THE HEART IS DECEITFUL WHO CAN KNOW IT: GOD CHANGES HEARTS AND IT BEGINS WITH US FIRST! 

“Unless the Lord Builds the house those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.  It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.”

PSALM 127:1-5

When my husband and I travel, I often run into parents, especially moms, whose children aren’t walking with the Lord. Their hearts are broken and I understand that.  As Shane was far from the Lord, over 10 of his friends died drug related deaths. This was crushing our hearts.  During our son, Shane’s, five year addiction with drugs, we wondered when his turn would come.  Please read “One Mother’s Journey of RAISING a Prodigal” by Sterling O’Neill, a 5 part series as the story unfolds. Part 1:  Shane’s Early Years ; Part 2: Years of Pain  ; Part 3: High School Years; Part 4: Coming to End of the Line; and Part 5: Changed Heart.    

COMING TO THE END OF THE LINE 

(PART 4)

“Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”Psalm 139:16:  

Shane got worse before he got better! The desires of his heart were pure happiness and the very thing that he thought would bring him that joy was controlling him and killing him. Many of his friends ended up dying due to an overdose of drugs.  

Demons began to chase Shane. We sent him a Casting Crowns CD. Like young David played the harp for King Saul in the Old Testament Shane said “Everytime I listened to the CD the demons stopped chasing me.“ As he listened to the CD he heard about a different God.  A God that loved him so much that He was willing to send his only Son, Jesus to die for Him. That God was calling him to HIMSELF, bringing life and life more abundantly.

Shane, one Fall evening in late October, lay in his bed wondering about his life as he fell asleep next to his girlfriend. He didn’t want to live anymore! Nothing was ever enough. No matter how much drugs he took it didn’t satisfy. As his friends were dying around him he thought to himself, “God, this is not what I thought it was, it isn’t bringing me any happiness? I’m dying.”  (more…)