A New Direction

Do you believe that?  That God is always there.  That his love will never fail you? I learned recently of a girl who didn't feel she had anything to live for.  That life was too stressful and too hard and she figured life would be easier if she wasn't in it.   She's heard people tell her God loves her.  She has heard others tell her they love her, but her CIRCUMSTANCES were bigger than her faith could stand. We've all been there - we look at our circumstances and we wonder where God is.   When life is going according to our plan, when things are good and bills are paid and when we are happy, its easy to believe God loves us and is good.  But, when life turns tragic, we start to doubt God's goodness.  We lose our confidence in God's love for us and our faith gives way to doubt and despair. When I heard of this young girl and her despair, I felt extreme sadness and the tears wouldn't stop falling from my eyes.  This is a gi...

  Abandoned. Dumped. Alone. Scared. Hungry. Discarded. Dirty. All adjectives to describe JoJo when he was found.  They describe us too, don't you think? We live our lives abandoned by people who used to love us.  Friends dump us when we no longer meet their expectations.  We are alone in a world that is full of people.  We are scared, hungry for affection.  We are tossed aside - discarded - because we don't fit in.  We are dirty with sin and shame. JoJo was redeemed.  On a bright August day, he was found and rescued.  He was cleaned up and given a home.  He was fed and loved.   So it is when Jesus came to redeem us. He knew we couldn't do it on our own.  We needed a savior.  Someone to pick us up, dust us off, wash us clean.  I sit here with this kitten on my lap, curled up and purring.  He's happy, he's secure.  He doesn't realize the gift that was give...

I was in college - I think it was my sophomore year.  My grandma, whom I loved dearly, was in the hospital.  I took a weekend and went to visit her.  She had quite the sense of humor and I spent many summers with her and my grandpa at their small lake cottage.  Mom needed their help so she didn't have to pay for daycare.  So, I grew close to my grandparents. I remember distinctly bending down to give her a hug to say goodbye, and she whispered in my ear "you'd be so pretty if you'd lose weight" .  The words still pierce my heart today.  I know she meant those words to encourage me to lose weight, but I heard "you aren't pretty now, but you could be if..." I have been on a roller coaster of  ups and downs since then, trying to lose the weight so I would be pretty.   I share this so you can see the power of the tongue.  Words meant to inspire hurt instead.  Words meant to encourage can be painful.   Sticks and...