Broken But Not Beaten and Soar on Eagles Wings!

I had the opportunity to be reconnected with one of our Christmas Wish List recipients and her family. Her husband was with her on this particular day.  She began explaining how they are having a difficult time and struggling just to put a roof over their two boys head; literally. So I found what all of the agencies they have exhausted and then it happened. The father's heart was completely broken. I asked him if he was tired, and he replied yes. He made the comment a couple of times that he was ready to give up. I tried to encourage him not to, but he said it a couple more times. Then it was as if the Lord nudged my shoulder and said "ask him." So I asked him if he was ready to surrender his life and will over to the care of God. That God has the answers for all of his problems. God knows your heart and when it is true and sincere, he is ready to change you from the inside out. Todd was crying and I could see his heart was broken and he was ready for something good in his life to happen.
I'm not a man, but seeing Todd hurting over the fact that he could not provide for his sons broke my heart. I asked if he was ready to pray and he said he wanted to do it. Let me tell you, I couldn't lead anyone into a prayer of repentance as Todd was lead by the Holy Spirit.
If you know me, I am going to share the word with anyone that will listen, so I opened up my mouth. I told Todd that the word of God are promises such as "Humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up" (James 4:10 if you're wondering). I shared a few other scriptures about how God says he will bless him by accepting the salvation of His son Jesus Christ. I talked with the boys about what their dad just did and how humbling it is for him to surrender everything. We talked about forgiveness and hurts. We talked about how God doesn't waste a hurt either. The boys seemed to be interested.
By the time my friends left the office their four walls were taken care of. We don't have any shelter facilities here in Putnam County, but I  know that one day we will. The facilities in Jacksonville and Daytona only cater to those in their county.
It was interesting how the boys have wanted to go camping and now they were on their way. They had plans to get a friends tent and honestly rough it in the woods. I don't know what has happened to this family in the past 24 hours, but I know one thing to be true. Just as God was the pillar of light at night for the Jews. God was a lamp to their feet and light to their path.
I am privileged to work in a place where I can honestly see him at work in people's lives. I see him at work in my life. Though you may not see him at work in your life, I am sure he is.
Blessings come to those who following him, do what he tells you to do in the "if's" of the word. Pay close attention to the "Therefore's" too.  There are a lot of lessons to be learned by those scriptures. Some will keep you from the traps of the devil when you follow them. Others may give you warnings or answers to what you are facing or about to face.
I truly believe that when we pray "Lord whatever it takes," He takes seriously and good things come to those who persevere. Our prize isn't from the WIIFM station "What's in it for Me" now but what's in it for me when I surrender now.
It has been a few weeks and they called me. I was in tears to hear how the Lord has provided a home and a job for Todd to care for his family. He has a new outlook on life and is ready to step into truth teaching again. I am excited for Todd and looking to partner with him on future projects.


~Be encourage...Isn't God good?

We Never Know Why

Call me gluten for punishment, but I have a heart to help those that are less fortunate. There seems to be people within my path lately that are less fortunate and I try to offer a helping hand. There is one young lady that I can't figure out if she wants something more, but feels unworthy to receive it or is truly into her stuff. She is a young mother with a 17 month old. She didn't give him up for adoption when she found out she was pregnant because she thought he was her meal ticket. Now what?  The mother and child is homeless. Daddy is in another unhealthy relationship because he is being abused. I wanted to give them a hand up, but I could only give a hand out. I felt lead so I did what I thought was best.  I paid for a hotel to get the mother to sit still and give the boy some rest. However within less than an hour I returned to give her some food for the child and they weren't there. I left the food and a note with a contact number to call if she needed a hand up. I took a friend with me so I wasn't alone, it may have been my only smart choice in this situation.  We walked the grounds in case she was having a smoke at the side of the building, but nothing. There was a man of God there that spoke life into our hearts. He said "God will bless you for your heart is true." I cried out to God for the lesson here. My heart was heavy and tears filled my eyes.  With all of the recent activities with the homeless, I have been given a vision to open a homeless shelter. When I said to God "yes Lord, I will do as you lead to get it up and running,"  I have had people walk in my path that can and will help me. It is amazing, but that is God. There are some people within our community that will tell me it can't be done but I know what my God says about that....."with God nothing is impossible."  Well on my way home, I heard the question "are you going to quit? Just give up it's not worth it." I quickly said anything done for the Lord is worth it. Helping this young women wasn't about her response. No it was about my obedience to Christ and His mission. It is about God pursuing this young women. God didn't give up on me and he won't give up on those He loves. I woke in the early hours from a dream. It was odd. It was as if the days events continued in my dream. I was walking the parking lot as if I was looking for her, just as my friend and I did at the hotel. This time a car, like a Lincoln, turned into the parking lot. As the car passed by I saw two men in the front seat and the young lady in the right side of the back seat. As they passed, her head was leaning on her right hand, had the same shirt on when I left her, and I could see my head turning and eyes watching them as they pass. Her face was exhausted looking eyes had an expression of careless attitude.  The next scene in this dream was of me. It was a picture of who I was and not who I am now. One of the two young men from the car was trying to get me to have sex with him. I said "no" grabbed my shoes and was leaving. The man followed me outside and the sweet talk began. You know ladies that " you're so beautiful. Any man would be grateful to belong to you." This time in my dream, I chose to walk away. He didn't chase me and wasn't violent in any fashion. It was my dream and I think I had taken the thought captive in my dream.  I woke up at that moment. I was wowed by this. The first thing that came to my mind was to repent for agreeing with any part that wasn't of God. Next scripture came to my mind. "when you who are spiritually strong see a brother in sin, go a gently lift him up, but be careful lest you fall." Satan wants to trip us up and separate us from a loving God because he wants what God has and is. Satan will never have it though. I belong to God the Father Almighty and I am His. I choose the good guys team.  But what about others? Some people don't know Jesus Christ and need Him in their lives. I want an opportunity to introduce them to Him. I don't care if the young women accepts my help, but I care about her seeing God's hand on her life. She may get the baby taken away if she keeps up on her road or may end up in worse conditions. However, I did what I was called to do. I introduced her to Jesus none the less. More importantly, I know that I must persevere for the prize of Jesus Christ. I have to remember too, Jesus couldn't even save the whole world.  ~Be encourage that God doesn't waste a hurt or help Marjorie