31st
Only one Judge
If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. John 12:47
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? James 4:12
Ever since I met Raina I’ve had to call scripture to mind so that I didn’t judge her. She was the epitome of what we commonly refer to as a lady of the evening. For the 1st year after meeting her she would curse like a sailor, yell at and give the finger to anyone driving by while we tried to pray with her, it was kind of funny as she wanted us to pray but you wouldn’t know it by her actions. When Raina was cleaned up she was quite pretty. As we got to know her we found out that she came from a well-to-do family, had a good education, a good job, lots of friends, was brought up in the church, then fell into the trap of alcoholism. It destroyed her life and she ended up on the streets. If you ran into her before she started her daily binge it was easy to see that she was one smart lady. But if you ran into her when she was under the influence, watch out, she could tear you up one side and down the other. There were many evenings when we would see her on the street corner and pray for the Lord’s peace to be with us as we approached her.
God is so merciful! As time went on Raina started asking for us to join her in prayer for strength to put down the bottle and get right with God. The times of cursing decreased and the time of tears and prayer increased. It got to be a joy to run into her and get one of her wonderful hugs. Very early last Wednesday morning Raina left her life behind. I wish I could say she is in the arms of Jesus and I whole heartily pray that she is. Word on the street is that she went quickly after being shot in a drive-by. No word on the News, nothing in the papers. To most of the world she was a throw-away, her life and death did not matter but we know that is not true. She was someone’s daughter, someone’s friend, one of the lost sheep that is hopefully back in the fold.
When I got the call about Raina’s passing the first thing that went through my mind was my last encounter with her. It was raining cats and dogs that night, I had the hatch up on the van and we were standing under it praying, hugging, and she was crying. She asked if we could please pray for her, she knew that she needed to be 3 years clean in order to ride in the van with us and she really felt she needed to turn her life around and start helping others escape the life she has been living. Dear Raina, I pray you are dancing in heaven, giving one of your wonderful hugs to our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Thank you Father, the only true and righteous judge, for the opportunity to meet and love this daughter of yours, we thank you that she is in yours hands. We are trusting in your Word that says you love us so much that you sent your Son as propitiation for us.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
Blessings,
Donna
“Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.” Deut.28:6
