The Lost are Saved...

One of the girls that I have written about before "Natalie" has been in jail for drug possession for the past 3 months and was released last Thursday. She went to a local rehab facility but was told that they did not have a vacancy at this time and would put her name on a waiting list. Waiting is a very dangerous word when it comes to someone who has a drug addiction. Natalie stayed "clean" for all of 6 hours and then was back into her addiction.

I had been told that she might come to my church this past Sunday as one of our members is a Chaplain at the local jail...but knowing that she was back on the streets I had pretty much given up any hope that she would be at church, but to my amazement she was in church yesterday. How wonderful it was to see her in my church and to know that God didn't allow her to totally slip back into the bondage that has ensnared her for the past ten years.

I introduced her to my husband, to my grandsons and some other friends and then we all went inside the sanctuary as the service was about to begin. Natalie sat with the couple that had brought her...a few rows back on the opposite side of the church, but I could her here voice singing the praise songs and praying in agreement with our Pastor. Our church is pretty conservative and I have to admit that I was very concerned as I saw people turning to stare at her, but I believe that Natalie was oblivious to most of it as she was intent on worshipping God.

Our Pastor preached from Mark 1: 14-45 and the message I prayed spoke to Natalie's heart. He reminded us that Jesus was tempted for 40 days and that we will have temptations in life as well. The greater our commitment to Jesus, the easier it will be to walk with Him. He spoke about how we all carry scars and we should not be ashamed of them and that Jesus can heal us. And once again reminded us that our security rests in Him and not in the things of the world.

Our closing song was "Your Great Name" and as I looked at Natalie she was singing her heart out to Jesus with tears streaming down her face...I felt so incredibly blessed. The lyrics to this song are:

Lost are saved; find their way; at the sound of Your great name
All condemned; feel no shame, at the sound of Your great name
Every fear; has no place; at the sound of Your great name
The enemy; he has to leave; at the sound of Your great name

[Chorus:]
Jesus, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us, Son of God and Man
You are high and lifted up; and all the world will praise Your great name

[Verse 2:]
All the weak; find their strength; at the sound of Your great name
Hungry souls; receive grace; at the sound of Your great name
The fatherless; they find their rest; at the sound of Your great name
Sick are healed; and the dead are raised; at the sound of Your great name

[Chorus:]
Jesus, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us, Son of God and Man
You are high and lifted up; and all the world will praise Your great name

[Bridge:]
Redeemer, My Healer, Lord Almighty
My savior, Defender, You are My King

[Chorus:]
Jesus, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us, Son of God and Man
You are high and lifted up; and all the world will praise Your great name

Natalie has Hope...we all have Hope. We are all lost and in need of a Savior and His name is Jesus. The world and others may condemn us, but His Word tells us that He keeps no record of wrongs. Healing...Natalie needs to be healed from her addiction...but we all need healing some of us in our bodies and others of us in our spirits.

After the service I went over to give Natalie a hug and reassured her that I would be praying for her as she would be enteering rehab that afternoon at a local facility. She told me that that song was her theme song...she loved it and knew that God could save her from her addicitons. I had asked her if she wanted the elders of our church to pray over her and she did, so they took her in one of the rooms and prayed over her. Natalie wants to be free and I pray that God will indeed deliver her from the life she has led and create in her a desire for Him alone. She told me yesterday that she wants to get well so that she can help her "sisters" break free as well. Wouldn't that be wonderful? What a testimony to God's glory this could be.

Natalie began her treatment today...for 30 days she will not be allowed visitors and will be immersed in God's Word and healing. Please join me in praying for Natalie and those who are ministering to her. Praying that she would be delivered from the hands of her enemies and that God's victory would become Natalie's victory.