January 17. 04

How Lovely are Your dwelling places, Oh my God, who is like You??  You are the Great I AM, who alone is in charge of the universe and all that is in it……Mighty God, the ONE who holds all of creation in the palm of His hand.  Oh, how I extol You, my God and my King!

How perfect You are in all of Your ways……You make no mistakes.  I am forever in awe of You …….. AWESOME GOD! 

Tonight as I wander through the conference room in Albany, searching for a familiar face, through the crowd, behind the heads of those looking for a place to sit, in the distance, I see an all too familiar figure.  Is he homeless Lord?  My heart seems to stop for a moment at the thought.

I turn my head to find my place to sit.  I look back, but the man is gone.  Oh Lord, forgive me, I should’ve gone over and talked to Him, it is no mistake that “we” are here in this building at the same time.  Lord, I am so sorry.  I am saddened at the missed opportunity, my heart is heavy.

Today, is another day to rejoice in the Lord!  It is the last day at the conference.  Jane has been going with me, I’m so glad for her company.  I see very few that I know, but that is okay, I came to extravagantly worship my King!

As the evening has almost come to an end, Jane gets up to go to the rest room.  When she returns, she told me there was a homeless man sitting on the floor over in the corner.  Oh, I know, I saw him a couple of days ago, he’s back!  I asked him to sit with us she said.  Bless Jane Lord, as she offered kind words and invited him to sit with us.  The man was embarrassed by his attire and appearance.  Jane took his hand and reassured him that that didn’t matter.  But, the man declined.

I waited for the right time, and just before the conference was over, I walked over to see if the man was still in the place Jane had left him…..he was.  I couched down on the floor next to him and introduced myself.  His name is Daniel …… a very powerful name I tell him.  He smiles.  I ask him if there is anything I can do for him….he looks perplexed.  So, I explain to him about The Father’s Heart…..this is what I do, help those who need help.  We talk more, Daniel begins to open up about himself, his life.  He has only been out of prison about 1month…..drugs.  He had a rough upbringing.  His father was a hells angel and his mother was the property of the hells angels since she was 14 years old.  This is the life he was brought up in.  However, Daniel offers no excuses, it is his poor choices that took him where he has traveled. 

Do you know Jesus??  Yes, he gave his heart to the Lord, he is trying very hard to follow Him. Thank You Lord for Daniel, thank You that You brought us together, thank You that You have given me another opportunity to allow Your love to pour over this broken, lonely man.

As we are talking, Daniel self-consciously pulls at his clothing….his shirt, his pant legs, as he is sitting on the floor.  “Why are you doing that?” I ask.  “I always do that, I know how I look”, he responds.  “You don’t have to do that Daniel, you look fine just the way you are.  Jesus sees you as beautiful and precious in His sight.  He doesn’t look on the outer man, but the inner man, your heart.”  Daniels eyes well up with tears. 

“I know people feel uncomfortable around me, they think I’m a dumb homeless person.”  Oh Lord, why do we hurt those who already hurting??  Forgive us for our lack of love, our lack of YOU.

“Daniel, I don’t feel uncomfortable around you …. As a matter of fact, I feel more comfortable around you, then those people who look so perfect.”  Ya huh? Daniel says.

Then he shares more of his life to me, how his mother died in his arms, and how he misses her.  He feels so all alone.  “All I want to do is serve the Lord, I want Him to use me ….. but I don’t know how.

He waves at some people as they pass by us.  “I wave at people, because then, they have to wave back!  Isn’t that mean??  He chuckles.

No, it isn’t mean Daniel.  It is the act of a lonely man crying out.

What can I help you with Daniel??  Socks. (I should have guessed!)  Hmmmm, I don’t have any socks with me today.  But I do have a tarp and a backpack.  Then the Lord reminded me that I had put a set of clothes in the car for Marty….including socks!!  Thank You Lord!

Oh, Daniel, I do have some socks out in my car!  But before I go out to get them, may I pray for you?  Sure, he says.  I take a hold of his hand and began to pray.  Jane, Daniel and I agreed in prayer.  We came against generational curses, and lack of employment.  Then I placed my hand on his heart, and prayed that his heart wounds would be healed.  As I was praying, I opened my eyes, (which I do frequently when I know the Lord is moving, I want to see how He touches people) Daniel’s face was beet red and he began to shake and cry. I continued to pray for revelation knowledge of the love of Jesus and express to him how much Jesus loves him.   I am compelled to hold him.  I reach over to hug him, he is reluctant to hug me back….then I whispered in his ear, “It’s okay Daniel, it’s Jesus, He wants to hold you, because He loves you so and wants you to know and feel His love.”  Suddenly, I could feel his body melt into my arms as and he began to cry.   Thank You Jesus for your compassionate, loving touch.  There is nothing stronger than Your love.

Then Jane and I told Daniel that the Lord was using Him, right where he was at.  As he sat there on the floor of the church, I told him, people have to pass you, God is using you to open their eyes and change their hearts. 

Then I went out to my car and there were Marty’s socks, pants and fleece pull over.  I got so excited, I giggled!  I took them inside to Daniel and as I held up the pants, I said, what size do you wear??  33-34…..perfect, that exactly what size they are!!  He was so thrilled and blessed by the clothing.  We walked out to my car and I gave him some tarps and we stuffed it all into a backpack.  He was overjoyed.  “Are you coming back tomorrow?” he asked.  “No Daniel, we don’t attend this church, we were just here for the conference.”  I really enjoyed talking with you, most people don’t understand me, and you guys understand me.  It feels good to talk to people who understand me.  Will you be here in the morning?”  Once again, we have to tell Daniel no.  We could tell, he didn’t want us to go; he was enjoying our company, but mostly, the sweet presence of the Lord.

Well, we’ve got to go.  “Can I pray for you before you go?” he asks.  Our hearts were touched by his request.  “Of course you can.”  Daniel prays such a sweet prayer of thanks giving and of protection over us, as we drive home.

Lord You are such an incredible God!  Who would’ve thought this would have happened clear out here in Albany at a conference????  Thank You, that You have prepared my heart and eyes to see as You see.  That You have opened the eyes of my heart for those in need of Your touch.