God is Never Absent

In the still of the night, God is there. In the chaos of the morning commute, dropping off kiddos, and speeding to work, God is there. In the streets of our impoverished neighborhoods, God is there. Regardless of the politics surrounding religion in schools, God is there. There's no place on this earth where God ceases to exist. He's all around us and He will never give up on every last one of His children. 

We might forget this simple truth when our plan isn't God's plan. If everything were easy, and our plans always worked out, we wouldn't need God. We wouldn't need teachers, parents, counselors, or law enforcement officers for that matter, either.  The most challenging times of my life proved to be the times that grew my character, integrity, and confidence the most. From my personal experience, when times are "easy" my good qualities become more likely to unravel. With anything, the challenge brings growth. 

It's hard to wrap our brains around God's perspective and it's so easy, perhaps TOO easy, to empathize with the world's perspective. The world's perspective is so harsh, cruel, unforgiving, judgemental, and relentless. Even though it's easier to view people through the world's lense, I much rather attempt to view it from God's gracious perspective. He loves each and every one of us and He wants a personal relationship with each and every one of us. He's willing to walk by our side through life even when we don't acknowledge Him. God will fight for our soul until the last possible breath. NO person is TOO FAR gone to be welcomed into God's kingdom. No person has sinned too much for Him to cut ties with them. God is never absent. He's there in the midst of the struggle pleading with the broken, the hurt, and the sinners. He wants us to turn to him and accept His son. 

The culture of the Dream Center truly embraces this Godly perspective. Probably my favorite part of the DC, other than the food truck, is the Discipleship Program. There are men and women in the program who perhaps society has written off. They weren't good enough, clean enough, smart enough, honest enough, and whatever else society frowned upon them for. In short, these are people society didn't want to give a second chance. However, these are the people God calls us to love each and every day. It's easy to love the people who pretend to live perfect lives, but that's not what God wants.  He doesn't condone shunning of His children regardless of what WE think about them from a worldly perspective. 

Each person I met in the Discipleship Program, both this summer and last, had the best attitude and personality. They were all different in their own ways and they all had their own different stories, but they all were kind. I love the atmosphere the Dream Center has cultivated. In my opinion, this is the exact culture God wants across the world; our churches, schools, and neighborhoods should feel like this. A place where people aren't judged and aren't afraid to be REAL. The walls have come down and people want to shoot straight. They want to share how God has changed them, reformed them, renewed them.

God is very alive in this place. Even though these disciples have gone through hard times, made poor decisions, or done things they are less than proud of, like all of us, God walked by their side through it all whether they acknowledged Him or not. God was never absent. It's through those struggles these men and women realized they couldn't do it on their own. They realized this world is too much and they need God, just as all of us do.  I've made mistakes, done things I'm not proud of, and carried some regrets, but when I allowed God to take ahold of my life, those dark feelings faded away. God was never absent. 

Let's join together and put all our judgements, insecurities, pre-conceived notions aside and vow to love each other the way Christ loves us. Let's let God use us in ways we never ever thought we could do on our own. Let's remember that there's no such thing as one event being a "God thing" because EVERYTHING is a "God thing". Let's not forget that God is always present. He doesn't show up towards the end, he's been here all along. God is never absent. 

There's No such thing as a coincidence part 2

While at the DC last year we learned of the bus ministry on Thursday evenings in which volunteers canvas local areas to get people to church. Because this was such a memorable time for us last year, I asked if we could participate again this year.

Once we were there we split into two teams. An incredible Christian man named Manny led my team. Manny looked just like any ordinary guy, but looks can be deceiving, and Manny is far from ordinary! As we walked the streets of Skid Row, surrounded by feelings of hopelessness, grief, fear, and the ultimate attack by Satan, Manny offered up a glimmer of hope to the hopeless; he shook people's hands, he prayed with people, he rapped for people, and he showed a sincere care for these people who society has given up on.

See, we have allowed this to happen in our cities. We have allowed people to think there's nothing more to life than living hour-by-hour on the drug ridden streets. We've allowed people to think they are no longer welcome in society for their past mistakes. We've allowed Satan to comfortably set up his den in OUR space and claim God's children as his victims. It's people like Manny who go to Skid Row and other gang-ridden and drug-infested neighborhoods day in and day out who offer hope to the hurt and lost souls who reside there. 

As we walked the streets of Skid Row we invited people to church. Most declined but there was one man who said yes! That one yes proved to be the highlight of my day and quite possibly my trip. We were waiting to cross the street when someone walked up behind us and gently asked, "are y'all Christians?" We all turned around and saw a taller gentleman, who honestly didn't look like he belonged on Skid Row, looking at us. We said YES!! He asked us to pray for him and he explained he was a "new" Christian. Once we prayed with him we asked him to church. He hesitated at first, but then he agreed! Our new friend's name was Henry. He was so pleasant and super pumped about being saved and a "new" Christian you couldn't help but smile when talking to him. 

Henry had been out of jail almost a week at this point. He was 50 years old with children, but his addiction to meth landed him in jail. He asked me to look at a paper that had different facial expressions on it and choose what I felt at that moment. It was a no-brainer that out of the 40 or so faces on the page, I felt joyful! When I selected joyful Henry wrote J-O-Y in his notebook. He proceed to say J stands for Jesus, O stands for others, and Y stands for yourself. Pretty good for a "new" Christian! Henry ripped that out of his notebook and handed it to me; something I will keep forever! 

Once on the bus I met another gentleman who was very clean cut named Ray. Ray was a quiet 40 year old Philipino man. I moved from my seat and sat behind him so we could chat more easily on the way to the temple. He very willingly shared his testimony Of abandonment, drugs, and alcohol which all landed him on Skid Row. However his 10 year stint of drug and alcohol addiction came to an end 11 months ago when he entered a program at the Union Rescue Mission. He was about to graduate and was looking forward to continuing to work at the URM and then get on his feet. 

His story included parents dying when he was 5 years old, being abused, and being adopted out 3 separate times. His lack of feeling wanted and valued led to drugs, alcohol, and ultimately living on the streets. However, his story didn't bring sadness, rather joy to my heart to literally see, in action, what Jesus can do in someone's life when they are willing and ready to accept Him! The hope and happiness in Ray's eyes confirmed the amazing power of Jesus and His ability to renew and redeem His children. 

After a wonderful sermon, we met back at the bus to tell our friends bye. It was hard saying bye to Henry and Ray not knowing what tomorrow would bring to them, but I have faith God is working wonders in both of their lives. Henry even picked up an application for the Dream Center's Discipleship program. These two men will not be easily forgotten. I loved chatting with them and hearing their stories. 

These are the men who society has given up on and has labeled as "crackheads, felons, losers" and every other name Satan has created to turn society away from sinners. At the end of the day I am NO BETTER than Henry or Ray. I have sinned, you have sinned. It is PEOPLE who place a value on sin, not God. 

These are men who allowed the enemy to launch an assault on their lives and the devil whispered they weren't good enough, strong enough, valuable enough. It is men like Ray and Henry who remind me of the great power of our almighty God and the reason why I CAN'T GIVE UP ON PEOPLE! I can't, for the sake of humanity, stop serving others in the name of Jesus. There's too much hate, fear, and evil in this world for ME to give up on the power of God.