5/15/13 "I picked up a Bible when I was twenty-three, and now at sixty three, I'm finally getting' baptized."
Drew asked Chase about getting a shower and food pantry. He said he'd lost his house in Mablevale, and was living in his Geo Metro he'd bought for $150.
As Chase asked about his faith, Drew was adamant about his belief in God and he knew God was working in his life every day.
"When you opened the Bible at 23, did you make ever make a commitment and was baptized into Christ?" Chase asked. "I tried three times throughout my life, and it just never happened." Chase, pointing to pictures on our office, asked, "What would stop you from doing that today?"
Drew teared up, didn't say much, but responded, "You mean I can do that today?"
All through the baptism and after, Drew continued to thank us for making his baptism possible. We told him that it was our pleasure.
And then, when we got back to RCM, he loaded up into his Geo Metro, we pushed him down the road, he popped the clutch to jump start his dead battery, and he headed down the road.
Thank You Lord, for the jumpstart for the Geo Metro, but more so for Drew's life. Thank You Lord, for being with Drew these last forty years, leading him to this one great moment of rebirth. You, Lord, never change.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8, NIV
I'd Rather Preach
5/14/13 I call him preacher. He's spoken once or twice for us at our Lunch Lessons before the noon meal at RCM. He's always done a good job, and occasionally will sing a good old spiritual. Yesterday, Jerry came in, in his usual friendly and jolly self, encouraging those around him. We had no speaker for the day, so I asked if he'd like to share a word. "I'm not sure if I can, my ride's coming, and I gotta go to work here in a bit."
I asked, "Will you be around for lunch, you think?" He smiled, "I hope so, I smell that good cornbread and beans Ms. Harriet's cooking!"
"Jerry, if you're around, we'd be honored to hear what the Lord has to say through you."
I could tell throughout the rest of the morning, he was pretty deep in thought, preparing, listening to You for a word, Lord, I'm sure.
Then, about 20 minutes before we were to start, Jerry disappeared. I thought, "Well, he did say he had to go to work." And, that's a good thing.
But, in just a couple of minutes, he was back in his seat near the front. I stopped by his chair, and he could tell I thought he'd had gone.
"My ride is on the way, and he's ready to go, but I told him, we'd need to wait just a bit, the Lord has something for me to do," he smiled.
"You won't lose your job, will you, Jerry?"
"Nope, when the Lord calls, my boss understands, and anyway, I'd rather be preaching!"
The first words of his lesson to the poor and homeless, down and out, helpless and hopeless was ...
"Do not let you hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me." John 14:1, NIV
One Spirit, One Work
5/13/13 Lord, You speak of our being coworkers with You in ministry to expand the kingdom. I gladly accept being just a messenger boy for You, King Jesus. And, I'm glad that I’m not alone.
Sure, I'm aware of many others, spreading Your kingdom, sharing the good news of Jesus around the world. That always encourages me. But here's one that's really cool, Lord.
Paul, our operations manager at RCM and I were in his office early one morning last week, chatting about the day ahead of us. Sometime before 8:00am, Shelley came by, asked about a particular need she had and we directed her to one of our capable social workers.
She was happy, started to turn, when I asked, "Shelley, are you a praying person?" she replied, "Yes, I am. I always talk to God."
I said, "Great, I'd like to get together and pray with you. I'd like us to talk about your walk with God, if that's ok." She smiled and agreed.
Lord, You know how it works, because this is Your work. Chase and I float around the big room at RCM, listen to You, watch where it is You're working, and join You in talking with those whose souls You have been preparing. And then, at the right moment, when prompted by You, I'll simply ask, "Are you a praying person”, or “How's your walk with the Lord going?" I had seen Shelley before, and I had that Spirit feeling about her, that You were preparing her soul for coming closer to You.
