Tonight....

    After being in the store to shop for a pair of thermals for myself and mom, I was stopped by a ma'am who said "Excuse me, do you know of a church close by that talks to people about suicide? Because I just can't take it anymore. I am ready to say goodbye to it all..."

     Wow :) You never really know when things will hit you as this did me. As I stumbled for my words, my mind went blank and I couldn't think of one particular church, that I was familiar with, and that would be open around this time. He kept speaking... "Or if you know someones number.." and of course my phone had died in the salon a few hours earlier. So it was just He and I standing in the snow in front of Family Dollar.

   Mario, 39, resident of Cleveland. Black male around 6.4/6.5. Cursed a lot. Looked fed up with life. Lived in an abandoned building. Didn't have food, and only had one other pair of clothing. His mother died 2 days before Christmas. She was a member at Morning Star Church. Mario used to deal and take drugs but after being released from jail this last time he figured he would try to do the right thing. Knew about God and wanted to serve Him but was having a hard time seeing God as provider when he was walking around the streets homeless. He wants to work, but every place he goes says that he needs a state ID, even the church. His problem with the church though was that, they, being we, myself, say that we are so willing to pray for people but never meet people half way. Is that what it's meant to be?

  Mario spoke on and on and on and on, even beyond the point when God had convicted me and moved me to help this man. But I listened and I teared up as He began to speak about how much he missed his mother. And I winced every time he cursed. And I laughed and agreed and shook my head and repented secretly in my inner being. I left Mario with his gift from the Lord and our church address, but I felt led to ask him to make 2 promised. 1) That he would get his state ID, now that he had a way and 2) That he would go to church. I also was able to share with him the true magnitude of God's grace and provision. When we departed I expected to see the same slummed/bent over depressed suicidal man that I'd seen when he said his first word to me... but I didn't! This time when I turned around I saw the biggest SMILE! And I mean it was big! And as he walked away he had sort of a graceful leap to his step as I could see his smile radiating the rest of the street :) This is happiness! Gratitude! Thanks be to God!
 
   I have come to the realization and some may disagree with me, but I believe that we, I, cannot be called a true christian if I am not reaching out to the needy with everything that I have :) Time, Finances, Spiritual Blessings! As I dug into my account I thought of how blessed I am, truly blessed! I am sitting on things that the world could truly prosper from!
   I have never been the time of evangelist that desires to just go and preach the word and leave... NO! I want to preach the word, build relationships, knit comforters, dig wells, teach basic living skills! This is how our world will turn to the Love of Christ! By showing them who He is and not just by throwing out scripture :) The whole time I listened to Mario, I was convinced that He didn't need a sermon spoken to him, but he needed something tangible! God! Your Provision is an over-abundance!

When I was hungry, without money, clothing, shelter and family, you became all those to me!~Matthew 25:35 (Paraphrased)