From a Desolate Place into God's Great Grace

By A. Humphrey

From a Desolate Place into Gods Great Grace tells the truth of how tough life can actually be from a very unique positionbut also how powerful Gods grace is. This book will take you into life-changing events that seem somewhat outlandish, unreal, and perhaps even unbearable.

Despite ups and downs, highs and lows, we see an entire family blessed and a young man who overcomes the pain of circumstance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Mar 2, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490870083

A. Humphrey

A. Humphrey has a history and life that is inspirational. It creates a hope that will drive readers into a place of forgiveness. Even today he continues to be an inspiration, as he is a motivational speaker and a positive leader sharing and ministering the word of God. He focuses on creatively sharing his poetry and writing skills through social media and future publishing. This is a young man who, with God’s help, beat all the odds. With no completion of schooling or formal training, he has been made able to deliver this book to you.

Book preview

Ch. 1 Markings of My Identity

For the most part I had a pretty normal childhood. My mom worked. My older brother and my older sister looked after us, since my mother was a single parent. I was different from the rest of my brothers and sisters since I was a middle child of sorts and inside I always felt very separate. I’ll never forget the day I began to acknowledge that there was something unique in me.

On this particular day most of the kids were out running around with their friends. I thought I was alone so I decided to tune in to the radio, and that is when my older brother caught me listening to a Billy Joel song called River of Dreams. Now you have to remember there weren’t a lot of young black males listening to Billy Joel on the radio in the mid to late 90’s, not where I’m from. I’m sure my older brother didn’t know what to think of me at this point. Not as bad as the first time I got caught listening to country music, but they laughed all the same. He had his laugh and left after calling me weird. Turns out he was right, I was weird.

I was a very peculiar child. So much so, that my mom gave my brothers and sisters strict instructions to leave me alone. This of course no one could ignore. I must have listened to that Billy Joel song a thousand times and every time it shot the same spark in me. Billy and I were both being drawn to the same thing and I didn’t have the knowledge to make out what it was. I just knew how I felt, and I felt pulled by it. I felt the pull that was the call from God to Billy Joel’s life that also touched my life through his song. It just would not leave me.

I felt something almost magical when listening or even thinking about it. I recently read some song facts about Billy Joel’s song, River of Dreams, which he wrote. It says that Billy Joel gets a lot of song ideas in his dreams, and often struggles to remember them when he wakes. With this song, he woke up with it in his head, but tried not to write it. He said, I thought, ‘Who the hell am I to try to pull off this gospel song’, so I took a shower to wash the song away. I sang it in the shower and knew I had to do it. Mr. Joel had a call from God on his life.

The call was so strong he could not deny it. God is amazing! We can never say who or what he will use to reach someone. I don’t know about Billy; but, I would soon learn that I didn’t have to search for God. He was right there by my side. My attraction to this song was definitely to more than just a fun song. The talk of a search in my dreams touched me because I was always a dreamer with a wonderful imagination. I found myself dreaming a lot about life, the future and many other things. God was calling me to Himself and I began searching for what was pulling on my heart. My intuitive understanding that I did not fit in my environment led me to the logical conclusion that there was a place where I did fit.

I started out on a long journey in search of that place, not understanding what it was that was pulling me. Isn’t it amazing that as young men and women who grow up without fathers or mothers search to discover the lost part of themselves thinking they’re the only ones? In fact everyone is in search of that part of themselves that feels like the final piece to the board, or the perfect filling in the perfect crust. It’s the place in all of us where the ocean meets the sand.

In a sense young people like me, come across this point in our lives only to begin receiving of the hope of salvation. Luke 3:6 KJV says;

And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. According to Strong’s concordinence, salvation here can refer to; bringing salvation, he who currently embodies this salvation, him through whom God is about to achieve salvation or the hope of future salvation. I particularly like that last part, the hope of future salvation, because it absolutely describes what was happening for me at the time. I was receiving the hope of salvation by the grace of God. (Titus 2:11 Amp, Acts 15:11 Amp)

Here is a common misconception. People think when they accepted Christ was when God started to clean them up, and prepare them. When in fact is He has been preparing us throughout our lives. He appears and knocks on the hearts of all men. (Revelation 3:20) It is our choice to receive the visitation and open the door to any notion of God in our lives. Since it’s God who wants to have an intimate relationship with us, it is common to find these seemingly unrelated experiences of God using a song or anything that may seem ridiculous to some, but brings enlightenment to others. (Titus 2:11 AMP) For the grace of God (His unmerited favor and blessing) has come forward (appeared) for the deliverance from sin and the eternal salvation for all mankind which is Christ Jesus

(Acts 15:11 Amp) But we believe that we are saved through the grace (the undeserved favor and mercy) of the Lord Jesus, just as they [are]. (Revelation 3:20 NLT) Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

Ch. 2 Freedom in a Child’s Eyes

It was strange how my life and lifestyle continued to transition in unison. My family and I moved from an apartment to a house. I also now have a new baby brother. I enjoyed how much everyone loved having a baby around. He was spoiled by everyone, mostly by my mother and his father who didn’t stay around very long. Jail was a part of his life style. It was sad really because he was a truck driver, and I hadn’t seen many black American males besides my step father who had careers.

So I ended up at a new elementary school with a new favorite teacher. She was a short haired lady who taught art. I was