Delay or denial? There is no question that God is in both. I don't know the circumstances of my readers, but I will tell you with complete confidence that there is another D in which God dwells. DELIGHT! God only allows me to stare at my pieces long enough to be reminded that He sees the bigger picture. Like a puzzle; He sees the top of the box. For me, today has been a much needed day of relaxation and reflection. I allowed time to dig into His word, to journal, and a large portion of my day was spent blogging. Delight yourself in the LORD.
Tonight I drove to the post office to find a letter from one of the young women I minister to. She is a 17 year old girl in jail... who is my heart. I've invested in that kid for over a year and she has been one of my wisest investments. Upon reading the conclusion to her letter, I was in tears. It was almost like a postscript for my heart. She wrote, "Oh, and Never believe it was all you. God was in it. You have evidence. DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED. Whether Delay or Denial it was all for a reason. Me being one. I love you so much." She's going through one of the toughest seasons of her life and if it weren't for him she never would have been a thought in my head. I pray she'll be out here serving the Lord with me soon. Who's ministering to who? You see, I chose to keep a promise to a man expecting nothing in return. I became to the world exactly what I set myself up for. I became a joke, the object of an unspoken I TOLD YOU SO, and so many urged me to give up on him. Never did I flinch....and I carry no regrets. I was never afraid of being wrong, because those who chose to fix their eyes on my belief had overlooked the beauty that was added to my life because I CHOSE to love, support, and encourage him in his faith...being a woman of weighty promises. If you are ever interested in visiting the unvisited inmates of Georgia please contact me. Delight yourself in the LORD.
Leaving from the post office I drove to Goodwill and was reminded of my nightly drives fighting in prayer for the men of Phillips State Prison. So I drove out to the prison and prayed that every man in there would call upon one Father, and they would each become a giant for God. I prayed that those in the Transitional Center would leave that place, and make their families proud always pointing to His love and faithfulness. If God places it on your heart, I collect whites and hygiene products year-round to deliver to Phillips State. Delight yourself in the LORD.
Arriving at home I checked my mail and I had a letter from a project director of Compassion International in Honduras. She was informing me that my 7 year old Lissi would no longer be a part of the project, but she wanted to thank me for the 4 years I had allowed myself to invest in her. If ever you want to reach out to a child and change a life ask me about Compassion International. Delight yourself in the LORD.
It is estimated that 375 young girls are sexually exploited in the state of Georgia each month. Right now I am looking into companies to produce bracelets carrying the title of one of my poems LOUDER desiring to give a large portion of my profits to Street Grace. If you are not yet aware of this cause, do yourself a favor and gain perspective in your circumstances tonight. Visit stopthecandyshop.com and find out how you can get involved. ...and be praying for this endeavor because whether it be bracelets, key chains, or journals I know it will have Kingdom impact. A few years ago a representative from Not For Sale offered to help me out. Delight yourself in the LORD.
I want you to notice that EVERY story I shared with you tonight is ugly far before it is beautiful, but the BEAUTY far outweighs the ugly. God uses EVERYTHING! That same young woman writes from her cell, "I've been thinking of my future. You are in it. In my wedding, my church, my graduation, my child's birth...everything." She doesn't know when she's coming home, but she knows what she wants home to look like. She looks at me and sees home. I don't know the details of any of those inside and that's a gift, because I was hired to love period. Who am I to deserve that love? "Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Pslalm 34:7 So embrace the D's in your life. Much like rejection, denial is His protection. Delay is often God's way of testing you to reveal whether you are living for the reward or if He truly is your great reward...the promise or the promiser, the gift or the gift-giver. Delight is a prescription for JOY. Delight yourself in the LORD!
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