Tuesday's with Joyska Ha-ha
Today is tuesday. And that means heading downtown with Hope City.
We were a small crowd of IHOPers this time around (myself and Jane) but we had 5 of our friends come join us for our prayer meeting. It was awesome. Everyone of us today had a prayer request and concern to bring before the Lord. We usually spend the time in worship and then praying for the city, the area, and the people, but today it was all about God breaking into the lives of the people in the room.
Please pray with us. 2 of our "regulars" are missing. One hasn't been seen in a month, and one hasn't been seen since Thursday. Both are struggling to come off of drugs and alcohol, but their disappearances have concerned us greatly. Please pray for their safe return.
One of our friends as well is caught in a nasty court case that has cost her and her family thousands of dollars that they do not have. Their case is ligitimate and essential for the safety of handicapped children in public schools... please pray for justice to be done, and supernatural provision for her and her family.
In the midst of all the concerns and requests today, i looked around the room and saw 4 men and women who have been at least 6 months clean of their addictions as a direct result of giving their lives to the Lord. One supernaturally never having an urge or desire to use again, and the others, through support and prayer, successfully finding freedom and a "new direction". I was humbled and honoured to be amongst such a powerful testiment to God's grace, love, and power.
As we were heading to lunch, one of the women got in the car with me. She began to panic and as we talked it through I discoverded that we were in the same type of car that she was in when her son was killed 28 years before (a newer model of the VW bug). The story unfolded as she told me of her 6 month old son, who was killed when they were hit by a drunk driver. I was again... overwhelmed with honour to be with her as she retold her story.
These men and women have been through so much. Their hearts have been broken again and again by circumstances and choices they have made in response. These precious ones, now many years, scars and tears later are again saying "yes" and as much as I am honoured to watch, the Lord is far more thrilled and honoured.
Pain is pain, someone wisely told me once. Your worst pain is terrible, even if it is only a fraction of what your neighbors pain is. The reality of pain is not the degree we feel it, it is the degree in which we respond to it. I was blessed to be in a room today, where though it has taken time, pain, struggles, and regrets, these ones have responded to all of it with a YES to the Lord... and he is rewarding them for it!
THANK YOU JESUS!
We were a small crowd of IHOPers this time around (myself and Jane) but we had 5 of our friends come join us for our prayer meeting. It was awesome. Everyone of us today had a prayer request and concern to bring before the Lord. We usually spend the time in worship and then praying for the city, the area, and the people, but today it was all about God breaking into the lives of the people in the room.
Please pray with us. 2 of our "regulars" are missing. One hasn't been seen in a month, and one hasn't been seen since Thursday. Both are struggling to come off of drugs and alcohol, but their disappearances have concerned us greatly. Please pray for their safe return.
One of our friends as well is caught in a nasty court case that has cost her and her family thousands of dollars that they do not have. Their case is ligitimate and essential for the safety of handicapped children in public schools... please pray for justice to be done, and supernatural provision for her and her family.
In the midst of all the concerns and requests today, i looked around the room and saw 4 men and women who have been at least 6 months clean of their addictions as a direct result of giving their lives to the Lord. One supernaturally never having an urge or desire to use again, and the others, through support and prayer, successfully finding freedom and a "new direction". I was humbled and honoured to be amongst such a powerful testiment to God's grace, love, and power.
As we were heading to lunch, one of the women got in the car with me. She began to panic and as we talked it through I discoverded that we were in the same type of car that she was in when her son was killed 28 years before (a newer model of the VW bug). The story unfolded as she told me of her 6 month old son, who was killed when they were hit by a drunk driver. I was again... overwhelmed with honour to be with her as she retold her story.
These men and women have been through so much. Their hearts have been broken again and again by circumstances and choices they have made in response. These precious ones, now many years, scars and tears later are again saying "yes" and as much as I am honoured to watch, the Lord is far more thrilled and honoured.
Pain is pain, someone wisely told me once. Your worst pain is terrible, even if it is only a fraction of what your neighbors pain is. The reality of pain is not the degree we feel it, it is the degree in which we respond to it. I was blessed to be in a room today, where though it has taken time, pain, struggles, and regrets, these ones have responded to all of it with a YES to the Lord... and he is rewarding them for it!
THANK YOU JESUS!
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home