The heat and humidity fell from the sky this morning like Breughel’s painting of Icarus. Maybe the hot weather got too close to the sun! It was a calm, blue, temperate morning and somehow I felt under the mercy, God gently comforting all the hurting people gathered on State Street.
The song that came to mind, as songs often do, was “It is Well”, the live version often brings tears to my old eyes. It pulses, so haunting, so full of faith!
And through it all, through it all My eyes are on You And through it all, through it all It is well…
The story behind the original song, “It is Well with my Soul”, is heart-wrenching, if you don’t know it already. The lyrics came to Horatio Spafford in 1873 when he reached the place where his four daughters were lost at sea. Looking into the depths of the watery grave of his beloved children, the depths of his own despair, the man somehow managed to give God…PRAISE!
No wonder this remains one of the greatest hymns of our faith, still reflected upon by Christian musicians today. The words of this song were bought at a great price, just as we were!
People in line were teasing Jamie because she wasn’t hugging people today. She has a condition that requires her to avoid contact with germs right now, but we took a picture together to show she has no aversion to hugs.
I showered this morning, Jamie, so hopefully the only thing you “catch” is the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control we contract from the Spirit in Galatians 5:22!
It was hygiene day. We do this once a month, making up packs of things people need: washcloths, soap, deodorant, body spray, shampoo, razors, shaving cream, toothbrushes and toothpaste. I wondered where the folks with the packs could go to freshen up, but Ken gave me the answer:
Marsha Curry-Nixon and her organization, Amiracle4sure, have just opened a new facility called “Showers on State” in Allison Hill at 1735 State Street on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 8:30 to 11 a.m. May everyone who goes there be refreshed, not only in body but spirit also!
“And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” (Matthew 10:42)
John came through the line after a bit. We had pants for him, to replace the ragged, almost indecent, shorts he was wearing. He also changed his shoes and we took a picture, but he was headed for home, appropriately, to try on the new pants. The moccasins we replaced were in such a state I asked Kim to burn them with appropriate ceremonies!
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” (Isaiah 52:7)
May John and all of us use our feet to bring the good news, as Terry did today.
Philip came to the table, perusing the items that we had on hand. Terry offered him a Bible or a tract. He said he had 13 bibles at home! Terry told him he only needed one Bible but he had to read it! He then asked her, “Is there a man in the Bible who cut his hair? I wanna read that story.” She told him yes, that’s Samson.
Terry went on to tell Philip about a man in the Bible named Jesus, who by his death made the way for us to have eternal life. She showed him how to find the story of Jesus by reading the Book of Matthew. Terry also gave Phillip a brief synopsis of the gospel story from the fall of Adam and Eve to Jesus’ blood sacrifice which covered our sins, brought us back to God.
Using gospel tracts, Terry bookmarked the story of Samson in Judges and the book of Matthew for Philip. May the Lord reveal himself to Philip as he reads his new Bible, number 14!
Wayne had set up a PA. I wanted to share with Cinderella a verse of hope I had read that morning and then it occurred to me that the verse was rather for everyone, so I stepped up to the microphone.
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
It seems like we never have enough to meet the needs of the people. Within an hour, we were cleared out of almost everything we had brought with us.
The lottery was for $1.3 billion on Friday, July 29th. I dreamed of a foundation called “Many Mansions” which would house the homeless people on many streets to provide them with a good Christian home, the one they probably never had growing up. The first one would be where Tent City is now. But the clouds didn’t open up this time and our fleece remained dry as a bone!
But next week I will give Cinderella her new slippers. It is enough for my imagination! Join us, brothers and sisters of the Church, next week in Allison Hill, at Serve the Burg. Let’s be doers of the Word, not hearers only on Sundays!
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!