God's Mercy Continues

What a wonderful day! God is so very good to me. I had the pleasure of escorting a fellow resident of my apartment community on a job hunt today. She went in to each place, I prayed. She had a critical need and if she didn't come up with a large portion of her back rent today was to be her eviction day. We shared and cried all day.

We were invited to lunch by a friend who has been my partner in ministry for quite some time. She shared my burden for this woman and her children. We exchanged phone calls all day, praying and seeking God's guidance for her. Spent at the end of the day my discouraged neighbor went home still uncertain of her future. Our landlord was holding out hope for the hand of God, encouraged by the concerned phone calls he gave her an extra day. My friend and I agreed to go to our homes and fervently seek God's will in the matter.

A couple of hours and many tears later, God gave me a name of a man we attended church with. I knew this man to be a faithful brother in Christ and though I haven't really done anything like this before, I called him on my neighbors' behalf. I promised God that if He chose to work through people for this need and He gave me a name I would ask for this money. After explaining the situation and the need, the man did what I knew he would. He told me he'd pray about it and asked if he'd see me at service.

I went to my neighbor's home to pick them up for church and she didn't even come to the door. I know what discouragement is. Sometimes you just can't do one more thing. I'd seen this sister hold on all day only to return home "empty handed". I went to church. My Brother in Christ was there and handed me an envelope with a substantial amount of cash in it. My friend felt impressed to relieve some of my neighbors burden, but couldn't give it all. I now held in my hand almost the exact amount of my neighbors' considerable debt. I asked him if it made any difference that someone had already paid some on the debt. He said, "No, isn't it almost completely paid now?" He never even hesitated. God gave him a specific amount and he was faithful in giving. Knowledge of some already given never made him blink. He never doubted what God asked him to do, and he walked away making me promise she'd never know his name.

After this evening service I spoke with my Pastor. He felt impressed that we needed to attempt to tell my neighbor of her lifted burden tonight and to be persistent. We did just that. She was greatly relieved and I know she will sleep tonight. So will I!

My friend and I count ourselves blessed to be witness to God moving in this way. He is so faithful to hear the cries of His people and we should be broken for these situations. We should grieve for one another and bear each others burdens! It was my pleasure to travail in prayer today, to have the time to devote to this and the God-given desire to do it. That was not in me but in the Holy Spirit inside me and my friend and my faithful Brother in Christ. Hebrews 13:3, "Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." My friends, the thought that we might get this right or we might possibly walk out Romans 13:9 and love our neighbors as ourselves sets our enemy on edge. May it become second nature to us to behave this way.

Dear God, help us this day to become aware of the needs of those who are in our path. Create in us a desire to care and let that desire pass to our children. Your word says that in the last days our love for one another will wax cold. Though we know Your coming is soon, please let our hearts remain broken, for they must if we are to do Your will. May You come upon us in power with a fresh filling of Your Holy Spirit and allow us to minister out of it. Keep us humble and kill our pride. Help us to forsake our needs for theirs because You who are Faithful can supply all our needs according to the riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Your Word says, "Give and it will be given unto you:good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over will be poured into Your lap. For with the same measure you use, it shall be measured to you." Luke 6:38 We need not fear even if we do lack temporarily because of obedience, but count it to Your glory to share in the sufferings of Christ. Amen.

To God be all the glory and the power and the praise, Amen!
Jamie