Thursday, August 28, 2008

Sometimes God puts you where you don't want to be...

...until you get there.

Earlier today Rene got a call from a guy he used to work with (and had to fire). Albert told Rene that he had been shot twice in the legs on Friday and just got out of the hospital. He's going to be on bed rest for two months. He wanted Rene to come and pray for him. Rene told him that he would come by tonight.

Rene and I had planned on going to Calvery Chapel Downey to hear a speaker. The service was at 7:00 and the plan was for Rene to take us home and head out to see Albert. We got to the church a little early and went to check out their bookstore. Rene got Albert a card and he also found a book on finding Jesus.

The service lasted a lot longer than we had planned (9:00) and when Rene looked up Albert's address he realized that we were only a couple of miles away. We decided that we would swing by, the boys and I would stay in the car, and Rene would run in and use us as an excuse to not stay long.

Once I realized the neighborhood we were going into I told Rene that I was not going to stay in the car with the boys. We pull up to the house and see some people hanging out front. We walk up to them and introduce ourselves. Rene sees Gilbert (another guy Rene worked with and had to fire). Rene starts to talk to him and I meet Albert's mom. She tells us that Albert is getting his bandages changed. The boys and I start talking to her. Matthew and Justin are telling her that their "goal in life is to stay up until midnight". She's getting a kick out of them and I'm shocked that my normally shy boys are talking to her. She invites us in to play video games with Albert's daughter. And they walk right in.

Albert is ready for visitors and Gilbert takes Rene in and locks the door so they will not be disturbed. I'm sitting in a livingroom that smells like cigarettes, watching my boys play a video game (with a girl) where they are stealing cars and beating up on people, I'm listening out the window to a group of young people who are smoking, drinking, and dropping the f bomb more than I would like to remember, and I realized that this is exactly where God wants us to be. I knew that my husband was in the other room sharing God's love with these two young men and God wanted me there to support him.

I've been struggling with where God wanted me lately. I even sent out an email today to a couple of friends asking them to join me in prayer for me to seek God and where I should be. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to be at the Rescue Mission with a whole bunch of homeless men or reaching out to other woman. I was feeling torn and confused. I didn't think I would be of much use at the Rescue Mission.

Tonight I saw where God wants me. He wants me to be right along side my husband. He wants me to love, support, care for, and build up my husband. I don't have to be the one up on stage sharing God's word or hanging out with the men after and connecting with them. He wants me to be slightly in the background taking care of Rene. God has transformed Rene into a man with a huge heart for the homeless and "untouchables". I know God is using Rene in so many ways and I'm excited to be a part of the journey.

So, that's where I'm going to be; along side my husband wherever God takes him. And there is no other place that I would rather be.

4 comments:

Rick Bambrick said...

Jenny,
God Bless YOU! In a time in the worlds history where nearly everyone thinks they are a star and deserve to be 'up front'. It is very, very encouraging to read a story of a person who finds where God truly wants them to be and then feels OK with doing it. You are an amazing woman and God is using you in more ways than you will ever know.

I will continue to pray for you and Rene and your ministries.

I wish more people would trust God to tell them what they really should be doing and then, just live in that knowledge.

You are an inspiration!

Leanne said...

That's awesome, Jenny. Sometimes it's so hard for us to realize that our husbands sometimes need us more than the world needs us...or maybe that the world needs us to support our husbands more than we need to be in the front of the ministry that's taking place. That's what God's been teaching me by my not going to Kenya. It was disappointing at first, but it's a humbling and beautiful thing to know that I'm the support system for someone else. And so are you.

Mike Hutton said...

You brought a tear to my eye, I'm soooo happy for you guys!!! :-)

Lynnae Hoff said...

beautiful post Jenny... thank you for sharing those deep thoughts and moments. I'll be praying for you