David and I took a stroll around in the mall as I waited for my car to get an oil change. David was focused on getting his ice cream and I was focused on keeping up with him. There was a lady sitting on a bench inside the mall. I didn't see her face just her back and I felt a prompt to go and talk with her.
Well initially, I said to myself "Nah, I'm on my way to get some ice cream, let David play and come back to get my car." So I basically told the Holy Spirit "I'm too busy." David and I hung out for a bit and then it was time to head back to get the car. Still sitting there was this woman on a bench, still couldn't see her face. Again, the Holy Spirit prompted me to talk to her. I sat down next to her, when I looked in her face, it was this lady that I had seen around in my neighborhood. Each time I saw this woman in the neighborhood I always wanted to talk to her, but this time it was the Holy Spirit telling me to and not just my "wanting." Funny how God worked that out.
So I sat next to her and asked her would she like prayer for anything. She said she had gotten fired from her job over 2 weeks ago and she doesn't know what to do. Every application she puts in she thinks they are looking at her age and not hiring her because of it. I told her there is no job discrimination in heaven. She smiled and we prayed for God's favor to go before her with her job search. David grabbed her hand and we made a mini prayer circle there on the bench.Maybe God just wanted to reassure her that he was with her and will make provisions.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
Mall Ministry
Last night was exhilarating! Me, two high-schools girls, and my two partners went to Lakeforest Mall to evangelize. My partners took the upper floor while the girls and I took the lower level of the mall and we got to work. There's so much to write about. I watched the girls go from fear to full-force in just moments;my partners taking the upper level harvest...it was awesome.
One thing I am beginning to learn about myself is that it is hard for me to detach myself from people. I walked up to a young lady in line at the Cinnabuns. Well, it felt like there was something telling me to go to her...so I did. After initial conversation she was open to prayer and she directed me to sit with her at a table to talk more.
Tears welled up in her eyes throughout our conversation and she kept fanning her tears away in an effort to not break down in front of this stranger at a mall. She was so emotionally broken. As she talked I am thinking to myself what more could I offer her? I offered her what I could: A little advice, prayer, my contact info, and she asked me for a hug at the end. I walked away thinking, "you could've done more", but what more could I have to offer?
*The Holy Spirit reminded me of Peter (Acts 3:6). Peter didn't have what the beggar wanted as far as silver and gold was concerned, but he did give him what he had to offer and that was healing. I couldn't offer this woman money to pay off her car note, but I gave her what I had, love. What I learned this time around is that love is the greatest offer that anyone has to give. When you give love, you have given the more than money can buy. I may never see this young lady ever again, but she knows that God loves her and He cares because he sent me to talk to her when she was having a bad day.*
One thing I am beginning to learn about myself is that it is hard for me to detach myself from people. I walked up to a young lady in line at the Cinnabuns. Well, it felt like there was something telling me to go to her...so I did. After initial conversation she was open to prayer and she directed me to sit with her at a table to talk more.
Tears welled up in her eyes throughout our conversation and she kept fanning her tears away in an effort to not break down in front of this stranger at a mall. She was so emotionally broken. As she talked I am thinking to myself what more could I offer her? I offered her what I could: A little advice, prayer, my contact info, and she asked me for a hug at the end. I walked away thinking, "you could've done more", but what more could I have to offer?
*The Holy Spirit reminded me of Peter (Acts 3:6). Peter didn't have what the beggar wanted as far as silver and gold was concerned, but he did give him what he had to offer and that was healing. I couldn't offer this woman money to pay off her car note, but I gave her what I had, love. What I learned this time around is that love is the greatest offer that anyone has to give. When you give love, you have given the more than money can buy. I may never see this young lady ever again, but she knows that God loves her and He cares because he sent me to talk to her when she was having a bad day.*
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Don't Look at Their Faces
Although I am not always 100% confident every time I step out the door. I always prepare myself to "go and do." Along with my "go and do" attitude comes the thought that no one wants to here about God, or that person is okay, or maybe they already know God. Anything would come to mind to keep me from sharing what I had awaiting within me.
Sometimes I will look at a face and a prejudgment of how receptive they are will come to mind, but as I "go and do" I find myself overthrowing those thoughts programed in me by the enemy. The thoughts that were intended to promote fear and essentially support the "be a hearer only" complacency. Satan wants me to be comfortable not sharing.
Last week a team of us went to the Shady Grove Metro station. I prayed the whole way there, preparing my heart and mind not to look at the faces but to do the will/word of God. As soon as I parked it was warfare, Satan was trying to get me to pick out who I should talk to. Every time that thought came, I did the opposite. Not only that but the accountability of my teammates helped me push through too.
Almost every woman I offered prayer to accepted and we had prayer right there at the station. There was one young lady who didn't seem interested in the least. She was one that Satan said don't go to, but I did the opposite and gave her my CD and contact info. Of all the people there I thought, "she's probably not going to listen to it", but I am here to offer. I checked my email and the very one I thought wasn't interested sent an email response to the CD saying how much she liked it. Of course I extended the invitation to learn more and she accepted.
There are so many people out there dying for us to share the Light and Life that we have within us. Satan is busy giving us false impressions, making the people look intimidating when in reality there hearts are ready for what you have to say. Their faces don't reflect the need in their hearts/spirit/soul for God. People await and yearn for a savior even if they are all tattooed, pierced, frowned or even non-chalant.
Sometimes I will look at a face and a prejudgment of how receptive they are will come to mind, but as I "go and do" I find myself overthrowing those thoughts programed in me by the enemy. The thoughts that were intended to promote fear and essentially support the "be a hearer only" complacency. Satan wants me to be comfortable not sharing.
Last week a team of us went to the Shady Grove Metro station. I prayed the whole way there, preparing my heart and mind not to look at the faces but to do the will/word of God. As soon as I parked it was warfare, Satan was trying to get me to pick out who I should talk to. Every time that thought came, I did the opposite. Not only that but the accountability of my teammates helped me push through too.
Almost every woman I offered prayer to accepted and we had prayer right there at the station. There was one young lady who didn't seem interested in the least. She was one that Satan said don't go to, but I did the opposite and gave her my CD and contact info. Of all the people there I thought, "she's probably not going to listen to it", but I am here to offer. I checked my email and the very one I thought wasn't interested sent an email response to the CD saying how much she liked it. Of course I extended the invitation to learn more and she accepted.
There are so many people out there dying for us to share the Light and Life that we have within us. Satan is busy giving us false impressions, making the people look intimidating when in reality there hearts are ready for what you have to say. Their faces don't reflect the need in their hearts/spirit/soul for God. People await and yearn for a savior even if they are all tattooed, pierced, frowned or even non-chalant.
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