“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to Yahuweh, and He will repay him for his deed.” Proverbs 19:7
Yesterday, Derek and I were on our way to the grocery store to prepare for Shabbat. We were listening to James Block’s Psalm 133 and Psalm 3 while we waited for a train to pass.
Not a moment goes by since we have been here that Abba doesn’t direct us to see things through His eyes…the beautiful prairies, wildlife and sunsets, but also the ugliness, rebellion, and wickedness which grieves and saddens Him, and us. We have to be continually immersed in His Word and praise and worship just to survive! It is so easy to be consumed with the “me” of our society, and to focus on what is not going right instead of what matters…the things of the eternal. On that note, back to why we are writing this blog…
As we left the grocery store, I decided to go behind the stores on a small side street to avoid traffic. I really did not decide this on my own…but was rather led by His Spirit to take the detour. As we drove between buildings to get to the side street, there was a homeless man who was standing there with a styrofoam cup in his hand and a sign at his feet which merely read, “Homeless…I will work. I need help. Thanks.”
“Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.” Matthew 5:42
I noticed the sign as I was approaching the right turn to turn onto the side street. Something in my spirit said, “Give Him some money.” I said to Derek, “I feel led to give to him. Can we give him some money?” Derek agreed and got out of the car and handed him some money. In that short time, Derek noticed a red Bible laying on the ground, open to the book of Hebrews. Derek remembered him saying something about Romans and faith, but as Derek turned around and was walking back to the car, the man called out to us, “I will see you at the supper of the Lamb.”
We were stunned at what he had said – with such humility, warmness and gentleness. Another amazing thing was the few cars that had come up behind us waiting to turn, however, no one honked their horn the way they always do because of impatience.
Derek and I prayed for this man as we were going to run one more errand and get back to the apartment before Shabbat. As we parked the car, Derek said out loud, “I could ask him to help me finish the windows on Monday and give him half the money I am getting paid.” So, as we finished our errand, we drove back to where the homeless man was to see if he was still there. He was, and Derek got back out of the car to offer him the work if he was interested. (Side note: please continue to pray for us as we have been applying for jobs but have not found work yet. Derek is helping a friend out, getting a building ready for inspection in the mean time.)
After Derek shared with him the details about the job, he found out that he was there because where he was living, by a creek, all of his belongings got washed away in the recent storms. However, a man who once hated the Bible, was now a man’s only prize possession; because it was the only thing he saved in the flood.
The man radiated with the joy of the Master. The first thing he began talking about was our faith and how it is rooted in Abraham. He proceeded to share with Derek how about the real deceptions he had discovered about religion, and the watered down doctrines of “churchianity” that keeps people in bondage and apart from the joy of knowing Him. He spoke about how the world is filled with ‘having a form of godliness, but denying it’s power (2 Timothy 3:5). He spoke about the true definition of hope, and about the whore of Babylon.
Derek found out his name was Chuck and that he had gone through many heartaches and uphill battles. Chuck said that many people look down upon him because of his position, and sadly, most of them are “good church going people”.
Derek had asked if there was a way to get ahold of him for the work he had for him, and he said that he had a phone that he found in a garbage can outside of a car wash. The phone had 250 minutes on it. However, while Derek was giving him his phone number, Chuck’s phone died so he wrote Derek’s number in the front of His Bible. To Derek, that was something very special to have him write his name and number in the front of something he held so dear and precious – something he had rescued from the flood…because it had rescued him.
Chuck brought us to tears as we realized how truly RICH he is…spiritually rich! If only people would take the time to help the poor and homeless…those who have nothing of value to the world but can truly teach us all a lesson about what is really important! The man had nothing, yet possessed everything!
As we thought back to what had happened with Chuck that night, we realized something Chuck had said. “The Spirit tells me who is real and who is crap.” Putting that with what he said as Derek was walking back to the car (“I will see you again at the supper of the Lamb.”), it made us immediately go back to what an orthodox Jewish man said in Tiberias, Israel the last time we were there. He said, “I believe you two will be part of the 1/3 that remains.”
These moments are not taken lightly or as coincidences. We know they are confirmations of what Father has shown us. We are so humbled and almost in a state of shock as we realized after these things are said, what they really mean. They are the true definition of hope…confidently expecting the promises and His Word to come to pass in every area of our lives! HalleluYAH!!
Chuck truly walks out the Scripture that says those who have little but are rich spiritually (Revelation 2:9)…he valued his Bible more than any other possession and hears from Father’s Spirit as to who is real and who is not. Imagine if everyone walked through this life with those two attributes. If everyone valued their Scriptures more than anything else and studied it daily, He would reveal truth to them too. A love for the truth is a gift…and will only be given to those who SEEK HIM with their whole heart! (Jeremiah 29:13 was one of the first verses Chuck shared with Derek)
“Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Luke 12:33-34
Chuck was filled with everlasting, eternal joy! The joy that only comes from a personal relationship with Yahuweh and Yahushua!! This is the joy Derek was talking about in a recent blog…the joy and rejoicing that comes regardless of our afflictions or circumstances at that time because it is the joy of knowing where we are going no matter what happens!
Would you like to help us?
We are going every other week to help feed, clothe and share with around 300 homeless people within our community. The food and supplies are expensive. If you would like to help donate toward the supplies and food, click here and put in the comment, “For the homeless” and we will make sure all the money goes toward food, drinks and clothing for the homeless.
This morning we met a blind, homeless man named Sam. He found out that we had gone to Jerusalem, and the joy and light in his eyes and heart burst through. He asked Derek all about Jerusalem. There is no other joy than to see someone with nothing, be so enthusiastic about what is happening in Israel!
“If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.” Isaiah 58:10
“But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” Luke 14:13-14
Justice (Tzedakah) for the needy! In Father’s eyes, every human being has the basic right to food, clothing and shelter. Will you help us plead the cause of the needy?
Remember, Messiah said, “the poor you always have with you”. The poor is the gauge of righteousness for society. The poor are used as rulers to measure the sizes of our heads, whether they are normal with humility, or inflated with pride. It is good to remember the afflicted, as it keeps us from exalting ourselves above others.
As we sign off, we want to share with you a text message Derek received from Chuck late last night. When we woke up this morning, Derek read the message and it humbled us greatly. Here is a man who has done his own research, knows that were in the end of days and has applied the Word of Elohim to his life…yet, in the world’s eyes.. he has nothing.
Shabbat Shalom…we pray His eternal joy fill you and sustain you always!
Derek and Rivkah
Text from Chuck (12:14 am) – Printed here exactly the way he wrote it
Very touching story! I know it touched you both so much to encounter this precious soul! I’m happy to hear you are working with the homeless! Shalom, Havah