He is Faithful!

Last week I had a few really hard days as I was just really lacking patience with Whitney and so hard things were going on with some of the girls from the drop in centre. I just felt so alone and unable to do this work that God was calling me to and I honestly just wanted to quit and go home cause I was just so discouraged. Wednesday night I couldnt go to sleep cause I was crying so much and so I turned on my light and opened my Bible. It opened to Isaiah 43. I love that God leads us to the Words He wants to speak into ourlives when we need him most. Isaiah 43 says

He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel:

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

This encouraged me so much as God used this passage to speak to me that it doesnt matter if I feel like I am just aimlessly treading water, or being surrounded by the fire of hard times or the world around me is crashing in because God is the GOd of Israel. The same way He was faithful to them and led them through the dessert for 40 years and rescued them from their enemies, GOd will see me through the trials I face. He will never leave me. It is also a word that I got to share with some of our youth on Friday night. I felt a lot of them needed to hear that God is always with them through the hard times of life and they can call out to him anytime.

The second part of the chapter also really encouraged me. It reads

"Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." Lead out those who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf. "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.
11 I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior.
12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "that I am God. "

Wow! This hit me really hard as I was just so discouraged that I wanted to give up. But when I read this God gently reminded me "No Leanne, you can't give up because you are my witness to these youth that I am the God of the Universe who loves these youth. And only I can be their savior. If you quit on them who will tell them?" However, I didn't just feel like this passage is just for me. I'm going to share it at our staff meeting this weekend because as Christians its all of our responsibility to lead those who are spiritually blind and deaf and lead them to discover the truth of who God is.

So out of such a dark night I closed my Bible and fell asleep with such peace that God is God and He knows all the crap that goes on in the lives of these kids and He has put me in their lives to point them to the one who can give them peace and fulfillment.

God is doing amazing things in the lives of our youth this summer. One new guy, Cory, became a Christian last Tuesday at Gospel Journey. 4 other Joe's Place youth were at church on Sunday. Actually heres another story....Sunday after church our church had a meeting so all of our youth went outside and one of our volunteers and I went out to supervise and make sure they didnt get into any trouble. One of the boys whose graduating this year and has been a Christian now for 3 years was like lets do a Bible study on Ephesians while we wait for the meeting to be over. so we sat around in a circle for an hour Sean taught about Ephesians 1 to our kids with Jenn and I throwing in our two cents every now and then. It was so cool to just sit and look around that circle and think of where these youth have been and where GOd has brought them and think where hes going to continue to lead them. Not all of these youth are CHristians yet but theyre hungry for truth.

I drove one of the new girls who has been coming out lately and actually came to church Sunday. She was just like I love coming to Joes place and hanging out with the staff here. Their faith in God is really inspiring and they seem to have such peace and joy in their lives. Its nice to be around people like that. She's now coming out to the girls hip hop team on Wednesday nights too.

Every Sunday we take the kids who come to church out for lunch at Pizza Hut. God is leading us to start a discipleship group after lunch with our youth who want to grow in their walk with God. Please keep this in your prayers as we get this started. I'm not sure how this is going to unfold but I really believe this is where God is leading so I'm stepping out in faith that GOd will use this and He will equip me to lead it.

Thanks again for all your prayers and support.

I love you all

Leanne