Junior

We have three children ages 7, 6 and 4. God gives us His grace to train them, love them, care for them and help them to know God's love for them. A friend once told me that I don't need to worry about the challenges that will be presented to me five years from now or ten years from now in regards to raising these children--God's grace is perfect for this moment and this stage. Having said that, we have also been given a very deep love and specific grace by God for a teenager named Junior in David family (pictured). Over the course of this past year we have walked through many difficult times with him and God's love for him has become deeply embedded in our hearts. He is a special son to us.

Once again, the despair and emptiness of the "orphaned heart" has threatened to overtake him. He is wrestling with issues of mistrust, unforgiveness, abandonment, fear, a fierce fight to maintain his own control and independence. He admitted to us tonight that he has not been walking with God these past few months. This is no surprise to us as the circumstances of his life have been on a downward spiral and in the past week have unraveled at an accelerated pace in the midst of his poor judgment and misguided behavior. Yet, the fact that he is maintaining communication with us and admitting his struggles is hopeful. Geoff had already met with him this afternoon to talk some things over, yet Junior came again tonight and stayed long even though we were very "in your face" in our discussion with him about his choices, perspectives and behavior of late.

Please pray with us for him. We are considering prayerfully whether or not we will bring him into our home this next year. There are many children here needing discipleship, yet we can not intensely disciple all of them. Junior is one to whom God has knit our hearts and with whom we have a grace to "go deeper." So, pray for Junior's heart to be opened to God's love for him and pray for us to walk in God's wisdom in our relationship with Junior. Thank you to those of you who take this on and stand with us in prayer!