Category: Blog Article

Over a week ago heavy rain poured and I became lost in it’s saturation as I drove home. The traffic was slow because of it but I didn’t mind being held up. It gave me time to be still and be quiet. I wondered at the blessing of having so much water fill our reservoirs and rivers. My heart was flooded again with a tenderness I couldn’t define but it just didn’t matter. I let it come, not holding myself back with needless self-control; another private moment of privilege unexplainable.

My speed began to pick up as I neared my exit and the rain took on a different look. Everywhere I looked it was as though I could see white rain, like the very clouds themselves were in liquid form visually. This was special and I hadn’t seen it until I was coming off the freeway into my city, my home, my place of rest. The hills are green again from soaking in this special rain.  I am looking with eyes of expectation upon this place. The blooms are going to be gorgeous this year.

We were on our way out of town for the evening when I had asked my husband for a caffeine connection. He stopped at a café we knew while I stayed in the car to read for a few minutes. He came back to tell me it was closed and I was so immersed in trying to read the pamphlet in front of me I barely heard him, or the voice that was crying out.

“Can you please help?” As we were stopped for cars passing, I heard the voice again. She came to our truck waving to us through our windows. When my husband let down the window, her story was quick and seemingly desperate.

She needed enough funds to catch the Amtrak train home to see her mother. I don’t typically ask this question up front, but before I thought about it, I asked her, “Do you believe in God?”

“Yes, I just prayed a minute ago” she answered.

My husband handed me a bill to give her and I asked him to pull over so we could talk to her for a moment. He gave me enough to meet her ticket needs so getting out of the truck he went to an ATM to replenish our own immediate needs for the evening. While he was gone I prayed with her, but there was a sense she was merely being polite so I didn’t say too much and stopped to just talk to her.

Her clothes were nice, even her makeup perfect. She had on sunglasses and I longed for her to take them off. I wanted to see her eyes. She was hiding behind them in some manner. I asked her name and that of the mother she wanted to go see. She shared them and some other personal information. It was obvious this young girl did not understand the moment she was living.

She was chattering still when my husband came back and it was time for us to leave. She thanked us and again told me how she had just been praying. My reply was, “and He answered your prayer”. It was only then that she stopped talking and fell short for what to do or say. I watched her as the realization dawned upon her. I hugged her and got into the truck with my husband.

Driving away I looked to him and asked, “Well what are you thinking?” Without even looking at me he said, “scam!”

I agreed with my husband’s discernment but I was curious why he would still give away money? He didn’t have an answer, but we prayed for Kim, the young girl who was so lost in this life. My encouragement came from her realization. Although she didn’t deserve it, in His great mercy, God answered her prayer. I got to see that seed planted. I also understood with greater clarity how I myself had been given this kind of grace and favor while I was yet far away.

Kim is going to share with the world she lives in….God answers prayers. Those prayers are going to change her.

It was mid-seventies and the sun was gorgeous. I was stuck in a car line and the breeze picked up. Suddenly the white blooms began to snow in force. I couldn’t be bothered to roll up my window to keep out spring’s promises. I reached over to turn up the song and then leaned back watching the show. It’s going to be an amazing year.

His name was Samson and he was our first “superman”; also the only one of truth. All other fantasy characters we make up are derivatives of this supernatural man whose strength was incomparable.

It would seem Samson’s kryptonite was women; the wrong women. A life changing event is when he is lulled to sleep. In this slumber his strength is removed because God has departed from him. He ends up having his eyes taken and is imprisoned, spending his days now grinding grains. (Gives a whole new meaning to our slang about being in “the grind”)

After a time Samson was called in to perform like a circus act for his captors. They gloated over having subdued him. They began to revel and party at this accomplishment but they forgot the most important aspect about this man’s life. His God was redemptive…… Then Samson said to the lad who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars which support the temple, so that I can lean on them.” Now the temple was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there-about three thousand men and women on the roof watching while Samson performed. Then Samson called to the LORD, saying, “O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!”

It is so easy for us to be distracted by our various kryptonite poisons; those things which distract and drain us of strength. We chase them more than our life force. Whatever our drug of choice, we become lulled into a stupor until we can no longer see or hear the voice of our hope.

Our hour is at hand to be awakened to the strength we walk in. Our eyes will not be removed from us but rather we will be given greater vision. Our movies, books and comics follow a familiar theme. We have a hero who starts out invincible, but then succumbs in some weakness or another only to be redeemed to offer hope.

Our greatest hero was one who had no weakness at all but succumbed to His love for us despite our weakness as a human race. He loved us enough to be our hope, our redemption and our salvation.

We prayed for her daughter who was dying of cancer. I had faith and my friend had desperation to hope in these prayers. She lost her daughter to this disease almost six months later despite all possible treatment options. During this time my friend stopped me in the hall one day to ask if the sins of her past might be a reason for the things happening to her children now. I didn’t even have to think about my answer to assure her forgiveness was absolute and grace was more than enough.

The day I heard of her daughter’s death, I was devastated. My faith filled prayers in agreement with hers of desperation did not get answered in the way I wanted. I had to leave my desk to pour my heart out alone in my car for a while. I knew my Father could have healed this woman but the question remained, why didn’t He?

I still don’t have that answer but my faith is not wavering. I continued to pray for my friend and loved on her as gently as I could. This was a major trial in her life. Would she turn from a God who didn’t answer her desperate plea to save her child ? It’s been over a year now. My friend confesses her faith to be stronger than ever despite yet another trial to her own health this time.

She tells me what an inspiration I am to her. I am choked up even typing those words because she has no idea what she has given me in encouragement.

Love unexpected dropped me to my knees and then lower still. I could feel tears upon my cheeks as I wondered at this expression of the heart. I held a ring in my hand with a note of generosity and love. My mind went blank in the moment and I could but wonder at such a gift. I knew only in part the beauty of its meaningful offering.

Looking out the window I could see the clouds roll back and the promise of open heavens began to emerge. I had set the ring upon my counter and now it was time to try it on. It fit but one finger with perfection and that was where I wore my wedding ring.

I had found a new place of quiet and it looked out at a huge field. The weather change made for real beauty. I got outside my car to enjoy the activity of bees, ladybugs and butterflies in the field of green. The lilacs were especially busy with their flowers being loved on by everything.

My eyes took in the tall heads of grass that most resembled wheat, making me think thoughts of harvest. These only seemed to be growing near the edge of the field where I stood. Looking out at the expanse, I wondered if I just couldn’t see the rest from where I was standing. I knew what I was to concentrate on and spoke my heart until it was almost time to leave.

Heading back to my car I stopped suddenly and actually began to laugh. Though my eyes had been on them for quite some time, I didn’t actually see the lamps standing in the high grass where no streets were. Again I was reminded of the harvest which was going to be drawn to such lights. They stood tall in the field to be easily seen in darkness.

I saw her when I went to grab some lunch. A homeless woman begging for help on a familiar corner. I see a few faces now and again but don’t often carry cash. Today I had a few bucks and as I tried to eat, my thoughts kept going back to her form. I hadn’t even seen her face yet. It was useless to try and finish so I put my tray back and headed for the door without any idea of what I might say to her.

I detest condescending attitudes myself and I wanted to take care with her dignity. She was precious to my Father and I knew it. When I got to the truck I still had an unopened bottle of water. I grabbed that and the remainder of my cash to go talk to this friend whose name I did not yet know.

It was a busy place very near my work and I said a quiet prayer that I would be hidden from all prying eyes. It would wound me to be prideful about sharing a moment of compassion.

The bottle of water was the ice breaker. She said she hadn’t had anything to drink and my heart ached for her. I was honest to say I didn’t have much but she was welcome to what I did have and she spoke, “anything helps”. This small act of kindness seemed little enough so I asked her if she would like me to pray for her.

I shared with her the heart of Jesus who is help and hope. She suffered from fear, sickness and disease. Her home was a temporary hotel room. When I asked her name I laughed when she told me, “Bobbie”. I had been missing my husband to the degree it was hurting my heart. Before I left her, she gave me the gift of letting me hug another “Bobbie” with blue eyes of real warmth.

Fruit…tasty fruit is to be had. Imagine yourself biting into the most amazing piece of fruit. The juices are so much they run down your chin onto your hands holding it and then down your arms. The sweetness of its flavor is an explosion to your senses.

Ask for it and it shall be yours…..receive it and share with all you meet.

Gal 5:22  But the fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace. It is being patient, kind and good. It is being faithful

I live near a city where life on the streets is for real. No precious bedroom community. It’s all about immediate needs for survival. A tune humming in my head from a rap artist has been repetitive…”I want to be free (that’s the truth)”…

Much of what I listen to now is worship and praise, but still I’ve been drawn back to this music for a couple days. I searched my back room to find the artist and put it in my deck. What I realize is a confession. I stopped listening to this cd because it “was less than Godly!” Let me be real. I didn’t want to absorb any profanity or negative input into my ideal of what life should be for me. I had completely forgotten the reason I ever owned the music in the first place….”I want to be free!”

Friends, how are we supposed to relate to the world around us if we are so hung up on what we might be offended by? How can we ever be in touch with the harvest if we can’t remember or know who they are?

To the ends of the earth; what does that mean to most of us? I’d have to say we need to go into the darkest places of our communities. That’s just for starters….

Act 1:8  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”