Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
Debra would come to the Union Gospel Mission when she was homeless in 2010 to eat and get items from the Women’s Clothing Closet, and always enjoyed the Bible Studies. She continues to frequent UGM for assistance.
Her mom was an alcohol/drug addict and her father bailed. She was raped at four – too unfathomable to elucidate! She grew up with her entire life surrounded by bad surroundings and made the same bad choices as others. She became addicted to crack and heroin. She had six children from different men and in terrible situations.
In 1998, she got clean and sober and relapse in 2007 for a year, but then was delivered by God from the addictions in 2008. One huge suffering she experienced was seeing her seven-year-old grandson passed away from brain cancer in 2000. Her life has been better because of sobriety and faith, but there are many struggles she continues to deal with such as living in poverty. She has never owned a car, which to many of us seems incomprehensible.
Debra started going to Sacramento City College in 2009. She was much older and education was not easy for her, but she pursued it for 10 years. May 2019, she graduated with Honors with an AA in Administration of Justice – see attached picture. She is hoping to start attending Sacramento State University by this Fall and get her BA in Criminal Justice. She radiates joy and peace that she knows comes from the Lord. She is also grateful to say that all six of her adult children are working and doing well.
Here’s the thing……. Debra’s grandmother took her to church when she was young. As a result of hearing the Gospel, her faith would spring up throughout her life through many difficult times. She knew that the Lord was always with her, even when she wasn’t with Him! Her perseverance came from her faith and God Himself, Who always had plans for her despite all circumstances.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
One of her favorite bible verses is Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
This story is not only relevant to being able to share a great testimony from the Union Gospel Mission Women’s Clothing Closet but for all of us to hear it today as we go through these unprecedented times! Our faith is everything – it is the foundation on which we live! Whatever is going on with this world, we can be grateful that we are His and He is in control!
Romans 8:38-39
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
To God be the Glory! ?
