"You Laugh and Share Stories with the Thief and the Whore"

"I'm a crack addict and a whore, and I hate my life." These words came from my friend Angela's mouth today. Last night at our prayer meeting we cried out for Angela for a good bit of time. Identity, release of bondage, redemption, were a few of the words that continued to come up. I went to bed last night broken, for I spent time with the Lord throughout the day just crying; crying out for Angela and for others. And again, we interceded for her at the meeting as well.

This morning I woke up and went to my car. As I glanced to the left I saw Angela. I was headed to the post office, so I said a quick prayer; "God if you want me to speak to her, then keep her on that corner." As I drove back quite honestly I was a little hesitant to see what the Lord was going to do. Before I knew it Angela was crossing right in front of my car. I yelled out the window to her. She came right up to my window, extremely frustrated. "I'm hungry, I'm thirsty, and I have no money, please give me five dollars." I could tell the desperation in her voice. I tried to calm her down. "Please, she begged." In my experience with people off the street, I have never given money to an individual. I felt this situation called for a different action. "Just give me a ride to my "house." I finally got Angela to calm down while praying under my breath for her as we spoke. "Angela, Jesus loves you, I continued to say over and over again." Angela at this point really opened up to me. She spoke about different things. "Angela God has a plan for you." She said I was a "really nice person, because I always spoke to her."

Right before I dropped her off, I asked her, "Angela I saw you on the corner the last two nights, is everything ok?" As I said before, she went on to say, "no, I'm a crack addict and I'm a whore, and I hate my life." I told Angela I was praying for her, I told her she's more valuable than being a whore. She closed the door.

A couple hours later, while walking down the street, I saw Angela get into a car with a guy by her corner.

Later in the evening I saw Angela again standing on the corner. I couldn't resist going and talking to her. My friend Joey and I walked over to talk to Angela. I said, "Angela do you want help with your crack addiction and your prostitution?" To make a long story short, she basically said "yes." She said "yes." I continued to reiterate to her that God is bigger than the addiction, He is bigger than the prostitution. I told her I pray that she finds her identity and hope in Christ; and that I would help her. "Angela, I'm not going to pressure you with this crack stuff." She said, "Yes, you need to, because I have a problem, and I like crack."

Six months ago I did not know Angela. It has been a tough pursuit in getting Angela to talk to me. I feel the trust has been built. Now, I find myself at the foot of the cross crying out for her. I am trusting for God to orchestrate a miracle; because that is what it is, a miracle. Our God has the power to do just that. So I come to you right now, asking that you join me in praying for Angela and her life.

. . . Trusting in our Lord to transform the life of a crack addict, whore; who will soon find her identity as a child of the Most High God.

Love Deeply.