Having the courage to be available

I am going to talk about the  experience in my message tomorrow in our Courage series, but it was so profound I wanted to write about it too.

Last Monday morning, Dave Paul and I agreed to meet at the office at 7:00am to go over some things before our 9:00am staff meeting. We've never done that before, but with Easter coming up we had a huge meeting to get through and we wanted to plan our time well.

I was driving up our street in the dark when a well dressed young kid jumped out in the road and started yelling at me. I could tell he was drunk, he was swearing at me and waving his fists, and he was challenging me to a fight. I got out of my truck and walked up to him and asked him "Are you okay?"

The kid, a seventeen year old name Joshua, suddenly burst into tears and started pouring out his heart that his brother had just died in Iraq. He was ravaged with grief and had spent the whole night out drinking. I told him that I was sorry and that I'd pray for him. I went back to the car then, and drove around the corner to park.

Joshua followed me around the corner, still crying, and said "can you pray for me right now?" I said that I would, and he fell to his knees right in the parking lot and hugged my legs as we prayed. After that I invited him inside our lounge to sleep for awhile, and on the way in he said that he'd gotten away from God and church, but he thanked me because he thought this experience might bring him back. He thanked me again after he lay down for a few minutes, walking home to his nearby house because he knew his mom would be worried.

I don't know what will happen to Joshua, but I'm glad that I could be there for him when God knew he would need someone. Are you listening to Him? Do you have the courage to be available for people He knows are in need?

Comments

[Mandy]

Pator Mike,
This morning I started my day bothered that I only grabbed one card to pass out for Easter Service. All morning I was consumed with this instead of focusing on who I should give this one card too. I have to tell you that God was doing the focusing for me, I literally got to work and had only been at my desk for 7 minutes when a co-worker came to say hello and looked like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. At that moment I knew this was the person that God had intended for me to pass this wonderful opprotunity too. And as you mentioned I had the courage to be available for this person seeing she was the farthest from my mind on inviting. But the minute she stepped up to my desk I knew, we talked for a while and I was thanking Jesus the entire time for using me. The lord works in such an awsome way!! She is bringing her whole family and very excited about the event. I can't wait to experience this glorious day!! God Bless.

[Lisa]

I am so grateful for yesterday's service. The scripture you read (Joshua 1-9) really spoke to me, and I memorized it. There is such peace in those words. I didn't know that I would need to share them so soon. Today, a coworker and good friend found out that a biopsy she had last week is malignant. She is upset and afraid. I shared that scripture with her. I pray it brings her comfort and hope she knows that she will not go through this alone ... not only will I (and many other friends) be with her, but so will God.