70x7

Drive-by gifting

Sorry it has taken me so long to send an update about the Christmas outreach.  I’ve had a bit of a stale fruitcake brain lately.

When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?

Matt. 25:38 NIV

We may lovingly call the Christmas outreach’s “Drive-by gifting” because we stop and offer a Christmas gift to everyone we see on the streets, whether homeless, a family walking to the store or someone just getting off the bus.  God shows up in the most unusual encounters.  “Hello, May we offer you a Christmas gift and a prayer?” we ask.  The woman looks stunned and then smiles.  “A prayer? Yes, I would love a prayer.  I just got off the bus from work and was praying that I could make it home safely and God shows up in a van.  You have no idea how thankful I am, I was so afraid to walk home and here is a group of angels asking to pray for me and offer me a Christmas gift,” she says. 

Oh look 3 young teenage boys and they aren’t dressed very warmly, let’s bend our rules and see if they will let us pray for them.  We approach the teens and only one of them talks to us as the other 2 walk away.  When we explain who we are and that we want to pray for them and give them a Christmas gift the teen calls his 2 friends back to the van.  We pray for them, give each of them a gift and drive away.   About a ½ hour later we are driving down the street and see the 3 teens again.  They holler for us to stop, so we pull over.  They thank us again for the gifts and prayers and then tell us that they gave the gifts to some homeless people they saw down the street and they wanted to thank us for making it possible for them to give others the gifts.  We offered to give them gifts they could keep but they declined and said we made their night and their Christmas very happy.

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Gal. 6:9 NKJV

I pray our hearts never becomes immune to the needs of the people we see weekly, for in them we see Christ.  So many of the people we met prayed with and gave gifts of sweatshirts/hoodies to did not even wait until Christmas to open their gifts.  Most of them sat right down on the cold sidewalk tore into their bags and put the sweatshirts on right there on the street. 

Thank you everyone for making this one of the most beautiful Christmas’s ever!!  The joy we had in giving gifts of sweatshirts, cookies, candy, flashlights, hats, gloves, hygiene, and even toilet paper was a blessing not only to those who received the gifts but for us on the team also.  Glory to God!!  I wish you could have seen the tears of joy on the faces of the fathers, mothers, kids, and mostly those who feel disenfranchised. 

Blessings,

Donna

 

“Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.” Deut.28:6

Good Gifts

So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him. Matt. 7:11 NLT

At first I thought this passage didn’t speak to what the Lord placed on my heart but every time I thought about our last few weeks on the streets this verse kept coming to mind.  I keep thinking how; me as a sinner wants to give good gifts at Christmas knowing that the greatest gift I can give is to share the love of Christ with others who are not my children. 

Many of us are very busy at this time of year but if you get the chance to read this before Christmas I want to share with you a beautiful picture story.  So that when you open gifts with family or friends you can offer up a little prayer for the people you helped to bless. 

“Oh I’m so glad to see you, I need my prayer”, she said.  We prayed with her and then offered her a Christmas gift.  “Thank you, this is the only gift I will get”, said Tracey.  “No honey this is not the only gift you will receive.  We are getting ready to celebrate the birth of our savior and He offers the greatest gift you can ever receive.  Do you know who Jesus is?” we reply.  She mumbles yes she knows of Jesus, but before we can say any more she asks us to wait as there is another girl approaching and she needs a gift and a prayer.  Luci approaches the van; we pray with her and give her a gift bag also.  The girls start giggling, walk away and sit down on the cold sidewalk to open their gifts.  As we drive away we see the girls putting on the hoodies, hats, and gloves, laughing with joy over the hygiene items, socks, candy, and flashlights for those without power. 

Down the street we run into a few more ladies, share with them the meaning of Christmas, prayer and a gift bag.  The scene repeats over and over, ladies, men, and families laughing with joy over their gifts, not even waiting but tearing into their bags and putting on the items inside.  At one stop before we could even say anything the lady said, “I hear you are giving out gifts.  May I get my prayer and a gift?”  News was traveling fast and our prayer was that the Spirit of God would travel into their hearts just as fast as the news of gifts was traveling.  Of the 323 hoodies, and many other wonderful items we received, we have given out over 250 of them so we will wrap-up our Christmas outreach this week and I can’t wait to meet whomever the Lord brings to the van.

So as you prepare to celebrate this most joyous season may your heart be filled with the joy you shared with so many that were blessed by your generosity.  The 70x7 team is very thankful for your gifts and prayers.  May you and your loved ones be filled with the gift of love offered by our Heavenly Father through His son Jesus Christ and may the Spirit of Christmas fill your hearts and home. 

Merry CHRISTmas,

Donna

P.S. if you are a post-Christmas sale shopper and would like to help us keep our clients warm this winter we are still in need of men’s gloves and socks for both men and women.  Thank you!!!

“Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.” Deut.28:6

First born over all creation

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.  For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”  Romans 1:16-17 NIV
 
I’m stepping outside the norm with this week’s email but the church/organizations whose websites I’m sharing are something that is very near and dear to my heart.  So this Christmas I’ve decided to call attention to the beauty of Christ’s working through people and places that may also touch your heart. 
 
70x7 Street Outreach is so very thankful for over 10 years of being able to go out every week and meet the “Least of these” to share a lunch bag, hygiene kit, and prayer with people that are quite often overlooked.  We serve a God who loved each of us so much that He sent His son to die for us and He raised up people to share that love with others. 
70x7 is blessed to be able to operate under the umbrella of Abide Ministries (sorry they don’t have a website).  Thank you Abide for abiding with us.
 
As we prepare our hearts (and wallets) for this blessed season may we find it in our hearts to share some of that joy with others less fortunate.   Please note these are organizations that are close to my heart, you may have a church or organization that you feel the Lord is calling you to pray for and/or support. 
 
Kensington Church/Christmas Revolution:
http://vimeo.com/31627343
 
International Justice Mission:
http://www.ijm.org/content/advent-conspiracy
 
Esthers Children:
http://www.estherschildren.org/
 
ProvideInc:
http://www.provideinc.org/
 
70x7 Street Outreach(Abide Ministries)
www.70x7outreach.org
 
If you are looking for other ways to share the Christmas spirit of giving please consider one of these ideas: Gloves for men (I have a big supply of women’s gloves so I only need them for men), socks for men and women, or flashlights with batteries.  Our friends on the street would love warm hands and feet.  The flashlights are for those who live or squat in a home with no electricity.  They burn candles for light and that is very dangerous hence the request for flashlights. 
 
 
WARNING!!!!  This last website may not be appropriate for everyone.  The trailer you will view (if you choose) will haunt you and hopefully open your eyes to a growing problem.  Thankfully they are an organization that follows Christ and brings HOPE to many!
 
Exodus Cry:
http://nefariousdocumentary.com/
 
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 NKJV
 
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Col. 1:15-20 NIV
 
Blessings,
Donna
313-801-2204
www.70x7outreach.org

“Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.” Deut.28:6

Thanksgiving everyday

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Heb. 13:15 NKJV
 
“Giving thanks to His name”, not just on Thanksgiving but everyday as there are so many things to be thankful for:
 
To shop and buy our own Turkey and fixings.  Many of the people who received a Thanksgiving basket struggle everyday to feed themselves.
Lights and heat - Some of the people we see do not have electricity or a working furnace.
A bed – Knocking on a door to deliver a basket and seeing that the parents and 5 children are all sleeping on the living room floor, on blankets and coats. 
A toilet – Yes a working toilet something I definitely take for granted.  And something that is hard to wrap your mind around when you see the plastic buckets filled with waste.
Windows – Oh the joy of looking out the window at the trees or even the rain instead of staring at boarded up windows with graffiti on them.
 
The list could go on and on but none of that really matters when you see the joy on someone’s face when you hold their hand and pray.  They may not all understand who God is and the sacrifice Christ made for us but their hearts are open to receiving the love He has for each of them.  We pray that each and every single day we rise with joy in our hearts, the joy in Christ that is meant to be shared with everyone we meet. 
 
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Col. 3:17 NIV
 
First of all, I ask you to pray for everyone. Ask God to help and bless them all, and tell God how thankful you are for each of them. I Tim. 2:1 CEV
 
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. I Chr. 16:34 NIV
 
Blessings,
Donna
 

Keep your eyes open

Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping. I Cor. 16:13,14 MSG
 
It’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks and I haven’t taken the time to write an email.  But this week was a reminder that we are to put on the armor of God each day and love without stopping.  The enemy is always trying to deceive us with friendly smiles and polite conversation but we have the victory in Christ!
 
We stopped to give a lunch bag and pray with a lady we see quite regularly and she told us that there have been a lot of ugly, violent things happening on the streets so her friend was down the block keeping an eye on her.  She said her friend was with another guy named Blood and that it would not be a good idea to stop and talk to them so she would give them a lunch bag.   We thanked her for warning us and off we go.  As we start to pass the guys they flag us down so we stopped.  Maybe not the best move but it ended up being a very enlightening encounter.  The guy they called Blood was someone that knew us and was very happy to see us.  When he explained where and when we had met him I remembered him but knew him by another name.  There was a crack house we used to stop at and pray with the 3 guys, he was one of those guys.  I hadn’t seen since the house was busted which was a few years ago.  One guy has since been released and has cleaned up his life, thank you Jesus, another of the guys is still in jail.  There has been no word on the street about the third guy until we ran into him on Monday.  God moves in some very mysterious ways, this encounter could have gone sour instead this guy was so happy to see us that he gave us his address and asked us to stop by and pray with him and his girlfriend.  We know his girlfriend and I told him we haven’t seen her lately.  He informed us that she has broken her back and hasn’t been able to leave the house and he knows she would love for us to come pray with her.  The whole time we are talking to him I’m turning his street name, Blood, into a prayer; a prayer that we are covered in the blood of the covenant shed by our merciful savior. 
 
This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:28 NIV
 
“Would you pray for a drag queen?”, he quietly asks.  While we were stopped praying with 2 young ladies another person approached the van and asked for prayer.  Encounters like these can really break your heart because you know that it took a lot to ask for prayer knowing you might face outright rejection.  Thank you Father that you love us, all of us no matter our life choices, so much that you sent your Son into this world.  May we be faithful to pray with all who ask for prayer and trust that your Holy Spirit will begin a work in the hearts of all of us. 
 
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17 NIV
 
After we prayed with our friend he asked us if we would cruise another street and pray with all the drag queens that work that area.  We had never been down the street he named but it wasn’t far from our usual route.  We were so excited to check out this new area that we didn’t stop to pray about it first; as a result we did not find the street.  After driving around for a while someone in the van had a cell phone with gps or whatever it’s called and found the street so next time we go out we will be prepared both geographically and spiritually. 
 
Blessings,
Donna
 
P.S. next week all the little kids will be putting on their costumes and collecting candy.  In the past we’ve asked if you would share your leftovers with us.  We will gladly take your leftovers again this year but what we would really appreciate is toothpaste instead.  So if you find it in your heart and budget please help us prevent tooth decay!

Performs miracles

You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.
Ps. 77:14
 
“I’m so glad you are here, please read this update from the doctors and share it with everyone who has prayed for me.  I want you to tell them that God is wonderful and he gave me another miracle”, she said as I walked into her hospital room yesterday. 
 
A little background on this precious lady, she is a recovering prostitute, addict, drug-pusher, and foul-mouthed woman.  About 12-18 months ago she told us that she wanted to give up her lifestyle and learn more about God.  It’s been a roller-coaster of a relationship but also a joy to see her growth in trusting the Lord.  Around March of this year she faced some serious health issues, they had to scrape her lungs and that kept her in the hospital for a few weeks.  Many of you prayed for her, sent her cards, and blessed her with a beautiful outpouring of love.  While in the hospital I got to spend some one-on-one time with her and she memorized “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil 4:13
This verse became her strength and every time she faced a struggle she would say this over and over.  She was so excited that she was able to memorize and draw on this verse everyday as she only has a 5th grade education so she really struggles with reading. 
 
A few months after her hospital stay and through a bizarre set of circumstances she became homeless again and we lost touch for about a month.  It was such a miracle that we found her again.  We were talking to some of our street-ladies in the hood and they mentioned her name.  At first I wasn’t sure they were talking about the person we knew, but after more conversation we found out it was her.  So these ladies told us where she was squatting and we headed over to see her.  When we pulled up she was sitting on the steps of the abandoned home and wouldn’t look at us.  She said she was too ashamed to contact us, that she “Let us and God down”.  Well we had to nip those thoughts in the bud right then and there.  Praise God the next week she went to a neighborhood church’s food pantry heard about a few homes in the neighborhood that were for rent and secured a safe place to stay. 
 
2 weeks ago when we stopped to visit she looked really bad.  She could hardly hold her head up and said that she felt terrible.  She had gone to the hospital earlier in the day and left before seeing a doctor.  She wouldn’t allow us to take her to another hospital she kept insisting she would feel better after getting some rest.  A week later she went back to the hospital and they kept her.  She was diagnosed with Septic Arthritis, MRSA blood infection, and she has an abscess next to her spinal cord.  She called me the day after she was admitted and asked for the team to pray for her because she was afraid either the MRSA would kill her or the Septic Arthritis in her knee would result in amputation. 
 
Praise God!!!  When we walked in her room yesterday she was practically shouting with joy and waving around the printed copy of the lab results.  She kept saying over and over, “God is so good and I want you to tell everyone”.  So I am rejoicing with her and telling everyone that God performs miracles.  They operated on her knee and were able to save her leg, AND she no longer has MRSA!!!!!!  Thank you Jesus!!!!  While we were visiting the Doctor came into her room with more good news.  The abscess is shrinking!!  I don’t think the Dr. knew what to say because she said to him, “isn’t God good he’s been healing me because the church ladies told me He loves me and people have been praying for me”.  Oh sweet daughter of the Most High, your child-like faith is beautiful!!
 
In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Ps. 33:21
 
Blessings,
Donna
 

“Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.” Deut.28:6

One flock

Then he spoke: You’re blessed when you’ve lost it all. God’s kingdom is there for the finding. You’re blessed when you’re ravenously hungry. Then you’re ready for the Messianic meal. You’re blessed when the tears flow freely.  Joy comes with the morning.
Luke 6:20-21 MSG
 
I want to write this on my heart so that every time I meet someone on the street who is homeless, lonely, hungry, and heartbroken we, the team, can speak the words of life, love, and blessings into their brokenness.  There is no doubt in my mind that the Lord is constantly seeking out his lost sheep, whether they are a prostitute on a street corner callously talking about the friends who were killed this week, or the young man recently released from jail living back in the same environment where he was arrested.  Our precious savior is calling out to them and will keep calling and reaching out until they grasp His hand and hang on for dear life. 
 
At the end of an evening of outreach and you are mentally running down the list of each person you saw and prayed for there is such a feeling of peace in knowing that our Father in heaven loves each of us beyond measure.   He’s rejoicing along with the young mother with the 3 day old baby girl, because she has a grandmother who puts her faith in Him.  He’s angry with the landlord that took advantage of a family by taking their money and not paying the taxes so that now they may lose their home.  He’s holding the hand of the ex-prostitute/drug-pusher who recently gave her life to Him and is now facing the possibility of having her leg amputated.  Our God is an awesome God and when we gather in a group to pray He is there and He is calling out to the young man who prays to a different god who would not join our circle.  Lay down your burden and your anger young man and come hear about a God who loves you so much that He gave His life for you. 
 
Thank you Jesus that you allow us, your children, to see, feel, taste, and rejoice in the love you have for us.
I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. John 10:14 & 16 NIV
 
Blessings,
Donna
www.70x7outreach.org

“Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.” Deut.28:6

Glory to God

Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too.  Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart.  If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit.  Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!  This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.  So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”  For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:11-21

These scripture verses speak volumes about the wonderful things that have been going on with our clients.  We took the month off from doing street outreach and instead spent time one-on-one with some of our clients.  We were blessed with the opportunity to take some of our clients out to dinner, with others that could not or would not leave the streets we would run to the store and buy a bunch of fruit and snacks then go sit with them on a porch or a street corner.  What a joy it was to just sit and talk with them for 30 minutes or an hour and just speak about how much they are loved by a savior who gave his life for them. 

There are so many things happening on the streets, good things and sad but joyful things.  One of our clients died of Cirrhosis and she will be greatly missed but we are rejoicing that she no longer has to suffer but is in the arms of Jesus.  She accepted Christ a few months ago and diligently tried to turn her life around.  Another of our clients is in treatment and according to the treatment center director he is leading prayer with his housemates, Yeah God!  This was such a Holy Spirit led intervention.  We normally don’t get to visit with clients during the first 30 days of treatment but the director made an exception and allowed us (Cindy and me) to visit.  When we got to the treatment center and the director met us at the door Cindy whispered to me, “I think I know him”.  The director let us in and had us wait in a room until he finished his phone call so he could get us signed in.  When he finished he walked in the room and said to Cindy, “Don’t I know you?”  After a few minutes of conversation they realized that he had worked at DRMM and had processed Cindy’s intake when she entered treatment over 8 years ago.  What a small beautiful world we live in. 

Next week we start back with our regular street outreach and we are really looking forward to participating, as witnesses, in the work of the Holy Spirit.  Thank you Jesus that you allow us to share your redemptive love for your children with so many.

Blessings,

Donna

Busy doing

My dear friends, stand firm and don’t be shaken. Always keep busy working for the Lord. You know that everything you do for him is worthwhile. I Cor. 15:58 CEV
 
Jesus Christ will keep you busy doing good deeds that bring glory and praise to God.
Phil. 1:11 CEV
 
These are some scriptures I’ve been reading over and over again these last few weeks.  It’s been a busy summer so far, busy wrapped in joy!  We’ve been taking a few of our clients out to dinner, which has been a hoot!!  Between some clients telling me they had never been on I-75 and didn’t know where they were.  And other clients dressing to the 9’s and practically singing with joy to be “in a restaurant with people that aren’t paying for my services”.  It isn’t very often our ladies of the night get to enjoy a meal in a safe environment. 
 
We also had the privilege of throwing a birthday party for Cindy (on the team), Ms. Winbush, and Rambo, a couple of clients that bring joy to the outreach team every week.  Ms. Winbush turned 75 and loves to brag about her age and about how good God has been to her.  Rambo turned 4 and loves to hug our knees. 
 
I can’t sing praises enough to thank the Lord for asking us to get out of the van and invite people to step out of their comfort zones and join us for dinner.  The conversations have been a blessing in helping us to know and love more deeply the precious people He has placed in our lives.  
 
A few weeks ago we had made a date to take our favorite, ok sorry but he is our favorite, homeless man out to dinner for his birthday.  When we arrived at his corner he wasn’t there and we were very disappointed.  We later found out that someone else had picked him up and taken him to dinner, thank you Jesus!  We stopped to talk to him last night and to try to arrange another date but we never got the chance to pin anything down as he was so excited about a blessing the Lord bestowed on him.  Two days ago someone gave him a used bike to ride so he wouldn’t have to walk everywhere.  Well, he fell asleep on his street corner and someone stole the bike.  As he put it, “I was heartbroken and a little angry that God would take it away from me.  But not 4 hours later a man drove up that I see once in a while and he blesses me with a little money.  Well this time he got out of his car and went to the trunk and pulled out a Brand New Bike with an extra Brand New Chain.  I knew that what the devil stole God had already replaced.  Isn’t God amazing?” 

Yes, Willie we serve an amazing, giving, loving, merciful, forgiving God and He really does love you!!!!
 
Blessings,
Donna
 

“Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.” Deut.28:6

Put on love

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  Col. 3:13-15

It’s been an interesting couple of weeks.  Outreach has had some wonderful positive encounters with our friends on the streets.  But the encounter that has been running over and over in my mind was a birthday luncheon with one of my first contacts when 70x7 started.  It was such a beautiful luncheon that I almost started crying again just writing about it.  On Friday I picked up Cindy for her routine doctors appt., then we headed over to Taylor to pickup Yvonne, the birthday girl, to take her to lunch.  I have to laugh when I think of how the Lord has brought us all to this point in time. 

I met Cindy years before I met Yvonne but we really did not connect until after I met Yvonne.  They were both in residential treatment at the same time, knew the same people, yet have very different journeys.  Cindy came to Christ while in treatment and Yvonne chose to follow her own path claiming she turned her life around.  Well, as we all know Cindy surrendered to Christ and has been an inspiration to everyone who meets her, while Yvonne struggled through her recovery.  I watched and prayed as Yvonne got a job and apt. and then lost them both after relapsing.  We would see her on the streets again and she would ask for prayer so that she could get her life back on track.  She professed a belief in God but felt she could handle her own recovery.  For almost 10 years I watched this lady pull it together, pat herself on the back and then fall back into her old street ways.  About 2 years ago I noticed a change in her attitude when I would talk to her.  She started asking more questions about Jesus and even started asking about things totally unrelated to her own walk in life.  It was like watching a flower bloom! 

Then Friday comes and it’s Yvonne’s birthday!!  We are sitting at the table chatting away about life and Yvonne says, “The only one I want in my life now is Christ.  I’ve finally surrendered and realize I’ve made a mess of my life trying to live without Him.”  The conversation just came alive then.  Cindy’s ears perked up, Yvonne started sharing more about her prayer and Bible time each morning before she starts her day.  Cindy and Yvonne are on a roll now just talking about different scriptures.  Yvonne tells Cindy how she wishes she had listened and opened her heart sooner to the peace and joy found in a relationship with Christ.  At this point I’m so overwhelmed with joy that I just sit back in my chair and start crying.  Listening to these 2 ladies talk about where they came from and how Christ has transformed their lives was a little glimpse of heaven.  Thank you Jesus for blessing me with this opportunity to see and hear two of your precious children talk about the joy they have in you!

Blessings,

Donna

www.70x7outreach.org