Too Close to Home . . . less.

There have been times in our life of adventure that we could literally call ourselves "homeless." But the actual definition of "homeless" infers that the person lives on the streets. And that is something we haven't had to experience.
Maybe it's because we've had the experience of having no place of our own to call "home" this side of heaven, or maybe it is because of our time in Africa seeing the great poverty and destitution of so many, or maybe because we are just trying our best to live out the simple gospel and love the unlovable. . . maybe these are some of the reasons I cannot ignore the tug of the Holy Spirit on my heart when I run into a homeless person.
I've had many interactions with homeless people and truly, most of those interactions have been amazing God moments in my life. Yes, there have been a few "weird" moments but hey, I've had weird moments with my best friends!! :-)
My most recent interactions with the homeless have been very intense for me. Several months ago, the Lord brought Laurie into my life. She was near the entrance to Starbucks as my dear friend and I were going to coffee. We loved on Laurie that night but I knew it wasn't over. I gave her my number and told her I'd be back on the weekend to help her fix her car.
Several months and many needs later, I'm still interacting with Laurie and her "boyfriend," James. They are now my friends. I take them out to dinner, help them with the practical things and mostly just try to show them the love of Jesus in tangible ways. Laurie is very open and seemingly interested in what I have to say about Jesus and how He's healed my heart from deep wounds in my past. She's glued to me when I tell her stories of how God continues to provide for our family even when we don't have a regular paycheck. And she lights up when I ask if I can pray for her or when I hand her a note I've written just to her.
Even though I've given my phone number to several homeless people over the years, Laurie is the first to really take me up on the "friend" offer. Some of you may be thinking it's because she knows I'm an easy fifty bucks. Some of you might feel like I'm being taken for a ride. Some of you may think I'm being totally irresponsible in the way I'm reaching out to Laurie. And guess what . . . over the last several months, I've thought through all those things more than once. But here's a few things my Jesus has said to me in response to my fears:
"Can you give the money to Me? Then find Me in her eyes tonight."
"How many needs do you have, Emie? At what point do I turn away from You?"
"Why is giving to her in her need any different than those who give to your family in your need? Is it more noble to give to a missionary or someone society says is responsible?"

Then I come back at Him with things like, "But I'm NOT you," or "But I DON'T have all the resources you have!" And then He gently reminds me that I'm his child and everything that belongs to Jesus belongs to me!!! So I MUST live out a place of generosity. I MUST be the first to give when there is a need and I have the means to meet it. It is my privilege as a daughter of the King to represent the King out in the villages filled with beggars, whether they be literal or figurative.
And so I'm learning . . . . . A TON! Jesus keeps talking to me about who He is and who I am as I Re Present HIM to the world around me. Please pray for Laurie and James. Pray that they experience so much of the extravagant love of Jesus that they are COMPELLED to say YES to HIM! Pray that Jesus will keep leading me and teaching me in this journey of loving. In my giving, in my loving, I want to be a minister of reconciliation. . . reconciling people to Christ. May it be so with Laurie and James, someday.