It has been a while since I posted anything... not that nothing is going on, but that things are happening so fast I can't keep up! I either need to physically speed up or my life needs to slow down. I guess it doesn't help that I am dealing with either a nasty cold or bad allergies right now. Taking Benadryl will put anyone on s-l-o-w mode!
Anyway, I have been pondering life. I have been blessed with so much. I have a peace from my Father, God in my heart. I have been given the gift of salvation. I have Him living in my heart and speaking to my heart daily. I have someone who I can tell anything. He loves me and wants my best in life and then, of course, will be with me throughout eternity. All that for someone who comes from a family who put the "dys" in "dysfunctional"! I certainly did not deserve to be adopted and become His own. What I did not have as a child I have now. Security that the world cannot give. A loving family. My needs met. (Many of my wants met too!) I have a church family, both locally and globally. Believers who follow Jesus are my brothers and sisters, not separated by denominations or distances or any earthly divisions.
I have been thinking about these things because a little girl is heavy on my heart today. I am praying for her and her family. She is 8 years old. She was kidnapped last week, sexually assaulted, and then by God's leading a "hero" emerged whose brave maneuvers helped the little girl to escape the clutches of this man whose heart is being used by Satan. She is a farm laborers child. Because of the water shortage in California her father is out of work. Their car was sold just to pay for food. Their clothing is threadbare. This little one is in a wheelchair as it is too painful to walk right now after what happened to her. She has a brother two years difference in age. The police are driving her to her counseling sessions. It breaks my heart. I am praying for her, but more than that, though I don't have the finances, God has resources beyond my abilities... He will be supplying food and clothing for this family through members of our church along with rides to spend the Walmart and Target gift cards coming their way. How do we show God's love? We walk in His ways, have His heart, see things through His eyes. We need to be His arms to "hug" others in their needs. They will know we are Christians by our love.
And though I pray for this little girl and her family, their physical needs and their spiritual needs, I must not forget to pray for this man who has been used of Satan. Yes, he must have the punishment he deserves... actions have consequences, but God can even forgive this man! Perhaps behind bars he will find a forgiving God and have a changed heart. He may have thrown his life into the gutter, but there is more to this life than the here and now. There is eternity. Even the "good" person who never bows to God in this life will have to face Him. It is our own decision in this life where we will be in eternity. With a loving Father... or not. By the way, Satan has no friends. When he's through using someone on this earth, they are on their own dealing with the consequences.
If you have questions about what I've said about God I am available to explain what I am talking about. There is a God. He created you and wants you to recognize Him. He wants a relationship with you. He wants what is best for you. All you have to do is get your heart in tune with His. It is nothing to fear. There is nothing that God cannot do, if He so desires. There is nothing that God cannot forgive, except unbelief in Him. No, not everyone goes to heaven, like some preach. No, you can't be good enough to "work" yourself to heaven. If that were the case then why would God send His Son to die for our sins? He paid for our sins once and for all. He wants our hearts. His son in exchange for our hearts. Hmmm... I'm not worthy... how about you? Something to think about...
