John was praying for God to provide a desk for his home and he felt God challenge him to pray more specifically, like he had heard of a missionary praying in the days of yore. So John prayed, "Lord it needs to be small, like 36", etc." That day his building's maintenance man had work to do in John's home. He left and came back asking, "John, do you need a computer desk?"

God has been answering our prayers. I'm beginning to ask bigger now and more often. You should probably do that too.

Brent (one of the Service Corps Team) and I traveled to Camp Arnold to meet with two gentlemen from Zimbabwe who are interested in moving into our neighborhood for the next year - and God provide the visas to prove it - a miracle! I was looking forward to this meeting for some time, as I had been in email contact with one of these men for almost a year. As long as StreetLevel has existed. It was like meeting an old friend in the Lord. It was great. Please pray for housing and employment.
Chris

I had the opportunity to hear two confessions last week one from a close friend and one from a stranger. Both of these believers challenged me with their openness and humility. I had to ask myself why it had been so long since I've confessed my sins to another person. It is good to confess our sins to God and to each other. It is good to trust others with our messy lives. It is good to bless each other and walk together in repentance.

This being my first time and all, I only suggested 10 Hail Marys. Can anyone tell me if that is too light for the average confession?

Ahh, church humor...

Obedience

John told me about how God is teaching him obedience. He was studying the scriptures and God told him to go out to Hing Hay park, the nearest park to his house (by the way, praise Jesus for providing John's home!) to witness for Him. "But it's late and I'm not dressed and I'm in bed," said John. But he went and he met a friend who needed encouragement and was able to witness to his friend's friend as well.

It was very Song of Songs.

So I'm on the bus yesterday and it occurs to me that I should ask the LORD if there is anyone that He wants me to talk to. So I do and a couple of minutes later my friend walks on the bus and says hi. He had been going to the corps and was heavily involved with StreetLevel in ministry. We were in discipleship together. He very suddenly broke relationships with us and has bounced around a few churches for a couple of months.

I was able to show him how he was missed and loved, particularly because 5 different people asked about him last week. It was great. We reconnected and encouraged him to rejoin. He said he would.

Isaiah 57:15

For thus says the high and exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy, "I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite."

I love that God, who is the lofty King of Heaven, who is worthy to be praised chooses to live among the lowly. He chooses to make His existence largely about reviving us. Wow.

More From Last Week

We kept meeting God in our neighborhood parks. I was prophesied over twice, one of which was by a complete stranger. Another time we were praying in Pioneer Square, a place with a monument to the wounds of a marginalized people. A place that represents alcoholism and despair for some and quaint high-end retail for others. Brent, one of the service corps members provided this scripture as a focus for our prayer

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes wait for the LORD. Ps. 27:13-14

God showed Himself to be Good. We worshipped Him and saw redemption.

Oh Praise Him!

We served a meal in City Hall Park and Occidental Park on Tuesday with the youth group, service corps team, some people from Seattle Temple and streetlevel's regulars. All told, that was 16 people serving 140 or so meals and spending time sharing God's love with His friends.

The enemy showed up. I don't think he liked what was happening. Two of the young people were singled out and received persecution. I've been thinking about this all week. It was their first time doing ministry with the homeless and they were cursed and degraded for it. When we in the Church in America read Jesus' words, "they will hate you because they hate me" we sort of have to skip over them. There are many who spent their whole lives in the church and have never put themselves in a position to be hated by the world. They can't share Jesus' experience. These 16-year-olds can. There is beauty in that because it is closer to Jesus. God is pro at redemption.

Last Week

We had the youth group from the South Valley New Heights Corps in South Metro Denver spend the week with us. They had a full plate with servant evangelism, serving food to the homeless, prayer walking, playing with 2-5 year-olds, sharing time and food with seniors, visiting patients at a VA Hospital and doing street ministry. They also caught a few of the Seattle sights and spent time in prayer and praise. It was great.