July 2025 From the Desk of Dave McLean

This spring I felt like I was in a bit of a Spiritual slump: my Bible study seemed flat, I was flat and it just seemed like my attitude was getting flat.  I sensed that the Lord wanted me to take some time to just listen to Him, and I did.  I always try to walk in that, but some seasons seem more focused than others.  I had been a little discouraged over the way things had been going, and I can see now that I was reacting to that.  The more time I spent listening to the Lord, the more encouraged and inspired I became- He has a way of accomplishing His will in us, doesn’t He?  Our family took a trip back to the Midwest to visit some family and, upon our return, I was feeling inspired of the Lord, excited and ready as I hadn’t been earlier.  It’s always easy to fall into the doldrums and it’s a challenge to work your way out.

The Lord blessed me with an amazing gift my first day back.  One of our managers had been in need of a better and more reliable vehicle and found a great deal on a used truck.  He spends a fair amount of time helping veterans with equine and camping therapy and needed a reliable truck.  A Ray of Hope contributed to his purchase, alongside his own contribution and the help of a funding app established by some veteran friends.  I was so encouraged, as was our manager, to have folks step up and help him purchase a truck that was seemingly out of reach.  This is a man who has so little because he gives so much.  He inspires me!

The next day he asked if he could meet with our office manager and myself.  He wanted to donate his Suburban that he was moving on from to one of our other managers and wanted our opinion.  It is in need of a new transmission, but we now have a two-bay service garage and a master mechanic serving at A Ray of Hope.  We thought it was an amazing sacrifice and gift from a man that is such a dedicated servant, to a man that is also such a dedicated servant.  I wanted to be present for this gifting as I knew this was a dream gift for our manager on the receiving end.

When he was offered the vehicle, he began to shake and cry with joy.  It was one of the most beautiful scenes I have ever been able to witness.  Later that day, A Ray of Hope and an anonymous giver stepped up to pay for the rebuilding of his transmission.  At first, he wouldn’t accept the offering, but as we talked, he received it as a gift from the Lord.  He told me he didn’t know how to receive gifts, that he only knew how to give.  This is a truthful statement, as I see him constantly stepping up daily to help and serve others.  I told him I thought the Lord wanted him to learn how to receive!  It’s good to experience both; yes, He wants us to live a life of serving and giving, but He also wants to bless us with good gifts as an encouragement as He sees fit.  This is a man who has so little because he gives so much.  He inspires me!

This same day, I found out that one of our managers had taken on an evening job to pay off some medical expenses, as she didn’t have health insurance.  Someone heard of this need and paid her debt. She had tears in her eyes as she received the gift.  All of this occurred in one day, on my first day back!  I often focus on the sorrow the Lord must feel as He looks down upon this fallen world, but this day showed me how much joy our Lord must experience through the love and sacrifice of His saints.  We may not have the love for others that He certainly has, but I must say, there are times I get a good taste of it.

As I was walking across the street between the thrift store and our mechanics shop, I had an amazing joy in my heart.  I am so blessed to experience the joy and presence of the Lord in this ministry.  This shelter is a “church”:  we worship together, we pursue the Lord together and we love and meet needs together.  When our guests arrive, they are homeless, and we solve that problem immediately.  Our guests are people just like you and I, they have just had bad things land upon their lap at a young age.  We have a staff that has been there and is willing to be in need to serve those in need, and all for the joy of making a difference in the lives of others and experiencing the power of our most gracious Lord daily.  There is such great joy walking in the presence and active participation of the Lord in the lives of those who desperately need Him and those who strongly seek to live in Him.

I have spent so much of my life seeking to fulfill my desires, and yet they cannot satisfy me as the Lord does. There is far greater joy in fulfilling the genuine need of another than to fill my selfish desires.  In light of eternity, helping others who have less or nothing is far more satisfying.  The Lord says it is better to give than to receive, and I can see that this is so true.  The Lord can speak this, not just from truth, but from experience.  He is a giver through and through.  Everything He created is good and, even as we make a mess of things, He seeks, shepherds, guides and gives to draw us back into His loving care, all to show us how to do the same!  To love on those in need is not just something that we who have give to those who lack, it is a gift of the Lord to us to experience His heart as He freely gives to us.  Wow, such a beautiful God we serve and love.

 See the love He has so freely given to us in light of our disloyalty to Him.  Then look for opportunities to love as He has loved us, this is His gift and calling to us all.

And Can it Be, That I Should Gain?

(Charles Wesley)

And can it be, that I should gain, an interest in the Savior’s blood?

Died He for me, who caused His pain?  For me, who Him to death pursued?

Amazing love, how can it be, that Thou, my God, should die for me?

He left His Father’s throne above, so free, so infinite His grace;

Emptied Himself of all but love, and bled for Adam’s helpless race;

‘Tis mercy all, immense and free; for, O my God, it found out me!

 Serving others isn’t something we have to do to please God, it’s something we get to do, because it’s what He does.  Anything we have comes from Him in the first place, we’re only giving what has been given to us.  How can we not fall in love with our God? 

Amen?  Amen!  Dave