They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season.Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.--Psalm 1:3 NLT
As I lie restless in bed tonight, I began to think about why I am here; here in Jones Co. MS. There is only one answer and that is the call of God. He planted me here in the city of Laurel for a purpose. He placed me right in the inner city of the avenues and placed a love in my heart for my community that makes me see heaven when I look at the neighboring crack houses and dark alleys. God planted me, a former junkie, in the middle of a drug infested neighborhood, filled with opportunity to relapse; and He did it for His glory.
Everything I am saying I hope humilty echos in my words and all the glory bounces straight up to MY GOD! He took me out of my self-inflicted prison and He set me free, only to bring me back to the very place I came as a 12 year old to party. I wish I could express my love for this community and the people who live here but I'm not sure there are words to describe this. He sowed into my heart the seeds of love, commitment, and tenacity that were vital to see a ministry birthed.
God brought me here to start Dying to Live Ministries. I have agonized over things, I have wept seemingly endlessly through this process, I have spent many sleepless nights, much like this one, praying, planning, and reflecting. And every time I come back to the day that He saved me and I'm humbled. He plucked me from the grips of addiction and sure death and He planted me by the Water and He made me (a junkie, prostitute, useless, unproductive alcoholic) one of His beloved children. He made my roots go deep into His River of Life which nurtures my very being, and I pray that the fruit that I bear produces life, hope, joy, freedom, and especially love in the middle of what, to most, seems to be a barren land. I know that I fall short in this horrible condition called humanity, and I pray that those who are unfortunate enough to witness it can forgive my flesh and see beyond my flaws to see Him.
This past year has been the most challenging and difficult of my ministry, but tonight as I lie here @ 2:13 AM I'm grateful for the fire. I hope everyone who reads this hears my heart-I am so grateful to my entire ministry team I think of you as my "miracle" team because every time I look at you I get to see a miracle from beginning to end. God transformed you all right before my eyes and if I never achieve anything else in my walk with God I can say that through Him you are my greatest accomplishment. I believe that God has even bigger things in store for each one of you and I pray that you all do greater things for God than I could even imagine.
I'm not completely sure why I have sat down and put my heart out here like this, I do believe that The Holy Spirit unctioned me to get out of bed and share this with everyone, for a reason. I want to close this with an encouraging word. No matter how low you have been, no matter how bad it seems remember it is God who pulls us from the pit of despair (Psalm 40) and He gives us beauty for ashes (Isa 61).
Only God can take our mess and make it HIS Masterpiece.--Pastor Brandiilyne Irvin
Dear Jones County--We here at DTL Ministries have committed our lives to serve this community and watch God set it free from the effects of drug and alcohol addiction! We want to see every man, woman, teen, and family that has been affected by addiction set free and reconciled--This is our call--This is our BATTLE-CRY--This is our MISSION--Isa 61:1-4
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