In HOPE

 

 

 

  In HOPE 10.11

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David Timms  

 

 

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Scripture

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in, and will dine with him, and he with Me." (Revelation 3:20)


Prayer for Today

Father, I keep drifting onto the streets; attracted by the sights and sounds, driven by my personal ambitions and dreams, insistent that I have my own way. But again, right now, I recognize that there's no place like home and nobody who loves me as deeply as You. I come again, sorry for my choices, seeking renewal, desiring restoration, and receiving Your grace. Thankyou. Amen.

 

www.growingdeeper.com

 

 

 


The Food Line

Richie Shaw heads up a team of people planting a new church. Last weekend he told Brad’s story.

This past Easter—less than two weeks ago—Brad and a team of folk from Real Life Ministries, Spokane, WA (the church plant) decided to serve the poor and the homeless at a local soup kitchen. What better way to share the love of the risen Christ? The team prayed for opportunities to share their faith and Brad specifically prayed for someone he might lead to Christ.

That morning a 19-year-old young man walked into the facility looking for a hot breakfast on another cold Spokane morning. Brad recognized him. It was his son standing in the line for food!

Three years ago, Brad’s 16 year-old son left home. Justin chose to live on the streets and cut off virtually all contact with his family. Brad had spoken to him only a few times and very briefly over the last three years. Throughout that time he didn’t know Justin’s whereabouts or circumstances. As you might imagine, it was a constant source of heartache for Brad.

When the two saw each other in the homeless shelter, the tears flowed.

For two hours they shared tears and apologies … and Brad also shared Christ with his son. Then, in an answer to prayer that surpassed anything Brad had imagined, he led Justin to Christ and baptized him that same morning. He had prayed for someone to lead to Christ—and never imagined it would be his own estranged son.

That true story is also ours.

Are we not as aimless, as homeless, and as estranged from Christ as Justin was from his dad? Even those of us who have enjoyed the warm fireplace of the home may have drifted back onto the streets; sometimes aimlessly, sometimes rebelliously. It doesn’t matter how we got there. But the Father keeps showing up at “the food line” to meet us, embrace us, and reconcile with us.

And every time we join the line and “bump into Him” is another resurrection morning. The old has passed away; behold, new things have come.

That’s gospel. That’s good news for today.

In HOPE –

David

 

 

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You can find back issues of "In HOPE" (2005-2010) at http://www.hiu.edu/inhope/ .

David Timms serves in the Graduate Ministry Department at Hope International University in Fullerton, California. "In HOPE", however, is not an official publication of the University and the views expressed are not necessarily those of the Administrators or Board. "In HOPE" has been a regular e-publication since January, 2001.