My name is _________.

Just when you ask God to open your eyes you get exactly that.

A couple of weeks ago I went to go meet up with my daughter to do lunch just driving along the way listening to the Christian radio channel bopping along and singing praises to the Lord.

Really. That’s what I was doing.

A familiar song came on that I hadn’t heard in a while and it came on me like a warm blanket. Ok no problem. This time the lyrics became just a bit more real to me in that moment. Wow. I pressed on to my destination at that point and I had another person to talk with in the vehicle on the way into town.

So as my daughter and I chatted along the way we waited at the stop light. Then the song came back after I felt like I had just been punched in the stomach.

My name is …… James

“Asking for prayer. God Bless you” This is what was on the sign that James was holding as he crouched down to grab warmth against a poll with his face turned away from the cold wind. I pulled forward before the light turned green to ask him what I could pray about for him. At that very moment my heart filled with tears. I couldn’t leave without praying for him.

 

In those few moments I had enough time to learn a name, ask a question and pray for a stranger who grabbed my heart. With no choice but to pull off, I proceeded to leave. Can’t help but thank the Lord that the vehicles behind me didn’t beep their horns or yell at me for holding up traffic.

James is homeless and has been for at least 5 months now. He didn’t ask for money or food but prayer because he believes that prayers work.

(this is where I felt the punch in the stomach and I wanted to cry all at the same time)

Fast forward. I went to lunch with my daughter before she had to get back to campus. All the while, I couldn’t stop thinking about this man whose story had a grip on my heart. The Lord sent me back to look for him. I contacted my husband to share some stuff along the way. He was gone. James was not in the spot I last saw him. My heart panicked as I looked all over the area for him.

I called upon the Lord and asked Him to please PLEASE lead me back to the person put in my path. Whew. My daughter and I spotted him.

Thank you Jesus!!

I went back to fulfill the mission the given to me. To be in another town, I couldn’t see myself traveling back home knowing that I did not do what the Lord placed upon my heart.

Have you ever come across a My name is _____?

I’m sure you have. We all have at some point in our lives if we stopped to give someone the time of day to share their heart. No it doesn’t have to be a homeless person. It could be that mom in the grocery store with a crying kid or some parent with ornery acting children who’s giving them a run for their money, a senior citizen that wants to talk your ear off or who’s moving slow as ever in the line. Maybe it’s a cashier indirectly ranting about her day or that man or woman who’s dressed in such a way that society would turn their nose up to . I don’t know. There is always someone you will cross paths with directly or indirectly.

Everyone has a story. Every heart wants to be heard. Each life has a name and need our prayers.

Pray for All Men
2 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, (1 Timothy 2:1-5)

Now believe me when I say that I am kinda shy. Well I guess I can be an introvert and extrovert when I want to be. Okay okay. I am a social butterfly by nature to a degree but to just go up and talk to a complete stranger is not in my character or so I thought though many of strangers approach me and just start sharing their story with me. I use to find it weird and strange in the beginning but I welcome those God places in my path. Now I can’t help but pray for them right then and there if it’s possible.

A man’s heart plans his way,But the Lord directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9

We must remember that we are the created and not the Creator. Our heavenly Father knows us better than we know ourselves and know what we are capable of doing. We limit ourselves and our abilities. God does not think that way. We all can come up with reasons as to why we can’t do this or that but if the Lord wants to accomplish something, he can and will use anybody to accomplish his will and purpose.

Are you willing to open up yourself to others with your time, talents and prayers? I personally know that I don’t want to stay the same and in my comfort zone. For the sake of Kingdom building, I want to be used by the Lord, to do His will with my life and the time given to me. I want to one day hear “Thy good and faithful servant”. I really do.

This world is not getting any better. Some many lives are in need of prayer and salvation. That’s what it’s all about. Jesus Christ and spreading the Gospel. While we don’t have to push the Bible down someone’s throat, realize that we may be the only Bible some people will see. The Word even tells us:

Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. Hebrews 13:1-3 KJV

My name is Terra and I felt the need to share my encounter with a stranger with you. God bless you on your journey and faith walk with our Lord and Savior. We won’t always get it right but let us strive daily to die to self and to attain the goal for reaching the lost and misfortunate. Let us love on others just as Jesus loved us right where we were when He found us.

Here’s the song that I’ve always liked to listen to and which grabbed my heart in a whole new light the day I met James.