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Wednesday, September 18, 2013

"Hello, My Name Is..."

On September 9, 2013, I was walking through downtown Salt Lake City and the Lord spoke to my heart, "Angie, you don't have to go into distant lands to see people worshiping false gods. Just look around you".

I began praying for the Lord to lead me to a seeking soul. I looked into the eyes of many...many believing that God was a man that "climbed the god ladder" to become a god...many believing that they belonged to the true church of Christ because of a membership...many smiling faces but sad souls...I prayed, "Lord, show me who I am to talk to for your glory."

I walked and prayed for about an hour and as I was ready go back to my hotel, the Lord showed me this woman and her girls. I wanted to know her name, her story. I hesitated. I was nervous so I sat on a window sill and watched them from a distance. Praying for the right time to speak His words to her. "Lord, how do I approach her, what do I say? Give me Your words and Your wisdom." I got up and walked toward these beautiful souls, reached out my hand and said,"Hello, my name is Angie. What's your name?" Looking up she bashfully replied, "Shanni." Hi Shanni may I sit down with you?"

We often label people by their circumstances, especially those who find themselves homeless. God has made this truth known to me because I used to think or say, "Look at that homeless person." His Spirit has taught my heart,"Everyone has a name and a story! She is in fact a person and her circumstances do not define her. She is someone's daughter, friend, mother. Let me introduce you to Shanni and her story.

She is a mother of 4 (one in her womb) who is homeless on the streets of Salt Lake City. She uses public transportation to get herself and her children from place to place. Day by day she is desperate to put a roof over her babies heads. At one time they were staying in a shelter that housed men and woman but it became too dangerous. Wanting to protect her girls, she decided to leave the shelter saying the streets are safer. She sits on the street and begs for just enough money so that her and her girls; ages 2,4, 6, can to stay in a cheap motel and eat. Her oldest daughter attends a public school in a nearby town and loves it.

As I listened to Shanni's story, I prayed for God to give me His words for her hurting heart. He has taught me to truly listen to a person speaking and if I am listening His words will come at the right time. The Lord prompted me to tell her, "I will never leave you or forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5) She looked at me and smiled with tears in her eyes, "Thank you." I was simply God's messenger to someone that needed to hear that God was still there. Even in the most dire circumstances, God is still with His children. Even when we don't feel Him, God is still with us. Even when we try to push Him away, God will not be moved!

I sat for about 30 minutes or so and just chatted with her and the girls. I contemplated how to take them to my hotel room so I could love on her precious girls! They were full of joy and very polite. Content with paper and crayons, they sat on a hard sidewalk waiting patiently listening to our conversation. The Lord reminded me of a book I had brought to read on the airplane. I reached in my purse, pulled it out and handed it to her. She said, "You're gonna make me cry." I snickered, "I tend to have that effect on people,"

Her oldest daughter said, "Are you going to pray for us?" I replied with gladness, "Yes I am! Do you want to pray now?" With a beautiful smile she enthusiastically said, "YES!" We all gathered in a circle, held hands and bowed our heads for prayer. The Spirit interceded when I wasn't sure what to pray. It was a moment I will not forget. After the prayer, I hugged Shanni and the girls goodbye...a sad moment for me...I imagine Christ felt the same way when He was about to ascend to heaven and leave His Disciples to the "wolves". Comfort came to my heart as God reminded me, "I will not leave them."

Lord, thank you for leading me to this beautiful family! I pray that You would provide their every need! I pray Proverbs 30:8-9 over Shanni and her girls;
 "First, help me never to tell a lie.
  Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. 
 For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?”
    And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name."
You honor those who honor You and I pray she will continue telling her story so that she can get out of this poverty and have a place to call home! I thank You for providing her needs, our needs and the needs of others. For You are our Provider God! I pray that she will call on Your name and remember who she is in Christ Jesus. I pray all these things in Your Powerful Name, Jesus!

Hello, My name is child of the One True King!