AUGUST 27 2008

5PM- While I was driving back home from work, I was feeling very carnal and confused about my struggles. As I drove by a hitchhiker, I felt to stop but proceeded to drive past him. Well, I could only drive 3 KM before I turned around. There is no way that I’m going to allow my attitude get in the way of helping someone or leading them to Jesus, even if I wasn’t prayed up or in the right frame of mind. So I turned around after fighting God (which is customary when I’ve subjected my mind to garbage) and I picked the man up. He was in the late fifties, with a healthy white beard, and his name was IAN. He was from Kindersley, SASKATCHEWAN, and he had been hitchhiking around Calgary for the last two weeks. He was looking for work and finding odd jobs that would pay him enough money to survive. He wanted to go hike down to Claresholm, and look for farm work there. He didn’t want to stay in Calgary because he had just been robbed there a few days ago, and beaten and all his possessions had been stolen. He constantly kept saying he was down on himself, and not feeling good about himself, when he talked he kept talking about giving up, on his job, on his life, and waiting for a room at the DI, which gave me the impression he quits a lot and never has had a steady job; besides the fact he was in his late fifties hitchhiking. He was a laborer and truthfully he seemed a very simple man.

I talked him into staying at the Salvation Army if I could get him a room there, because he had no clothes and less than a dollar in his pocket. He hadn’t slept the night before, nor had he eaten as he was stranded throughout the night, which concerned me because it was a particularly cold week getting down to negative temperatures at night, and all he had was a jean jacket and jeans. When he finally agreed after much convincing, I drove downtown and we went in but there were no rooms available. He seemed dejected and didn’t want to hang around downtown and said he was going to take the train to the outskirts of the city. I offered him to stay at my house for the night and I would drive him back at 6AM so he could get a room but he declined, and I asked three times but each time he refused. I told him I would give him some money and I really felt that he should come to church with me on Sunday. I offered everything I could so he would stay in Calgary; I was so worried that he would freeze to death, because he didn’t seem to have any common sense to him. I even said that his plan didn’t make any sense, but he said to you it won’t! And he was right about that.

So, I offered him a ride to the outskirts of town. To which he accepted, I offered him food numerous times but he kept declining, he said he just wanted to get to where he was going, and didn’t want to waste ½ hour eating because he didn‘t want to get stuck in the dark. I tried to rationalize with him, stating that I would buy him a sub and he could just pack it in his bag, but he wouldn’t listen, and it didn’t make any sense?? Why wouldn’t; a person in need take some food? He didn’t have to eat it then but he could put it away for later, but he kept refusing. I couldn’t comprehend why this hungry man wouldn’t eat, and I was having an awful time trying to deal with it in my flesh. So, then at the very least I wanted to buy him a sweater, because he had no clothes. He wanted absolutely no part of it and was offended that I would offer; it seemed. I kept insisting and he kept refusing, until I had to practically kidnap him and bring him to Wal-Mart, in fact I uttered the threat that I would tie him up, if he didn’t let me buy him a sweater. He finally agreed after he seen I was serious. Inside I told him while I got him a sweater I would give him some money and he could go to MacDonald’s and grab something to eat and we could kill two birds with one stone and he could save time, He refused; I couldn’t comprehend because he said he hadn’t eaten in two days. He picked out a sweater, and I forced him to grab some sweat pants as well, and he conceded after a brief fight. I really couldn’t understand his logic; it just didn’t make sense at all to me? I asked if he needed anything else but he refused, I offered some protein bars he could stash in his bag but again he said no, he just wanted to get on the road, and I was feeling frustrated yet gentle, but still couldn’t understand his personal logic.

We left and I drove him to the outskirts of town, where I decided that I would drive him to HIGH RIVER which is 50KM south of Calgary (in the back of my mind all I wanted to do was feed this man, I just wanted to see him eat) He agreed to that instantly, so away we went and I hardly talked at all during the entire time he was in my truck, I was thinking about other things and all of the petty problems that were distracting me. We arrived and again I offered something to eat, now that he has gotten a ride here and saved himself tonnes of time, surely he could eat now? But NO, yet again he refused and he said he had already been here looking for work, so he didn’t want to waste any time, and he was going to NANTON, and just wanted to get on the road. I said well I can drive you there directly, it was another 35KM, so I carried on, I really just wanted to see him eat. I asked him when was the last time he went to church? He said 6 weeks ago, and he grew up in Sunday school and that he was a total believer in God.

We arrived in NANTON and I asked him if he would eat now but he still wouldn’t. I drove him to the construction site where SCOTTY and I worked, and told him if he gets really stranded that he could sneak in there and get shelter. I didn’t feel like praying nor did I think God would hear my prayers because of the awful condemnation but I couldn’t let him leave without doing so. I was feeling carnal from all the garbage I was looking at on the internet, (MATTHEW 6:22-23) but regardless, I asked him if I could and without hesitation he said “sure.” I prayed the most awful, prayer I have ever said and just laughed pathetically after it was finished. I gave him a TRUTHCHURCH card with my name and number on it and told him to call me, and there was possibly someone who could set him up with a job there. He thanked me and said nobody has ever gone out of their way like that for him. I can’t remember what I said, but it should have been love others as I have loved you, but it was something carnal and from my flesh and I really wished I could have another attempt at that one.

WHAT I LEARNED FROM THIS ENCOUNTER!!

I was so distraught about this and it hurt me so much, that I could go out of my way to help someone so much but all he did was refuse my help. I tried everything I could but there was no helping him, he didn’t want it, he wanted to do it his way and no other. I couldn’t understand how it even made sense to him? Couldn’t he see there was someone trying so hard to help him? Couldn’t he see? Was he so blinded by his own way that he was oblivious to the goodness that was in front of him? It hurt me so much to have this man I didn’t know, just leave, that I couldn’t help him or talk any sense into him, or that he just wouldn’t listen. He just didn’t get it? I still don’t understand? How someone could be so foolish? CAN”T YOU SEE???????? CAN”T YOU SEE?????? I thought.
But he chose to leave, alone out in the world, choosing to walk in the cold and the dark, in uncertainty and the only comfort his own foolishness. He is now in the hands of God, and all I can do is hope there was a seed planted in this man’s heart and he comes to JESUS one day. It hurts so much to think of the lost souls out there. I have been so torn that I couldn’t do more for this man. I didn’t do enough and it hurts that he just wouldn’t listen to me that he couldn’t see what was right in front of him, that he couldn’t see the opportunity that was awaiting him, the offer was there but he just willingly left my vehicle, and I know that as he is stranded, alone in the dark wet night, his foolishness washed away by the freezing rain and stark reality setting in. Leaving him thinking, “if I had only seen what was in front of me, if I had only taken the hand while it offered me food, but here I sit, alone, hungry and darkness surrounds me and I’m lost and don’t know what tomorrow holds? Oh why, oh why, do I choose to walk in my own folly? Oh when will I ever learn? Oh, WHEN WILL I EVER LEARN”?????

A couple things the Lord showed me about this encounter…

Ok, so here I am trying to feed food to this man that will perish, yet there is the Word of Jesus Christ, “SOUL FOOD” that will never fade away, that will never perish, that is eternal and life everlasting. The Bible says,
JOHN 6:50-51, This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51) I am the living bread which comes down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of this world.
JOHN 6:53-54, Then JESUS said to them, “most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.
54) Whoever eats My flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

My soul desired to really do something profound in this man’s life; like, lead him to JESUS, so that he may eat and never die, but live, a true life, but the only problem is because I was subjecting my mind to impure imagery on the internet, I was feebly attempting to win this man in my carnal flesh and it just had no impact on this man’s salvation, because I was only concentrating on temporal matters.
That is why the anointing of the Holy Ghost and walking in The Spirit is of the utmost importance! By putting on the spiritual armor of God (EPHESIANS 6:11-17), reading our Bibles daily and morning pray. Why? So that we are in tune with the Lord at all times for we never know when He will place a lost soul into our life, if we aren’t prayed up and full of the Holy Spirit so that it’s overflowing and full of love and faith, how are we to be good witnesses of Gods’ love, grace and power? How can we be lights unto men? If we ourselves are full of darkness (Matthew 6:22-23, Luke 11:36) whatever our sin, regardless of what it is, it separates us from the true “specific purpose” that God has prepared for us each and every day if we choose to pick up our crosses daily (LUKE 9:23) and follow Him. So that we may walk according to the Spirit and not the flesh, for to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. ROMANS 8:5-9.





Another thing the Lord showed me…

I see JESUS reaching out to ALL of His lost sheep, His hand outstretched willing us to come unto Him, yet some of us are lead astray and wander in the darkness of this world deceived by our very own pride, deceived by our own intelligence, by our arrogance, by the lusts of our flesh. Not willing to do the very will of God. I see the Hand of the Lord outstretched, desperately reaching out to some of us, Saying, My child take my hand, Can’t you see I want you to come to Me. My arms are open to you, I’m beckoning but you must choose to come to Me. TRUST IN ME, I will never hurt you, nor will I fail you, I will never forsake you. I love you and want you to come out and worship me, to take a step out in faith and see that I will not falter, for You are my child, for I have called thee, I have called thee by thy name. Thou art mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers they will not overflow thee. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. I am a God of promise, the Lover of your soul, I love you my child, I want you to come to me so that I may hold you close to me and never let go, but you must reach out and take a hold of My hand, you must cry out and I will answer you.

JEREMIAH 29:11-13, For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray unto Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek me and find me, WHEN you search with ALL your heart.

PRAISE OUR INCREDIBLE LORD!!!