5/11/11 It's been a while, Lord. Sorry about that, and no excuses, but I've been a bit busy. I know, You know about that better than I. I mean, Lord, my excuses.

It's also been a while for Henry. At least, since I've seen him Lord.

Henry came through, as so many do. Some for months, even years, and some, well, for what seems like only a moment. I don't remember how long Henry was around. But I do remember that we had some pretty good talks about You. Very good talks.

But then, I just stopped seeing Henry. And as serving You kingdom would have it, You simply kept sending new people my way. But for a bit, I did wonder what happened to Henry, and where he had gone.

That was over a year ago.

Henry walked into my office yesterday, and though I couldn't remember his name at first, I did embrace him and asked where he had been.

"I was with my family up in Philadelphia. It all went well, but I was ready to come home." Then he just sat for a moment, looked up to say, "Bro. Anthony, remember what we talked about last time I was here? You know, about giving my self to the Lord Jesus?"

"Yeah, I do remember those talks."

"Well, I'm ready to be God's child. I want to be washed clean. Now. Today."

Lord, thank you for reminding me that Your Word never is without power to change the hearts of people. It never goes out from even the weakest of broken and crack clay pots, like me, that it doesn't come back with heavenly results.

And though it may take a year, as with Henry, all is done in Your good time, and all for Your glory.

Lord, thank you for reminding me that this is Your work, that I do not have to see the end or the results, but to always know that Word is always accomplishing Your will. I simply need to be faithful to the small part You ask me to play in Your grand plan and purpose for other's lives.

I simply need to keep telling people about Your goodness and love.

As the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent. Isaiah 55:10-11, NIV

P. S. Lord, Henry came in this morning saying as soon as he left RCM, he was tempted to get a "quick and small" drink.

"I went in the liquor store, but bro. Anthony, as I was looking at the bottles, I felt something deep in my chest telling me to leave, and I felt the sting of that cross you gave me pressing against my skin reminding me of Jesus. I walked out without the whiskey. My friend waiting outside for me to help me drink it, said, 'Where you going and where's the bottle man?' I just kept on walking, not looking back, saying 'I don't do that anymore.' My friend yelled out as walked away fast, 'Man, that ain't the Henry I know!'"

I told Henry, "Yep that ain't the Henry he knows. We left that Henry at the bottom of the baptistry."