I Feared My Enemies

I was reading the story of Jonah to my children from The Jesus Storybook Bible.

“God had a job for Jonah.  But Jonah didn’t want it. 

‘Go to Nineveh,’ God said, ‘and tell your worst enemies that I love them.’

‘NO!’ said Jonah.  ‘Those are bad people doing bad things!’

‘Exactly,’ said God.  ‘They have run far away from me.  But I can’t stop loving them.  I will give them a new start.  I will forgive them.’”

When I read this two months ago, I knew.  I had been afraid of what  God was asking of me.  He was asking me to go back into the dark, haunting strip clubs and tell those who had strayed so far from Him that He loves them and wants to give them a new start.  (I won’t barge in holding a cross up like they are vampires, don’t worry.  I will do it delicately.  I will learn how to do that at the Strip Church training.)

As I read this story I realized that the strip club, the dark, dirty world of the strip club truly was my worst enemy.  When I worked there I was afraid, lonely, embarrassed, ashamed.  But now I had a word for what I was feeling:  ENEMY.

I knew God was nudging me to face my enemy and no enemy is too great for God.  I remembered that I have nothing to fear.

I got kind of excited knowing I was going to war with God on my side.

But there was more God wanted me to know.

The next day I got an email from my sister.  A mass forward called, “The Tibetan Fortune Teller.”     It doesn’t predict the future.  It is just supposed to reveal something to you about your character.  I opened it tauntingly.   “Ok,“ I thought, “Let’s see what this impersonal, mass email can tell me about myself!”

About half way through, four animals were listed and I was supposed to come up with one word to describe each animal.  One of the animals was, “rat.”

Now, I had just learned that rats are actually very clean animals.  Did you know that?  When comparing guinea pigs or gerbils or hamsters, the rat is the cleanest and smartest of them all.  So if you are going to get a small caged animal, go with a cute little rat.

So I answered, “Clean” to describe the rat.

The Tibetan Fortune Teller reveals to me that:  This is how I see my enemies.

Clean.

In that moment, God’s love washed over me.

My enemies are clean.

I am clean.

In a place where “dirty” could easily be used to describe the attitude, the morals, the environment, through God’s eyes, no matter what we have done, no matter what we are doing, God sees us as CLEAN.   God loves us NO MATTER WHAT.

Words cannot express my gratitude to all of you who have generously donated so I can attend the Strip Church Training in Miami, FL this September.  You covered my flight, my hotel, food and taxi expenses and the training itself.   Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.

I will share my journey with you every step of the way.  I wish I could give you all hugs full of the joy and gratitude I feel.  I’m cyber hugging you all right now.  All of you who shared my page on your facebook, stopped by to read a story, and donated.  So much love for you all.

One way I know I can thank you is to give away a custom handmade apron!

And now…the winners of a Wild Child Mama Apron are…..

 Pamela F. Hutchins

and

Amy Ruzynski

YAY!!!  Congratulations, ladies!  And thank you so much:) xoxo