“Stop By for Prayer”

Sweltering Hot Backroad of Georgia

Traveling the backroads of Georgia headed south I noticed a parked truck with two hand painted signs leaning up against the front grill. The first sign said, “Jesus loves you this I know”. The 2nd sign said “stop by for prayer”. Beside this sign was a gentleman, maybe in his early sixties, sitting in a lawn chair. In July. During an “extreme heat advisory”. As my husband and I drove by, the man smiled and waved as we gave him a thumbs-up and nodded our heads in approval. There was kindness in his eyes and in his smile.

We are all familiar with men and women standing on street corners aggressively yelling to “sinners”. We have answered our doors to the knock of a Jehovah’s Witness or driven past the “Repent or go to hell” signs and billboards. We have also seen the “Y’all need Jesus” hats and T-shirts. But this did not feel like any of those things. There was no impression of condemnation, correction, or authority. This appeared to be someone’s husband, dad, grandfather, and/or friend who understood everyone is hurting. No one is escaping some type of struggle. It was as though the Lord impressed upon him to “go tell them I love them”.  It was as if, at some point, he had needed and received life-changing prayer himself.

Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans chapter 2 verse 4, “…God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance”.  In this verse, Paul describes the riches of the Lord’s “kindness, forbearance, and patience”. This gentleman, sitting in the extraordinary heat of a Georgia summer patiently waiting to pray with strangers, is a “hands & feet” demonstration of the kindness of God.

It is this same kindness I felt communicated when the Lord began to reveal His plan for Juniper & Oak Wellness. As with the man sitting roadside, I too have desperately needed and been met with the Lord’s kindness. Over and over, he has been faithful when I have been anything but. Juniper & Oak exists not because of who Dana is or capable of BUT because of who GOD is.  In His kindness, He is allowing me the privilege of sharing His love in this very specific way. Juniper Oak is another "stop by for prayer" message from the Lord to "go tell them I love them".

“We wait in hope for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you.” Psalm 33:20-22