Father, touch this brother's heart and soul. Let him see himself and others as you see them. Not as the world sees but as Christ does. In Jesus Name, Amen
My brother, I too am an ex, or rather older U.S. Marine. Not as mean or as lean as then. My service for my Country is the only pride I have in my old life before Jesus saved me and set me free. I worked (or rather Jesus allowed me to go along for the ride as He did whatever needed doing), with a lot of those hustlers and street people as many would call them, as a Minister of the Gospel. Jesus showed me that He didn't see the cigarettes, the track scars, the vomit, or the filth on people, or their violent attitudes, hustling or slinging drugs. He showed me how much God loves them. Oh my friend, you can never know "how very, very, much" unless you had a personal heart encounter with our Father in Heaven yourself. Have you? Our Father sees into their hearts. Their deep longing in their hearts for Jesus. They just don't know His Name or how to find Him. He sees their brokenness, their tears, their shame. How will they know Him unless someone tells them? Why not you? GO! Tell the hookers, the pimps, gang bangers, and homeless. Turn a sleeping junkie on his side, so he doesn't choke on his vomit and die in his sleep. Slip a couple bucks in a drunk's pocket without judging what you think he'll do with it. Bring someone a sandwich and a blanket. They won't care if the warmth you bring is new or not. Take someone home and let them shower and sleep at least one night on your couch or in between the clean sheets of a bed. If they do steal something from your apartment, don't call the police. Let them have it. You may not realize it but you are really letting Jesus have it. How often do you get to do that? You are sick my brother. I am too, my physical heart is shot! You can get a pension from the V.A. and that's not charity. You earned it. I have shrapnel lodged in my spine so believe me brother I know pain. These people you speak about are colorless and they all need Christ. You want to have a fulfilling life? Give Christ to others. You want to be rich, or feel like a millionaire at the end of the day? Jesus is the key my friend for the lock Satan slaps on us that keeps on the blinders covering our eyes so men can't see the glorious light of the Gospel. If you would turn your whole life and heart over to serving the Lord, you'll experience a few tears of your own along the way for those that refuse, but at the end of the day? Joy, peace, and contented that for today at least, you gave your all. And you will look forward to going right back to it tomorrow, you will sleep in peace. You will see heart changes, dead eyes opened, lives renewed by hope, REAL HOPE! You'll see people immediately set free from drugs, alcohol, pornography, hatred, and from their past. You may be privy even to physical healings and some set free from demons. Go fishing my friend where most people won't and believe me the fish are hungry. Where you say you live, they are swimming all around you. Cast the Gospel of Christ to them and they'll bite hard. All you have to do is watch as Jesus reels them in. But you friend, have to be real yourself. They'll know if you are or not in a heartbeat. They are looking for love. The love only Jesus has to give. Do you have that kind of love to give? Will you? If you are afraid at first, just hand out tracks and let them ask of you...they will. Just be ready with an answer for the hope you have in yourself. Don't bring them to a self-righteous Church. Check the Church out and the people first. Only if you sense Christ's unconditional love should you bring them there. WOW brother, I know how much a Church void of Christ can hurt the "New Born"! I'll never make that error again. Don't you either. You be their Church until you can find them a family of believers. You complain about your neighborhood and rightly so. You and your neighbors live in a fallen world and walk in the kingdom of the devil. You should not be surprised at what you see, smell, and handle. The government can't fix this, state or federal. But Jesus Christ can! Light in the darkness, real hope for the hopeless, life from the dead. You can live a life partnering with Christ! Give, my brother, give and you will get. You don't believe in miracles? I laugh at that, but just out of the joy of knowing what you're in for. Please just try what I'm asking for a week. Just a week. If your life doesn't get better, I welcome you to write in and call me out as a liar. Please give it some thought and pray, really pray about it and see if God won't send you out to be a fisher of men. May God bless and keep you. In Jesus Name, Amen and Amen
