OOOH, I just learned I could type in purple-goodie!! :) So . . .I just started thinking that tomorrow is another Saturday and I'm such a slacker and haven't blogged yet this week.
Last week I already totally knew what I needed to blog about. I had a way cool experience with one of our campers whom I'll call Fred. Fred is a tough cookie. We have served Fred off and on since we started serving the homeless around 3.5 years ago. Fred has a drinking problem and I would add anger to the list. Fred has loved us as a group and hated us, but we have always made up. Last week I started talking with Fred and out of nowhere he said to me that when he was in jail last week, he lied to everyone. His lawyer, the judge, etc. . .He then shocked me and said, "I am going to go back and tell them the truth. I have a problem and I need help. I don't care what everyone around here says, they don't know what they are talking about. I saw a guy in jail go through a drug rehab program and is now clean, with a home, and staying out of trouble. I want that. I'm ready." I was shocked and over joyed all at the same time. My response to him was how proud I was for him admitting that he had a problem. Even more than admitting he had a problem, he was going to go back to the people he had lied to and tell them the truth. What a tough step!! It's tough enough owning up when we tell that 'little white lie'. But this, whew, this one was a doosy. Again, I just emphasized how proud I was and what a massive step that was and I would be praying for him. We finished talking and then went about visiting with other people. Right before we were getting ready to leave he said to me, "I'm going to write you when I'm in prison." I told him that I would LOVE to hear from him and I would write back. I asked him to hold on and I would go get our card that had our address on it. When I came back he said, "I really will write you. I'm good at writing because I can really think about what I'm going to say." I again told Fred how happy I would be if he would write to us. Then he said, "When I'm in prison, will you pray for me?" I told him-" You bet!". But then something else happened, I heard that voice. You know- THAT voice. It told me-pray for him right now. So I said to Fred, "I will pray for you, but I'd like to pray for you right now. Is that okay?" His response? Sure!! For the next few moments God swept in and did his thing. You now how sometimes athletes are said to be, "in the zone"? Well, WE were in the zone-the prayer zone!! The Holy Spirit took over and did something to me and no doubt did something to him as well. It was one of those times I walked away from a prayer and knew he heard it. He really heard. God led me to talk about Proverbs when the Book tells us ". . .do not lean on our understanding, but trust in the Lord and He will guide our paths straight . . ." I explained to Fred that he was taking the hardest step and that if he would just trust in the Lord to guide him straight he would! I explained to Fred that he, "has plans to prosper us, not to harm us." What was even more amazing was when Fred brought up scripture after our prayer. It was a total God moment. The kind you long for. That also got me to thinking, how many 'God' moments
have I missed?? Today, I obeyed. I followed my Lord's instructions to 'pray now.' However, how many times has He told me to do something and I didn't listen? I was too worried I would offend someone or I would look dumb. Shame on me. I pray for God to give me these moments and when they arrive, I freeze. It's like it's game time and you're the quarter back. It's fourth down and you have a few yards left and you need that touch down to win the game. The clock is winding down. The ball snaps and then you . . . fumble. Fumble?? You froze, you lost the game. You're out of the zone and the end zone!
Aahh!! How many times has God given us the snap count and then we ended up fumbling the ball?! Well, I know that it really made me take a look at my life and different times I heard the whisper, but I just wouldn't listen. I
really felt that we had a life changing moment all because I obeyed.
How many life changing moments have I missed because I didn't obey? How
many life changing moments have you missed because you, "didn't obey?!" My challenge to you this week and in the following months is to trust God and obey. LISTEN to that whisper. He has a plan even when we don't!! Enjoy the life changing moments He gives you-don't miss out!!!
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