For Roger

Tonight I went to get coffee with my buddy Nathaniel, as is usual for a Wednesday night after church.  We sat and talked about nothing important and left just before the store was closing.  We continued talking outside his car and out of the corner of my eye I saw a homeless man and knew instantly that he was going to come over to us.  So I said to God as the man was walking over, "Ok God, use me."  Simple.  He asked us if we had any money and I did so I gave him a couple bucks.  I asked him what he needed it for because I don't like to just give money away, and sure he could lie to me and say anything, but that's not so important.  We talked to him for a little while and found his name was Roger.  He camps out in Central Point, he's got a bad knee from surgery, and he has a few screws in there he said.

After talking with him for a bit I asked if we could prayer for him.  He said, "Sure.  A tall fella with blond hair just prayed for me."  The "tall fella" was my buddy Tory who was at the Dairy Queen just down the block. So we prayed.  We started declaring the goodness of God over his life.  That he would feel the love of God all around him and he would experience the blessings that God had for him.  We prayed that he would feel the Father's embrace and that his finances would be blessed.  We also prayed for healing over his leg.  Then I asked him if he believed in God and in Jesus, His son? And he said he did.  He even had one of those classic pictures of Jesus in his wallet.  Then we blessed him and me and Nathaniel went our separate ways home.

On my way home I found out that Tory had prayed many of the same things that we had prayed over Roger.  As I continued home I began to worship over Roger's life and did more praying and prophesying and contending for this man.

What's important about this story is not that I gave this man a few bucks and did a "good deed", it's that he heard the kingdom of God spoken over his life.  Giving to the poor is great, and we should do it, but it's not the only thing they need.  What they need is the truth of Jesus and the destiny He has for them.  They need to know the worth they have in God's kingdom.  Roger heard the heart of God tonight, what he chooses to do with it is his business.  But I believe that God was trying to get a hold of him tonight.  The fact that he ran into me and Tory is no coincidence.  Roger could of walked off in any which way but he ran into me and Nathaniel.  It's also no coincidence that our prayers were very much the same.  We're a couple of guys who hear God's heart and and speak it.

In the busyness of life, and sometimes self-centerness, it's easy to pass by the Roger's of the world and pay no attention to them.  But God is looking for people who are willing to lay down their lives and simply say, "Use me God."  What happened tonight was simple, but powerful!  Sometimes we're looking for the big things when all God wants us to do is pause and take a moment to value a life that the world would say doesn't have much value at all.  The glory of God is spread with the simple act of obedience and the willingness to lay down our lives.

So when you have time pray for Roger.  If you've never meet him or seen his face it's ok because God knows him.  Lives are changed because of prayer!  Make yourself available to God in your day to day life.  We don't always have to be the headliner.  Sometimes we're just asked to do the simple thing that has a powerful impact for the kingdom of God.

Be blessed!

Peace With The Father

Though the wind may howl and the waves crash down
There is peace in Your love
When the lightning flashes and the thunder roars
I am at peace in the arms of my Yahweh
Though the hail pours down & the earth does shake
I will rest in the presence of our King
When the crowd yells curses and beat my body down
I will not grow weary because of the strength of Jehovah
My body may break my heart stop ticking
But I will dwell in the house of my Father
This world is against me but it cannot beat me
It is not eternal like my soul
My God He loves me
My God He saves me
He sees me when I'm lost on the street
He hears me when I'm stuck in the muck
Like a lion to her babe He protects me and keeps me close
I will not be afraid
I will fear no evil
I will not be subject to sin and death
I will rise above my fear
I will vanquish the evil
Sin is broken and death is beaten
What can I fear? The battle is won!
He has done it. He has done it!
I will bask forever in the glory of our King

The wind may howl and the waves crash down
The lightning may flash but this storm will pass
The hail may pour and the thunder roar
The earth may shake and the earth may break
But I will rest in the presence of Jehovah
I will rest by the throne of our King
I will rest in the arms of my Father

The Watcher Of The Night

When nighttime comes and sun is gone
There is a man who watches over
Those sleeping hours of sunless slumber
He flies hither and thither
With soundless steps he steps
He comes like lightning and is gone in a flash
He is a shadow of the night
A shining star to the lost
And a beacon of hope to the hopeless
Motherless babes he comforts
That watcher of the night
Let all who are lost all who are broken 

Gather to the watcher of the night
He comes in times of need
He answers our desperate calls
So when you are weak call 

When you cannot stand and all strength has left you
Call for that watcher of the night 

O How I Am Wicked... But There Is Hope For Me

When I wanted to use my hands for evil
My Lord held them tight never letting go
When I wanted to use my tongue to curse and destroy
He bound my tongue saying, "This isn't for you son of the light."
He kept me from my fleshly desires
He kept me from acting in anger and deathly judgment
God truly knows what is good for me
If it weren't for Him I would be a wicked man
I can't even speak of the things I would do
For they are truly atrocious and dishonor our God
I've been bought with the blood of the lamb
How sweet my freedom is
No longer am I bound to death
I will never experience it
Though my body will break down and die my spirit will live forever 
with the Father



I cried out to the Lord in my anger yelling, "Let the wicked fall! Let judgment sweep over them! May they feel my wraith! Let me loose Lord! I want this done now! I cannot wait for your judgment! I am apart from it! Least you act now it will be me! Can you not use me as your right hand? Let me cures the wicked and crush them with anger."
But my Lord denied me.
He would not allow it.
For I was a man acting out of hellish rage
This was not righteousness
It was not holiness
He has called me to greater things
My old self longs to live
He fights constantly to consume my new self
He hates all that I am
He is vigorous in his death
And a shadow upon my face
I will never let him loose again
O how the Lord let's me see my evil ways
I do not wish to see my judgment poured out
For it would be ugly lacking all holiness
I now see that God is the only one who can do so with holiness and righteousness
Lord forgive me for my foolishness
Help me be holy as you are holy
Let all that I am praise the Lord
Praise the Lord!

His Great Joy In Us

In my distress I fell down
And who was it who caught me?
It was the Father
His arms so big and comforting
He sang sweet songs over me when I feared evil would overtake me
He stroked my hair and I felt at peace
He laughed with me and the darkness fled
Oh how little the worries of the world are when the Father holds you 
Close
Do you know how joyful God is when you choose to come to Him?
It is worth more than all the treasurers of the world
The choir of heaven sings rejoicing over us
Oh how He loves us
We will never know
But we can find rest in the Fathers arms



When I was angry and wanted to fight
He calmed me and told me it was in His hands
When I wanted to do evil He came and saved me from my wickedness
Oh how God is always right
He knows how to comfort my soul
And how to quite my storm
So I say again
Come rest in the Fathers arms
Let Him show you His love for you and His love for the world

Jehovah Our Rock

Let the joy of the Lord who is our rock
Pour out on His people to fill the streets
Let hope rise up like the rising sun
Let Your strength fill Your people like the blood in their veins
Jehovah Salome deliver Your peace
Let the children smile with the moon and the stars
Come Lord come Your people are thirsty
Send Your waters that refresh and restore
Your people are hungry please fill them with food
The people cried out for Jehovah and He was there
They asked to be saved and You were there
The enemy threw rocks and stones to beat Your people down
But they only untied under the banner of God
You are our shepherd and You defend Your flock
You accept all stragglers and renew their souls
Jehovah is our rock a mighty warrior
He wars on our behalf we shall not be in want.

Set The Captives Free

Let the chariots of fire be seen upon the hill
Let the rams horn sound across the fields
Let darkness run from your warriors cry
Look the captives are set free
Look those who were in bondage
Those who where in pain have been set free
Their labors lifted off and their burdens made light
Here comes the King of glory
With trumpets sounding and drums blaring
He comes to comfort those with no hope
He heals the sick and mends the broken
The children gather to feel His love
They come to feel the embrace of the Father