I was recently honored to attend a memorial service for a gentleman that we have known for years. My husband, Peter, became friends with Byron some years ago through House of Prayer. Then Byron started coming to Love INC.
As long as we had known him, Byron had been dealing with being homeless. Nevertheless, he was most often cheer-filled and relished speaking of God and theology. He would come to Love INC to 'school us' in this. He certainly knew his Bible well! Byron rarely asked us for anything and when leaving would speak blessings over us.
Byron was well liked in our community. There were about four dozen people at his service from various places in our community.
People knew him. People shared from loving places, and their comments showed he was appreciated, cared for and known well.
God uses everyone. Byron loved God. He spoke freely of his faith. We look and make observations, and perhaps judgments, about others . . . and yet this man, who was homeless, was used by God in the lives of others. His friends spoke of this, sharing personal examples of how he touched their lives.
Byron's favorite scripture was quoted:
"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow~~not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below~~indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)
He loved that God is so powerful as to overcome demons and hell!
It was so moving to listen to and watch several of Byron's homeless friends nodding in agreement, or wiping away tears of hope in this Truth or quietly saying "amen." Yes, Jesus loves them, yes, Jesus loves them . . . the Bible tells me so!
Easter is coming! The Passionate Power of God's love given for ALL who will receive.
As long as we had known him, Byron had been dealing with being homeless. Nevertheless, he was most often cheer-filled and relished speaking of God and theology. He would come to Love INC to 'school us' in this. He certainly knew his Bible well! Byron rarely asked us for anything and when leaving would speak blessings over us.
Byron was well liked in our community. There were about four dozen people at his service from various places in our community.
People knew him. People shared from loving places, and their comments showed he was appreciated, cared for and known well.
God uses everyone. Byron loved God. He spoke freely of his faith. We look and make observations, and perhaps judgments, about others . . . and yet this man, who was homeless, was used by God in the lives of others. His friends spoke of this, sharing personal examples of how he touched their lives.
Byron's favorite scripture was quoted:
"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow~~not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below~~indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)
He loved that God is so powerful as to overcome demons and hell!
It was so moving to listen to and watch several of Byron's homeless friends nodding in agreement, or wiping away tears of hope in this Truth or quietly saying "amen." Yes, Jesus loves them, yes, Jesus loves them . . . the Bible tells me so!
Easter is coming! The Passionate Power of God's love given for ALL who will receive.