God works in Mysterious ways!

So tonight I was on my way home from a long day with Elijah and friends and I get a call from a homeless gentleman that we were ministering to a few nights ago. We have spent a little time with this man on a few occasions...given him rides, gotten him food, and shared the Gospel with him. The other night was probably the best time we have had with him. It seemed like he was hearing the Gospel and we had a really good time of prayer with him. This time he asked for a ride to Westin Ranch, about a 25 minute drive from Stockton. I was still about 45 minutes away from home and we had to stop for dinner too, so I told him I would pick him up from the bus stop between 9:30 and 10p.

While we were eating my heart was super heavy for this Man. I felt like I shouldn't give him the ride alone but wasn't sure who could ride with me. Then I get a call from My wife, Raegan. She tells me that there's a man at the door who wants to see me. I'll call him "my friend" for his sake. My friend is someone who has never been to church and is not a Christian, but he has been coming to our house for prayer and council for a while now. We have gotten to know him pretty well. So he gets on the phone and says that he just wanted to talk about things...this is the first time he has come to the house sober (longer story for another blog). I told him I could meet him at the coffee shop in 15 minutes and he agrees.

15 minutes later I find myself at the coffee shop with "my friend". He just wanted to talk, which really meant he wanted Jesus. (Its funny, he keeps coming by our house and saying "I don't even know why I come here, I just know I'm supposed to...like God is telling me." I smile cause I know exactly why God has him here.) I suggested he ride with me to give the other gentleman a ride to Westin Ranch and he agrees. On our way to pick the other gentleman up he asks a million questions. He cannot figure out why I have this Love in my heart....I stole the opportunity to share the Gospel again and I think he started to get it. While answering his questions I tell him a little about this other gentleman. About how this man has lied to me and given me some crazy con stories because that is what he thinks he needs to do to hustle a ride from me. My friend is trippin!

As we pull up to the bus stop my friend tells me not to worry, if this man tries to pull something he is going to beat him to death. I said "where's the Love in that? Our love should not be conditional on him telling the truth." While we are picking the man up my friend is in deep thought. The first thing the homeless man does is start to back his way out of his lies. I stopped him and said that it didn't matter if he had lied to me, I knew he was lying all along and I still fed him and had given him rides, my love was not conditional on his actions.

I know this sounds crazy, but this is really happening... The man starts telling me how hes always trying to be good and do right but he can't....So I go into the Gospel and start sharing how God Loves us just how we are....It is at this point that my friend jumps in and finishes the Gospel. Ha! this is really happening.... this friend of mine who has heard the gospel dozens of times is now sharing the gospel to this homeless man with me!!!

Ok, so I can't finish this story because its not over. The homeless man is not yet saved. He wants to come to church and I hope to be able to take him tomorrow (Today). Also my friend is not saved, he has an addiction to alcohol that is tearing apart his family and keeping him f rom Jesus. He also has a hard time believing that God loves him and accepts him just as he is. My Heart is Super Heavy for these Men. Please pray for their salvation. PLEASE!!!

This is just a part of the ministry here in Stockton. There are dozens of people just like this that we as a Church body minister to. People are getting saved and God is transforming their lives. God has been doing radical things and answering radical prayers. Some prayers seem trivial, but God cares.... We are moving to a different neighborhood, Lord willing, and the day we decided to move I told Raegan we needed to get a dog...We prayed and didn't tell anyone....the very next day someone we know shows up at our house unannounced and says she is moving and has to get rid of her puppy she just got...God gave us a new dog! A few weeks ago we had a baptism at the church. I had gotten a pool to use but someone suggested we needed a pool ladder to get into it. We didn't have the money so I said if the Lord wants us to have one he will provide it and we prayed. I found one the next day on the side of the freeway while on a very random drive north of stockton. It was in perfect condition and the perfect size. God has provided everything we need just when we need it....

The big lesson: God always provides exactly what we need...it's not always what we think we need, but it's EXACTLY what we need!!! He is always faithful. Praise the Lord!