A young woman I have mentored for a couple of years suffered a devastating loss two weeks ago when her apartment caught fire and burned everything inside. We got the call around 3am Sunday morning November 4th. We made our way to the aprtment near Lambuth. There stood Julie. No shoes and clothed in some firemans heavy fire coat. She ran to me and buried her head in my chest sobbing. I sobbed too. So did Tim and Candace. All we could do was watch the fire burn. My heart ached at not being able to do anything.
We arrived back at our house around 5am with Julie. No one could sleep. We just layed down until daylight appeared. It was Sunday morning. Quietly we all got ready for church. Candace clothed Julie. We smelled of smoked but we went anyway. During a time of prayer at the altar that morning Julie broke down. We did too. So did Pastor Don. We cried, we prayed and knew somehow that it was time to get up and start all over. Julie told me that of all the bad things she had been thru in her life she had never thought about fire. Fire took some of her most prized possessions even though this young woman has few.
The last two and half weeks we have been amazed how God has orchestrated the starting over process. Just recently we found Julie a new place to live. Many people have brought clothes, gift cards, money and the likes. Julie's heart has been filled with hope. She is overwhlemed at the generosity and love sent her way. The other day I gave her a scriputre . It is now posted on her bedroom wall. It is Isaiah 43: 2-3
We arrived back at our house around 5am with Julie. No one could sleep. We just layed down until daylight appeared. It was Sunday morning. Quietly we all got ready for church. Candace clothed Julie. We smelled of smoked but we went anyway. During a time of prayer at the altar that morning Julie broke down. We did too. So did Pastor Don. We cried, we prayed and knew somehow that it was time to get up and start all over. Julie told me that of all the bad things she had been thru in her life she had never thought about fire. Fire took some of her most prized possessions even though this young woman has few.
The last two and half weeks we have been amazed how God has orchestrated the starting over process. Just recently we found Julie a new place to live. Many people have brought clothes, gift cards, money and the likes. Julie's heart has been filled with hope. She is overwhlemed at the generosity and love sent her way. The other day I gave her a scriputre . It is now posted on her bedroom wall. It is Isaiah 43: 2-3
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior."
She believes it. I do too. God is good. God IS faithful.
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