Her questions made me realize how much of a divine appointment this had been. Here was a woman who was searching for God. Here was a woman who was thirsting after the life that He offered, but who did not know how to find it. And God sent me, who had just an hour earlier been so unwilling to work, to find her and help guide her along the way.
Encouragement
This is a cry from the heart, as you call it. It's the loudest tick-tock in my life... I pity my Vova and Lena; what about their Egor? He loves his parents so much: I can hardly express it in words. But, unfortunately, he doesn't know how they can love each other. For they did love! Who knows it better than I?
As my thoughts continued (though I was trying to encourage myself that I was doing the right thing) I heard a motor running behind me and made my way to the right side of the sidewalk to let a golfcart pass by. I was deep in thought, thinking about how I was going to pay for the binders I needed, to keep telling people about Jesus, and even if I could afford the binders I had no idea what I would do to get enough inserts (page protectors) and pay for photo copies of the pages at the same time. Even if I had to live on Peanut butter and jelly for the next two or three weeks in order to afford what I needed, I was determined to do it and to be faithful.
As we sat comfortably enjoying our lunches, the nagging feeling in our hearts began to tug louder and louder with each bite. Was it guilt? Undoubtedly guilt was involved -- guilt, not because we had food, but because we knew that with each passing moment we were losing an opportunity to truly live out our Christianity. Finally, we decided to act. Pitching in a few dollars each, we introduced ourselves to the homeless individuals, asking if it would be alright if we could buy them lunch that afternoon.
On our path with God, whether we want it or not, not one of us can escape studying this science because in it is where the very essence of Christianity exists. Living in a human body, Jesus also sat for this exam. The powers of His soul were strained to the greatest extent and the scarlet drops of His blood were showing to the sleeping garden of Gethsemane and to the ages to come. What does it mean to LOVE? Other people sat for this exam as well. Do you remember the family from Bethany—the close friends of Jesus? All of us know this gospel story with the happy-ending very well; but, have you ever, even once in your life, put yourself in the place of Mary and Martha in the beginning of the narration?