This summer LECC members have testified during the Sunday morning worship service to the radical changes God has made in their lives. They’ve demonstrated the tests that James, the brother of Jesus, wrote to the early Christians of his day. Last Sunday’s—the dependence test—was about making plans.
Proverbs 16-9 says, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps.” The question is: Are your plans shaped with God’s? When making plans, do you include God’s will, or ignore it?
A sweet LECC couple, Justin and Brandi, came to the stage Sunday to talk about their life depending upon themselves alone and then later depending on God. They had been like the people to whom James said, “Look here, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.’ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow?” (James 4:13-14) James concludes that “your life is like the morning fog—it’s here for a little while, then it’s gone.” We are not assured of another day in this world as we live our fragile human lives only at the permission of God.
Justin, who was not raised in the church, did not even consider making plans based on Godly choices. Brandi, who was church going from nursery school, baptized at age six, and active in a Christian youth group, believed in God and knew when she displeased Him.
“When I was twentytwo, I got pregnant and had an abortion for very selfish reasons,” she confessed. “I just knew for me, it was over. I still went to church, but I knew I was done.”
She and Justin later got together, married, and wanted a baby. “I asked God for a baby,” Brandi said, “but I knew it wasn’t going to happen for me. Not after what I’d done. I was ashamed.”
Many people have skeletons in their past that they think prevent them from ever being in God’s grace again. They need to know that the one and only God is a God of second chances. There’s no mistake God can’t clean up.
Justin, who had his dream job when baby James was born, chose work over family. Then he quit his job when Brandi got sick, and his life alternated between changing diapers and driving to the hospital. They fought so much Brandi secretly filed for divorce. Justin lamented, “During our dark years of 2016 to 2019, James saw us at our worst.”
They both also had legal problems. “We were a mess,” Brandi said. “We felt hollow. Empty.” Justin filled the emptiness with drugs and drinking, until he came to a fork in the road. “God gave me a vision of what my life would be like if I continued the path I was on,” He said. “Did I want to be in jail with my son growing up without me? No!” He got clean in 2020, they found LECC, he got saved and baptized, Brandi re-dedicated her faith and Jesus changed their lives from hollow to holy.
Even though Justin was completely transformed, the consequences of the past still reared its ugly head. In 2023, while in jail for 30 days (that legal problem didn’t go away), “God used Justin to help others while he was in there,” Brandi said. He continues to use him as Justin evangelizes for Jesus and prays on the oil rig where he works. Meanwhile, Brandi praises God with her beautiful voice every Sunday in the choir. In their words, they’ve “hit the salvation lotto,” and have joy and peace from the Lord like never before.
Come and meet them and other non-perfect people worshipping a perfect God at 415897 Highway 9, Eufaula where we have small group Bible study at 10 a.m., worship at 11 a.m., and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday night classes for all ages. Make church-going part of your Godly plan!
God Bless You!
Jeremy Little, Minister
