When Sheri and I set out from our house this morning, it was raining. But heading south on I-81, we saw a break in the clouds and sure enough, the sudden clearing was headed for State Street.
By the time we arrived, the rain was gone. Wayne and Kim have experienced this sort of meteorological event many times before. Prepared for a drenching that never happens. True of so many anxieties, praise God!
We were surprised that so few of our friends on the street came for breakfast at St. Patrick’s this morning. Asking around, we heard the Downtown Daily Bread, the nearest homeless shelter to where we are setting up, is now closed on Saturdays. I have reached out to hopefully find out why and how we can help, especially when the summer weather is so hot.
Praying that our friends have found safe accommodations on Saturdays though they may now miss both breakfast and us. A couple of weeks ago, we didn’t have enough people to serve so many. This week, the number has dwindled. If this continues, perhaps we will need to prayerfully ask God where He is leading us?
I love watching Earl and Terry, how they wander over to people who may be on the periphery, sitting outside our immediate vicinity, taking them the message of the gospel we are commissioned by our Lord to deliver to everyone. “Good news, good news!” said Mr. Ford, as he made his way toward Ken and Terry. He began to share the good news that his rent would be paid for the next eight months and his pockets were full of food stamps! He also received an overdue retirement benefit. Mr. Ford said he had worked his entire life. He was very happy to receive his just reward! But Terry told him, that while it was wonderful how God provided for him, the good news he really should be happy about was that Jesus came to save him. She shared the gospel with him and finally gave Mr. Ford a gospel tract.
It’s probably a good thing we don’t receive our “just reward”, which would be the death and destruction our sins have surely earned us, but rather we have received grace and mercy, far beyond our deserving. May Mr. Ford receive the truth of this far-more glorious deliverance from his debts, paid for by Jesus’ death on the cross!
Marcos was happy to see his picture in the Blog. He was wearing the color blue today. He said the reason blue is his favorite color is because the town where he was born, Valparaiso, Chile, faces the ocean. So, Sheri and I are looking for blue sneakers for Marcos, size 10.5W. Then he will be blue from head to foot. We will need a modern-day Gainsborough then to do Marcos’ portrait justice!
Jamie couldn’t make it this week due to pain from which we pray the Lord will soon deliver her, as she delivered the fishing pole to Dwayne last week. He was so grateful, overjoyed, she said, as he set off to dig up some worms. Even in her absence, Jamie shared her heart for the Lord in a way that struck me:
…For the joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10)
Wayne brought a Bose speaker with him, with a wireless connection to a playlist on his iPhone, sitting on top of his car. I found my feet moving to the great music and I couldn’t help dreaming of a day when the whole street might be filled with people dancing for the joy of the Lord as “David danced before the Lord with all his might.” Wayne and Kim also thought they might get microphones so we could share our testimonies. I look forward to that day!
I always love it when we see John. He often seems lit up by joy, laughs out loud a lot. He rather resembles a prophet, I imagine, with his beard and hair. John is 6 years older than I am, but he is actually quite strong. I saw him lift a heavy container with ease. He usually starts speaking to the team with the words “Happy Saturday!”
His story is confusing, as are the stories of many we meet on the street. Nevertheless, I believe him to love the Lord, as he says, for who else is the source of his joy?
May God take any confusion in his mind away so that John would not see the Lord through “a glass darkly” but rather clearly and face to face! Then his joy would be complete.
Speaking of prophesy and John, while we were out at the eastern end of Long Island on vacation last Thursday, I woke at 3:00 am to hear the blasts of a horn. I suppose the horn might have come from a ship on the Long Island Sound, though it sounded close at hand and I counted seven blasts in all. So, my mind went to the Revelation of John, after the Lamb has opened the seventh seal and seven angels are given seven trumpets to announce events during the tribulation time, beginning in Revelation chapter 8. I can’t say with assurance we are now in the end times, but if we are, the urgency to preach repentance and salvation to everyone on the street who is lost is definitely greater than ever before! May the Holy Spirit empower us all to serve the coming King of this world.
Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15)
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
And that is the Word on the Street!
~Jeff Mason
For more information, or to learn how to join us in reaching people for Jesus, please email Living Water’s Director of Outreach, Mike Bongo, at mikeb@livingwatercc.com and he will get you plugged in! You will be blessed as you become a blessing to others!