22 01 08 - 10:50
Comfort My People
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken." Isaiah 40:1-5
Isaiah 40 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible, especially at this time of year when we often listen to the songs and music of Handel’s Messiah. ‘Comfort’, what does it mean to comfort someone? The dictionary says: “to give strength and hope to”, how beautiful is that?
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; John ...
(more)22 01 08 - 10:49
Cry For Mercy
They tell deceitful lies, and they don't have the sense to live right. Psalm 36:3 (CEV)
Some evenings seem to be a study in contrasts, one woman doesn’t want to be bothered so she tells you a lie and another woman touches your heart with her prayer request. Leather jacket lady is walking up and down the street so we stop to introduce ourselves and ask if we could give her a Christmas gift and a prayer. She haughtily replies, ‘No, can’t you see it’s raining and I don’t want to get my hair wet.” We thank her for stopping and wish her well. We cruise down the street and meet ladies standing on street corners soaking wet. Women with big smiles when we offer a gift bag, women who are eager for prayer, hope, love and acceptance. “G” wants prayer for strength to walk away from a physically abusive relationship. “P” wants prayer for strength to enter drug-treatment. “P” is very determined to change her life and listens intently as we explain the steps she will need to take to turn ... (more)
22 01 08 - 10:48
Burst Into Bloom
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16
It doesn’t matter how many years I’ve been cruising the streets with an awesome team, reaching out to others, learning from others, sharing laughter and tears; each week is still amazing and miraculous. Sometimes the miracle is seen in the people we meet and sometimes comes in the form of a repentant heart of a team member. Tonight we stopped to visit a gentleman we meet a few weeks ago. The night we first met him he was cold, hungry and new to the neighborhood. He told us where he lived and a few days later Cindy and I went to visit him at his apartment. It was a tiny sparsely furnished apartment in the basement of the complex. I think we caught him at a bad time and he said a few words about his brother that bothered Cindy. ... (more)
