Hope Through the Storms

As we are all thinking about the east coast storms and praying for those in it's path, we at the bridge stand with ones who have been weathering their own kind of storm and we take hands and pray for them too.

 

This one had just gotten out of the hospital this morning and had no where to go.

The temps were cold and the winds were blowing and the noses were red!

 

he was hungry

 

 

his stark, blue eyes had a sadness to them. . .no telling what wounds this one had.

 

Two souls walking the same journey on the streets, sharing tales and information

 

These two are not homeless, but live in extreme poverty and have lived in hard worlds.  I believe they come, not just for the hot food and coffee, but for the good feelings of love.  Do they know they are feeling the love of Christ? This one below is a ham and sometimes we have to say no to his requests, but he'll be back. He's a happy fellow but if you look deep into his eyes, you see something. . .a sadness maybe. . . it gets me every time. He told me he makes wreaths out of wire coat hangers, spruce and mistletoe.  He promised me one.  I'll be waiting for it.

 

 

The guy on the right in one of our wonderful volunteers. . .he has a heart of gold and probably is giving golden wisdom here to this young one. . .or the latest game scores :)

 

These two have been back in the church for the last 8 months.  The one leaning just found out he is going to have a job in the next couple of weeks and the other is hopeful to be getting one the next day. These two are such gentlemen, and always giving God the glory for all things.

 

This one gave us the thumbs up for the Homeless Outreach Ministry. . .I love it when they smile!

 

You see them take it all in, the food, the kindness, the physical needs being met, the love. . .and then they wander off to take it all in, to ponder. . .

 

 

As the temperatures dropped and sun was setting and the dark was rising, the volunteers begin to pack up things

 

 

and I look over at ol blue eyes and see him with his head bowed.  I go over. . .

 

 

he had received gloves for his red, raw, freezing hands, warm food for this stomach, a crocheted sleeping mat to soften the ground, blankets to help keep him warm, and the beginning of friendships.

He looked at me with tears and said, "I can't get over how kind you all are.  You've all given me hope."

 

This sappy one then once again had tears.

That's what it's all about!

Hope!

And he is told where Hope comes from. . .Jesus.

 

I prayed quickly for him and then we all left.

 

I ponder. . .these precious ones walk their own kind of storms and yet they get up every day and put one foot in front of the other, they keep going on, finding the strength to make it another day.

I pray as they come to the bridge on Tuesdays, if they don't all ready know, that the hope they feel is from the One who rides the storms with them.  As the man on the bridge said to me once, "Jesus was always with me, I just didn't see him before.  But my eyes are open now, and I see him every day." He helps us to share that word.

 

May they all see Him in their storm and may hope abound in all their hearts!

 

I pray for the homeless:

 

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Romans 12:12

We don't have to be homeless to be walking through storms.  We all have at one time or another and will probably have more in the future. May we all apply Romans 12:12 to ourselves. . .I know I will!

~For our Hope is in Him. . .there is none greater~

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