Seeing Others How Christ Does

Random journal entries put together with an event that happened today at the park.

-March 27, 2010-drove to have a coffee and read the Word. On my way there I saw a van of men with the top hats on, not sure what they are called but they are still searching hoping that the Savior Jesus Christ would come to save His people. The reality of this is HE HAS! But, Jewish people believe that the Savior has not. I was listening to Misty Edwards-“My Soul Cries,” I began to weep. I became broke for the Jewish people. I am thankful the Father is showing me His heart and love for all people. Then as I was stuck at a traffic light some time later, I looked at the car next to me and saw a big guy. He was moving around and singing and his vehicle was rocking back and forth. He didn’t care who saw him! It made me laugh; he saw me and he too started to laugh. I tried to stop but I couldn’t stop laughing. I laughed long after the light had turned green. O Lord, thanks for laughter!

-Today I decided to go to the park to read the Word of God and listen for a while on my lunch break, but the Lord has a different agenda. I got there and parked my car. I didn’t even get out. I just opened my door, rolled down my window and stuck my feet out off the window. Then I started to read from Jeremiah. As soon as I had read the first word I heard a very loud noise. It was a car driving on the road. They must have lost their muffler. Worse though, they also had a flat tire and the car was going up and down. They parked right next to me and a guy got out of the car. He asked me if I had a spare tire. I told him I did but that I wanted to keep it. Long story short, I took his wife/girlfriend-they weren’t wearing rings-but they have a three year old boy and a girl on the way. The woman’s name is Tasha. I took her to get a tire and it took 4 places till we found a shop that had a tire. I drove her back to the guy and her child with the tire. However, it was just a tire-not a tire with a rim, so the guy got all upset and was swearing at her in front of the child. The child also repeated a couple of those vulgar words. She of course kept her calm and ignored his harsh remarks. We ended up parting ways. He didn’t want the tire, so I am bringing it back later on today for them. I paid for it anyways-but the whole way through dealing with this was one thing. I kept thanking the Lord for His will in my life and His calling. His ultimate call on all our lives is to spread His love and truth! Well as I was leaving the park with the smell of rubber coming from the back seat of my car. I not only had a new tire to return I also had a new aching on my heart. I have a cry for those families with a disconnected father. They also were of a different ethnic group then I am and I am so glad that God has melted my heart into that ethnic group. I desire to see the fathers’ in that ethnic group stand tall and be the men God has called them to be. I had no idea that the Lord would give me a new passion and broaden my outreach community at an empty park on a Wednesday afternoon. I am blessed! I have a passion and heart that is longing to see these people in these stories to flourish in the truths and revelation of Christ Jesus!

This city is being captivated by the King of Kings-Praise the Lord!!!

I am grateful and honored to be apart of His work!

Some Call It Home...

Despite the length of time since I last wrote on this blog, the Lord is still moving and calling forth His people! Ministry here in the TC is taking on a new level and people are seeing the Lord as a Father instead of a master or a referee keeping track of rights and wrongs.

I have gone to the same coffee house for over the last year about and for the last few months I have seen this woman sitting across the street. Once she there she will stay all night. She is a middle age woman who keeps to herself. She wears the same thing everyday because she is homeless. God captivated my heart for this woman to share His love and bless her in His name. So one day I went and got some White Castle and brought it to her. She was so thankful and didn't know what to say. A couple days later I say her again and felt compassion to provide a free night stay at a hotel for her to relax, bath, and have a bed to finally rest her body. So last night after I left work I went to rewind over a cup of coffee and saw her again. So this time I went and introduced myself and got to know this woman. Her name is Dawna and she has two sons around my age. She has no home, but she has high spirits and has a focus to her days. We talked about life and such. She saw my Bible and asked me how long I had been saved, we talked about God's grace and provision. She taught me more about peace and contentment then any pastor has to this day. Here is a homeless woman that lives in a bus stop. She has a swollen leg, but continues to push through her hard life and looks to better things. She told me about how the Lord controls time and so she puts her hope in that. Im not sure if she is saved or not, but the fact is her desire to push through the hard times to get to something better is compelling and captivating. I shared with her how the Lord wanted to bless her through me by giving her a nights stay at a hotel and she was undone. I told her I have been seeing her every time I come for coffee. I told her that I come to get coffee because I need a place to unwind. As I said that I looked at her and felt awful. How could I be so vain. I don't need a coffee shop to unwind, it is a luxury that I forget about. I can learn to unwind a different way if need be. I am so blessed to have to provision to go to the coffee joint. I do consider this coffee place a place of ministry for me, but even still- I must remember that the Lord has truly blessed us. I will not stop when I experience a hardship but I desire to press through and trust in the unseen glory and beauty of God. The Lord desires to flood each of our hearts with peace and compassion. His water flows and washes away all the dirt from our lives! I have lots of dirt, but praise the Lord that in Him I am pure and have an inheritance like non other. This inheritance is eternal freedom and peace with the Creator of the Earth. My house is not in a building, nor is it a bus stop for Dawna, our house is how we live our life. Home sweet home is not peaceful unless the people in the home are in the peace of the Lord. May we remember that no matter where we are to check ourselves-Dawna has. May the Lord bless and speak to her heart. Christ absolutely loves her and wants to reveal more of His love for her.

I left and gave her two dollars and she was so thankful to be able to get a coffee and egg McMuffin at McDonalds that next day. Praise the King of Kings!!! I told her she was a wise woman, she looked at me like I was crazy and I told her "yes you are." I see many homeless people that are in your shoes that are foolish with the money they receive from passerby's. I told her that it is encouraging to see those who wait and trust and when they get a little they do not waste it all on things like smokes and alcohol and drugs. I walked away and just smiled. I knew that I had just spoken to a lady that was encountering Christ while we were in conversation. The Lord's hand is at work and is desperately screaming to us all FREEDOM and REDEMPTION. We don't have to earn this, or try doing the right thing, this is not retained in what we don't do or what we do do. We will possess freedom and redemption when we get on our knees and listen to our Loving Father speak tenderly to our broken hearts.

Next time you see a bus stop may you be reminded of the peace the Father gives to us. And be encouraged no matter what circumstances you are facing there is peace even if it is in a bus stop.

Blessings to you on this day.