Friday, July 31, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Jenny-Temporarily Homeless
We met Jenny a couple of days ago. I wasn't sure I believed ALL of her story, but I felt for the most part she was being honest. She wanted to catch a bus back home which is in Boise, Idaho. Bill and I felt the Lord was telling us to give her $20.00 , so we did. We were also able to talk to her about forgiveness and how important it is. The last thing Bill spoke was, "You'll have enough money to buy your ticket by the end of the day."
I wasn't really sure if we'd been "scammed" or not and decided we'd done what we were instructed, so it was up to Jenny to use the money however she pleased.
Today, Bill and I felt like we were to go to Gateway Mall. Why, I had no idea. We'd been there a couple of days ago and I really wasn't in the shopping mood. Imagine that! It just so happens that instead of going inside the mall, I suggested we walk to the end of the road and up the street which is across from the homeless shelter. As we walked, I saw homeless children playing outside in a little playground area. We walked a little further. Bill said, "There's your girl." It was Jenny. I waved and she came across the street to meet us.
Jenny started talking, "I got enough money for the ticket! I leave tomorrow night at 12:01. After you left, a man stopped and I told him I had $20.00 and he gave me the rest of the money for the ticket. Thank you so much. You started it. Thank you. I appreciate it."
We ran into Jenny again before the day was out and were able to witness to her some more.
God sent Jenny today to show us that we had heard correctly about giving her the money, that what Bill spoke to her about the ticket money was correct, and that he had placed her in our path 3 times for a reason.
When we listen to what God tells us to do miraculous things happen. I liked Jenny from the first moment I saw her, and I will remember her in my prayers as she begins a new journey. God has a plan for Jenny's life. She asked God today to direct her path and to change her life. Jenny is in for a lot of surprises!! God bless you, Jenny.
In His Steps Helping Those in Need,
Judy
I wasn't really sure if we'd been "scammed" or not and decided we'd done what we were instructed, so it was up to Jenny to use the money however she pleased.
Today, Bill and I felt like we were to go to Gateway Mall. Why, I had no idea. We'd been there a couple of days ago and I really wasn't in the shopping mood. Imagine that! It just so happens that instead of going inside the mall, I suggested we walk to the end of the road and up the street which is across from the homeless shelter. As we walked, I saw homeless children playing outside in a little playground area. We walked a little further. Bill said, "There's your girl." It was Jenny. I waved and she came across the street to meet us.
Jenny started talking, "I got enough money for the ticket! I leave tomorrow night at 12:01. After you left, a man stopped and I told him I had $20.00 and he gave me the rest of the money for the ticket. Thank you so much. You started it. Thank you. I appreciate it."
We ran into Jenny again before the day was out and were able to witness to her some more.
God sent Jenny today to show us that we had heard correctly about giving her the money, that what Bill spoke to her about the ticket money was correct, and that he had placed her in our path 3 times for a reason.
When we listen to what God tells us to do miraculous things happen. I liked Jenny from the first moment I saw her, and I will remember her in my prayers as she begins a new journey. God has a plan for Jenny's life. She asked God today to direct her path and to change her life. Jenny is in for a lot of surprises!! God bless you, Jenny.
In His Steps Helping Those in Need,
Judy
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
No Room at the Inn? Now what?
We have had to go to the front desk each morning to see if a room would be available for us for the next night's stay. This morning, the hotel clerk said, "Sorry, we are full." So, Bill and I went back to our room to pray and see what instructions we could receive from God. We both got the same instructions which was to go to "Little America" -a huge hotel complex.
When we arrived at "Little America," I went to the front desk to make reservations. "I'm sorry, we are full," said the clerk.
I told Bill what the clerk had said and we both stood there in a quandry. Didn't we hear God correctly? Did we both hear wrong? We went outside the hotel and sat down on a bench wondering what to do next.
After awhile I said, "Go ask them again, give them our phone number in case a room becomes available." He wasn't gone long and returned with a huge grin.
"You got us a room?"
"Yes!' still bearing a huge grin. "They had a cancellation and had 2 rooms available, one on the first floor and one on the second floor. I took the first floor."
"For how many nights?"
"Five."
God is teaching us to listen, to step out in faith, to NOT lose faith, and to trust him. It's no accident that 2 rooms suddenly opened up. God knows exactly what he is doing!
In His Steps Growing in Faith,
Judy
When we arrived at "Little America," I went to the front desk to make reservations. "I'm sorry, we are full," said the clerk.
I told Bill what the clerk had said and we both stood there in a quandry. Didn't we hear God correctly? Did we both hear wrong? We went outside the hotel and sat down on a bench wondering what to do next.
After awhile I said, "Go ask them again, give them our phone number in case a room becomes available." He wasn't gone long and returned with a huge grin.
"You got us a room?"
"Yes!' still bearing a huge grin. "They had a cancellation and had 2 rooms available, one on the first floor and one on the second floor. I took the first floor."
"For how many nights?"
"Five."
God is teaching us to listen, to step out in faith, to NOT lose faith, and to trust him. It's no accident that 2 rooms suddenly opened up. God knows exactly what he is doing!
In His Steps Growing in Faith,
Judy
God's Army
Yesterday as we were walking, Bill said, "We aren't walking alone. The heavenly host of God are going with us." I always know when the Holy Spirit is talking through Bill because his eyes tear up and his voice quivers. Such was the case when he spoke yesterday. It's good to know we have God's army doing battle for us. I shouldn't be surprised!!
In His Steps with God's Army,
Judy
In His Steps with God's Army,
Judy
Monday, July 20, 2009
Terry the Homeless Man
We are in Salt Lake City this week. Here is an encounter I felt was worthy of posting:
There are many in Salt Lake City who are homeless. Most people view them as a "nuisance to society", and I have to admit we walked by a lot of them who had signs begging for money before God spoke and said, "they just need to be loved." So, as we approached the next homeless person along our path, Bill and I were drawn to him. We struck up a conversation with this red-headed man named Terry who had the typical homeless features--weathered skin, overgrown hair and beard, wornout dirty shoes and dirty clothes, and a look of hopelessness and discouragement. I could see a lot of hurt in Terry's eyes as we talked with him. He'd suffered many 'hurts' in his lifetime. Whether it's all true or not doesn't matter. The fact that God led us to Terry, so we could minister to him is more important than anything.
So, here's part of Terry's story. Terry was a member of the Latter Day Saints Church (Mormons) for 2 years but was raised as a Southern Baptist. When asked if he was saved he said, "Yes, in the Baptist church and I was also baptised. I used to do cocaine and drink alcohol, but I don't do that anymore. I quit when I went to prison for 7 and 1/2 years. When I was going to the LDS church my wife ran up some bills and I went to them for help. They wouldn't help me, so I broke in and stole $46,000.00 which landed me in prison."
"What did you do with the money?"
"I gave it all away to the people on the streets."
Terry showed us his right foot through the holes of his shoe. He said in 2007 he lost his toes due to frostbite. "Most people think I'm an alcoholic and I'm drunk all of the time because of the way I walk, but I don't drink anymore. I get blisters on my feet from walking. That's why I have this (pulls out tissues) to keep from getting them."
My heart ached for Terry, so I asked if we could pray for him. In a very gentle voice Terry said, "If you'd like to say a prayer over me that would be fine."
"Do you believe God heals?" I asked.
"I believe God can do anything he wants to."
"What do you want from God? Do you have something in particular?" Bill asked.
"Whatever God wants is what I want."
"But, what do you want?'' Bill asked.
"The Bible says a man shouldn't be lukewarm, so I don't want to be lukewarm."
We prayed over Terry, and he received an answer to his prayers today.
Later today I began thinking about Terry and wondered how God would use him. Maybe he will minister to the homeless men and women and bring them to Christ. I KNOW he is going to have a positive effect on people and is going to have a wonderful testimony to share about how God changed his life and gave him purpose to live.
We all have a story to tell and I loved hearing Terry tell us about his. I learned something today. Just because a person is homeless doesn't make them any less a person than the rest of us. They are deserving of "hello" and "How are you?" just as much as the other people which we pass on the street. Thank you God for opening my eyes today.
"God bless you, Terry."
"God bless you!"
In His Steps in Salt Lake City,
Judy
There are many in Salt Lake City who are homeless. Most people view them as a "nuisance to society", and I have to admit we walked by a lot of them who had signs begging for money before God spoke and said, "they just need to be loved." So, as we approached the next homeless person along our path, Bill and I were drawn to him. We struck up a conversation with this red-headed man named Terry who had the typical homeless features--weathered skin, overgrown hair and beard, wornout dirty shoes and dirty clothes, and a look of hopelessness and discouragement. I could see a lot of hurt in Terry's eyes as we talked with him. He'd suffered many 'hurts' in his lifetime. Whether it's all true or not doesn't matter. The fact that God led us to Terry, so we could minister to him is more important than anything.
So, here's part of Terry's story. Terry was a member of the Latter Day Saints Church (Mormons) for 2 years but was raised as a Southern Baptist. When asked if he was saved he said, "Yes, in the Baptist church and I was also baptised. I used to do cocaine and drink alcohol, but I don't do that anymore. I quit when I went to prison for 7 and 1/2 years. When I was going to the LDS church my wife ran up some bills and I went to them for help. They wouldn't help me, so I broke in and stole $46,000.00 which landed me in prison."
"What did you do with the money?"
"I gave it all away to the people on the streets."
Terry showed us his right foot through the holes of his shoe. He said in 2007 he lost his toes due to frostbite. "Most people think I'm an alcoholic and I'm drunk all of the time because of the way I walk, but I don't drink anymore. I get blisters on my feet from walking. That's why I have this (pulls out tissues) to keep from getting them."
My heart ached for Terry, so I asked if we could pray for him. In a very gentle voice Terry said, "If you'd like to say a prayer over me that would be fine."
"Do you believe God heals?" I asked.
"I believe God can do anything he wants to."
"What do you want from God? Do you have something in particular?" Bill asked.
"Whatever God wants is what I want."
"But, what do you want?'' Bill asked.
"The Bible says a man shouldn't be lukewarm, so I don't want to be lukewarm."
We prayed over Terry, and he received an answer to his prayers today.
Later today I began thinking about Terry and wondered how God would use him. Maybe he will minister to the homeless men and women and bring them to Christ. I KNOW he is going to have a positive effect on people and is going to have a wonderful testimony to share about how God changed his life and gave him purpose to live.
We all have a story to tell and I loved hearing Terry tell us about his. I learned something today. Just because a person is homeless doesn't make them any less a person than the rest of us. They are deserving of "hello" and "How are you?" just as much as the other people which we pass on the street. Thank you God for opening my eyes today.
"God bless you, Terry."
"God bless you!"
In His Steps in Salt Lake City,
Judy
Monday, July 13, 2009
Leonardo Express
This was the last picture I took of our Rome trip. This is the Leonardo Express which we took to the airport. I love traveling, seeing the sites, taking in the old and the new, learning about the history, the people, traveling by train, subway, and bus. To me, it's all exciting. I believe God put the desire in my heart to travel because he plans to use me in various places--both in the U.S. and abroad.
In His Steps,
Judy
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