Wednesday, July 28, 2004

As always, I am in awe of my Jesus………Sweet Jesus, oh how I love You, there is none like You, nothing can compare to You.  Your goodness, and love are unfathomable, You just keep pouring it out over and over and over me like warm sweet honey……….Oh, how I love Your fragrance, my Jesus, my Jesus, my Jesus!

Again today I see You, I see You as You walk the streets, I see You as You ask for a drink of water, so I give You some.  I see You as You are naked and in need of clothing, so I adorn You with the best that I have, I see You as You are tired and weary in need of a place to lay Your head, so I offer you my shoulder, I see You my Lord, I see You.  How I long to serve You, to wash Your feet with my tears, to minister to You and pour my love over You

Do they see You Lord?  Do they see the beauty of Your face?  Do they hear the sweet melody of Your voice?  Do they feel the gentleness of your touch and the warmth of your embrace?  Oh Jesus, do they see you in me?  When they look into my eyes, do they see the reflection of Your love?  When I hold them and wipe away their tears, do they feel the depth of Your love for them?  Oh, how I long for them to see You….not me, but You.  You in me and through me

Today, as Bonnie and I ministered to many through TFH clothing outreach.   For the first time in a while, EVERY single man’s item is gone………….everything gone!  (25 pairs of jeans, 36 pair of socks, 30 hygiene kits, 40-50 t-shirts, 5 pair of shoes, 6-8 jackets, 20 button up shirts, 9 blankets, 3 sleeping bags, 7 backpacks, 20 pair of under wear, 15 pair of shorts, plus about 10 bottles of water………all gone!)   After we finished ministering outside, Bonnie and I went inside of the Blanchet to help serve meals.  Soon, Bonnie felt that she had a word for a lady we had ministered to earlier with clothing.  After a bit, she went up to the lady and shared the word with her.  The  Word was, that there is a call on her life.  So Bonnie shared that with her and then prayed with her.  All the woman could do was weep…….thank You Jesus for speaking to her and touching her with your love; only You can do such MIGHTY works!

When we finished serving meals, we went back outside.  Two women came up to us for clothing needs.  As we were talking to one young lady and giving her clothing, we couldn’t help but notice the black eye and bruises on her neck……my heart hurt for her.  I have seen her before walking down the street, as I would pass by in the van.  This was my first actual meeting with her……a divine appointment I believe.   After we blessed her with what she needed, and as I was helping another woman, I heard Bonnie say to her, “Jesus bless you.”   As the young woman turned, to walk away, I heard her say, “I wish”.  I looked at Bonnie and said, “Go get her, we need to pray for her, quick, go get her!”  As Bonnie went after the young woman, I finished helping the other woman.  Soon, Bonnie returned, with the young woman following beside her.  We then began to minister in love to this incredibly broken individual, asking her if we could pray for her.  We soon found out that her name was Mary…..(hmmm a coincidence?)  We also found out ( as we knew) that she is a battered woman……..”why do you stay?”  “I don’t, he follows me, he stocks me until he finds me, he won’t leave me alone.”    I mentioned places she could go, “I can’t, I have a warrant, they won’t take me.”  We told her Jesus loved her and cared about everything about her………..her jaw was set, her eyes vacant and cold, all I could see was the hopelessness in her and the grayness of death on her.  As we shared the love of Jesus, she stared at us with that vacant look and said, “I don’t do the love thing.”

Oh, how my spirit grieved for her, this wounded woman could no longer accept, feel, or understand love.  To her love meant being hurt, beaten, used and betrayed.  Oh Lord, open her eyes to the truth, melt her heart with the power of  Your love.

“Jesus loves You”, I said, “His love is the purest love, His love is perfect and He would never do anything to hurt you, but only to help you.”  We then prayed for her and into her.  I asked her if I could hug her……..so many times when I hug these hurting people, I can feel a change come over their bodies as they succumb to the loving touch of Jesus.  As I held Mary, I felt her body begin to relax, then she quickly stiffened back up, afraid to trust what she was feeling.  Before she left, Bonnie took both of her hands and asked her if she wanted to ask Jesus into her heart.  Mary looked at us with that cold stare and said, “I told you, I don’t do the love thing.”  Okay, I said, I am here twice a week, if you ever want to just talk, or pray, I am here.

Oh Lord, how my heart ached for this beaten and battered woman, and what I feel is nothing compared to what You feel for this Your wounded and hurting child.  How You weep over Your children. 

Though, I am reminded of Your beaten and battered body, what you went through for us, that is the You that I see in her.  How I love You my Lord, how thankful I am for You, how my heart is saddened at the thought of how You were beaten, battered and abused……all for me.  Thank You, I love You.

Walking in His Shadow,  Teri