Truly proud.

So many times we see that a person makes a mistake then compounds it with another and another and so on until they don’t have anywhere to turn.
I see this all the time. Young girls come to the Church looking for help. Single mothers with 2 or 3 young children, abandoned by the kid’s father/s, bridges with their parents burnt, wondering what they are going to do. They are usually in tears by the time they decide to come to the Church. They feel so alone, so helpless, so hopeless.
I often wonder what leads up to this. I wonder how this can happen.
Let me tell you a pretty amazing story. (Look this is gonna be real short so a lot of details are being left out. But, you will understand my point when you get to the end.)
There was this girl, we’ll call her “J”, she was unhappy with her parents, unhappy with her life. She couldn’t understand her parents. Quite frankly they couldn’t understand her. So she decided she was leaving the house. Suffice it to say she didn’t leave under good circumstances. (leaving…mistake)
She moved in with a friend’s family. She felt this would be her new ”family”. Her mother and father were hurt. I couldn’t even imagine the pain they were going through. (compound mistake)
Very soon she found out she was pregnant. The “family “she so desperately wanted felt they didn’t sign up for this. (They didn’t)
What to do now? This is where the girls that come to the Church make their biggest mistake. They either get married or decide they will show everyone that they can take care of themselves. They don’t need anyone else. And the parents, they decide they don’t want to enable these girls so they tell them basically…”You made your bed now you have to lie in it”…By the Way, not a good plan.
Back to “J”, what does she do? She wants to go back home. What do the parents do? They take her back in. Look I’m not saying there still aren’t problems. What I’m saying is that this family realized something very important…No matter what has happened in the past, they have to move forward as a family. They have to stick together.
All I have to say is I am very proud of “J” and her parents. I wish more families were like them.
To the parents, I love you guys. You are going to struggle but I believe you are doing the right thing
To “J” If you ever need anything I will be here for you. I love you.
Robert

I'm rambling a bit...so what?

In the middle of my day yesterday I set up the "Prayer Tent" on the sidewalk outside the Church. (KACC in Anaheim) The people who are usually there weren't able to be there. As I sat there with no one asking for prayer I wondered, "why am I sitting here?" I actually said out loud, mockingly, "I have this great idea for YOU!" I mean I didn't have this idea. That guy should be here not me. I have a lot of things I could be doing.
I had to leave for a few minutes to pick Shelby up from school. I asked Our Children's Pastor Jamie if he would sit there for 15- 20 minutes. He said sure. As I was pulling out of the parking lot I saw Jamie praying with a woman. I was gone for 30 seconds and someone walked up. Maybe it was my attitude. Maybe God didn't think I was ready to pray for someone. Maybe He was right.
When I got back no one came.
As I was starting to get things ready to pack up a guy came up in tears. His wife had asked for a divorce. They have been married for 13 years and have 2 children. She said she is in love with another woman. I sat there with a totally blank mind. What on earth am I going to say to this guy to make him feel better. God was right I wasn't prepared to pray for someone. He proceeded to tell me the whole story. Suffice it to say that bringing a third party into your...um...well let's say life isn't a very good idea.
As he was talking, I was praying that I would say the right thing. So I told him that he needed to get his relationship with Jesus right. Whatever was going to happen with his wife, his relationship with Christ had to come first.
That was the extent of my advice. I know it sounds kinda hollow now, but the reality is God will take care of this guy.
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" Romans 8:28
That isn't to say that all things are good. But God can use them for good.
I prayed for him, packed up the tent and realized that God had me right where He wanted me and at the exact right time.

I wonder if anyone will show up next Wednesday...

In Him,
Robert

Haiku for Liz!

I wake and see you.
If I didn't have my love,
Where is the sunshine?


I love you Liz,
Robert