Last night I had the privilege of talking with a lady who has been broken.  Our quartet was singing for an event at a church in Boise, ID.  It wasn’t a very large crowd so after the dinner we had everyone gather their chairs and move closer to the place we were singing.  We were to do an hour’s worth of music.  Each of us 4 guys in the quartet had selected a song to talk about with scripture and personal story reinforcing the song’s importance to us.  I had chosen the song:  He Didn’t Throw the Clay Away.  I used the scripture II Corinthians 4:6-11 and II Corinthians 5:17.  These verses tell how our bodies are remade by Christ–fragile as a clay jar but filled with Christ’s Holy Spirit as we give our lives to Him.  And in 5:17 it says “we are a new creation”.  I told how all this has been such a huge struggle for me personally.  I wasn’t worthy of a new body.  Mine was so tarnished, yet Christ has been needing to convince me that His work on the Cross hadn’t left me out for I am a new creation too.  A lady in the crowd was wiping tears the entire time I talked and while we sang the song.  As we ended the evening her husband came to me thanking us for coming and thanking me for my testimony.  He said his wife was really touched by this.  I went to his wife who opened up saying her story is much like mine.  We talked for 45 minutes.  This morning I journaled that I was surprised to see this lady so broken.  Christ immediately reminded me why He has us doing His Kingdom work so why should I be surprised?  This journey is very humbling.  Christ is chipping away at this old belief system of mine and little by little convincing me to more fully trust.  I gave this gal one of my books which I pray will be an inspiration for her to reach out for the help she needs in breaking this bondage of abuse.

Yesterday morning I had the privilege of meeting with a gal I thought could help with our Aslan Ministry.  She can alright, but I also found that she wants me to speak to the youth at the Juvenile Detention Center in Boise where she is the chaplain.  I didn’t know her at all but she had been given my book which she’d read.  She told me she hadn’t thought anyone had a dad like hers until she had read it.  She wanted the youth for which she ministers to know they don’t have to live their lives entrapped in the bondage of sins the world has given them.  Most of them have a history of sexual abuse and severe physical/emotional abuse and they are preteens and teens.  This will take place on July 31.  I will appreciate your prayers.  God is an amazing God.