I am thankful!

Tonight I’m thankful! 

There were so many incredible testimonies this weekend! To God be the Glory, great things He has done and what amazing things He IS doing!!  Yesterday a young man was wandering the streets and heard a voice tell him to go to the old movie theatres. He stopped and turned around and headed in that direction. When he arrived at what he thought was the old theatres, he saw our church and peered in the windows. When a young man in the church saw him looking in, he went out and welcomed him and asked him to have a cup of coffee with him. He was visibly struggling with addiction, but was welcomed and greeted with open arms, by serval people.  From there realizing he once walked with he Lord. He stayed for service and was ministered too, he snuck out at the end of service but Praise the Lord, we may never see him again but seeds were sown and we are believing they will take root!  

Last night as service was kicking off I was waiting for my youngest daughter to arrive at the church so was hanging around in the lobby. A young mom who doesn’t attend our church came through the doors with her young baby. She had a concerned look on her face.  We greeted her at the coffee bar and she mentioned there was a homeless man sitting in front of the plaza with a dog. No mission was able to take him in because he was accompanied by his dog. She had bought him some food but couldn’t offer him anything more…. She had mentioned when she saw this man, she initially just walked by him, but the further she got from him the more convicted she felt and she heard the Lord tell her to turn around, and go back to this man, she went into the store he was sitting in front of and bought him some food, but that’s all she could offer him. She had a heart of compassion and desired to help..but there was nothing more she could do for him. Which is when she realized our church doors were open.

As she was sharing what had taken place, I told her I’d go talk with him. As I headed out of our building one of our ushers happened to come out of the sanctuary. Amazingly enough he also happens to be an animal lover. I said ‘Hey if there was a homeless man who couldn’t find a place to stay for the night because he had a dog,  would you take the dog in for a couple nights until he had place to stay?” He said, Yeah, of course. (I looked at him and said, “You would?, Come with me.'

We went around the building and found this young man, he was in his early 20’s just sitting there. He looked like many of the other people we find around our city, lost, sad and hopeless. He was cold, sitting with a sign propped up on his lap. His dog laid beside him. We introduced ourselves and let him know that if he needed a bed, we would get him transportation to the mission and would watch his dog for a couple nights until he found a place. He was hesitant as his dog was all he had. As we shared more with him about who were were and what God was doing in the lives of those in our church, we asked if he’d like to join us for service. He wanted to come! As we walked around the building, we reaffirmed that his dog was well taken care of. At this point I was still waiting for my daughter so we needed a vehicle to take this dog to the home where he would be staying for a few nights, instantly another usher came out who also loves pets and when we shared what was going on, he immediately responded that he would give them a ride to get the dog settled.  The three men and the dog went for a quick drive, got the dog settled and the man came back for service. The word was powerful, this young man who was previously cold, lonely and hopeless was now surrounded by men of God who desired to see him restored and made whole. He stayed until the end of the service and was ministered to. Following the service I was tied up and when I was leaving I saw him being escorted by another young man who was carrying all of his bags to the bus stop for him. I was SMILING from ear to ear… our people, they have the heart of Christ, they desired to GO…and to seek and save the lost. 

This morning, when I pulled into church…guess who walked in with me? This gentleman! Hallelujah!!! Again he was greeted and welcomed into the House of God… He worshipped alongside of our church family, sitting in the front row. Hope is being restored. 

I love and such a heart of the down and out. I have a heart for those who are struggling, and lost. I have a heart to see the potential in those that can’t see the potential in themselves. The amazing thing is, God has blessed our house with people with the same heart. We are surrounded by men and women who love God. Some have come from great homes, some have come from backgrounds most can’t relate with. 

Last night wasn’t a one man show, as I looked over the night I was amazed to see how many hands were involved in this process.

One lady hearing the voice of God and turning around… realizing she couldn’t solve his problems she reached out and asked for help.

I am not intimated by people, so it was easy for me to approach this man..but you better believe I am not a dog lover so couldn’t help there, so the Lord sent someone out of service at the EXACT time we needed somewhere for the dog to go. Then when we realized we couldn’t transport the dog, God sent someone else out who was willing to take the dog over to where he would be looked after for a few days. As this was going on  the ladies in the coffee bar said, while you were out we were praying for discernment for you guys as you ministered! Ha. Someone gave bus fare and someone carried his bags and walked with him to the bus stop!! Come on…God was surely at work!

There are so many times we don’t do anything because we think we can’t do it all…. so we pass by. 

I am so thankful this lady didn’t just hear the voice of God but that she was obedient to it. When she realized there was a need bigger than her, she sought help. 

i’m so thankful that someone offered to take in a strange dog! I’m so thankful that the bystanders didn’t just stand there, but that they watched over the house and were praying for those involved! I am thankful that God uses all of us, in different ways to accomplish great things. This young man has a place to stay as of Monday, but just didn’t for two nights. Thank you Lord for your timing and for your provision in every step of this process. 

I love our church and the diversity in the house. I love that we have all walks of life in our building…but our hearts are united. I love that we all realize that we all fall short of God’s glory, whether we live in a 6 bedroom house and make six figures or live in government housing and make very little. God loves us all the same and so we desire to treat each other accordingly….Tonight I’m just thankful. I”m thankful for the Godly relationships The Lord’s put in our lives and the timely words he brings. 

I’m thankful for The Sanctuary and for those who have stuck it out when we’ve gone through tough seasons. I’m thankful that God is s restorer of all that’s been lost or stolen. I”m thankful that even though there have been times so many have reached out to those who appear to be in need, only to realize they’ve been milked  that it hasn’t allowed us to become jaded. I’m thankful that God will use each and everyone of us to reach all walks of life, rich, poor, clean, addicted, young, old, educated, non educated. He’s not looking for the perfect, he’s looking for the willing! 

And most of all, I’m thankful that God chooses to use each and everyone of us, each and everyday if we are willing! 

James 2:1-12