The Duke and the Girl from Kentucky. Long Beach.

The Duke and the Girl from Kentucky. Long Beach.

Perhaps you’ve noticed that no two days are the same with the prayer and teaching ministry to the street people of Long Beach. We are building quite a rapport – they are getting used to me and trusting me, and I am learning about the street life, and developing quite a passion for it.

The stories are at once fascinating and also tragic. Take it from me: no one would willingly choose to live on the street—that is, unless there was an underlying dysfunction. Take one of my dearest friends, Dr. Bernard Sango, a general surgeon from Cameroon. The man is not just intellectually brilliant, extremely well educated, but spiritually mature; I mean, he even spent a year training at the Vatican! My feeble attempts at using the Greek derivatives Paul used are silly compared to his working knowledge of the Greek and Latin languages. Yet, he has been homeless, and on the street, for more than 10 years … how can that be explained? He has an apartment with his name on it, ready for occupancy, but he will not take it—because of his confused thinking. I ask myself what I can do, besides plead and cajole, to get him into that safe apartment, and off the streets – truthfully, there is just one thing: get on my knees and pray.

I typically drive alone but on Friday, my northbound truck was full of delightful women, heading for Long Beach. My Bible study friend, Christa, had called a few weeks’ back to tell me that she felt led to share her story of depression with the folk, and to sing of the only way she has made it through: on her knees. She brought the house down with her lovely voice, spirit-filled presence, and personal experience, as she sang, “There are days when I feel the best of me is ready to begin. Then there’s days when I feel I’m letting go and soaring on the wind, ‘cause I’ve learned in laughter or in pain how to survive! I get on my knees! There I am before the Love that changes me – See I don’t know how but there’s power when I’m on my knees.’ What better message could my people hear? None. There’s power from above when we are on our knees, crying out to God, for him to come and do a work in us.”

Now when Christa had told me she would join me, she didn’t know she would have her aging mother from Kentucky with her. The ‘aging’ part wasn’t a problem, but we were a little unsure about her Alzheimer’s condition mixed in with the Long Beach ‘condition’. Well, Guyla (mom) turned out to be the biggest blessing of the day! After Christa set the stage for us to go to God in prayer, I asked the question, ‘what do you need God to do for you today?’ the answer for several was clear-‘set us free from our addictions, and please God, help us to make better choices’. Reggie raised his voice on our behalves, standing and then moving about, his big presence met by the even bigger presence of the Holy Spirit. One thing was needed: grace.

Guyla went to the old upright piano, and beautifully played, while Christa led us in the old favorite, Amazing Grace. Yes, the Lord was so present in the old basement, as the crowd grew bigger and bigger. God is doing a work in the hearts and lives of his people.

When we finished and exited, the Duke of Earl came to escort me (us) out of the building; and I introduced him to Christa, Guyla, and my dear friend, Barb. And then the strangest thing happened . . . Guyla just took to the Duke! There was the purest, sweetest, most spontaneous connection between them. He lowered his tall dark head with the backward baseball cap to hear her stories of home and her love of music, (sometimes the same story four times—he didn’t even notice). She was captivated by him, and he adored her. Christa kept snapping their picture, incredulous over her mother’s joy at being with the Duke. We all witnessed a God moment as a dear old saint connected with a homeless former Marine, whose mama clearly raised him right.

There is no doubt that we see the hand of God move when we pray. On the other hand, we miss it when we do not pray. James said, ‘you do not have because you do not ask God.’ James 4.2 What do you need to take to God in prayer? He is waiting.



Christine

PastorWoman.com