God Appointment

I teach a court mandated class for substance abuser who have been convicted of driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Each class has its own personality. Many classes have students quite willing to make changes in their lives and I come away with considerable satisfaction when they express to me that I have had a part in helping them with that change. Other times, however, I go away wanting to bash my head against the wall to relieve the feeling that I am wasting my time. Last night's class was that kind. Denial ran amuk! I don't remember in the twenty years of my teaching there, having such a "eat, drink and be merry, for you have to die of something...." prevalent attitude. With one exception:

There was a lady looked about my age except a life of drinking, smoking and recently meth showed clearly in her skin. She seemed to have a different attitude. At break she asked to make a call to the person who had agreed to pick her up and take her home. To her shock, I told her I would be happy to give her a ride home. On the way home she began to tell me how she and her husband had owned a business and because of their lifestyle had lost everything. Her astranged, alcoholic husband was currently doing time in jail while she recently was release from jail for drug charges. She was destitute and living with friends. She went on to say that she was doing whatever possible to get her life completely straigtened out. Boy, oh boy did I jump on that! I asked her if I could give her some staight forward advice on that. She said, "Oh, yes!" I told her she would never be able to suceed in doing that with God in her life. Tears streamed down her face as she told me she was well aware of that.

We sat out in my truck and talked and prayed. I asked her if she had received Christ in her life and she said she had. I found out she had visited a church on the northeast part of town with a friend but felt the people were "uppity". I was able to enthusiastically invite her to Legacy Life - which is just about six blocks from where she lived and she promised to come. We ended our conversation as I was able to pray over her as she wept. I left feeling so thankful for the opportunity to make such a God appointment and for a church where I know she would feel right at home!

NOW THAT'S SOMETHING TO BLOG ABOUT!