God's restoration power on full display

Tears of joy flowed all week. From an amazing salvation to family restoration, we witnessed the restoration of our God.

Thursday one of our homeless friends finally surrendered to Jesus after three-plus years of pouring the Gospel and love of Jesus into him. His decision reminded me that God never gives up on us. I wondered if he would ever give his life to Jesus. In fact, with his lifestyle, I thought he would end up dead without Christ. Thankfully, I was wrong. The Holy Spirit kept drawing him.

When he resurfaced about six weeks ago he was reading a Bible our friend Barbie Nolan from Covenant UMC had given him two years ago. He started quoting scripture to me. He had never read the Bible, much less quote it. He said Proverbs was messing him up, because he saw that he was the fool God talked about in Proverbs. The Word of God was drawing him. He said something has to change in his life. I told him Jesus was the only way, but he wasn't ready.

Then, on Thursday as he talked with one of our volunteers, he surrendered to Jesus. Praise God! Tears filled my eyes as I hugged him. A young man from The Ark was at LIA waiting for the Samaritan Clinic to open. He immediately started telling our friend about The Ark and how his life could be transformed by the power of God through their 12-month program. To my amazement, he wanted to go to The Ark.

You have to understand, this man never wanted anything to do with God even though we had prayed with him and showed him the love of Jesus for several years. Those were seeds of the Gospel being planted and watered. God truly brings the increase. (1 Corinthians 3:6)

By Friday afternoon our friend was in The Ark. Praise God! I'm not going to mention his name, but please pray for him. God knows who you are praying for. Jesus forgives, saves and restores us to the Father. Our friend is now restored to our Heavenly Father.

Friday evening we saw God restore a family. One of our homeless friends walked out on his family 23 years ago, his son was 4 years old. On Friday, his 27-year-old son and wife picked him up at Love In Action to begin learning about one another and becoming the father and son God meant for them to be. To God be the glory!

We prayed with the three of them and watched them drive off together. I couldn't keep the tears from streaming down my face. God's restoration is beautiful.

These were two of many amazing things God did last week. This ministry is hard. We constantly battle the forces of darkness as we reach into the enemy's camp to bring people into the light of Jesus. Weeks like this makes all the battles, heartaches and frustrations worthwhile. It reminds us God is at work in the midst of the craziness. We are reminded of 1 Corinthians 3:6, some plant and some water, but God brings the increase.