Love Changes People

Jesse Birkey's picture

Her face was scrunched up like a raisin.  Her arms hugged her chest matching the deep scowl that formed between curse words. 

 

The lights of the rescue bounced off the surrounding homes looking for a place to land.  The scene inside one of them had been cramped and intense as we’d found our angry patient (we’ll call Jan) lying on the floor unconscious, barely breathing.

 

People use drugs for a variety of reasons.  Usually it’s an attempt to find someway to numb the pain that hurts so deeply inside.  Jan had been using for a long time and it was too much.

 

I’d grabbed and pulled her into space large enough to work as my partner and I got her the treatment she needed.

 

Now, in the back of the rescue, the dim and dreary lights and atmosphere of the trailer were gone and Jan was awake after receiving treatment for her overdose. 

 

Bitterness was written into the lines of her face and hard eyes reflected suffering I couldn’t personally sympathize with.  No doubt Jan had been through horrific ordeals over the course of her life that many addicts experience. 

 

I wish I could draw you into the dialogue of the ensuing transport but there are just too many vulgar words.  One can only write, “bleeping” so many times.  But what I can draw you into is the affect of sincere love, honor, and respect.

 

It can be so hard to maintain honor and respect for someone who is constantly hurling ugly words in your face.  Often times we take it personally and then react but the truth is that ugly things people say are born out of pain that probably has nothing to do with you.  Especially if you’re just meeting that person. 

 

Heart wounds leak infectious bile seeking to make a home in whomever it can.  But if there’s anything that can sterilize that hate it’s the perfect love of God reflected through people willing to stand in front of the onslaught.

 

I looked at Jan and was able to see the pain and torment of her life.  I didn’t feel God was giving me any specific words to speak over her or to pray for her.  But I did feel that he was leading me to show her love, honor, and respect no matter what.

 

So I did my best.  I answered her spewing with sincere, God-given kindness.  I refused offense a place in my heart.  I looked for ways to exalt her and make whatever short time we had together successful for her.

 

My efforts had no affect on her demeanor, until it did.  As I was ready to leave the hospital I stopped in one last time to wish her the best and as I did I saw her walls crack.  Her stone eyes softened like dough and her shoulders fell.  She told me how much she appreciated our help and apologized for how rude she’d been.  She sincerely thanked us for saving her life.

 

In that moment, after I picked myself up off the floor, I could clearly see the precious heart of God’s dearly loved daughter.  Underneath all the tragedy of her life, and hate birthed from it, was a little girl desperate for the love of God.

 

Love changes people!  There is no greater power than the perfect love of God.  The world operates in a system that calls love weak but they don’t understand that it was the self-sacrifical love of Jesus that disarmed and defeated the powers of darkness, making a mockery of them.

 

Love one another.  By this they will know that we are followers of Jesus and will be drawn to his side. 

 

Blessings,

 

Jesse and Kara Birkey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

www.jessebirkey.com

[email protected]

twitter.com/JesseBirkey

http://www.facebook.com/jesse.birkey

http://www.amazon.com/author/jessebirkey

 

Jesse and Kara Birkey are committed lovers of Jesus who seek to show others the extraordinary life of Jesus is available for everyone.  They have authored two books, been featured in films and seek to serve the Lord in whatever ways they can.  Follow their blog here.    

 

Bring Jesse and Kara to your venue.  Find more information here.

 

Get a sneak preview of Jesse’s upcoming fiction, Finding Home.

 

Life Resurrected, Extraordinary Miracles through Ordinary People has been endorsed by Sid Roth and Mark Virkler and is a collection of inspiring stories making it clear that the extraordinary life of Jesus is available to all who love Him.  It’s also the testimony of Jesse’s life, the road he travelled bringing him into the arms of Jesus. Get the paperback here.  Get the Kindle Version Here. View the trailer here.    

 

Marriage What’s the Point? One couple finds meaning in a crazy mess is the story of their marriage—The tragedy and the restoration.  They bear their hearts in an attempt to get others to bear theirs and finally receive the freedom they’ve longed for.  Get the paperback here.  Get the Kindle Version Here.

 

Jesse is also featured in the film DeadRaiser, a movie shining the spotlight on resurrection testimonies across the nation.  Find more information here.

 

 

 

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4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice

4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 305 Pages | Retail: $16.99

Have you ever wished you could just sit down and have a long talk with the Lord? Wouldn't it be wonderful to move beyond having a theology that states that God loves you to actually hearing Him whisper words of love into your heart? When you're worried or confused, wouldn't you love to see the situation from His perspective and hear how He wants you to respond?


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This top seller for 30 years from Bridge Logos provides a narrative, right-brain presentation of the principles of how to hear God's voice. Especially enjoyable for personal use, it makes a great gift for introducing a loved one to the voice of God. This book teaches the four keys to hearing God's voice in readable style, and also devotes two entire chapters to moving samples of people's journaling (i.e. their two-way dialogue with God).

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Hear God's Voice Guaranteed Package

Hear God's Voice Guaranteed Package

9 Books | 10 CDs | 10 DVDs | Save Over 20%

Have you ever wished you could just sit down and have a long talk with the Lord? Wouldn't it be wonderful to move beyond having a theology that states that God loves you to actually hearing Him whisper words of love into your heart? When you're worried or confused, wouldn't you love to see the situation from His perspective and hear how He wants you to respond? When things don't seem to be going your way and your prayers aren't answered the way you had hoped, wouldn't it be great to hear Him tell you where He is in the midst of it, and what He is working out in your life? Are you ever just a little bit jealous of others who say with such confidence, "The Lord said...."?

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by Mark and Patti Virkler | 317 Pages

We recommend that you order the newest revision of this book titled 4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice. It includes 95% of the content of How to Hear God's Voice but is reorganized so it fits perfectly with the 10 DVDs on this subject by Mark Virkler. In addition, it gets you started using the four keys earlier in the book and gives you more journaling samples and exercises. Since we have removed the large margins, it is a smaller and less expensive book.

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Prayers That Heal the Heart - Revised & Expanded 20th Anniversary Edition

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Prayer counseling that breaks every yoke! Everything you need to experience deep healing of your soul and spirit.

Did you know that you don’t need to be continually plagued by negative thoughts, feelings, pictures or memories?

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A group coaching experience with Mark Virkler

Because I could not find a Spirit-anointed teacher/coach, I spent ten extremely frustrating years seeking to hear God’s voice!!! Suggestions offered did not help me, things like: “You just know that you know. It is a still small voice. He speaks from your heart.” No one could give me the answer I needed which was: Hearing God’s voice is as simple as quieting yourself down, fixing your eyes on Jesus, recognizing His voice as spontaneous, flowing thoughts and writing down His flow as it is coming. Test what you have written after the flow is done, NOT while it is occurring.

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Hear God Through Your Dreams Workbook

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 92 Pages

A newer book has been released that accompanies this workbook: Click here for Hearing God Through Your Dreams by Charity Kayembe and Mark Virkler (featured on Sid Roth's "It's Supernatural", with almost a million views just on YouTube).


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Learn How to Hear God’s Voice, Even When You Are Sleeping

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Everyday Angels

by Charity Virkler Kayembe and Joe Brock 289 Pages

You can partner with Heaven’s angelic hosts!

Do you have guardian angels? Does God want you to know them? Find out what Scripture reveals and how YOU can interact with the company of Heaven!

The supernatural realm permeates our natural world! Therefore, experiencing angels should be an everyday occurrence–we simply need to open our spiritual eyes to their reality and role in our lives.

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