Blog – 9-25-19 Saul’s conversion as told in Acts 9 is a powerful reminder that we can never count anyone out. God used the least likely person, a person who was persecuting and killing Christians, to be a catalyst for huge growth in the early church. It’s the story of an astonishing invasion of God’s power in the person who was looked at as the enemy. When I read the story in this context, I can’t help but think about people in my life that I have chosen to believe are “beyond help.” People who I have put in my little box of “unreachable” or “a hopeless cause.” It makes me wonder who in that box might one day be my greatest ally for the faith? Who am I counting out that God knows one day will be all in for Him? God’s grace is enough for EVERYONE! That’s hard to stomach when people have hurt us. It’s hard to believe that God can work those miracles in some of the “crusty” people we meet along the way. Who have you written off? Who have you put in a box? Who do you think is “beyond help?” Who are you counting out that God knows one day will be all in for Him? I wonder what would happen if instead of judgment we met those people with love. I wonder what seed might be planted if we simply offered a kind word here and there. I wonder what miracle might be launched in their lives if they felt grace and forgiveness from us rather than a cold shoulder of condemnation. I sang at a Celebrate Recovery here in California Monday night. I’m here doing some women’s retreats at Sugar Pine Christian Camps, and I was blessed to be able to do a concert at a little church that was about an hour away. The group was small, but it was a blessing to share the songs from my Twelve CD and parts of my story. The best part for me about performing at recovery meetings is hearing their stories, the way God’s power invaded their lives. So many of the people in recovery are the ones that people had labeled a “hopeless cause,” the ones in that box. Most of them have let people down over and over again as their addictions have taken them to very dark places. They’ve lost relationships and homes and hope. Yet somehow God breaks through their struggles, brings light to their darkness and invades their hopeless situation with hope. I’ve listened to miracle after miracle of how God brought people out of horrible situations to a place of freedom in Christ. They are people all in for Him! It’s incredibly inspiring and such a beautiful reminder that there is no one too far for God to reach. No one. As I write this, I’m convicting myself again to move people out of the box I have placed them in. I pray my heart will be softened and my spirit will be moved to share love with them instead of judgment. I pray my eyes will be open to the good inside of them placed there by our Creator himself. Yes, they may have hurt me, yes, they may be making some really bad choices, yes, they might be living in darkness, but God can use the least likely people to build His kingdom. I encourage you, read Acts 9. And as you read about Saul’s conversion, think about those people in your life that you, with good reason, expect the worst. Think about the people you’ve put in your box. Then think about what God might be saying about that person and the plans God has for them. How does that change your view towards them? And let’s all remember, God specializes in using the least likely people for His glory! Hugs and love, Jill