After 5 days of being drunk, Mickie called me. She was crying because her husband had left her for another woman. She had no money and could see no way out.
I arrived to a horrible stench. There was filth everywhere. Booze bottles, glasses, overflowing ashtrays, dirty dishes, all merged together. Mickie was dressed appropriately for the mess. It appeared she had not changed or bathed since her husband left. She had spilled food and liquor on her nighthgown. Her hair was matted. She complained of her body being in pain, and between slurred curses she cried and moaned.
Mickie's world was full of revenge, pain, unforgiveness and poverty. "Oh, my God, what am I going to do!" she cried. " I don't want to die like my sister did. She died from pills and alchohol when she was 29 years old. I am so lonely and scared. I want that s.o.b. to go through the misery he has put me through. I have such pain. I think I am going to be sick again."
Part of me wanted to run, but the truth held me there. I kept saying over and over to myself, "God, I know You are here, I know You are here!" My senses fought the truth, "I know with every Hell we find ourselves in, You are here."
After what seemed like an eternithy, I felt the Presence of God. It felt like the air was permeated with such unlimited love. It was if that filthy pit of misery was now filled with heaven.
"That horrible s.o.b. leaving me with no money, just bills, I have nothing." Her drink spilled on her nightgown, on the sofa and on me. In this new awareness that had overtaken me, her meaningless words meant nothing to me. They might as well have been statements of peace and the love of God.
I wanted to laugh. Tears were running down my face in gratitude for this beautiful moment. Midst the filth, lack, fear and anger was the King of all, the Lord of Lords. Her provision, security, love, healing and joy were here NOW.
She became quiet and started to sob. I could feel her surrendering. She asked if she could hold my hand. She held it tightly and went to sleep. I just sat there smiling, letting the tears of gratitude wash over me. In the midst of this bourbon-stinking Hell was her salvation and restoration. It was as if the rejection, lies and fears were dead history. She was now forgiven and loved, seen through the eyes of her Redeemer.
"Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John1:29). I knew that Jesus Christ was NOW healing her broken heart with his tender mercy. All the human facts that were screaming just moments before subsided. The divine blueprint of heaven was in operation.
Mickie quit drinking and rededicated her life to Christ. She could not get over the transformation in her life, and I could not get over the transformation in my life. God is always in the NOW.
I arrived to a horrible stench. There was filth everywhere. Booze bottles, glasses, overflowing ashtrays, dirty dishes, all merged together. Mickie was dressed appropriately for the mess. It appeared she had not changed or bathed since her husband left. She had spilled food and liquor on her nighthgown. Her hair was matted. She complained of her body being in pain, and between slurred curses she cried and moaned.
Mickie's world was full of revenge, pain, unforgiveness and poverty. "Oh, my God, what am I going to do!" she cried. " I don't want to die like my sister did. She died from pills and alchohol when she was 29 years old. I am so lonely and scared. I want that s.o.b. to go through the misery he has put me through. I have such pain. I think I am going to be sick again."
Part of me wanted to run, but the truth held me there. I kept saying over and over to myself, "God, I know You are here, I know You are here!" My senses fought the truth, "I know with every Hell we find ourselves in, You are here."
After what seemed like an eternithy, I felt the Presence of God. It felt like the air was permeated with such unlimited love. It was if that filthy pit of misery was now filled with heaven.
"That horrible s.o.b. leaving me with no money, just bills, I have nothing." Her drink spilled on her nightgown, on the sofa and on me. In this new awareness that had overtaken me, her meaningless words meant nothing to me. They might as well have been statements of peace and the love of God.
I wanted to laugh. Tears were running down my face in gratitude for this beautiful moment. Midst the filth, lack, fear and anger was the King of all, the Lord of Lords. Her provision, security, love, healing and joy were here NOW.
She became quiet and started to sob. I could feel her surrendering. She asked if she could hold my hand. She held it tightly and went to sleep. I just sat there smiling, letting the tears of gratitude wash over me. In the midst of this bourbon-stinking Hell was her salvation and restoration. It was as if the rejection, lies and fears were dead history. She was now forgiven and loved, seen through the eyes of her Redeemer.
"Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John1:29). I knew that Jesus Christ was NOW healing her broken heart with his tender mercy. All the human facts that were screaming just moments before subsided. The divine blueprint of heaven was in operation.
Mickie quit drinking and rededicated her life to Christ. She could not get over the transformation in her life, and I could not get over the transformation in my life. God is always in the NOW.
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