'I have an address'

For most of us, we think nothing about having a permanent address. We've always had one. We tell it to people, write it on envelopes and go about our business, never thinking how blessed we are to have a home.

On Monday I was reminded how blessed Martha and I have been our entire lives. We have never been homeless. We have always had a home. We have always had a permanent address.

We met a homeless man in Dothan, Ala., three months ago named Charles. He was living in the woods in a tent. Over the past 90 days we have seen God do a miraculous work in his life. He told us at the beginning that he wanted someone to listen to him. We listened. He told us he could overcome his problems on his own. We told him God could do all things and we were there for him if he needed us.

Today, he is trusting God to help him with his problems, and he knows that Martha and I truly do care for him and love him. On Monday, Charles left the homeless population. He now has a permanent address. He has a place that he can truly call home. He doesn't have to worry about where he will sleep at night. He doesn't have to worry about where he can take a shower. He doesn't have to worry about moving from one hotel to the next, then back to the woods. He has a home.

Thanks to everyone who supports Love In Action with their prayers and finances, we were able to pay his down payment and rent for July and August, and have his electricity turned on. Charles works full-time and he will be able to pay his own way now. He's excited about that. He wants to support himself.

Thanks to those who donate furniture, Charles has items like a nice reclining sofa, a recliner, TV, desk, coffee table, dishes and more. Restoring lives. That's what God does, and He is using all of you who support this ministry to do that. It's awesome, and Martha and I praise God for it all.

As I helped Charles move furniture into his apartment he kept saying, "I have an address. I have a mailbox. This is so cool." I had to fight back the tears. Martha and I shed tears of joy later Monday evening.

Thank you all so much for everything that you do to help us help the homeless. There are many others like Charles out there who need to know that God loves them. They need to know that Jesus died for their sins and rose again to give them everlasting life. They need to know that there are people who really do care and love them. They need to know that God does have a good plan for their lives as God tells us in Jeremiah 29:11.

We praise God for His faithfulness. We do indeed serve an awesome and loving God.