covenant House texas, Houston TX

we arrived at the home and it was dark out.  there were a lot of young people in the streets and having been mostly in small-town atmospheres the past months, I was admittedly tempted to be a little intimidated.  Jessica and I prayed and rebuked the spirit of intimidation. we had to go through a security booth to enter the youth shelter.  the woman at the booth seemed very kind and directed us to the chapel.  the chaplain, Pastor Martin, was also very kind and welcoming.  he has a heart to see the kids as well as the entire organization grow to know God's grace on a higher level.
we set up and I took out my guitar to tune it.  I sensed the Presence of God as I played through a few songs and hummed to warm up my voice.  I was grateful.  His Presence is always very assuring.  I knew it would be a good meeting.
when the young people arrived I began by sharing II Chronicles 16:9 with them.  God is looking to and fro throughout the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are perfect toward Him.  I knew the Lord wanted to put out a gracious offer and that whoever would just have enough boldness to receive, could have it.  I sang a couple of old Johnny Cash gospel songs, as I like to do.  but I quickly handed the mic over to Jessica, sensing the anointing was more on the preaching than on the singing.
Jessica hit it hard as she does.  she encouraged the young people that God has a plan for their lives and that HE IS ABLE to perform it.  God is the great I AM and one of the things that I AM IS, is ABLE.  Good news to the hurting.  one young lady was very zealous to have Jessica write all the Scripture references down for her and pray for her. 
people are hungry for good news.  sometimes we can forget or doubt it because we assume no one cares or assume they already know.  but more often than not, the truth is that people don't know the Truth as much as they could, should and need to.  And, if you'll offer the Truth in Love, they will be so glad to hear it.  thank you Lord.
I finished it up with an exhortation concerning what I believe God wants to do in their lives and gave them three keys to attaining it.  when it comes right down to it, the main key is following Jesus.  but there are different ways to connect with Him and through which to maintain and build our relationship with Him.
it was a powerful meeting.  one of the young guys that the Lord is working on exclaimed how he wished we could just stay there all night and keep partaking of God's Word and His power.
they have a wonderful team of people ministering to these young people.  thank you Lord.  they also offer help with housing, food, school and jobs.     http://www.covenanthousetx.org/

-vincent