Alvis

  I love how everyone at one point was a stranger to you until an introduction was made, then they had the potential to become a friend. I used to be the most shy little girl in the world. I wouldn't look strangers in the eye. I let my mom talk for me. My how I've changed! 

  

  I mainly want to write this post to remember a man I met tonight and what an impact he made on me. His name is Alvis. I was in downtown Nashville shooting a music video with a friend. On our way to eat afterwards, we passed a man asking for a quarter. A quarter? Can you even buy gum for a quarter these days? This was so intriguing to me. I kept walking and heard him saying to people "I know you have a quarter" in this harsh tone. Though I didn't actually have a quarter specifically, the Lord led me to give what I did have. God wanted to take it further though, because I really felt an ache (a good one) in my heart to just find somebody to love on, and it wouldn't leave me alone. We ended up walking back by this man and Holy Spirit just took over as I asked the man how I could pray for him. I adore his honesty, as he said he was trying to get off of drugs and needed help. Now, ya'll gotta know I don't typically walk around just asking people how I can pray for them, but like I mentioned in my last post, I keep asking God to stretch me in how I love others and He's answering. So God used my friends and I to just pour truth over him about who he is, speak blessings over his life, and pray for his deliverance from substance abuse. We got to know each other. What our passions are, what kind of music we like, etc. Al was so shocked that we were just a bunch of youngsters out on a Friday night loving on a stranger. This shouldn't be shocking, it should be expected. He told us he liked to dance, so naturally I ask him to show us his best dance move. Ya'll, he was GETTIN IT! I'll definitely be doing the "Al" next time I go dancing. I saw him go from a seemingly bitter man, to a man whose mourning was literally turned into dancing, all because of a little love. We sang his favorite song to him, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Isn't that amazing? Even though he was in the midst of struggle, he is so drawn to a song that is full of wonder and hope. He's a dreamer, as we all are. The thing that I love most about what he said in his story is that it really was up to him to change. It doesn't matter how far we fall, whether we are in the valley or the mountaintop, we all have a natural awareness that we are broken people who simply have to choose God's strength. I'm excited about what God will do in his life.

 I just encourage you guys to look for ways to let God do His thing through you. I used to always pray for boldness to do stuff like this...then when I complimented a friend on his boldness recently, he said he doesn't have "boldness," he's just "dead." Meaning, he no longer lives for himself, but for God. It's kind of ironic how much more fully alive we become in doing so :)