MEET ON THE STREET

I will never forget the summer of 1981. It was the summer that God began to transform my life from knowing about God to "knowing God" personally. God set up the circumstances and I literally walked right into them feeling desperate and alone but longing for a move of God or something

On May 15th of that year, I was on my way home from graduation and prom. I had graduated earlier that day and I had my whole life a head of me. Life was good and I was looking forward to enjoying the summer before college. I was startled when I pulled into my parent's driveway only to discover all of my belonging out on the front porch and a note stating that I no longer had a room in my house that I had known for the past 10 months. Now in fairness to my parents, you must understand that we had become a blended family with a new sister in the house amongst 3 boys. There were three bedrooms in the house and my sister was getting older. My parents needed the room and I was the one leaving soon.

Once I got my bearings, I picked up my possessions and put them in the car and drove out of the the driveway hurt and without saying, "goodbye." I drove to my grandparent's house on the other side of town and asked them for a place to stay until I started school. They were as shocked as I was but was ready to take me in.

I now settled in for the summer but quickly realized that I had no vehicle of my own or no money. The car that I had used for prom was my oldest brother's and he wasn't about to part with it on a daily basis. My grandparents were loving but didn't offer much outside of food and shelter. I later realized how much they truly sacrificed during this time. I was alone, broke, and no where else to turn.

It was in this time that I started taking walks across the street where my grandparents lived in a neighborhood that had long and winding roads that I could get lost on for hours at a time. It was on these roads that God began to speak to me and let me know how much that He loved me. I can't explain it in its entirety; however, I can say that God was speaking directly to my heart.

I would start my walk around mid afternoon each day and cross the major highway that seperated my grandparent' s house and the neighborhood that I couldn't wait to get to. Once across the highway, I would begin my daily journey with worship. That's right! I would begin to tell God how much I loved Him and how much He meant to me. I would remind Him of the things that He had done throughout the old and new testament and that I knew that He had a great plan for me. However, I would also cry out to Him and let Him know how lonely I was. All of my immediate friends where getting ready for college or working and I was so far on the other side of town that I couldn't get to them.

Nevertheless, something truly exciting began to happen.  I couldn't wait to get on those roads. I couldn't wait to spend time with God. It was like meeting with your best friend every day. I grew to love Him more each day and I could feel His love surrounding me more and more. I felt at though God couldn't wait to get with me as well.

Learning To Dance In the Rain

One thing that I have learned over the years is that God never taught me how to run from a storm; however, He has taught me how to dance in the rain. I wish that I could take credit for something so profound in what I just said, but I can't. It is taken from a quote that I found on one of my iphone apps that I purchased not long ago. Silly, huh?

I have spent a lifetime trying to figure out why it is so easy for some people to follow the will of God and for others, like me, to struggle or find themselves wayward on paths that God never meant for them to go. If you are the latter, then welcome to my world; and understand, that you are not alone in your quest for answers.


I understand that God has made us all unique and that we are at different places with Him at different times. Also, there are hints throughout his Word that help us discover His will along the way. For example, Psalms 119:10 states, "I'm single minded in pursuit of You; don't let me miss the road signs that You've posted." (The Message) The first truth out of this verse is that there are many things that compete for our thoughts and our time. Let's face it, "Life is hard." There are bills to pay, kids to raise, a boss to please, not to mention the ever workings for a successful marriage. 'Hear the thunder yet?" Just when you get a little ray of hope, Bam!!! the rain begins to pour from another direction.

God says that we have the ability to turn all of this on Him and pursue Him with a "single-minded" focus. Matthew 11:29 stats, "Walk with Me and work with Me--Watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anthing heavy or ill-fitting on you." (The Message) Just think about this for a moment! The very God who created everything that you see and know wants you to walk with Him on a moment by moment basis with Him leading the way. He has all of your successes in mind and longs to give them to you. All you have to do is learn how to give Him your heaviness and burdens and He will give you something in return that is so wonderful and unexplainable, Your path.

God can cause you to dance in the rain when the storms are blowing against you How much more peace can you have in your life when you know where you are going? When there is peace, there is joy! and where there is joy, you can dance. You can dance because He says that He will never lay anthing heavy or ill-fitting on you. Wow! You will never hear this on the nightly news. Why? because this is the good news of Jesus Christ.

Where is your heart today? Is it teaching you to dance in the rain or are you tossed by the storms of life that are coming against you. If so, allow me to introduce you to one more promise in God's Word, "This is how much God loved the world: He gave His Son, His one and only Son. And this is why: that no one need to be destroyed; by believing in Him, everyone can have a whole and lasting life." John 3:16 (The Message) This means "you!" You can have a life that full of peace and joy by learning how to trust in Jesus with all of your heart and your very being. Check it out! He longs to dance with you.