unlikely angel.....

Ashley Smith was probably the kind of person who was easily forgettable. Hooked on drugs, with a seemingly hopeless messed-up life. But about a year ago she found out that God can use people who don't have their acts together.

You've probably heard the whole story about how Ashley was able to convince Brian Nichols to turn himself in after killing 3 people in Atlanta. I was able to hear all the details as our pastor did a "Larry King style" interview with her during our morning services yesterday. (You should be able to view the whole service at www.pclive.org later on today. For some reason, they just have the opening song on there this morning. Just click on the "1-8-06" link under the Video heading.) She admits, she wasn't an angel. At one point she was a drug addict, so much of a drug addict that she lost custody of her daughter.

But things changed. She got into rehab and was making a new life for herself. Then came March 11, Brian Nichols and more prayer than she'd ever known before. Ashley said at first she felt like God was tired of her and that she was about to die. Then she said she felt that this was happening for a reason, and that everything was going to be OK. Seven hours later, Brian Nichols surrendered to police, and Ashley surrendered to God.

We don't all get second chances, but when we do we need to make the most of them. I've heard several "learned" people say that she's not the real thing. I tend to disagree, because Ashley Smith got her second (or third or fourth) chance and she's making a difference.....