What Are You Hanging On To?

It was early on Thursday morning, I got a call from Sammy, a young man who used to live with us. He was telling me he had been up all night thinking about his life and how far he had gotten away from the Lord. He and his friend, Charlie had been talking about what they were doing in their life and how they were literally going nowhere fast. I listened intently as he shared with me how he wanted to get right with God but he was struggling with giving up things.

I asked, "what is it that you are hanging on to? Just tell me." He struggled to tell me, then said, "Dana, if God loves me, why did He let me leave your house?" I was a bit surprised to hear that comment. But I responded, "He didn't let you leave, He gave you a free choice and at the time, you wanted to walk on the wild side, you didn't want to listen to anyone, you wanted to do it your way." I told him, "God loves you right where you are right now and He apparently is speaking to you or you wouldn't be making this call to me, nor would you have been up all night." This was the second time he had called me this weekend. Actually he called me about fifteen times on Sunday basically talking about the same thing.

Finally, Sammy asked if I could please come over and talk to his friend Charlie and himself. I agreed and when I got there, I sat down to talk with Sammy, Charlie, another young man and a girl named Debbie. I listened intently as they shared how far from God they were, then again asked, "what is it about this life that you continue to hold on to?" They couldn't answer. We talked for awhile, I shared the word, I shared God's love. I told them if they didn't remember anything else I told them to remember this one thing, "There is a better way, and that way is God's way, He is the way, the truth and the life and no one can come to the Father except through Him." I asked if any of them wanted to pray, they weren't ready. I prayed with them before I left. I planted the seed, gave them much to think about.

Before I left, one of the boys said he would go to church if he had a way, I said be ready and I will come get you. He said he was talking about going to a church he was familiar with. I said, "well, if you were ready, you would do anything, you would go when I offered to take you." Sammy spoke up and said, "Dana, what if I turn my life over to Him and then I mess up?" I said, "we all struggle, but if we do fall, we ask God to forgive us and cleanse us, then we get up and continue walking with Christ." I got a call on my phone, I had to go, so Sammy walked outside with me and asked if I would come and get him on Sunday, I said I would. Then he hugged me and said, "Thanks for coming over Dana, I love you." I said, "I love you too Sammy and so does the Lord, He will take you right where you are and He will clean you up, you just have to surrender." So now, I am praying for Sammy and the others, I know they have been deep in the drug and alcohol abuse and it is sapping the life out of them. I pray God will continue to speak to them and they will choose the better way!