually and intimately??? It was a precious intimate peek into the faithful heart of a loving young man.   

I pray that God continues to grow my faith... that He continues to stretch me and grow me so that I do not even hesitate to ask God to dry up the river bed.... or to ask for the sun to stand still.... or for Chris to come to know Jesus as his Lord and Savior, ...... for him to heal from the inside out.... oh yea... Chris is HIV positive... with Audacious Faith I pray that Chris will come to know Jesus as Lord of his life and that he will be able to touch many people's lives with his testimony!

We are all at different places with our faith... but we can all do something.  As Keith told me, "We can all do something, because when we do something for someone... they become somebody... and when they become somebody they can be moved by the power of the Holy Spirit!!!"   Lord please help us all to hear your prompting.... so we can do a little something! In Jesus Holy Name,  Amen!  (P.S.  Happy Father's Day... every day is Your day.... I love You and thank You for being my Father!)

Let My Life Be The Proof....

1 Corinthians 13:1  "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love.  I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.  And though I have the gift of prophesy, and understanding all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and though I give my body to be burned but have not love, I am nothing."

I have heard this verse so many times but it was not until I heard it sung by the group For King and Country that I really connected with it.  In the lyrics from their song "The Proof of Your Love" they sing, "If I give to a needy soul but don't have love, then who is poor? It seems only the poverty is in me."  At the end of the song, it changes from singing to speaking and paraphrases 1 Corinthians 13:1.  Wow was that powerful!! I can do all the volunteering that I want to, but if I don't have love in my heart for the  people- then it is all for nothing.  I can cook up all the food that I want to for them, but if I don't really love them... then it is for nothing. 

Today on North 1st Street it was great!  I felt God's love percolating like a coffee pot in the morning.  It seemed like the volunteers had their hearts into it and that they were really enjoying reaching out to our North 1st St. friends.  The line of people snaked out to the sidewalk again as we set up pans of piping hot "Que Bueno" cheese sauce and chili.  The menu was "nachos with cheese and chile" along with other wonderful sweet yummy things to eat.  I don't know if it was the fact that there was a lot of hot food to go around or if people were thrilled with the sunny day.... but people on both sides of the tables seemed extra happy.  Sometimes there is an overall feeling of solemness or hopelessness, but yesterday most people seemed to have a little extra warmth in their hearts.

It is a lot of work getting prepared for a Sunday.... a lot of organization of clothes, boxes, shopping for the food, food prep, etc.... but what hit me so much was that if I don't truly love the people.... it is for nothing.  With the lyrics of this song ringing in my heart... I saw North 1st St. with different eyes.  Chris- my friend that lives under the bridge came and filled up her bag with clothes.  Between her food, the garbage bag filled with clothes, and her normal bag she carried-  Chris had too much to carry.  She asked if I would give her a ride  home.  Right away I knew that she meant a ride to the bridge.... and for right now it is home.  Immediately I replied, "Absolutely!"  As we were getting ready to leave- she saw the stack of bibles that we were giving away and she said, "Hey can I have a bible?  I've never read one before.  It sure couldn't hurt to give Jesus a try."  After 8 months of knowing Chris.... my heart leaped!!! Yeah!! I handed her a bible and told her to start in John  "The Old Testament isn't the best place to start.. just skip right to the gospel of John to start with." 

Chris, Kaecey, and I jumped into the car with bags in tow and headed off to the bridge.... Again Chris said,  "Well the bible will give me something to read under the bridge."  Once we got to the overpass, I parked the car along the side of the road so that we could help Chris with her bags.  She brought us to her "home".  It was the underside of the freeway... with cars racing overhead... muffled engines roaring off to their next destination... drivers unaware of the lives that reside under the asphalt that lines the road.   We used a rope to help pull our way up the steep incline only to find four long cement chambers made by the trusses of the highway.  Each opening was draped with a blanket hung to allow for privacy and warmth to the resident inside.  Chris proudly showed us her place and explained how she had cleaned it out for her roommate who she shared the space with.  A wooden posted homemade bed sat towards the back of the living space.  Odds and ends were lined against the wall... it was amazingly quiet which totally surprised me... but had the heavy smell of urine.  ( I wouldn't try and get down the steep incline in the middle of the night if I had to go to the bathroom)  Unfortunately that only left the entrance to each living space as an area to relieve oneself.  Old tattered clothes and garbage were strewn along the entry ways of each space.

Inviting??? No... but the love that I felt in my heart for Chris went beyond the shock and smell.... I gave Chris a big hug and told her that I hoped that she had a great week.  She told me she was going to go into her place and change into some comfy shorts that she had gotten from the clothes give away.  I told her I loved her and then made my way down the incline with the help of the rope so that I didn't wipe out... As Kaecey and I walked back to the car, I shared with her that I felt like I could vomit... she agreed, but it didn't really  matter because we both feel the same about Chris.  She is a special lady with a whole lot of strength to withstand her daily conditions.  God is revealing to us each week more of what he meant in 1 Corinthians 13:1. 

It is so easy to love my husband and my children... I adore them and would do anything for them.  This week, I was able to feel the tender love of a person that I barely know.  David is a homeless person that we have known since the beginning.  He was the guy that scared me so badly the first time I saw him because he was so tattooed all over his face and looked so scary.  David has softened over the months and has become a favorite amongst the volunteers.  He usually stays around until the end and prays with us.  David has problems,  he has a degenerative neurological disorder as well as a fried brain from so many drugs (our best guess), but David also has a heart.  This week he actually reached out to hug Keith before Keith hugged him.  This is the guy who would not even have eye contact with us in the beginning.  Before I left I went up to give David a hug because I hadn't been able to talk with him.  I gave him a big side bear hug and then held his hand for a moment.  David squeezed my hand in the sweetest way.  It was not in that yucky lecherous way... but more like a little boy holding onto his mom's hand because she felt safe and nice.  David grinned his sideways grin and then it was over.  For a tiny instance in time... God showed me a peak of His great love... it was that unconditional, sweet love that says... "I don't care what you have done... I love you for being you."  Thank you God for letting me experience more of your 1 Corinthians 13:1 love for the lost and the broken.  (It is only You God!)

Casting Crowns has a new song out also... "Jesus Friend of Sinners".....First off.. I am a sinner, so this song is not only for me, but about me.  In the song lyrics it says, "Open my eyes to the outcast..."  Lord Jesus... thank you for opening our eyes each week to the outcast and for helping to break our hearts for what breaks yours.

I am so thankful for the wonderful bunch of volunteers that show up each week.  We never know who will make it down and who won't, but it never fails... there are always enough people to serve...  God always provides the people, the clothes, the food, and the love to reach the lives of the outcast... the lives of our new friends..."  Please continue to grow my heart... to help me love like 1 Corinthians love....and to see people more like how you see them.... Please let my life be the proof of Your Great Love... In Jesus Holy Name.. Amen

Desperation Sunday....

Psalm 46:1-11  God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble.  And so we need not fear even if the world blows up, and the mountains crumble into the sea.  Let the oceans roar and foam; let the mountains tremble!  There is a river of joy flowing through the City of our God- the sacred home of the God above all gods.  God himself is living in that City; therefore it stands unmoved despite the turmoil everywhere.  He will not delay his help.  The nations rant and rave in anger- but when God speaks, the earth melts in submission and kingdoms totter into ruin. 

          Today on North 1^st St we called it Desperation Sunday because it is the last Sunday in the month and yes… they were desperate.  The line snaked out towards the sidewalk as we organized the food line in anticipation for some hungry folks.  People continued to find their way across the street or down the road towards the smell of piping hot stew.  People were patient in line and didn’t appear overly desperate, however there was an overall feeling of agitation and neediness.  People seemed to be in “survivor mode” today. 

          I love how the bible states that even if the world blows up, and the mountains crumble into the sea…God is our refuge and strength.  Before serving, Keith called everyone to prayer.  He spoke of the refuge in Christ and how He is available to anyone who is interested in receiving them into their hearts…. Nobody answered the invitation that we were aware of, but we sure could sense the presence of the need for God’s refuge and strength as well as his joy! 

          At the end of each North 1^st St. adventure, Keith, Olivia, Kacey, and I usually stand around in the kitchen and swap stories of the day because we have all seen and experienced North  1^st from a different angle… we spoke to different people, and s       aw different things.  It is one of my favorite parts of the day because I love hearing everybody’s adventures.  The overwhelming agreement today was that a lot of people were a bit mean today…. Mean, desperate, hungry??? If someone set their bag of clothes down, it was likely to be stolen today compared to other days.   Why?  I don’t know… but it was happening.  We brought some extra food for a family and after Keith gave the food to the guy, he said, “Is that it?”  Are you kidding??? “Is that it?”  My flesh was insulted and put off…. Did he have any idea how much time it took me to make the food that we gave him???  but I think it was just a  response of desperation… He might have been thinking- is that it because I have a big family to feed…. Who knows.  There were people who wanted to take clothes from others… to get what we were handing out to someone else… to grab and possess. 

          Not everyone fit this M.O. however, there were a lot of older men who seemed to genuinely appreciate the food and clothes.  One man in particular said that the stew tasted just like how his mother and grandmother used to make it.  I was so glad that he could receive that comfort today.  It made me smile.  Another little girl made Keith’s day complete… She was so happy because her mom found her some pants, shoes, socks, shirts, and a jacket that fit…. She could be just like all of the other kids her age.  The part that grabbed my heart that she was a 3^rd generation homeless child.  Her mom and grandmother were there and were also homeless… 3 generations living without a place to call home, without a bed to call their own.  Lord God,  even when the mountains crumble into the sea and the world explodes…. You are our strength and our refuge… Your joy is a river flowing through the city-  Thank You Jesus!!!  You Lord can break the cycle… You are their hope!!!

          Glenn was in a downward spiral today.  He always shares with us that he is a paranoid schizophrenic… Glenn has been very open about needing help, but today in particular Glen was manic, Glenn’s world was crashing.  A shadow of stubble covered his cheeks and chin.  He appeared disheveled, agitated, and desperate.  He wanted time to talk out his frustrations.  Because he had missed 2 weeks of medication, he wasn’t thinking or processing clearly.  Glen’s thoughts seemed to weave in and out of each other- never actually ending, just hooking onto a new worry or frustration.  The problem is that the medicine helps him to think clearly, but if he doesn’t take it then he becomes irrational, and when he is irrational he thinks that he can’t afford the medication- which he totally can, but he is too engulfed in worry and fear to spend the money on the prescription.  Henceforth… the cycle continues to spiral….. down….. Lord Jesus I pray that Glen will be able to grab onto Your place of refuge and that he will find strength in You!!!

          Last week Keith promised an elderly Hispanic gentleman that he would find a Spanish bible for him.  So today we remembered at the last minute that we needed to find a Spanish bible.  I went up to Inklings Bookstore and sure enough… there was a Spanish bible (Thank You Lord!)  and it only cost $4.95.  WOW!  Now that is a great deal…. So I asked for 5.  Lol!   Fast forward to North 1^st street and sure enough Keith found more people that wanted a Spanish bible.  One man in particular warmed my heart so much.  Keith asked him if he needed a Spanish bible and he replied, “No thank you, but he needs one,” pointing to his friend standing next to him.  Keith look to the man next to him and asked him if he wanted a Spanish bible…. “Oh yes, I need the bible because I read to him.”  The gentleman pointed over to his friend who had just said no to the bible.  The first man couldn’t read, but he knew his friend needed the bible so he could read it to him.  What a wonderful friend to have.  Dear Lord… thank you so much for standing unmoved amongst all of the turmoil.  Thank you Lord for your strength and your refuge…. When You speak… I pray that we all listen!!

          We never know week by week what it will be like on North 1^st St. but what we do know is that God stands unmoved, that His promises never change, that God never leaves us nor forsakes us, and that God is now and will forever be our refuge and our strength.  Lord I am humbled and so thankful that we get to serve you.  Thank You for turning our fishes to loaves and for taking a desperation Sunday and turning it into "enough" because Your "enough"  is always "enough"!  Amen! :0)

         

I’m Believing….

Today was a day of “I’m Believing…”  What it means is that it just seems to be the statement that Keith and I said all day today.  “Trust Me and try Me sayeth the Lord!”  Well today we did… but not really a planned test…. A lot of situations came up where we weren’t sure how it was going to happen… but in our hearts we were thinking.. “I’m Believing that…”.  

·         From the beginning I stood on… I’m believing that the meat that was donated this week will be enough to make the hamburger stroganoff that I am making…. (it was J)

·         The people lined up out to the side walk and my prayer was…”I am believing in Fish and Loaves…there will be enough!!” We had two large roasting pans full of stroganoff and my prayer was that everybody standing in line would get a plateful of hot food.  We always have late comers and we had a cooler of sandwiches made for them, but I really didn’t want tell anyone who had waited in line and who had made it on time that the food was gone… God is so amazing because even though Tracy and I dished up large portions in faith… God made the last scoop land on the plate of the last person in line… I darn near cried in thanks!

·         Keith made a cooler full of ham sandwiches for the people who show up late and sure enough… the whole cooler of sandwiches went… And after the cooler of ham sandwiches came the loaves of bread for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches….Thank you Lord that we were able to send each person away with enough food! We stood in the statement…”I am believing that we will have enough food for everyone even with generous portions!”

·         At the end of the day, a man handed me a pair of shoes that someone had left out by the sidewalk.  All of the people were gone and no one had claimed on so I stood holding them while talking to another gentleman.  Suddenly a guy came racing up on his bicycle.  He threw the bike down and held up his foot to show me the bottom of his shoe-  “You got any shoes?? Look at mine.”  His black tennis shoes had three holes in the sole with his foot pushing through to the ground.  Inside I was thinking, “I am believing that God will make these fit…”  He took one look at them and was as happy as can be.  He sat down right there and put them on.  Honestly, he was one of the dirtiest guys I have ever seen.  His face, hands, arms, every bit of skin that you could see was coated with thick black dirt.  His hair was matted and crazy at the same time.  Olivia was in the car because we were going to leave so she broke open the peanut butter and jelly and started making sandwiches.  Her actions showed that she stood on the fact that there would be enough bread left to make him a nice supply of sandwiches… I jumped in the back of the suburban and started digging through a box of odds and ends that my dad had given me from his bathroom cupboard.  We were able to find shampoo, soap, lotion, and a washcloth for him.  He was so happy. 

·         Our amazing God took the old left overs from my mom’s cupboard who had passed away 1 ½ years ago and blessed this man who desperately needed some food, shoes, and lots of bubbles J

·         Keith met a man today who lives by the river and is in desperate need for a job.  Keith spoke with incredible belief to this gentleman.  He spoke “hope” to this man, hope of job possibilities, hope of clothes that were just his size, and hope of a new day tomorrow as well as God’s amazing forgiveness and grace.  The man left with a bible that had a special note written just for him…Keith wrote, “ Isaiah 61:3…God gives us beauty for ashes, joy for sorrow, and praise for heaviness” in addition to the promise, “Today is a new day”.  The strong rugged man who withstands the cold of night as well as the fear of the darkness by the river broke down in tears and sobbed as Keith hugged him…. Thank you Keith for standing on God’s promises…. Those are moments that change eternity….

·         Another woman showed up with her 16 year old son.  Keith said, “No worries, we will have something that is his size.  I am believing that there is something here in this pile of clothes that will work for him.”  “Ya sure…” she replied skeptically.  Keith said that inside he was asking God to please please show that He was real to this lady.  He found boxers and shirts that worked and Keith said, “See, God knew what you needed and He met you here.”  The lady just looked at him and smiled… she knew…

·         Two of our people are believing that they have a chance for change… One woman is entering a 6 month rehab program-  she is 6 weeks pregnant and will go in for rehab on June 29^th.  Please pray for Charity and her unborn baby.   Zack told us that he is going to start a 2 year rehab program with the mission… These are huge steps for them.  Please remember them in your prayers.

·         I am praying and believing that we will have breakthrough for the women down there…. We had so many women the last couple weeks… new faces…. New very sad, broken faces… women with bruises, women with pimps, women with fear in their eyes, lifeless faces with dead expressions, women who are slaves to their addictions and slaves to their only means to make money.  The 85 pound anorexic, meth-addicted ladies break my heart- how are they going to make it?  I think that they are going to o.d. or have a massive heart attack because their bodies are so feeble and look like they are going to fall over.

·         I am praying and believing that the number of men with black eyes, bruised hands, and stitches decreases…and I am believing that Chris who has surgery tomorrow morning on his broken hand will continue to draw closer to the Lord.  Chris is an addict who has HIV.  He has been staying around longer and longer each week.  This week he asked for prayer for his surgery.  I am believing that Jesus has his place picked out in heaven and that Chris will come to know Jesus as his personal savior.

·         “Test Me and try Me sayeth the Lord”… I don’t ever want to purposely test God, but I am so thankful that God shows Himself so Amazingly as we step out in faith.  The Lord is growing my faith every week more and more.  Thank You Jesus for loving us so much and for taking care of so many needs that we don’t even know we need….. In Jesus Holy Name… Amen.

Promises.....

Promises are funny things because if you are living according to the world- promises are just things that people commit to that may or may not be broken.  We have all experienced promises that have been broken…. even if there was a pinky promise shake, a cross my heart hope to die, or a promise made over your great grandmother’s grave. 

Even  the most trusted people in our lives break promises at times- not necessarily on purpose or to be hurtful, but rather because circumstances changed and it just couldn’t be helped. 

I broke a promise last week on North 1^st Street and I felt really awful about it.  It haunted me throughout the first half of my week.  See we had been helping this one couple whose house burned down in the winter.  They did not have family in Washington and were homeless.  We had helped them earlier with tents, sleeping bags, food, and friendship.  Two Sundays ago, they approached Keith to tell him that their clothes and belongings had been stolen.  They tried to hide their tent and other belongings only to have them washed away by the high river water.  They only had the clothes on their backs and then whatever they could get from our clothes give away that day. 

Keith listened but was really busy with the organized chaos that occurs every Sunday in the empty lot.  The husband came and spoke with me and I felt so sad for them because they had been trying so hard to make the best of their situation.  They had been looking for jobs, had signed up for housing with the state, and were truly thankful as well as products of their circumstance.  I wrote a list of what they needed and promised to meet them that night at 7:00 along the Greenway where we agreed. 

The remainder of the day went on until we eventually pulled up in front of our house.  Keith looked exhausted and gave me the look like “Please do not say we have to go somewhere else.”    I was caught between my own promise to them and my desire to not add anymore to Keith’s load than I already had over the past 2 months with my shoulder surgery.  That night I watched the clock as it crept towards 7:00 and then soon after past….. My heart sank as I realized that I was not going to fulfill my promise.  I felt like a fake, a coward, and like I wrecked any trust that we had built up with this couple.  I know they waited along the Greenway for me with hope- only to have it fade away with the daylight.

The thought of them haunted me through the night…. On my way to work (because I pass the spot I was going to meet them every day on the way to and from work)….I just kept picturing them sleeping under a tarp with no blankets because that is the condition that they were living in at that point.  On the way home from work on the 2^nd day I actually saw them sitting at the spot that I was going to meet them.  I didn’t know how to drive back where they were from the freeway… so I continued on home :0(   I talked to the Lord about it and shared how sorry I was to promise something that was so serious when I couldn’t actually make it happen. 

Finally on Wednesday Keith received a phone call from them with fantastic news.  I was praying so hard that they had a job or housing, but what they said totally surprised me.  They had visited the doctor that day and found out that the wife was pregnant!  At first when Keith told me… I didn’t connect the dots…. Because she was pregnant, they qualified for 28 day emergency housing and then they would receive permanent housing for the following 2 years!!!!  I was so so excited!!! J  They would not have to sleep out in the wild any more!!!  They could actually sleep in a real bed with a roof over their heads and a lock on the door! And a toilet, and heat, and light, and a stove, and…. And…. And……

We were able to visit them in their new place and share in the excitement!  We all prayed together and thanked the Lord for His amazing grace and mercy!  There was no doubt that the couple was sold out for God and that they had fallen down before Him pleading for help in their situation.  I did not follow through on my promise, but God did!!! 

God is the only One whose promise we can ALWAYS trust in!!! God does not ever lie.  He keeps all of His promises.  He never forgets, or over promises, or ignores us…Our friends on North 1^st street have shared how many people failed them throughout their lives…. Parents who failed to keep them safe as children, relatives who failed to love them the way that God wanted them to love, drugs that promised to make everything better- only to end in crashing lives, promises of easy money- only resulting in jail time, and promises of food and shelter- only to end in no one showing up. 

Only God can help restore the trust that people need to believe His promises!  I pray that God can penetrate their hurt souls and broken hearts.  He can breathe hope into broken dreams and lost promises.  God’s promises NEVER fail!!!

Can you imagine the freedom that we would all live in if we truly grasped God’s promises?  If we really believed in the core of our being that God never break’s His promises???  That He doesn’t break ANY of His promises- Not even one!  And that His promises are for each of us who believe in Him, not just for some separate chosen few…

It is not just our North 1^st Street friends who would walk in freedom, but each of us who do not fully grasp the concept of God’s promises-  Kingdom promises- as opposed to earthly, fleshly promises.

Here are just a few of God’s Kingdom Promises……

God Promises that:

·         He is our Savior-John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

·         Jesus is our Lord-  Philippians 2:9-11 “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name with is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things inheaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.”

·         Jesus is our Love-  1 John 4:7-12  “For God is love.”

·         Jesus is our Peace- Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

·         Jesus is our Forgiveness- Psalm 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

·         Jesus gives us Righteousness- Philippians 3:9 “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”

·         Jesus is our Deliverer- Romans 8:2 “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”

·         Jesus is our Fellowship- Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

·         Jesus is our Example- I Peter 2:21 “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

·         Jesus is our Brother- Galatians 3:26  “For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”

·         Jesus is your Guardian- Psalm 61:3  “For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

·         Jesus is our Security- Romans 8:38, 39 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

·         Jesus is our Sufficiency- Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.”

·         Jesus is our Fulfillment- John 6:35 “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on me shall never thirst.”

·         Jesus is our Everything- Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply allyour need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

·         Jesus is our Strength- Psalm 18:2 “The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God , my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”

·         Jesus is our Encourager- John 14-27  “Peace, I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

·         Jesus is our Supplier- Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

·         Jesus is our Healer- Psalm 147:3 “He heals the broken heart, and binds up their wounds.”

·         Jesus is our Courage- Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord they God, he is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

·         Jesus is our Life Giver- Isaiah 44:3  “For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon they seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:”

·         Jesus is our One and Only One to Count On!- “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

(These promises were taken from a book given to Keith by his mother- “God’s Promises for Your Every Need”

These are only some of Your promises dear Lord!  There are so many more in Your Word! Thank You so much for such beautiful promises.  I am your bond servant-  I owe You my life because that is the very least I can do for You when You have done so so much for me! Please help my  heart grasp more fully the completeness of Your promises!  I pray that my friends on North 1^st Street as well as all the world will know and trust in Your amazing promises!!!!