her name is 'brenda'

chrissy and i were talking a stroll down in triangle park last night. it was about 10.00 or so and we were heading to starbucks. to my right, came a women: orange stained shirt, maroon sweatpants, small nike shoes, and a uk hat. she asked us for some money for food. we had no cash - and asked her if she'd like some pastries from starbucks or something to drink. she politely agreed and came with us - her name was brenda. after her and chrissy put their half and half in their coffee (as only women should do, mind you) we invited her to sit with us in the park. she took a seat in starbucks instead. too bad.

well it turned out that something made brenda come and sit with us.. so there sat brenda, chrissy, and i. an unforgettable trio. she was so gentle. she explained that she had been on the streets for about 2 months; she had got let go of her job doing something with recycling - i think. and she sat and talked. we laughed. it was really great. to see brenda's 3-tooth-missing smile was amazing. a glance at joy: for her - and for us. we were able to speak a word of truth to her. telling her about Jesus who came to give hope to the hopeless. to once again create something out of nothing. it was perfect. we asked for basic needs to help her out and she shared some: socks, tooth brush, shoes (9 1/2), shirt, blanket.. . .

hmm... it hurts.

it sucks so much to see someone who has nothing. and here i am - listening to my bose speakers, with my ipod shuffle, and my mac typing this. not at all to put to shame these things but where is my heart? why am i different than anybody else? what am i doing for the Kingdom? anything?

how does one carry the burden of brenda? simple: to go.

go.

Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'

Matthew 25.33-40

love people. do something great. go. not for yourself or on you own initiative - but because you have a Jesus that did something so great that no one can understand. Jesus leads us to the poor - both physically and spiritually. He even said that there will always be the poor. i'm starting to really see how much energy Jesus spent with these people. the physical and spiritual.

so if anything - go. give people some water. hug some one. touch someone that hasn't been touched in a while. who are the brendas in our everyday life. and who are the brenda's that we need to seek out. and help get on there feet. i pray the Spirit can lead us to be the hands and feet of His Church.

if you haven't yet come to see the Truth, He's waiting for you. and He's willing.

good night to you. thanks be to our Jesus - who renders hearts back to Himself.