A couple weekends ago, I completely went out of my comfort zone!
Come to find out... it's where I am MOST comfortable!
Our ministry, Audacious Faith, is partnering with StreetGRACE... and we are just beginning to be involved with helping the trafficking industry. And, since our hearts have been heavy to DO something... we signed up for their weekly emails... about things we can DO NOW.
One, was volunteer for 4 hours for a huge event that happens twice a year... for no reason at all but to love people... on Fulton Industrial Blvd. (google that street and you'll get an idea of what that street is all about)
This Blvd. is filled with Motels. Where people LIVE in and around. Where men in business suits DRIVE TO for a "good" time. Homeless walking the street. Pimps... selling "their" Prostitutes. And, children. Kids. Like babies and toddlers and kids our own kids ages. Kids who don't know what grade they are in... because they barely know what school is.
3,500+ of these people came to this event. All ages... all races... AND their sweet children.
The things I saw... were amazing. Heart wrenching. Smelly. Wonderful. Enlightening. Heavy. Burdensome.
BUT...THESE ARE ALL GOD'S PEOPLE HE CREATED AND LOVES WITH ALL HIS HEART... NO MATTER WHAT THEY DO, HAVE DONE, ARE DOING.
JUST LIKE ME.
AND YOU.
So... I told a few friends about the event and they told a few friends and pretty soon we had a plethora of people helping out.
I have amazing friends. They did things for 4 hours I didn't want to do.
I signed up to help with the sno-cones and popcorn. I made sno-cones for 200 kids maybe? All the while... wishing I would have signed up to be in the Prayer Tent... praying for all these people. The line of people for prayer was overwhelming. People, just gabbing and yelling and being all chaotic... waiting in line for PRAYER. (1,500 people got prayed for that day)
Well, guess what? We ran out of ice. You can't make sno-cones without ice. So, I got to go over to the prayer tent after all.
Pretty soon... I was holding the hand of a man... who just happened to be homeless. And, I'd guess he had been homeless for more years than I have been alive? Not sure his story. He was dirty. His skin was thick and crusty. His clothes had not been washed for 20 or 200 days (not sure which) and his eyes were YELLOW. All I could think of was that his liver had to be failing him.
So... me and this other gal I had just met... prayed. We prayed with all the faith and unction we had. For his healing... for food... for him to know Jesus and the peace only He offers. When we opened our eyes... his eyes were not as yellow and they were sparkling. He said, "Wow, I feel so much better right now!"
I thought to myself... the POWER OF GOD is truly amazing. And, I shouldn't be amazed. Why am I amazed at God? I mean... He's God for goodness sake. He does ALL that the Bible says He does. And, here I sit, amazed.
This mans life on the street probably won't change. He's comfortable on the street. BUT... HIS HEART CHANGED. He met the living, loving God. Right in front of our eyes. He felt peace. Maybe for the first time? Not sure.
All I know was that I was, at that moment, where I was supposed to be! I love Jesus! If you don't... you should consider Him! He is EVERYTHING and MORE! All we have to do is believe and receive. How GREAT is that!?
We were there until the end of the day. Everything was winding down. I walked over to see a couple friends in the "clothing" area. They were packing things up and ran across some boxes of BRAND NEW PAJAMA BOTTOMS. And, one of the gals said, "Wow, too bad we didn't see these until now!"
And, I said, "Girls, grab all that you can... we're going to where the people are and we are going to BLESS THEM with PJ bottoms!"
It was SO fun! Passing them out like candy. Seeing their faces. Smiles galor.
I envision driving down Fulton Industrial Blvd. today... and seeing people walking around in purple and white checked PJ bottoms. Seriously. How cool!
Then, it was over. Everyone dispersing to their cars and walking back to their motel or cardboard box. And, us girls went to find the driver of the car.
Low and behold, the driver of our car was back behind a building... where no air was circulating... behind a grill... all black from smoke, with blood red eyes!
Here I was thinking the whole time how awesome my part of the day was. How blessed I felt and how I was blessing others. Only to find out... the entire 4 hours we were free... roaming around talking to the people... he was slaving away... FEEDING ALL THESE PEOPLE! 5,000 hamburgers and hot dogs!!!!!
What a trooper!
It takes all kinds doesn't it!? It takes those who HOLD the hand of the person... and then it takes those that HOLD the hamburger flipper too.
My life is different from spending a measly 4 hours of my life on Fulton Industrial Blvd. Where other people LIVE.
My love for people grew tremendously. My comfort level was challenged. My hands touched the hands of the homeless and my hugs warmed some hurting hearts. But, what does God say...
Matthew 25: 32-46 ~ 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
44 “Then they also will answer Him,[a] saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
I have nothing worth monetary value just like these people I met. But, thank God... that is not what this life is about. I have a family who loves me and a living, loving God who adores the socks off me and blesses me with my needs... as well as overwhelms me with His presence... peace... joy... patience... hope... faith... love and grace!
That is all I can hope I passed along... during this 4 hour journey of mine on Fulton Industrial Blvd!