Living in the real world

Every month my wife and I do a service on a Sunday night at a homeless shelter 50 miles from home. It is located near I-40 on the edge of the Navajo Nation. We enjoy being able to touch the lives of those who are in a tough spot in their lives. It's always a little sad and yet always enlightening. Last night we were there and some of the guys who stumbled in, literally stumbled in. They were a bit on the buzzed side and I knew that they weren't really listening, but rather just trying to escape the 50mph winds that were blowing.
My message was about prayer and the need to pray without ceasing (1Thess 5:17) and the joy it will give you as a result. (1Thess 5:16) This was only part of the message, but I could see in eyes of those who were a bit tipsy that it registered with them. Their heads lifted and each one looked at me with understanding. Talking to God= Joy/happiness/ feel good. They were obviously into feeling good, but more in the physical sense.
The rest of the message was about not neglecting either the spiritual or physical parts of our being. Both must be addressed if we are to be complete. The one neglected will die and what happens with one affects the other.
Call me crazy, but I think they began to sober up and some understanding crept into their minds. I hope so. I really believe the Holy Spirit was at work. So many fail to see that the actions we perform in our physical being greatly affect our spiritual being. As we loaded up equipment into the van, the ones who were stumbling all sat outside and waved and smiled at us as though some connection was made. I praise God for connections.
God is so good in the tough times, if we stop and look for Him. So many think that those who seek spiritual matters are not living in the real world. Let me tell you, it doesn't get any more real. For those who can't see beyond this place and this time, I sincerely pray your eyes will be opened. The guys in the shelter have reality in their faces every day, yet some choose to change their reality (or hide from it) through alcohol or drugs. If they could just learn to see the ultimate reality of God and let Him guide their lives, the tough times may not change, but the ultimate friend would walk them through those times.
Pray for them.

A view of the lake...

I spent the past week in Page, Arizona next to beautiful Lake Powell. The rock cliffs that climbed out of the water toward the heavens are truly amazing. When I see things like this, I am reminded that the earth in which we live is just one beautiful place after another. (Even though this is a man made lake, God made the rocks and the surroundings....and oh yeah...the water) God is so good to have made such a wonder. I've lived in more than ten states and now reside in my favorite place of all, the glorious White Mountains of Arizona. I pray He never moves me, but if He should I will go, for I must continue to pray, "Not my will, Father, but yours."
I believe that if we can succeed in giving up our will for His in every facet of our life, we will capture true joy! When I can figure out how to post pictures, I will put some on this arena (if I can) I will post as often as possible, but sometimes it just isn't. So Bless you for reading, and I hope to leave some words with substance, not merely reflecting on a trip I took.....it's late and I must work in the morning.