3/22/11 Glenda. Just a few months ago, she was a falling down drunk alcoholic. Now a mom again, and soon to be grandma, going home to her children whose son recently said, "I just want my mom back." Her children had all but disowned her because of the drunkenness. Until now.

Glenda has been around RCM for some time. We had talked about You, prayed to You, studied Your Word together on several occasions. I knew, and she knew better, that Glenda wanted to give her life to You. She wanted to go back to her family, but an aging abusive husband who died just last month had left her to a life of drinking. The beatings did it. She had been free of him for some months when I met her. But not free of the alcohol. Glenda needed grace. She was in need.

Free of her abuser, Glenda started praying again, going to church in the shelter, and we talked on occasion. Then, she disappeared about a month or two ago. I wondered what had happened.

Then, out of nowhere it seemed, she popped back into RCM, and I was really glad to see her. I would bump into her in passing and ask if she'd like to pray. Each time I did, she smiled a little bigger. Today, it was a biggest grin.

Glenda told of how she had had a serious surgery that was needed due to the beatings she had received. "I got makeover on the inside. I'm a new woman, except for one thing. I've been thinking about this. I've been sober since Christmas, I've decided that it's time I get washed of the dirt of sin. I want to give my life to Jesus today."

"And bro. Anthony, you won't believe this, but my kids want me to come home. They came to see me in the hospital, saw that I was serious about getting sober. Now they have bought me a trailer on a piece of land near Petit Jean mountain, and they're coming to get me next Thursday. So, would you baptize me into Jesus?"

Glenda just could not stop thanking You, praising You, grinning, to say, "You know what the best part is? I got a church picked out already and I get to go to my home to raise my little grandbaby to know Jesus!"

Domestically abused, falling down alcoholic, disowned mother. Now, because of You, Lord, free and loved, sober and clearheaded, restored mom and soon to be grandma. Only in You, Lord, only in You, could this happen.

And, by the way, thanks for Charles who tells everyone with a grin, "I came into bro. Anthony's office to get a Bible but came out going to get baptized." Thanks for working in the lives of people over a lifetime. Thanks for letting me be a small part of the team effort at RCM to be with You, where You are working. Thanks for allowing Glenda, Charles, and me, to come to You for help with confidence. Only in You, only because of You, Lord.

Let us the approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16, NIV