Joy Comes in the Morning

Hello everyone!  It’s the end of another amazing tour and I don't even know where to start talking about it.  So let's start at the beginning.  The very first place that we went to was a drug rehab center.  We were there for almost a week and during to time that we were there we spent a lot of time with the people in the program.  The program was a unique one because it focused on God as the only step that you needed to get back on the right road.  We ate all of our meals with them as well as doing a couple of services for them.  During the course of our being there we saw a lot of them ask for prayer to be better and we saw a true desire in most of them to change and be delivered from their addictions.  It was truly amazing to see so many of them on fire for the Lord.

Only one week later we went to a Teen Challenge and again we were able to see the effect that God was having on people who used to be addicted to a lifestyle that wasn't pleasing to Him.  We were at the teen challenge for about three days and we were able to talk and get to know the teens.  On the second night that we were there one of the boys was afraid of what we were preaching during the service and so he didn't come to the service.  So during the altar call, the girls on my team, the leader, and one of the teens went to the other teen's bedroom and we prayed over him and spoke God's love over him.  The next day during the workshop that we were leading he seemed happier and participated more.  He didn't openly change while we were there but I know that he heard what we prayed over him and he took it to heart.

One thing that impressed me the most while I was at the rehab and the teen challenge was the fact that no matter what had happened to them, and no matter what trials they had gone through, they still had the joy of the Lord.  God said in 1 Thess. 5 that we should always be joyful. That doesn't just mean during the good times, but during all times.  God has really shown me this tour about what that means.   We have had a few times during this tour where things were pretty much going exactly opposite the way that they should have been going.  But having joy in those times was the only thing that kept my mind focused on what God was doing though the trials that we were going through.  In James it talks about our need to be joyful during the trials of our life because that will bring perseverance.  Well, in that case, I have found a lot of perseverance this tour.  I encourage you to find joy in all things because the trials will be so much easier to deal with.

I just want to say thank you to all of you who have supported me during my time in the drama company.  Your prayers have been greatly appreciated.  I am coming to the end of my time in the drama company, but as you know there are still things on the road that are necessities.  If you would like to help me financially during the last few months on the road, I would greatly appreciate it.  Thank you again for you loving support and for always keeping me in your prayers.