New York | JoJo | Lifesongs.com

Traveling to New York three weeks ago with my hubby was a dream come true for me. I absolutely loved New York. Hands down, it was right up my alley: fashion, shopping, makeup, and Starbucks on every corner. A girl like me’s dream!!!

But, as we walked the streets and rode the subways, there were SO many homeless people that definitely needed the love of Christ. (We also have our fair share of them here as well, but with the amount of people living in New York, it seemed even more overwhelming) Many of the homeless people were talking crazy. It seemed as if they were a little bit out of their mind. But in all of it I realized something; it brought me back to our journey when we first meet Christ.

Before we find Jesus, we are a mess. We are a little crazy. We are stinky and smelly and full of the world’s junk. But when God gets ahold of our hearts we become clean. We become free. We become whole. We become bright and shiny and new.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

I wish I would’ve taken more time to talk to those that were struggling, but I found myself hiding behind fear of what ifs. What if they didn’t understand what I was sharing with them? What if I didn’t have the right words to say? What if all those around me think I am crazy for talking to them? What if they are mentally so far gone that nothing I say or do could make an impact? So many scenarios ran through my mind, but I again realized something.

If as a Christian, even I wasn’t willing to help them, what kind of example would I be to all those around me? Who would step up and do it? So many people walked by not even batting an eye at these poor homeless people. Meanwhile, my heart was broken. My heart was heavy and burdened. My heart felt the hurt that God our Father feels when even one of His sheep has gone astray and is suffering.

“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray and gets lost, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountain and go in search of the one that is lost?” Matthew 18:12 AMP

God put it on my heart to bless (as much as I could) a couple of people that were camping out for the night in front of a church. I am blessed because my husband and I were able to meet and pray with these people who were struggling. We didn’t know why or how they got to where they were in life, but all I knew was that I wanted them to feel and know the love of Christ. Whether they did or not, I can’t say. But, I wanted to do what I felt in my heart was God’s direction.

“If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.” (2 Corinthians 5:13-15 NLT)

My life will be forever touched by those moments.

“A brother or sister in Christ might need clothes or food. If you say to that person, ‘God be with you! I hope you stay warm and get plenty to eat,’ but you do not give what that person needs, your words are worth nothing.” James 2:15-16

“Remember to welcome strangers, because some who have done this have welcomed angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison as if you were in prison with them. Remember those who are suffering as if you were suffering with them.” Hebrews 13:2-3