Prayer in the Cereal Aisle

"Call to Me, and I will answer you . . ." (Jeremiah 33:3)

People who have known me for a long time will tell you I am a prayer warrior. I have walked and talked with God on a daily basis for 40 years. All those years I have taken Ephesians 6:18 seriously, "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. . . "  Because of this, I have seen a fallen tree stand up, an non working air conditioner begin to work, a lawnmower that wouldn't start, begin to start with prayer and a sink unclog. . .without cleaners!

Besides just talking with the Lord throughout the day, I have also practiced going down on my knees in the prayer closet to have those deeper times with the Savior. For about the last 6 months though, I have had a desire to go even deeper. God has blessed me with an answer to that desire. Without saying a word to anyone, a friend gave me a book several months ago called Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala, the pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle. It's main message. . .Prayer.  Then I became interested in the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. They have quite a story of their own!  For Valentines Day, I received their new music CD simply titled, PRAY.  When I received the CD in the mail, it came with two band bracelets with the simple word. . .

 

I shouldn't be but I am still always amazed when He answers so quickly and so precisely; just like He did on this day.

 

This morning before I left for town to run errands, I put on this bracelet and I prayed, "Lord, send me someone who needs prayer."  An hour later I was standing in the cereal aisle when there was a tap on my right shoulder. I turned around and it was William, a homeless man I befriended a long time ago and lost touch with him the beginning of last summer. I had been worried about him. And now he was standing there tapping me on the shoulder needing, wanting prayer. He proceeded to tell me about a lot of serious, physical ailments and that surgery was probably in his future. Despite all his problems, he was working in this store. That should tell you a lot about him right there. "Kris, he said with tears in his eyes, I'm afraid, I don't like surgeries, I'm scared. " He wanted prayer. And so I put my arm on his shoulder and we went before the Lord and prayed right there in the isle next to the Cheerios. He was blessed and so was I. I felt like we were standing in the presence of Jesus. . .and we were! God meets you wherever you are, even next to cereal boxes.

 

I pondered all the way home about what had just happened and why it doesn't happen more. I get so busy when out running around, thinking of my own things I need to do, the lists I need to get done, and my own worries swirling around in my head. But isn't everyone else doing the same thing? How many faces have I've passed by in the stores, in the restaurants, who were worried, sick, upset and I walked right by them, a Christian, a prayer warrior, and just walked on by?

It was such a blessing to see my old friend, for him to show up when I was waiting for the Lord to send someone and he needed someone. What a blessing to be available!

I'm reminded of another book I read a couple of years ago, Praying for Strangers, by River Jordan. She felt led by the Lord to spend an entire year picking someone, a stranger, every day and pray with them, for them. And so many wonderful stories came from that, she wrote a book about it all.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, what a blessing it is to be available, to be obedient, to be open to others, hear what they're saying and go to the throne of God on their behalf right then and there. I don't do it near enough but I hope this year will be different.

So if you're out to lunch with me and I happen to go hunt down a waiter or waitress. . .how about going with me? I think the biggest blessings come when you least expect it and no matter what side of the blessing you are on, God will be glorified and honored.

That's what it's all about. Blessing others and glorifying Him, Lord of Lord and King of Kings, Immanuel (God is with us). . .even on a grocery aisle.

Is there something you need to be more intentional about?

Pray about it. He will show you.

And don't be surprised if it comes with a tap on the shoulder.

 

 

 

White Snow White

No, not snow white, the fairy tale princess. We had a snow fall today and it was so beautiful. I’m not a cold weather lover but I do admire the beauty of the snow.  I’ve heard every snow flake has its own pattern…just like people.  That’s just like God to be so creative. Only one verse came to my mind about snow, which you will read at the end of this, but I did think of the white horses at the end of the bible.

            In Revelation 6:2, John writes,

            “I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, ‘Come!’ I looked, and there before me was a white horse.  Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

            In Revelation 19:11 John describes this,

            “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True…then down to verse 14,

            “The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.

            It sounds like a prince charging in on his white horse to save the damsel.  Actually, the rider called Faithful and True had written on his robe and on his thigh the name King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Even better!

            His entrance here signals the end of the false powers.  A great battle will ensue and we know the ending.  He will conquer, will take his bride and ascend to the New Earth.

            Revelations describes a perfect city with no evil.  Paradise is re-created in the New Jerusalem.  I bet there will be ponds there, but I’m not sure about the snow.

            Snow White had her prince.  But again, that was just a fairy tale.  She was not a real woman, but if she was, I think she would be in Heaven.  Any woman who could live with, work with, and clean up after seven men, and with names like Grumpy, and Dopey, and still whistle, has to be an angel. OK, all kidding aside, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords charging in on his white horse and taking his bride, the church, to a paradise like place is no fairy tale.  It’s the real deal. 

            The bible says our sins are as scarlet but Jesus makes them white as snow.  I smile as I look out at the clean, pure snow, thankful that I took that step of faith and knowing how He sees me, white as the pure driven snow.  Because of this I will be in paradise with Him someday.  I hope you will be there too.

            For us believers, I guess you could say,

            “And they lived happily ever after.

A Valentine From the Homeless Cowboy

I met a gentleman who is experiencing homelessness at the moment. They call him "Cowboy" out on the streets. He spends much time writing and I asked him if he would share his latest,

 

A Valentine. . .Enjoy

 

(Please leave your comments to Deese, thank you)



The Broken Empty Vase by Deese

The Broken Shattered Vase: Valentine's Day. 

 

 When I was a child, how many valentines’ heart shaped candy always said Be My Valentine? How many valentines did I give to you over the years? More than I can imagine in my life. As I see the heartaches, the sadness and the broken dreams of each card I gave you, it said a lot of things. I love you.

 

So many years have gone by and here stands a shattered broken vase with no flowers. A card of all the promises I say to you and a broken vase. I left you long time ago in a vase, with a broken heart. All the promises I say to you on Valentine's Day, I came up short.  I broke your heart.  There are so many things that I left unsaid. I was not there when I needed you in my life. I left you in tears. I promised all the love to you Lord but, I say to you that I would give to you on Valentine's Day; in all the serenaded love songs like you do with us you serenaded us with love songs so when the birds sing to you and to us I would like to give you the same, my Lord. It would be a love to you like every morning as all the birds are singing songs to you sir and to us .

 

So if I can give it to you, my lord, it would be like the hummingbirds when they hum to Leader of the band; with lyrics and the morning dove's they are singing to you sir home come on home yea who are weary come home softly and tenderly calling home come on home blue jays: they are singing to you. This land is your land this land is our land to you sir and the red cardinals, they are singing too, lord and the old gospel hymn My Lord What a Morning and the woodpeckers. They are singing to you, their songs as they were pecking on an old tree. Singing to you like the Old Rugged Cross and the black birds with their dreams and their dear songs to you sir. And it is like the morning has broken, like the first morning, And like the first sunlight, Fresh from the word. And like the old owls; they are singing to you I saw the light I saw the light I saw the light I saw the light into the night as the morning sun, is come up and   pelicans and seagulls were singing to you with dear tears. Aye Calypso the places you’ve been to, the things that you’ve shown us, the stories you tell and so sir we see the story you tell us of the good old book of Agape love. So the eagles are singing to you sir. as they soar through Colorado rocky mountain high and He gave me a home where the buffalo room where the deer’s and the antelope play where never I heard a discouraging word and the sky's it is clouded all day and a cowboy see’s a love on the open range to you lord now I stand here with nothing but a Shattered Broken Vase which has been emptied over the years in my life. 

 

The cards fell short. The things I should have said in those cards over the years and all the love to you”   I was to say.  There were promises I was to fill it with but failed to keep. A cowboy's heart is full of love to give but, I fell short. If I can give all the roses that you can see in the vase that is a love that comes from within us, is Agape love that you give us.  So Lord I come to you sir on Valentine's Day as a broken shattered vase.  My love for you is a love that is true love as a cowboy to you sir.  Thank you for the old tree and the three rusty, old nails, that you gave life . . .So we can have life.  Thank you on Valentine's Day.

 

Love Letter to the Homeless

Dear One,

As you sit under that bridge, warming up by the fire you built,

Do you know that He loves you?

 

As you sleep under the stars,

Do you know that He loves you?

 

As you walk the streets, looking for cans and change,

Do you know that He loves you?

 

You may not feel loved, but you are.

He sees your every move

He knows your every thought,

Do you know Him?

 

He has been with you from the moment you were conceived.

He has always been with you, heard every word from you,

He has known your every thought. . .while waiting.

 

His Beloved Son paid the penalty for your sins because of Their great love for you.

Do you know this?

 

You say, “I’m bad, I’m filthy, I’ve done wrong things, I’ve made wrong choices.”

He knows dear one,

His love covers over a multitude of sins.

 

Sins as filthy as rags can be made white as snow.

Do you know this kind of love?

 

People have hurt you?

He can heal you.

 

Wherever you are, there He is also. . .

Waiting, because He loves you so.

 

You say, “I’ve never seen Him.”

When that man bought you lunch, He was there.

When the blanket lady handed you blankets and gave you a hug, He was there,

When that man led you to help, He was there,

When Salvation Army fed you, He was there,

When Red Cross gave you a cup of hot coffee, He was there,

When Hotel, Inc. gave you information you needed, He was there,

When you were given a good diagnosis, He was there.

When Hope House gave you a new pair of shoes, He was there.

When that young man witnessed to you, He was there.

When the nurse took your blood pressure, He was there.

 

When that lady handed you a Bible, He was there.

 

When that man handed you a coat and patted you on the back, He was there.

 

When you think you are alone, you are not, He is there.

 

Dear one,

The streets can be hard

They can make one weary.

Come to Him and He will give you rest.

 

When you open the door of your heart to Him

He will welcome you home.

 

Oh Dear One,

Do you hear the message?

Your Heavenly Father loves you!

Jesus Christ is waiting with His loving arms open to you.

Do you hear Him?  He is saying “Come.”

 

How do I know this? 

I went to him with my filthy rags and opened the door of my heart.

He came and cleansed me white as snow.

He sent me to you.

He says to us, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.”

 

Dear One,

There is no greater love than this,

That He layed down His life to save another. . .

You and me.

 

But death could not hold its sting

He was raised to win the victory.

 

Oh Dear One,

Do you hear Him?

 

“You are loved!”

 "You are loved!"

 "You are loved!"


 

Grace in the Mess

"I'm not helping good people or bad people. I'm just helping human beings."  anonoymous

 

A group of ladies wanted to help by giving men under the bridge winter clothes and other such stuff.  But when they heard some were drinking and the older one chose to stay there, they pulled their things back and didn't want to help. . .and they didn't.

 

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them." Mother Teresa

 

My insides cringed at this.  Do we only help and share the love of Christ with only those who have their "act together".  How many of those are out there even in the church?  Do we only help and love those who have all their issues fixed and addictions cured and sins forgiven.  Are not these the ones who need it most?

 

"By judging others we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just entitiled to as we are."  Bonhoeffer

 

I am friends with a registered sex offender. . .a one time felony long ago that he paid for and repented of.  When I met him he was newly homeless and scared and didn't want to tell me for awhile.  We talked for about an hour and then he shared his past.  I didn't react with horror.  I just asked questions and I listened.  I shared about the love of God and forgiveness.  He wasn't sure.  Over the next several months, God began dealing with him and brought a few others to him that began a bible study and then began taking him to church.  I continued to be his friend along with my husband.

 

Love me most when I deserve it least~Swedish proverb

 

Last March my friend rededicated his life to the Lord and has been very faithful ever since.  My husband and I can even see a change in his body language, his demeanor, his face. 

 

What if people had left the minute they knew about him.  Most of them do.  But the few who stayed, God worked through to reach our friend and now he and we know for sure the address of his permanent home. And he is now sharing the good news and love of Christ with others.

 

Grace was shown on a cross on a hill.  Don't you know it was messy? Messy with blood and thorns and the ugliness and mess of sins of the whole world. But our Savior, our Jesus, our Christ, our Lord, stepped into the mess and poured out grace and love.  He didn't turn his back on me and I for one, have been changed. Have you? Are you grateful?  Enough to step into the mess? 

"Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work."

Mother Teresa

Dear Lord,
I pray for all who step into the messes whether that be in Africa, under the bridge, or in our own homes. All places are filled with people who need your love and encouragement.  Fill the steppers with strength and courage and love that looks past the mess and sees the beauty of your creation. May you give all these precious ones the discernment and wisdom to know the what, the where and the how and that we may not always know the why but we know the One who does. . . You, and that is enough. May we all just trust and obey and love and leave the rest up to you.
Thank you Father for stepping into the messes.
Thank you for bringing beauty out of the messes.
Thank you for not leaving me in the mess.
In Jesus Name,
Amen 

This was a repost. . .
The man who chose to stay under the bridge. . .moved into his own place a year ago and is still there doing well.

The other one from the beginning of this post went into a rehab in another town over 3 months ago and is still there working it out. I am proud of him.