Raw

I left Cornerstone today with such raw emotion. We taught the story of the prodigal son out of Luke 15:11-32. These women really get the scripture...you know what I mean? A lot of times "church folks" just seem to go through the motions, but these women who have nothing but Him, really get Him. Oh how I long to be like that. We talked through the characters of the lost son, the older son, and the father. With tears and emotions running deep, the women spoke out about their past, their addictions, and how they were the prodigal son....about how many times the Lord has taken them back....many times even when their parents and family wouldn't.

And as I read the story, I related more to the older son....who didn't think life was fair and just. The rule-follower who points a judgmental finger at others and says, "Well, I've never done that!" Why do I do that? But as I read more and heard the tender hearts of these women I've so grown to love, I began to pray that I'd see life more through the lens of the wayward son. We are all lost, after all. Just trying to find our way through this crazy life. But oh how thankful I am that I have a Good Shepherd that daily comes looking for me.

As we continued to share with the ladies, the questions came up, "How many times does it take to be a prodigal? How many times should the Lord forgive? How many times should we forgive others before we say that no, we've had it. The truth is, it should be unlimited. But we have this tendency to not want to be "walked on or taken advantage of". Thank God He's not like that! Thank God he says to knock and He'll open the door, to seek and we will find, to ask and it will be given to us. Thank God he forgives seventy times seven. Thank God He's not like us. :) Thank God He comes running when He sees us even from a long way off, throws his arms around us, and kisses us. Notice that He doesn't ask any questions, doesn't say "I told you so". He just loves us, has compassion for us, and celebrates our return. Oh how I long to love others that way!

The Foghorn

The first weekend in January, we had our Ladies Retreat for the women that we hang with down in the hood. You may have read my blog last spring after our first retreat with these ladies. Well, we had so much fun that we did it again. But this year, God taught us a whole new meaning of boldness. We had room at the retreat center for about 35 women....and God had so abundantly provided through many different organizations and people enough clothing and supplies for this many. But the day of the retreat, we only had 15 that were confirmed to be there. So the leadership team began to pray and ask the Lord if there were others that we could love on that weekend by giving them a warm place to sleep, good food to eat, and an overnight bag full of clothes, toiletries, sleeping bag, and pillow. He brought to mind the parable in Luke 14:12-23 where a man is giving a great banquet, but all of his invited guests had excuse after excuse of why they couldn't make it. So the master sends his servant out in verse 21 to the streets and alleys to bring in the poor, crippled, blind, and lame....so that his house would be full.

Well, after praying we felt like this was exactly what we were supposed to do. So one of our gals set out in her car with Lisa....and Lisa was armed with the foghorn. They drove up and down the streets of south Dallas calling out to any woman who would like to come and be pampered for a night....and hear about the love of Jesus. Lisa knows the hood and knew exactly where to go. So armed with boldness of Spirit, she called out and they came! They brought in 20 more women that the Lord had already chosen to be there....we just didn't know it yet. And that was the night that it was bitter cold....got down well below freezing. So these women sat by a roaring fire, were blessed with a place to shower, all new clothes and toiletries, hot food to eat, and fellowship with other women that love the Lord with all their hearts. It was truly a picture of God's great, unfathomable love. We talked from the passage in 1 Peter 2:4-6....that each of them are chosen and precious to God. And we even had the girls from our church's youth group come and lead a dance party for the ladies that night! It was a glorious weekend.

And I had to hear about all of it after the fact....cause I was laid up at home with a nasty case of the chest crud! But God is still good. I was on my knees for these women all weekend. He taught me that I could be just as effective as a prayer warrior in the background. And I lifted those prayers for my sisters up to the Father earnestly...like sweet incense rising up before him.