Casting crowns

For the past couple of weeks my squad was serving with Samaritan’s Purse in Lake Charles, Louisiana. One of the many ways Samaritan’s Purse serves is working in areas affected by disaster relief. Lake Charles has been hit with two hurricanes and CO-VID all within the past six months. There is a deep need and we got to be right in the middle of it all. 

We visited a house one week and met a man named Jim. He was quiet and kind, and him and his wife were living on one side of his home because the other half was crushed by a fallen tree. My team helped carry out the tree and move debris out of his yard. We swept up broken glass and took out what was left of the ceiling. We helped meet a physical need in a big way, but, little did we know, God had so much more planned. 

While we were there, Jim’s son Jason drove up to chat with us and express his thanks for helping his dad. A couple of our teammates started a conversation with Jim and Jason about Jesus. So on one side of the yard you could see people ministering and sharing the Good News of Jesus to these gentlemen and on the other side you could see people taking out the old, broken things that no longer belonged in his home – WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF THE BODY WORKING TOGETHER! Before we knew it, word spread throughout our team that BOTH Jim and Jason prayed and accepted Jesus in their hearts! WOOOOW

Before our team leaves each home we present a Bible to the homeowner and we pray out. So we gathered around in a circle to close out and end the day. As we started praying, some of my teammates started throwing their hats to the ground. This is a little tradition we’ve picked up from some Samaritan’s Purse veterans. We take the “crown” we’ve received in the inheritance given to us by Jesus, and throw it down at Jesus’ feet in a sign of worship and adoration. As hats start hitting the ground I look up and see Jim, who has JUST received Jesus in his heart, throw his hat to the ground. He has just received the CROWN OF LIFE, the inheritance of GOD, invited into RIGHTEOUSNESS, and he throws his crown to the ground. He throws his crown at the feet of the holy, holy, holy God. 

As our team leader, Palmer, liked to say – some days are good, some days are great, and some days are fantastic. This day was fantastic, and it is a day I will remember forever.  

the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power; for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Revelation 4:10-11)

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