The Joy of the Lord...

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

John 1:1 

In church today, I received a double blessing. We were in a church in the heart of Kansas City, Midtown Baptist Temple, and it is in a location that most pastors would not even take a second glance at when it came time to choose a church location. The neighborhoods on either side each made the top 20 list of the worst neighborhoods in America. The pastor left a thriving church with a well established ministry to be a visionary man for the Lord and start a work in the city. To reach the Lost. The undesirables. Anyone they could! Truly the Lord is blessing their work, and today was such a treat for us!

The collection of people felt a little like the way it will in Glory, with every tribe and tongue praising God. Truly the presence of the Lord is in that place! Before church even began, I noticed this man. I don't remember his name, but I loved watching him read his Bible.

He had to look in the beginning for the page number of the book the preacher wanted us to turn to, and once he got to the right place, he began to read. His face would break out in a massive smile, and he would continue to look at the pages of the scripture just like the Lord himself wants everyone of us to. He would be lost for a while, or so it looked to me, just basking in the love letter that Jesus wrote just for him. He would miss several other requests to turn to other passages because he was so engrossed in what the verses he was reading were teaching him. Words of Promise, Hope, Purpose.

It was as if his face completely revealed on the outside the exact same change those words had done - and were continuing to do - to him on the inside. Give him LIFE, JOY, HAPPINESS! I have no idea of his place in life. He had a large back pack with him, and may have very well been homeless, and was appreciating a dry place to sit for a while during a massive thunderstorm, with a hot cup of coffee and a few donut holes to fill his stomach. He may have had plans after church, and needed to take a bus so he has to keep his things with him. I have no idea.  

I do know his joy was contagious. I could not watch him without smiling myself. I couldn't stop praying for him, that the Lord would continue to draw this man into His grace. And for ME! that I might display the joy of the Lord in the same way for any and all to see.

This is an amazing ministry, and I am glad we were able to fellowship with them today.