Let Light Shine
Break my heart for what breaks Yours, God
So God led me to a man. I started talking to him and asking different questions. He clearly was not in the right state of mind. Next, he pulled out his bottle of paint thinner and started inhaling it directly in front of me. This was probably one of the most uncomfortable situations I have been in. I could see the hopelessness in his eyes and the brokenness he had experienced throughout his life. All that he did was sing and laugh hysterically at the top of his lungs trying to entertain me and two other girls that were with me. I didn't know what to do besides try to uncomfortably smile towards him. I knew in my heart that God had me in the right spot at the right moment. I asked him if I could pray for him and he accepted. I got the chance to speak life over him..I have no idea if he even comprehended anything I said. Soon after he was upset that there was no paint thinner in his bottle and continued to laugh. We stood with him for a while..and just tried to keep him company.
We have shrunk Jesus to the size where He can save our soul but now don’t believe He can change the world.
– ANONYMOUS
Faith today is treated as something that only should make us different, not that actually does or can make us different. In reality we vainly struggle against the evils of this world, waiting to die and go to heaven. Somehow we’ve gotten the idea that the essence of faith is entirely a mental and inward thing.
– DALLAS WILLARD
I felt kind of hopeless after I left the situation..I just wanted to bring him hope and a freshness to his soul. But I am confident that even though nothing significant happened..there was a seed planted. He got to feel a glimpse of Jesus that day. Even out of my complete lack of words, weakness, and imperfection Jesus was able to use me in order to hang out with HIS son. Jesus hung out with the tax-collectors and prostitues (Luke 19, John 8). Despite the extreme darkness in that place..I believe there was a little light leaked too. A tiny seed of hope was left with that man in that place.
No hands but yours,
No feet but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which
Christ’s compassion for the world is to look out;
Yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good;
And yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now,
– SAINT TERESA OF AVILA
Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did – 1 John 2:6
The thing is that there is so much hurt everywhere. There are young boys running around with paint thinner getting high because they have nothing else. Literally nothing. There are girls trying to get pregnant because that is the only way they believe they will have a future. There are families literally living in a dumpster…running after trucks just trying to get their next “meal” to survive. A lot of the boys I live with come from those exact situations. One day, Tony Deien, told me a story about Fernando…How one day they were in the car passing by dumpsters. Then Fernando yelled out, "Look Tony there is my favorite dumpster!" "My mom and I would get the best seafood from there"…I have seen scars on the boys from their moms punishing them with a machete.
God broke me. He ignited something inside of me.
– C. S. Lewis
Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, suffering, and injustice when He could do something about it.” “Well, why don’t you ask Him?” “Because I’m afraid He would ask me the same question.”
– Anonymous
Best,
Andrea
