[__ Prayer __] Verna's grand-daughter (again)

[Christ_empowered]

Her name is Leslie. My heart breaks when Verna talks to me about her. She's in her...early to mid 20s, I think...stuck in darkness. college drop out (a lot going on there, but...the world doesnt' care, now does it?). Did drugs, etc.

Anyway...at this point, she's living in subsidized housing. She cannot get food stamps, so she's going to a church outreach pantry. Verna and I are both hoping+praying that she'll see--look who cares? Christians!--but...so far, nothing.

Verna's scared she may lose her apartment. I don't know anything about HUD housing, but apparently they inspect the places to make sure they're clean enough, etc. She's afraid Leslie may lose her apartment. I certainly hope and pray not.

Ugh. On a personal level, it -gets- to me, because I was worse than Leslie, in many respects....and I had far, far less "going for me" (before Jesus saved me...) than she did/does/might again. Teen Challenge was a huge step in the right direction for me, but it took a miracle for me to get genuinely saved and start to truly, really change.

So...please pray for Leslie. She's been burned by church people in years past, but I'm hoping that The Lord will use the Christians around her to facilitate His work in her life, and hopefully bring about genuine repentance and change.

Thanks.

 

[Eugene]

Dear Brother Christ_empowered, it can be those very trials in our life such as you experienced that brings us to realize our need, and the impossibility of escape unless we call on the very name Jesus that was planted somewhere back in our life. You mentioned Leslie being burned in years past, and I would near bet her attitude entered much into the equation. Even now she seems to be using the system by using a church's outreach pantry; they seem to learn quick, but our Lord knows just how to reach the heart of such rebellion; He got you and me, didn't he? I will pray for her my friend, and for our sister Verna; it's obvious she must be hurting.

 

[Christ_empowered]

thanks, Eugene. for obvious reasons, I'm more sympathetic towards Leslie's plight than a lot of people, or so it seems. Then again...I don't actually have to -deal- with her, now do I?

Its frustrating, too, because I hear about her going to psychiatrists, stuff like that, and...wow. that almost never helps, does it? LOL.

Thanks for your prayers and ongoing support.

 

[Eugene]

Hi again CE. I had just used the following illustration of scripture attempting to show problems we can become privileged to when we do our own thing. I hope it will make sense to you, but the dear saint I addressed it to seemed to take it as if I were saying God was getting even with us for not obeying those He put over us.

Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Rom 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

What is this that we do to ourselves? Is it to send ourselves to hell? Of course not, Jesus is the judge. But then I think of the prodigal son wanting to do his own thing until he found himself in want’
Luk 15:13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
Luk 15:14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
Luk 15:16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. (He seems to be realizing the effect of his decision, and this is part of what this damnation is.)

 

[Christ_empowered]

me, yet again...lol.

thanks, Eugene. I'm just not big on "tough love," cuz...if it wasn't for Christian pity and mercy, I'd be dead by now. Seriously.

Having said that, "godly sorry worketh repentance," so....maybe some of Leslie's trials and tribulations will (eventually...) lead her to Christ? One can only hope (and pray, of course...).

 

[Christ_empowered]

OK...I'm reviving this one...

...talked to Verna yesterday. I feel -so- badly for Verna, and also for Leslie. Being trapped in darkness is no joke, especially when you're also poor and dependent on the kindness of family and the gov't, like Leslie is. Ugh.

Verna suspects some seriously immoral behavior on Leslie's part. I don't know what to make of it. They got into a heated convo about gay issues, and Leslie tried to call Verna judgmental or something for saying that "God doesn't love gay people," etc.

I don't know...this must be a taste of what my parents went thru with me, before Jesus saved me. At least I got to go to a Pentecostal program. That was a huge move forward in the right direction. Leslie? I dunno. Her parents seem burned, Verna may be the last person she has left, and...

...yeah. Please pray for Leslie, and Verna, too. I see now...Leslie's in a downward spiral, and the way the world works...most people blame her for all of it. She's also 25 now, so...definitely not old, but no longer actually in her youth. Ouch.

OK. Finished, for now. Thanks.