a long and meandering journey into Thanksgiving. Christmas is coming. Backpacks at the ready. You’re Invited!

He stepped out of the crowd and asked “Can I help?”  Early 30’s, warm and friendly, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt.  Extending his hand in friendship he said: “My name is Sam.”  Within minutes Jodi had him in gloves, standing beside her at the table, serving in joy.

Sometimes we forget to acknowledge it when God answers prayer.  20 minutes earlier our small team of just 5 people had prayed that we would be enough to accomplish the task.  We weren’t.  So God sent Sam.

We close our evenings in a team prayer at our original Main St location – where an 8 story building of condos and retail is now going up.  Holding hands again, as is my tradition, I asked who would like to pray – for some reason it just seemed right that Sam spoke up.  Nothing eloquent, but from the heart, he thanked God for loving us, for letting us love others, for being good to us… it was as if God was in our midst.  We hugged around the circle and Sam wandered back to wherever he’d wandered in from in the first place.  An answer to prayer.

Sunday nights on the streets often face the expected obstacles of working with crowds of the urban poor and displaced of society.  They’re also filled with miracles and wonder – sometimes they have a name – this week it was Sam.  Wish you could’ve met him.  So many times on the streets I feel as if I’ve been with God.  It happened last week.  It might happen this Sunday night.  One thing I’m certain of, He’s waiting on us to ask – so He can answer.

Thanksgiving and Christmas – the most difficult time of the year to live in poverty – and our most expensive times to continue our work, are out ahead of us.  God is going to be with us.  He’s going to answer prayers in unexpected ways.  We’re going to experience His presence and be moved.  You’re needed, now, more than ever.  Amazingly, You’re Invited!  Don’t let the miracle of the coming season slip away without giving yourself to it completely.  I look forward to sharing the circle with you this Sunday night.

for changing lives,

Eric