Choices

Tonight my heart is breaking.  I have a lost sheep that needs to come home.  He's crying out for attention, love, and acceptance.  Unfortunately, he thinks he can get it from two places- the church and a gang.  And so, today he came into the church all beaten up.  He said they respect his desire to be a part of the church and that he'll never have to do anything bad- this just goes to show the naivety he has and the lies he's been told.
So, where is God in that?  Why does God let people go down the wrong path?  That's a common question people ask me.  But, since He gave us free will, I feel like we have that choice to go either way.  And, I think He is saddened by some of our choices, too.  I think of it best this way.  Recently, my pastor gave a sermon about the wedding feast when nobody showed up and so anyone in the street was invited.  And, the pastor associated that to how God might feel.  He invites us to be His and sometimes people shows up and sometimes they don't.
So, where is God in all of this?  He showed up 18 years ago when I was going down a different path.  And, I'm sure He was saddened by the choices I was making.  But, as time went on He never gave up on me.  And, through the years He taught me through the people He put in my path.  So, now I know that the hard times I went through are all worth it if it is something I can use to help others.  And so, this weekend while at a youth weekend, I'll share with this teen about some of those times.  And, I pray that God will be there opening this teens eyes and heart to clearly see which path to choose.  I'm asking you to pray for our trip this weekend, for our teens, for our adult volunteers, and for my conversation.
Blessings,
Jennifer