Better to Give.....
Good Morning Girls! We had our HomeMakers Christmas party yesterday. It was an awesome blessing in so many ways. As I sat at our table, I looked around and thought to myself "What a beautiful group of Girls". Though I was not able to talk to everyone I wanted to, as much as I wanted to, I still felt so very loved amongst this amazing room full of women. It's funny how we come together to celebrate Jesus, yet He always makes us feel as though we are the guests of honor. What a truly amazing God we serve!
I headed to the gym after the party (did you notice, I didn't eat anything off of the normal food table? Instead I had two rounds at the dessert table......yeah baby! I was sugar buzzing all day!), As I was driving I was praying and thanking the Lord for all of the blessings He has poured out on me over the last few weeks. He has gone out of His way, using so many people, to make sure I know without a doubt, that He loves me, and is taking care of me. I can't put it into words. It has been amazing.
As much as I have loved being blessed, my hearts desire is to be a blessing. I was asking the Lord what it is He wants me to do. How can I be a blessing. I was all choked up and said "please give me someone to bless". I turned the corner and there was a man standing on the corner. He was carrying one of those signs, come to think of it, I'm not sure what it said. I only know it said something about being a vet, and God Bless. I immediately pulled over. Now I know what some of you are thinking. You may be thinking that is a waste of money, or that it is a scam. I have heard it all before. I know full well that at just about every streetlight these days, there is a man with a sign. You may have even been taught to believe that if you give a homeless man some money he will only buy alcohol with it. Well let me tell you, the enemy ran all of those thoughts through my head as I sat in my car.
I dug into my purse. I was going to get a $5 gift card that my sister had just given me to Target (he was standing across the street from one). I reached in to get it, and I felt the Holy Spirit speak to my heart and sweetly say "you said you wanted to be a blessing". Deep breath. I opened up my wallet and there was a $20 bill. I grabbed it and hopped out of my car before I could talk myself out of it. I walked up to the man and handed it to him. When he saw that it was a 20 he gasped and said "oh my, thank you so much. God Bless". I looked him in the eye and said "may God bless you."
I hopped back in my car and immediately got choked up. It felt so good to give. Sure, I had need of this $20, but this man had a bigger need. I continued to the gym 1/2 mile away and I felt the Holy Spirit again say "you provided a temporary need, that is good. What he needs is me." Oh man, I should have prayed with him! Aargh.....I missed it. I was a little frustrated as I headed into the gym. The internal dialog began "you could go back." "what would you say?" "You're already here, in the gym, and it's cold out." "Maybe he will be there when you leave." "Maybe he won't". The one thing I have learned when it comes to the Holy Spirit is this: when in doubt, error on the side of heaven, not reason.
Just as they were taking Thomas into the gym I said "Wait. I'm sorry. I need to take Thomas back for a minute. We have something to do, and then we will be back." Thomas put his coat and hat back on, and said "what are we doing?" I said "you know that guy we stopped at and mama gave some money to? I am supposed to go pray for him?" Thomas said "okay" and hopped in the car. (you do realize that this reaction of my 5 year old boy is a miracle right? I mean he did not even fuss!).
I prayed as I drove back to the corner "Lord, let him still be there please, please, please, please. Give me the words to say." Praise the Lord the man was still there. I got out of my car and walked up to him. "It's me again" I said. He put his hand in his pocket. It looked like he was reaching for the money I gave him...like I had changed my mind or something. Do people do that? That's crazy! I said to him "I don't mean to sound strange, but as I drove away earlier, I felt the Lord speak to my heart and tell me He wanted me to pray with you. Will you accept prayer from me?" He looked at me like he was trying to grasp what I had just said, but he agreed. I asked him what I could pray for. He looked at me again and said "well, the usual. that I could take care of my family." Yes Girls, these men with cardboard signs, have families. I took him by his hand and I prayed for him and his family. I don't remember everything I said, but I trust I said what the Lord wanted me to. After I looked him in the eye again (people with cardboard signs don't often receive that respect) and said "I wish I could do more for you at this moment". He looked back at me and said "Every prayer matters!" Can you believe it! This man had to remind me that prayer is more effective and powerful than any amount of money I could have given him at that moment. He understood this truth. I got back in my car, and headed to the gym. Thomas asked me what we prayed about. I told him "the man wanted me to pray for his family. He has kids too and he wants them taken care of just like I want you taken care of." "Oh" said Thomas, in a way that made me believe he was actually comprehending what was happening here.
As we drove, the enemy began his attack. I am going to share it with you tomorrow. I want to share it because the enemy is not creative. Like a frat boy at the bar he uses the same lame lines on everyone, hoping someone will buy into it. The problem is, we often do, and it prevents us from stepping out in faith and being a blessing to others.
Acts 4:13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Jen, for they could see she was just an ordinary Girl with no special training in the Scriptures. (which means I am no more qualified than you to do these small secret agent missions from the Lord, so don't let the enemy talk you out of it!)
Love you all my fellow Good New Girls-
Jen
I headed to the gym after the party (did you notice, I didn't eat anything off of the normal food table? Instead I had two rounds at the dessert table......yeah baby! I was sugar buzzing all day!), As I was driving I was praying and thanking the Lord for all of the blessings He has poured out on me over the last few weeks. He has gone out of His way, using so many people, to make sure I know without a doubt, that He loves me, and is taking care of me. I can't put it into words. It has been amazing.
As much as I have loved being blessed, my hearts desire is to be a blessing. I was asking the Lord what it is He wants me to do. How can I be a blessing. I was all choked up and said "please give me someone to bless". I turned the corner and there was a man standing on the corner. He was carrying one of those signs, come to think of it, I'm not sure what it said. I only know it said something about being a vet, and God Bless. I immediately pulled over. Now I know what some of you are thinking. You may be thinking that is a waste of money, or that it is a scam. I have heard it all before. I know full well that at just about every streetlight these days, there is a man with a sign. You may have even been taught to believe that if you give a homeless man some money he will only buy alcohol with it. Well let me tell you, the enemy ran all of those thoughts through my head as I sat in my car.
I dug into my purse. I was going to get a $5 gift card that my sister had just given me to Target (he was standing across the street from one). I reached in to get it, and I felt the Holy Spirit speak to my heart and sweetly say "you said you wanted to be a blessing". Deep breath. I opened up my wallet and there was a $20 bill. I grabbed it and hopped out of my car before I could talk myself out of it. I walked up to the man and handed it to him. When he saw that it was a 20 he gasped and said "oh my, thank you so much. God Bless". I looked him in the eye and said "may God bless you."
I hopped back in my car and immediately got choked up. It felt so good to give. Sure, I had need of this $20, but this man had a bigger need. I continued to the gym 1/2 mile away and I felt the Holy Spirit again say "you provided a temporary need, that is good. What he needs is me." Oh man, I should have prayed with him! Aargh.....I missed it. I was a little frustrated as I headed into the gym. The internal dialog began "you could go back." "what would you say?" "You're already here, in the gym, and it's cold out." "Maybe he will be there when you leave." "Maybe he won't". The one thing I have learned when it comes to the Holy Spirit is this: when in doubt, error on the side of heaven, not reason.
Just as they were taking Thomas into the gym I said "Wait. I'm sorry. I need to take Thomas back for a minute. We have something to do, and then we will be back." Thomas put his coat and hat back on, and said "what are we doing?" I said "you know that guy we stopped at and mama gave some money to? I am supposed to go pray for him?" Thomas said "okay" and hopped in the car. (you do realize that this reaction of my 5 year old boy is a miracle right? I mean he did not even fuss!).
I prayed as I drove back to the corner "Lord, let him still be there please, please, please, please. Give me the words to say." Praise the Lord the man was still there. I got out of my car and walked up to him. "It's me again" I said. He put his hand in his pocket. It looked like he was reaching for the money I gave him...like I had changed my mind or something. Do people do that? That's crazy! I said to him "I don't mean to sound strange, but as I drove away earlier, I felt the Lord speak to my heart and tell me He wanted me to pray with you. Will you accept prayer from me?" He looked at me like he was trying to grasp what I had just said, but he agreed. I asked him what I could pray for. He looked at me again and said "well, the usual. that I could take care of my family." Yes Girls, these men with cardboard signs, have families. I took him by his hand and I prayed for him and his family. I don't remember everything I said, but I trust I said what the Lord wanted me to. After I looked him in the eye again (people with cardboard signs don't often receive that respect) and said "I wish I could do more for you at this moment". He looked back at me and said "Every prayer matters!" Can you believe it! This man had to remind me that prayer is more effective and powerful than any amount of money I could have given him at that moment. He understood this truth. I got back in my car, and headed to the gym. Thomas asked me what we prayed about. I told him "the man wanted me to pray for his family. He has kids too and he wants them taken care of just like I want you taken care of." "Oh" said Thomas, in a way that made me believe he was actually comprehending what was happening here.
As we drove, the enemy began his attack. I am going to share it with you tomorrow. I want to share it because the enemy is not creative. Like a frat boy at the bar he uses the same lame lines on everyone, hoping someone will buy into it. The problem is, we often do, and it prevents us from stepping out in faith and being a blessing to others.
Acts 4:13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Jen, for they could see she was just an ordinary Girl with no special training in the Scriptures. (which means I am no more qualified than you to do these small secret agent missions from the Lord, so don't let the enemy talk you out of it!)
Love you all my fellow Good New Girls-
Jen
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