Have you ever taken a moment to look past your safe little world into a world of lives too painful to even glance into? Sometimes I do. I will peek into the lives of the battered, the bruised, the forgotten, and the homeless. Most often I look the other way because I feel so overwhelmed and so helpless. Much is needed but I feel that there is no way that I can help. Recently I had an experience where God changed my heart and revealed to me how He works - with divine connections.

I  happened to be sitting by a young woman, named Susie Jennings, in the waiting area for jury

duty a couple of months ago.  She started telling me about a ministry that she has been helping and feeding -  the homeless. I could see her passion and  love for these people and heard of personal sacrifices she had made for this project. My heart was touched and I asked what she needed and how I could be of help to her. Much to my surprise, she said that she needed an interior designer!!

This astonished me for two reasons: One is that I am an artist and naturally gifted with design and decorating. Second,  and the most amazing  thing of all, I knew an interior designer that had enjoyed an illustrious career but that recently had gone thru a homeless situation herself!  I learned that Susie works with 14 committees and she has no idea why she mentioned that particular need to me! I was sure that my friend, Lexon, the designer  would want to help. Many times I had heard Lexon express that she wanted to be in a position to give back. Lexon wants to be a voice for the homeless. She wants her experience to mean something!

God's timing ...
God’s project, I just began talking and telling other friends about it. Much to my surprise many of my friends had a loved one, or knew of someone that at one time or another  had been homeless. I told my friend Mark Worrell about Operation Care. Mark has a great big heart that he went about telling his friends, soliciting people to become involved. One of his friends is James Wright who had a Father that was homeless for several years. The need pierced James’ heart.  James  contacted  Susie Jennings and asked her what she needed. Susie said, "We really need a photographer." Guess what? -James is a photographer! Coincidence ? I do not think so!!  James became  one of the photographers at the event. He also works for Carroll Company that donated  14,000 bottles
of hand sanitizer.

My heart has been cheered by all of the love, support and willing hands that have come together for this project. What I have learned from all of this is, that individually  we may feel helpless, but that God brings us together for his purposes. Wherever God is, there is power and there are miracles.

In the Bible, we are called to love all people – the rich, the poor, and the unlovely. Sometimes, I will feel an arrogance rising up in me as I look at someone less fortunate than myself. I have taught myself a little exercise. I will stop and look at that person, like I am looking at a facet of God. We are all made in the image of God, and I will think, this person is a piece of God. How am I going to treat this special part or image of God? How would God have me treat this person?

I delight in God’s divine connections. God looks down and searches for one heart that is ready and willing to come and draw close to him. If that one person is living under a bridge, he will arrange for me to meet Susie Jennings, and for Susie to meet Mark Worrell, who will introduce her to James Wright, so that a feast can be prepared for this one willing heart to come and meet with Jesus. The Bible says that God wishes for all to know the length, the breath, the depth of the love that he has for them. Amazing it has been to see the lengths that God will go to find, reach out and love that one searching, hurting heart.

In the earth, we are Gods eyes, his hands, his feet and his heart. We can all do something. Alone we are powerless, but with God, by coming together, we can change the world. Please do your part –help us reach out and love someone, help us change the world one life at a time.

-- Patty Logan