God's goodness

Martha and I are constantly amazed at God's goodness. We see it in our lives as we approach our fifth wedding anniversary on Nov. 6. God has blessed us so much in every area of our lives. Living and serving God together is incredible. We have never been happier and we both thank and praise God for everything.

I love my precious wife. I know I am a very blessed man. I thank God for blessing me with such a godly, beautiful, sweet, compassionate wife. She has such a great quiet strength and loves God with all her heart, and I have no doubt of her love for me. The homeless and poor we minister to know that she is sincere in her love for them. Happy anniversary beautiful.

We continue to be amazed at how God is working in the lives of the homeless and those who live on the fringe ... the marginalized. God is showing His love in so many magnificent ways. This past week another awesome thing happened. For those who have followed Love In Action and this blog remember Charles. When we first met him back in April he was homeless and living in the woods in Dothan, Ala. He didn't trust anyone and didn't know much about God's love.

Since then, he has experienced what God's love is all about. He decided to give his life to Jesus, and six months later he has his own apartment, a full-time job, and now a car. A Ford Taurus was donated to Love In Action last week and on Tuesday night, Oct. 27, the title and keys were presented to Charles. He couldn't believe it. He was in total shock. He was so happy he cried. So did everyone at the warehouse that night.

Charles told me, "That's another step to freedom." When you are homeless, you are bound by so many obstacles. You have no roof over your head. No idea where your next meal is coming from. No job and no transportation. Charles is experiencing the freedom that Jesus promises in John 8:36, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." And, Charles is also learning about what Jesus said in John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

He is one happy man. You couldn't take the smile off his face if you wanted to. He drove himself and a friend to church for the first time today. He said, "I'm not ever going back (to the way he used to live). I've been experiencing this for six months now. I'm not going back." Praise God! Keep Charles in your prayers.

We praise God for what He is doing in Charles' life and in many others lives.

Then there is Russell. He is a former inmate of the Houston County Community Corrections Work Release. While in jail, he decided to turn his live completely over to Jesus Christ. During his time in work release he led many chapel services and never missed a Wednesday night Bible study at the Love In Action warehouse or a Sunday at Harvest. Now that he is free, he still doesn't miss a Wednesday or Sunday. Now that we have started Celebrate Recovery, he doesn't miss a Tuesday night. He also helps bring the men from work release to the LIA warehouse on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

On Oct. 20, Russell preached at our Celebrate Recovery. Martha and I watched and listened to Russell with tears in our eyes. It is so awesome seeing a life transformed by the power of God. Russell is anointed to preach. He did a wonderful job.

Check out a photo of Charles standing next to his car and watch the video of Russell preaching on our Web site at http://loveinactionministries.com/

Each of you who pray for us and give financially to Love In Action are a very big part to what God is doing. We couldn't do what we do without all of you. Thank you and may God richly bless each and every one of you. This is a great adventure God has us on. Let's keep going and see what God does next.